BMPRO Bluetooth battery monitor

[Peterng]

When I upgraded my camper trailer...I decided I wanted a decent 12v BMS monitor...but this entailed wiring, cutting and undertaking some physical mods on the camper I was a bit hesitant to undertake.
I saw an add for BMPRO bluetooth battery monitor...jumped on to YouTube and looked at a couple of vids..
What this system is...is basically a glorified Shunt that is connect to the battery via the neg pole and via an smart phone app..gives you a reading on the "state" of your 12v batteries.
So this product ticked a few boxes..."the no wiring issue" was one which stood out for me...the price including postage..$240.00...ouch..but I weighted up the issues..no wiring, cutting and buying a decent BMS gauge..etc..which with time taken into consideration..would be more than the $240.00 I was going to splash out.
I had a couple of $$$$ saved from the purchase of the Campertrailer...the secondhand market for Australian built campers is a buyers market at present...so I was well under my budget..
This product I have used for well over 12months and I can say...I am underwhelmed...the glorified Shunt has performed well...but it is the BMPRO app on the smart phone which is and has been an absolute "DOG" of a product.
I have deleted the app...reinstalled on numerous times to no avail..as the same issues arise.
1/. The "time remaining" of battery window does not work...and has never worked some day 1
2/. The Bluetooth range is 3 meters at most and you have to be nearly right next to the batteries for the app to connect to the Shunt..
3/. It has given false readings on the amount of "Charge" Amps shown.
4/. The app does not "lock" in the bluetooth settings...so when you shut the app down..then open it up again with your bluetooth...you have to "fiddle' with the settings to get the app to reconnect with the shunt..

I contacted the BMPRO people within the first week I was using this product and complained about the App..why the problems and why there has been not updates..their response was that a new updated BMPRO coming out.at a cost of...$250.00...and I could buy that which would solve some of my issues.
I could pack up the BMPRO and send it back to them and they will test it and see what the problem is...but I would have to pay $$$ for postage and if the issue was not found...then $$$ for the investigation.
No Thanks...

Overall...
1/. As a product to retrofit into an existing 12v system...10 out of 10 for ease of DIY..for it took me 20 minutes to fit the Shunt and get the monitor working.
2/. As for the smart phone app that comes with the product...1 out of 10 and I am being generous...putting it mildly...it is the " Pitts"

Would I buy one...nah..for I believe the BMPRO product is better with a complete BMPRO fit out as a whole system in a caravan etc..than as I used it as a retrofit.

[nj swb]

Did they ever offer you a refund (less shipping - I wouldn't complain about that)? At the very least, good customer service would've offered an exchange unit.

No offer of a discount to upgrade?

Requesting payment for investigating a complaint of poor performance? That sounds to me like they have had too many returns that they couldn't fault, which leads me to think it's not a well designed, robust system.

In my opinion, they sound like a company that don't stand behind their product, so I'll steer clear.

[Pajaru]

This may be a case for the AAAC

As the Product is "not fit for purpose" and maybe "Not as described"

That the path I would take first with the supplier then with the AAAC

Did they ever offer you a refund (less shipping - I wouldn't complain about that)?

I would also want the shipping cost as I believe that I should not have to suffer a financial
lost for purchasing a product that is "Not fit for purpose" or is faulty.

[Dicko1]

I,ve been mucking around with camper battery set ups for years. I now run a Matson battery monitor on my Camper batteries and my NW aux batteries. Bluetooth and at the price I wouldnt bother getting anything else.

https://www.autoelec.com.au/matson-wireless-bluetooth-battery-monitor-sense-sy

Simple and cheap enough. So long as you know the voltage that's all you really need. Doesn't matter how many amps are going in or out. So long as you can see the voltage you will know whether or not you need more input, more battery storage or if things are going well. I also use a Victron Bluetooth MPPT regulator to see solar input. Another handy tool.


I,d be ringing up and demanding a new unit. Your not the first to have experienced issues with this product.


Good luck.

[Peterng]

BMPRO have replied after I sent them a letter showing "screen shots" of the problems that I am having...which has now added to a new problem.
The BMRO app on my phone flashes a warning that the batteries are below my 50% threshold level..but then again when I go into the instruments on the app home screen..the volts read 12.6v. Thinking that this is rather "schizoid" message I was shown via the app...I went and got my volt meter out and it showed 12.5v.
A BMRO tech has asked me to take a photograph of my battery setup especially the wiring of the batteries..which I will do, for I want to give the product a "decent go" and try to get to the bottom of the problem.
It might be just a simple fix..Call me persistent...
If it doesn't work out...well, I'll just sent it back to BMPRO and ask for a refund.

[Dicko1]

Sounds like a dodgy unit. Expensive piece of kit. There are now many battery monitoring solutions ..not all bluetooth or wi-fi. Here is one that is cheap and can be mounted on youe camper. As I said Pete, I just go by the voltage. HAVE DONE FOR YEARS. wITH AGM YOU KNOW AT WHAT VOLTAGE THE AMOUNT OF LIFE LEFT IN THE BATTERY. iF YOU GET YOUR MONEY BACK AND JUST WANT A SIMPLE BLUETOOTH MONITOR FOR VOLTS ONLY...GET THE mATSON. gOOD LUCK.

[2bad4u]

Any update on this Peter? Their app seems to be pretty buggy. I deleted the app and bypassed the BMPRO unit in my caravan (it's essentially just a big fuse box now) and run all Victron equipment which has a far superior bluetooth / app function.

[mrbitchi]

Any update on this Peter? Their app seems to be pretty buggy. I deleted the app and bypassed the BMPRO unit in my caravan (it's essentially just a big fuse box now) and run all Victron equipment which has a far superior bluetooth / app function.

Would you mind saying which BMPRO model? In the process of speccing a new van and one of these is in the mix..

[2bad4u]

Would you mind saying which BMPRO model? In the process of speccing a new van and one of these is in the mix..

The BMPRO J35 (standard on all Jayco's now). I didn't like some of the features of it but the main thing is the solar charging is quite poor. I now run Victron SmartSolar controllers and a BMV712 monitor.