SmartShunt 500A Install - Ford Transit Passenger Van, Factory Dual Battery

DIY
, , , ,
1

Greetings – new user and new to the Victron community!
I’m looking for some guidance on installing a Victron Energy SmartShunt 500A in my Ford Transit passenger van.
System Overview
Vehicle: Ford Transit Passenger Van
Battery System: Two factory starting batteries (parallel configuration)
Goal: Monitor battery usage because several accessories are connected to the factory auxiliary switches. These loads can run whether the engine is on or off, and I’d like to track battery usage and set alarms to avoid draining the batteries while parked.
Questions

  1. Shunt Placement
    Since the van has two factory batteries wired in parallel, where is the best location to install the SmartShunt so it measures the entire battery bank? My assumption is that it should go on the main negative cable leaving the battery bank, but I want to confirm the best approach for monitoring both batteries together.

  2. Load Side Connection
    For the “Load Minus” side of the shunt, should this connect directly to the vehicle’s chassis ground point where the battery negative originally connected?

  3. AUX Input Usage
    Can the Aux input on the SmartShunt be used to monitor the starting circuit voltage separately while the main measurement monitors the combined battery bank?

  4. Avoiding Bypass Paths
    Are there any common “sneak paths” in the Transit electrical system that could bypass the shunt and cause inaccurate readings?

Thanks in advance, and I look forward to any advice, tips, suggestions, or examples from others who have installed this setup.

  • Erik