Wanted: Victron SmartShunt — secondhand OK

Looking to pick up a secondhand SmartShunt 500A/48V if anyone's got one gathering dust. Budget's around £180-220 depending on condition and whether it's still under warranty (though not essential).

Currently running a hybrid setup in my garden office — 8kWh Victron LiFePO₄ battery bank with a Multiplus II 48/5000, and I need better visibility on charge/discharge cycles. The BMV-712 I've been using is adequate, but integrating via Victron's ecosystem means I can ditch the separate monitoring and get everything into VRM without faff.

I'm in the South West, so collection would be ideal to avoid postage costs on something this heavy. Can do local courier pickup if needed though.

Alternatively, if someone's got experience running a SmartShunt with a non-Victron MPPT (I've got a Renogy 60A controller that's been rock solid), I'd appreciate feedback before committing. Know the shunt plays nicely with the Multiplus, but keen to hear whether it handles mixed-brand setups without drama.

Happy to purchase outright or potentially discuss a part-ex if anyone's upgrading to the 500A/200A variant and has a spare lying about.

Drop a line if you've got one or know where I should be looking beyond eBay and Gumtree.

I'd recommend checking the firmware version before you commit to a secondhand unit. Some of the older SmartShunts had quirky behaviour with the Bluetooth stack on certain firmware releases—nothing catastrophic, but annoying if you're relying on app monitoring.

That said, at your budget you're looking at decent value. I picked up a refurbished 500A from a distributor about eighteen months back and it's been rock-solid. The shunt itself is pretty much bulletproof hardware; it's the comms side where you might hit gremlins.

Make sure whoever's selling it can do a quick firmware update run-through before handover. Takes ten minutes with Victron Connect. And obviously check those shunt terminals for corrosion—saltwater narrowboats, damp cabins, all that. Clean with proper flux if needed.

The 500A is overkill for most setups but there's no harm in headroom. Should shift fairly quickly at that price point though.

@CliveBaker cheers for the thread — been in the same boat hunting for one. Quick question before you settle on secondhand: have you considered the Fogstar alternative? I looked at both when sizing my cabin setup and the Fogstar's genuinely competitive at that price point, plus you get a full warranty.

That said, if you find a genuine Victron unit, @PanelEwan's spot on about firmware. Also worth checking the Bluetooth connectivity works properly — I've heard reports of older units dropping connection intermittently, which is a pain for monitoring.

One thing I'd add: make sure whoever's selling it can prove it's been calibrated correctly. A miscalibrated shunt throws your SOC readings right off, and that's a nightmare to diagnose later. Ask for screenshots of the settings if possible.

What's your system voltage and expected loads? Might help narrow down whether 500A's actually the right spec for you.

Worth asking the seller if they've got the original documentation and commissioning details — Victron gear is brilliant but you'll want to verify it's been registered properly on their system. Makes warranty claims and firmware updates miles easier down the line.

Also, what's your actual battery voltage? You've specified 48V but worth double-checking whether you actually need the 500A model or if a 250A would do the job. The smaller ones crop up more often secondhand and save you a fair bit of cash. I'm running a 250A on my garden office setup and it's honestly overkill for what I do.

One more thing — if you're in the south, there's usually a couple floating about on eBay UK with decent feedback. Prices have dropped a bit since the spring rush. Could be worth setting up a saved search rather than waiting for forum stock.

The 500A/48V is a solid choice for most domestic setups. Before you commit though, I'd push back slightly on secondhand here — and that's coming from someone who runs entirely refurbished Victron kit.

The SmartShunt's real value is in the VE.Can protocol integration and accurate SOC reporting over time. If the unit's been reset or the owner hasn't kept logs, you're essentially starting from scratch with calibration. That's not a dealbreaker, but it does mean the historical data — which is half the point — is gone.

That said, if the price is right and the seller can confirm it communicates cleanly with your GX device (Venus OS, Cerbo, whatever you're running), grab it. Just budget another £40-60 to have Victron's support team do a firmware refresh and quick diagnostics if you're nervous. Their secondhand trade-in programme occasionally has refurbed units at similar money anyway.

Watch out for the 48V variants — make absolutely certain the voltage matches your battery bank. Easy mistake, costs you a magic smoke moment.

What's your current monitoring setup?

@CliveBaker decent budget there, mate. Just a heads-up from experience — make sure you ask the seller about the firmware version when it was last updated. Victron pushes regular updates through the app, and an older unit might be running outdated code, which can cause comms issues with your battery monitor or MPPT.

Also worth checking: has it actually been used in an off-grid setup or was it sat on a shelf? The capacitors can drift if they've been idle for years, though it's not a deal-breaker. Request a photo of the display showing the serial number and any error codes before parting with cash.

If the price creeps much higher than £220, honestly, you might as well grab a new one from Offgrid Cabin or similar — they occasionally do decent discounts, and you'll get the full warranty peace of mind. Just my two pence though.

Good luck with the hunt!

Worth checking the shunt's calibration history with the seller — Victron firmware updates are straightforward via VE.Direct, but if it's been sat unused for years, verify the internal resistor hasn't drifted. Also confirm whether they're offloading because it worked fine or because there were monitoring glitches. At your budget, you're looking at decent spec; just don't skimp on the cabling runs.