How would you compare the Victron BMV712 with the Balmar SG210? Balmar SG210 Battery Monitor with Bluetooth Gateway

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How would you compare the Victron BMV712 with the Balmar SG210? Balmar SG210 Battery Monitor with Bluetooth Gateway

Status: Open Nov 12, 2025 - 11:02 AM

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Nov 12, 2025 - 11:07 AM

This is a comparison of two leading battery monitors in the marine and RV market. The Victron BMV-712 Smart and the Balmar SG210 both use a shunt to provide high-precision monitoring, but they have distinct differences in their core technology and system integration. Here is a detailed breakdown of their features:

Feature	Victron BMV-712 Smart	Balmar SG210 (SG200 + Bluetooth Gateway)
Core Technology	Amp-Hour Counting (Coulomb Counting): Calculates State of Charge (SoC) by accurately tracking every amp-hour in and out of the battery, using programmable parameters (Peukert exponent, charge efficiency).	"SmartGauge" Technology (Voltage/Current Hybrid): Combines shunt-based amp-hour counting with proprietary algorithms that use real-time voltage and current to predict SoC and State of Health (SoH). Claims to self-calibrate and learn faster.
Key Metric Displayed	State of Charge (SoC %), Amps, Volts, Time-to-Go, Ah Consumed.	State of Charge (SoC %), State of Health (SoH %), Amps, Volts, Time-to-Go, History, Faults.
Display	High-contrast monochrome LCD display. Round gauge with an optional square bezel.	Large, bright color LCD display. Fits a standard 2 1/16" gauge socket. Generally considered easier to read at a glance.
Connectivity	Bluetooth Built-in to the display unit. Uses VE.Direct communication protocol to connect to the shunt and other Victron devices (Cerbo GX, etc.).	Bluetooth Gateway Included (in the SG210 kit). Uses a proprietary SmartLink cable to connect the display, shunt, and gateway.
System Integration	Deep Integration with the Victron Ecosystem. Data is seamlessly shared across all Victron devices (Inverter/Chargers, Solar Controllers) via VE.Direct and can be viewed remotely on the Victron VRM Portal (requires a GX device).	Integration with Balmar Regulators (MC-618). Can network with other Balmar devices. NMEA 2000 compatibility is available with a separate NMEA 2000 SmartShunt model (SG230).
Auxiliary Monitoring	Has a secondary input that can monitor Auxiliary Voltage (e.g., a start battery), Battery Temperature (requires optional sensor), or Midpoint Voltage (for series-connected banks).	Standard support for two additional Start/Auxiliary battery voltage lines.
Shunt Included	Typically includes a 500A/50mV quick-connect shunt (can be used with larger shunts up to 10,000A).	Typically includes a 350A SmartShunt (Continuous rating).
Power Consumption	Very Low current draw (typically less than $1 \text{mA}$ @ 12V).	Low current draw (Display On: $20 \text{mA}$ @ 12V; Sleep Mode: $10 \text{mA}$ @ 12V).