Redarc Smart Battery Monitor (BSEN500)
Guessing at state of charge from a row of LEDs is one of the more outdated habits still hanging around older RV electrical setups, and Redarc's Smart Battery Monitor is built to remove that guesswork entirely — a wireless shunt-based monitor that reports directly to your phone.
Key features
- Monitors current draw up to 500A via an in-line shunt
- Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity with a claimed wireless range of around 42 metres
- Compatible with lead-acid, AGM, gel, calcium and lithium (LiFePO4) battery chemistries
- App-based display of state of charge, current and voltage
- Compact shunt-mounted design without a separate wired display panel required
RV use case
This is aimed at owners who want accurate, real-time visibility of their battery bank without wiring a dedicated display panel into the dash or cabinetry — the Bluetooth range is generous enough to check status from inside the van, at the campsite table, or from the tow vehicle. It's particularly useful alongside a lithium upgrade, where accurate state-of-charge reporting matters more than it did with AGM.
Pros
- No wired display panel required — checks happen straight from a phone
- Solid Bluetooth range for a battery-bay-mounted device
- Broad chemistry compatibility covers both existing AGM setups and lithium upgrades
Cons
- Being app-based, it depends on a charged phone to check status at a glance
- Shunt installation needs correct polarity and placement to read accurately
- Doesn't include a permanent physical display for owners who prefer one
Best for
Owners wanting accurate battery monitoring without a wired dash display — particularly useful paired with a recent lithium battery upgrade where precise state-of-charge data matters.
Verdict
It solves the actual problem — knowing what your battery's really doing — without adding another panel to your dash. For owners happy to check a phone rather than a wall-mounted screen, it's a clean, effective solution.
Redarc Smart Battery Monitor (BSEN500)
Close-up of the shunt unit and terminal connections
Phone app displaying live battery status
Shunt installed in a battery compartment, paired with the phone app