Pacific Yacht Systemsvideo

What Is The Purpose of a Shunt?

6 October 2020 · 2 min · 38K views

What this video covers

A shunt functions as a precision resistor that allows a battery monitor to calculate current by measuring the voltage differential across it.0:37 When installing solar panels, connecting the negative wire from the solar controller directly to the battery terminals bypasses the shunt.1:34 This installation error prevents the battery monitor from registering the solar charge, as the current flow remains uncounted by the monitoring device.1:36 To ensure accurate readings, all negative wires, including those from solar controllers, must connect to the negative distribution side of the shunt.2:02 This configuration guarantees that every amp entering or leaving the battery bank passes through the shunt for measurement. Proper integration requires that no negative return path bypasses the shunt, regardless of the specific battery monitor brand, such as Victron or Xantrex.1:53 Routing all negative connections through the shunt ensures the battery monitor accurately tracks solar charging input.2:09

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