Whether you’re travelling in a caravan or 4WD, most people rely on a solar and battery setup to power life on the road.
But how do you know if you’re about to run out of juice? How can you make sure there’s enough charge left to keep your fridge running and drinks cold? And how do you ensure that your batteries stay running at their best?
That’s where you need a battery monitor.
What Is A Battery Monitor?
Connected to your battery, a battery monitor is designed to help you monitor the state of your battery and other important performance measurements, so you can better control your battery and power set-up.
It’s not just a fuel gauge for your battery - a battery monitor can tell you lots of things:
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Ampere hours consumed
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State of charge of the battery
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Discharge current
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Temperature of your battery
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Remaining battery capacity
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Time remaining in your battery bank
The best part is, if any of the metrics are not within normal range, the battery monitor can sound an alarm. So, if the battery temperature is getting too hot, you’ll know about it.
Why Add a Battery Monitor To Your Setup?
The number one reason to add a battery monitor to your setup is that it helps you keep a close eye on your battery’s health—crucial when you're travelling off-grid and relying on battery power for everything from lighting to fridges.
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A battery monitor also gives you greater control over your power usage. You can track how many amp-hours you’ve used, how much solar energy you’ve replenished, when your batteries are full, and much more. This insight allows you to manage your energy use efficiently and avoid unexpected power outages while on the road.
Even more importantly, monitoring your battery helps extend its lifespan. For example, lead acid batteries need to be charged to 100% daily to perform at their best. A battery monitor lets you see your battery’s real-time state of charge so you can top it up as needed.
Many modern battery monitors come with Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity, so you can access this data from an app on your smartphone—without needing to be physically near your power setup.
Want to learn more about choosing the right battery or building a complete power system? Check out our Caravan Battery Guide and Caravan Power System Guide to get started.
Which Battery Monitor Brands?
These are our top brands to choose from: Renogy, Enerdrive, Simarine, Victron, and BMPro. Let’s look at their top features and models.
Enerdrive
Enerdrive’s ePRO range of battery monitors are packed with the features you want, and use high performance measuring circuits, along with complex software algorithms to display the exact state of the remaining battery capacity. The monitors feature a clear back lit LCD display and an intuitive user interface. Just one button press and you can see all the metrics you need.
There’s also a programmable alarm relay to start a generator when needed or to turn off devices when the battery voltage exceeds your programmed boundaries. Enerdrive battery monitors also come with a huge 5 year warranty.
Enerdrive Battery Monitors We Recommend:
The base model is the ePRO battery monitor. It will accurately read your battery bank like a fuel gauge and define the exact amount of energy available in your battery. For high voltages, choose the ePRO HV battery monitor model.
But for the best of the bunch, the ePRO Plus has it all. You can monitor up to three battery banks, with the inputs for the second and third battery banks able to be configured for other purposes, such as setup lock or backlight control. You can also keep track of the battery history, including Average Discharge, Deepest Discharge, Total AH removed from battery, and Total AH charged to the battery.
Simarine
Simarine by Enerdrive is a highly versatile battery monitor range. Because you can add up to 20 Simarine shunts and modules, you can monitor up to six battery banks, 14 tanks, 10 temperatures, 20 generators, and one inclinometer sensor with pitch and roll readings (i.e. slope and tilt). That’s a lot of data!
Use the free app to connect your display to your smartphone using wifi, which helps you monitor all battery and tank data, edit and restore settings, upload history, and upgrade the firmware with new and updated features.
Just want to use it as a battery monitor? The Pico system provides a simple overview of voltage, current, amp hours, battery capacity in percentage, and temperature of the battery.
Simarine Battery Monitors We Recommend:
The Simarine by Enerdrive base model comes with a Pico+ Display, 300A Shunt and Quad Shunt 4 x 25A. Add on the Tank Module to monitor your tanks. Or for the premium model, add the Tank Module and Inclinometer. The Inclinometer has a measuring range of ±90°, with an accuracy of 0.2°.
Victron
Victron’s battery monitor range is easy to install and use. Depending on the model, you can monitor up to two batteries (main and starter battery) with the option to see a great range of metrics. There’s also a range of add-ons, including the Victron Temperature Sensor and Victron VE.Direct Bluetooth Smart Dongle ($85). The temperature sensor is also not built-in, but available with the add-on Victron Temperature Sensor.
In addition to the BMV range, Victron offers the SmartShunt. This is an all in one battery monitor, only without a display. Your smartphone becomes the display through the VictronConnect App.
Victron Battery Monitors We Recommend:
One of the most popular battery monitors on the market is Victron’s smart BMV-712 battery monitor, which comes with all the features of the BMV-702 plus bluetooth connectivity. You can monitor up to two batteries to see: Average Discharge (AH and %), Deepest Discharge (AH and %), highest and lowest battery voltage, number of days since the last full charge, Total AH removed from battery, and Total AH charged to the battery, number of full discharges (0%), and number of charge cycles.
BMPRO
BMPRO offers a wide range of battery monitors for different needs and budgets. If you want to check your battery health before and during your adventure, the BMPRO BatteryCheck range is a great pick. The wireless battery monitors use Bluetooth to provide data to a free smartphone app and work with batteries in parallel (7Ah-800Ah battery bank). They are also compatible with a range of deep cycle lead acid, AGM, Gel and LiFePO4 batteries.
BMPRO Battery Monitors We Recommend:
For a monitor that’s specially designed for recreational vehicles’ deep cycle batteries, go for the BMPRO BatteryCheck100. This entry-level model allows monitoring up to 100A maximum charge or discharge, but is not suitable with engine cranking applications nor for use under the vehicle bonnet.
If your system has an inverter over 1000W you will need to use the BMPRO BatteryCheckPRO Wireless Battery Monitor. This unit can handle loads up to 300 Amps.
Renogy
Renogy battery monitors are a solid choice for travellers who want reliable performance and essential battery insights without the hefty price tag. Their monitors, like the Renogy 500A Battery Monitor with Shunt, provide real-time updates on voltage, current, power consumption, and battery capacity. These monitors are easy to install and come with a clear LCD screen that displays all key data at a glance. Renogy also includes a programmable alarm feature to alert you when your battery reaches critical levels. While they don’t have as many advanced features as some premium brands, Renogy battery monitors are a great value option for anyone looking to better manage their caravan or 4WD power system.
Renogy Battery Monitors We Recommend:
The Renogy ONE Core is an all-in-one smart energy monitor and RV leveling assistant designed for off-grid living. With cloud-based energy tracking, it lets you monitor power generation and consumption in real time—anywhere, anytime—helping you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Its built-in 6-axis leveling sensor provides instant updates on your RV’s position, ensuring a stable and comfortable setup. Featuring a sleek 4-inch touchscreen and support for smart accessories, the ONE Core combines energy management and home automation in one compact, user-friendly device.
A reliable battery monitor is essential for anyone relying on a solar and battery setup while travelling in a caravan or 4WD. It gives you real-time insights into your battery’s health, charge status, and energy usage—so you’re never left in the dark. Whether you want a simple monitor to track amp-hours or a high-tech system with app connectivity and multiple inputs, there’s a battery monitor to suit every setup. From trusted brands like Renogy, Enerdrive, Simarine, Victron, and BMPRO, you’ll find quality options that help extend the life of your battery system and give you peace of mind on the road.
Ready to power up with confidence? Browse our range of battery monitors online today!
DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.
