Batteries are the heart of an RV solar power system. It’s what stores the usable power and allows you to do things like keep your lights on, watch TV, or charge your electronics after the sun goes down.

So it’s important to keep your batteries healthy and ensure they are operating as they should.

Extreme temperatures, and super high, or super low voltage levels can damage battery cells – something RV owners want to avoid. A BMS controls the flow of current into or out of the batteries to protect them from damage and prevent them from shorting or worse, catching fire.

AGM (absorbent glass matt) and lead acid batteries shouldn’t be taken below 50% state of charge. That means for a 100 amp AGM or lead acid battery you have 50 amps of usable power stored in the battery when it’s fully charged. Going below 50% can damage the battery reducing its lifespan and function.

Lithium-ion batteries can be depleted to 100%, but if you don’t have a BMS the only way to know if you are close to empty is when your batteries die. Which is a less-than-ideal scenario if you are boondocking.

An RV BMS gives you real-time data on your current battery levels helping you know if you need to recharge your batteries with a generator, chassis charger, or other energy sources to keep them at healthy levels. It will also let you know when you will run out of battery power based on your current consumption.

This helpful data lets you make informed decisions about which appliances to use or not use and how to better conserve or generate power to elongate your boondocking stay.

There are loads of different kinds of battery management systems to choose from. Some offer more basic mountable displays that tie directly into your RV batteries through a shunt, while others offer high-tech smart screens and Bluetooth apps that let you control your RV solar system from your smartphone.

Some of the more basic RV battery management systems are the Victron Battery Monitor and Xantrex LinkLite. Both have mountable displays that give very basic information about the batteries, state of charge, and operating system with buttons.

The Victron Smart Shunt is a bit more high-tech having a Bluetooth-controlled app that gives you real-time data on the RV system from your smartphone. This includes usable hours of energy remaining and current levels of charge coming in.

But the best RV battery management system is hands down Renogy’s new product, Renogy One.

Renogy One is an all-in-one off-grid power monitoring system. It communicates with compatible Renogy products, like Renogy’s smart inverter, solar charge control, and batteries and allows you to control various systems of your RV from the touch of a screen.

From the in-house dashboard or app on your smartphone, you can adjust lights, control appliances, and even monitor your home when you’re away with their motion sensors and window and door sensors.

Its interface is super intuitive and gives you easy-to-read usable data on your solar yields. I also love that you can check on your system when you’re away from the RV (and if Bluetooth to your smartphone isn’t connected).

When our family came to visit us in Mexico we put our RV in storage. Unbeknownst to us, our solar panels failed during that time. After 5 days of sitting without power, our batteries died. We had no idea this happened until we checked in on the RV. Renogy One’s system would have allowed us to identify and rectify the problem right away.

Another cool feature is the ability to control certain appliances or lights from your phone if you have the applicable products like the Renogy smart plug or Renogy smart relay. You can even automate things like your lights, shades, or appliances with pre-programming.

Given its product line diversity and ease of use, it’s definitely the best battery management system out there for RVers. The caveat is that you need to have a complete solar setup with compatible Renogy products. So for RV owners who already have an RV power kit installed, it may not be a good solution.

Renogy is working on developing a shunt that would allow it to work with different batteries, but for now, you need compatible Renogy products.

If you already use Renogy products (the Renogy solar kit is fantastic) or you are looking to build out your off-grid solar setup, then this is a great BMS solution to look into.

Renogy One works on a monthly subscription, so you can start and stop service whenever you need and their package pricing makes starting with Renogy One rather affordable.

As you can see a battery management system is a must for any off-grid RV setup. The information it gives you and the safety it offers in managing your batteries is well worth its cost. Here’s too boondocking longer, safer, and more comfortably!