Does a SmartShunt create heat?

[Andy MacD]

So I’m fitting a SmartShunt beside my under seat battery. There‘s no space to mount it securely on the floor so I have 2 choices, let it float around the underseat area or attach it to the side of the battery with sticky pads.

Given the uncovered terminals of the SmartShunt I’m opting for sticking to the side of the battery, unless it creates any heat when operating?

Thanks.

 

[jumar]

So I’m fitting a SmartShunt beside my under seat battery. There‘s no space to mount it securely on the floor so I have 2 choices, let it float around the underseat area or attach it to the side of the battery with sticky pads.

Given the uncovered terminals of the SmartShunt I’m opting for sticking to the side of the battery, unless it creates any heat when operating?

Thanks.

Mine doesn't.

 

[Billy192]

nor mine

 

[pappajohn]

I would think if the shunt produced heat the pre shunt wires would have too.

 

[bigtwin]

Anything that current passes through will generate heat due to the resistance; in the case of a shunt, it’d be barely measurable.

Ian

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[scotjimland]

Does a Shunt Get Hot?​

A shunt experiencing a full load may get a bit warm, but that’s about it. Thus, you don’t have to worry about it becoming so hot that it will damage any surrounding wires. If you decide to enclose it, you should ensure there’s enough room around it for some airflow. However, it will likely stay the same temperature as the wires around it.

 

[Lenny HB]

Depends on how much current you are putting through it, if the full 500 amp it will get a tiny bit warm but if only 100-200 amps probably hardly notice it.
The cables and the connections are lightly to get warmer.

 

[ManTheVan]

What they said! ^^^

 

[autorouter]

It's correct that a shunt is a resistance, but the point is that the resistance is very small and is very precisely known.

In the data sheet it says the voltage drop at 500A is 50mV, so its resistance is V / I = .05 / 500 = 0.0001 ohms. That's a tenth of a milliohm. About the same resistance as a 15cm length of 25mm sq cable.

In terms of watts dissipation, at 500A it's 25 watts, and at 100A it's 1 watt. So yes, it generates heat like every piece of wire does, but it's generally negligible. If the amps ever gets up to 500A then I think you will have much better problems than the heat in the shunt.