Choosing between Victron's SmartShunt and Lynx Shunt? They're both built to watch over your battery system, but they're meant for different setups. In this guide, we’ll break down how they work and which one makes more sense for your specific installation.
How Victron Shunts Keep Tabs on Your Battery
Victron makes a range of shunts that keep track of current and voltage flowing through your battery system. By measuring these values, they calculate your battery's state of charge (SOC) and help you keep an eye on energy usage. From the Bluetooth-equipped Victron SmartShunt to the more integrated Victron Lynx Shunt VE.Can that plugs into a larger distribution system, there's a model to fit nearly any configuration.
What’s a Shunt and Why Does It Matter?
A shunt is a metal block wired into the negative line of your Victron battery. As power flows through it, the shunt measures current draw and tracks how much energy is coming in or out. When paired with a Victron monitoring system like a GX device or BMV-712, you’ll see real-time info on SOC, battery voltage, and load behavior. The Victron Smart Shunt sends this data wirelessly to the VictronConnect app using Bluetooth monitoring, while the Lynx Shunt VE.Can pushes data through VE.Can to devices like the Victron Cerbo GX.
Tracking SOC and Energy Flow
Both models pick up voltage directly from the battery terminals and current through the shunt. This info is used to estimate SOC, log charge cycles, and catch energy trends. The SmartShunt beams this data to your phone, while the Lynx version integrates it into Victron’s GX display environment and VRM portal.
Part of the Bigger Picture: Connecting to Victron's Ecosystem
These shunts don’t work in isolation. They plug into the broader Victron Energy Lynx ecosystem. The SmartShunt relies on Bluetooth, while the Lynx Shunt connects via VE.Can cables to hubs like the Cerbo GX. Either way, they deliver a full picture of what your batteries are doing in your power systems.
SmartShunt vs. Lynx Shunt: What Sets Them Apart?
Though both measure battery metrics, how they do it—and how they connect—makes a big difference.
What the SmartShunt Brings to the Table
- Small form factor
- Communicates via Bluetooth
- Doesn’t require a display
- Pairs with VictronConnect app
- Functions as a built-in battery monitor
It’s designed for systems where space is tight or simplicity is key—like vans, RVs, or small off-grid cabins. Installation is quick, and it doesn’t need a Cerbo or any additional gear to get started.
The Lynx Shunt VE.Can: Built for Bigger Systems
- Fits into the Lynx distribution system
- Supports 1000A current
- Includes a system fuse
- Requires Cerbo GX or similar GX device for interface
- Ideal for pairing with a Lynx Smart BMS and lithium battery setups.
The Lynx Shunt is made for systems that include the Lynx Distributor, Lynx Smart BMS, and Lynx Power-In modules. It’s right at home in high-demand setups using lithium batteries, busbars, MPPT chargers, and the Victron Multiplus inverter.
A Quick Look at Current Capacity
- SmartShunt: Handles up to 500A
- Lynx Shunt: Rated for 1000A and includes fuse protection
So if you’re pushing high loads through an inverter or managing a large battery bank, the Lynx has more headroom and integrates better with modular Lynx components.
Installation Basics
Whether you choose the SmartShunt or Lynx Shunt, installation follows a similar path—start with wiring the shunt into the negative side of your battery bank.
Installing the SmartShunt
Mount it close to your Victron battery, connect the negative lead, and link it via Bluetooth to your phone or tablet. After pairing, use the VictronConnect app to set your battery’s chemistry and capacity.It works seamlessly with Victron Blue equipment, including smaller dc to dc chargers.
Setting Up the Lynx Shunt
You’ll need a Cerbo GX and other Lynx modules to use this properly. It slots into a Victron Lynx Distributor bus bar and talks to the Cerbo via VE.Can. It’s a more involved install, but the payoff is deep integration and serious scalability across multiple batteries in parallel.
Dialing In the Battery Settings
Both shunts need to know what kind of battery you’re using—lead acid, lithium, or LiFePO4—and how many amp-hours it stores. With the SmartShunt, that’s done in the app. With the Lynx, it’s done through the GX interface and synced across your Victron environment.
Matching Shunts to Your Battery Type
Both the SmartShunt and Lynx Shunt support a wide range of battery types and system voltages, making them highly versatile options. However, the level of system integration you require plays a much bigger role in deciding which is best. The SmartShunt excels in basic setups with limited devices and wiring, while the Lynx Shunt is purpose-built for more advanced installations where centralized monitoring, high current flow, and integration with Victron's modular Lynx stack are key priorities.
SmartShunt for Simpler Setups
Ideal for lead-acid or LiFePO4 banks in portable or compact systems. It’s the go-to for users who want solid monitoring without extra devices like a Smart BMS or external GX device.
Lynx Shunt for High-End Lithium Systems
Built to integrate with Victron Smart BMS and high-capacity lithium banks. It’s all about high precision and seamless data sharing within a complex Victron Energy Lynx setup, especially when paired with dc to dc chargers or solar inputs from Smart Solar modules.
When You’re Managing Heavy Loads
If your system runs large inverters, MPPT chargers, or batteries in parallel, the 1000A capacity of the Lynx Shunt is a safer bet. It also helps consolidate wiring through the Lynx busbar system for better airflow and long-term reliability.
Connecting to Monitoring Gear
Getting the data where you need it depends entirely on the type of shunt you install and how you plan to interact with your monitoring setup. Some users want quick Bluetooth access from their phones; others need a fully integrated dashboard that ties into multiple devices. The communication protocol—whether Bluetooth or VE.Can—determines how you visualize battery metrics and how easily you can expand your system later. Choosing the right data pathway is just as important as selecting the right shunt model itself.
Using the SmartShunt with VictronConnect
Simple: install the app, connect via Bluetooth, and start seeing SOC, current, battery voltage, and logs. You don’t need a Cerbo unless you’re adding more monitoring later, but it still plays well with other Victron tools like the BMV or Victron Multiplus inverter.
Plugging the Lynx Shunt into a GX System
This one’s meant for deeper integration. Run VE.Can to the Cerbo GX, and let the data flow. From there, you can check performance on a touchscreen or remotely via VRM. By integrating the Lynx Shunt, Lynx Smart BMS, and modular Lynx distribution modules, you create a powerhouse system that leverages each component’s strengths.
Wiring Through the Lynx Busbar
Keep your setup streamlined by combining the Lynx Distributor with Lynx Power-In to manage current flow. This approach cuts cable mess and gives room to scale. It's particularly useful when you're combining batteries in parallel or using power-hungry appliances.
What’s the Deal with the Lynx Stack?
The Lynx lineup is more than just the shunt—it’s a modular system made for serious setups.
Core Components
- Victron Lynx Distributor: routes power, includes fuses
- Lynx Shunt VE.Can: tracks usage, protects system
- Lynx Power-In: links to battery input or charger
These stack together, both physically and functionally, forming a backbone for large off-grid or mobile installations.
Built-In Busbars and Fuses
Everything is pre-wired inside solid busbars. You get solid current paths and built-in safety, including fuse protection right in the Lynx Shunt module. Add a Lynx Smart BMS to coordinate battery management and safety.
Ready to Expand
Add more modules to support more batteries or integrate additional hardware like Smart Solar chargers or additional inverter banks. The modular Lynx design means your system grows without rewiring.
Summary Table: Which One Fits?
| Feature | SmartShunt | Lynx Shunt VE.Can |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring Method | Bluetooth via App | VE.Can to GX Devices |
| Max Amps | 500A SmartShunt | 1000A |
| Built-in Fuse | No | Yes |
| Physical Setup | Simple, compact | Modular Lynx busbar system |
| Ideal For | Vans, RVs, cabins | Yachts, large lithium setups |
| Battery Support | Lead acid, LiFePO4, lithium | Best with lithium + Smart BMS |
| Extra Gear Needed | None | Cerbo GX, Lynx modules |
Final Thoughts
If your system is small, portable, or budget-focused, the Victron SmartShunt keeps things easy. But if you’re managing a full-blown Victron Energy Lynx power distribution network with multiple batteries and high current demands, the Lynx Shunt VE.Can is the smarter fit.
Select the option that matches your wiring layout, battery chemistry, and growth plans.
