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ncserenity avatar image
ncserenity asked

500 Amp Smart Shunt...

Do you have to run the smaller power supply cable directly to the battery terminal or can you hook it to any constant 12v terminal. Wasn't sure if this cable measures voltage of the battery bank or is just a simple power supply? Trying to avoid digging out a bunch of caulk to get the red wire outside the trailer....

SmartShunt
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Matthias Lange - DE avatar image
Matthias Lange - DE answered ·

It must be connected to the battery. It is used as power supply but also for measuring and calculation.

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grantj avatar image grantj commented ·

With respect, Mr. Lange - could you explain further on this design? If the supplied VBatt+ cable must only be connected to the battery positive to be measured, then one would assume that it's length (resistance) would be critical - yet, in the Smart Shunt installation manual, there is no mention or prohibition on extending this cable to reach the battery in question. If extending the VBatt+ cable is in fact NOT permitted, this would restrict the location of the Smart Shunt installation significantly, as the cable is relatively short.

My understanding of the shunt principle is that it is uses the voltage drop measured across the NEGATIVE connections to calculate current. How does the Smart Shunt measure anything through the VBatt+ wire?

It seems unlikely to me that connecting the VBatt+ wire to, for example, a battery switch post that is connected directly to the battery positive by perhaps a 1m length of 4/0 AWG cable, has any electrical effect at all on the function of the Smart Shunt.

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Matthias Lange - DE avatar image Matthias Lange - DE ♦ grantj commented ·

The current measurement is done on the negative across the shunt. The small red wire is for the voltage measurement and power supply for the electronics of the Shunt/BMV. The power consumption of the Shunt/BMV is very small (around 1mA) and therefore there is almost no voltage drop at that part.

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