Correct way to wire a shunt

[icarusbop]

Hello:

I have a battery monitor onboard made by Averc with a shunt in the system to monitor current useage. I have been investigating the wiring on it, currently the shunt is wired into the positive side of the batteries and the monitor seems to work.
Internet searches suggest a shunt should always be installed on the negative side of the battery circuit.
I have consulted the manual for the battery monitor, it says the shunt should be in the positive side of the circuit (as it currently is).

Now I don't know if I should rewire it or leave it as it is, can anyone give me a bit of advice please?
Regards: IcarusBop

 

[PaulRainbow]

Leave it alone.

 

[rogerthebodger]

As Paul says there leave it alone. If if ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[TernVI]

There's a lot of rubbish on the internet.
Half truths and stuff repeated out of context.
Which side of the battery it goes will depend on the monitoring circuit connected to it, whether that's designed to work near one rail or the other. You need to go with what the makers have designed for.

 

[icarusbop]

Thanks for all for the replies as per instructions and advice I'll leave it on the positive side.

On a similar note - there is no mention of shunt proximity to the battery in the instructions, it is currently about 1 metre long the positive, I've seen some suggestions it needs to be as close to the batteries as possible - would the distance make any difference?

 

[Bru]

On a similar note - there is no mention of shunt proximity to the battery in the instructions, it is currently about 1 metre long the positive, I've seen some suggestions it needs to be as close to the batteries as possible - would the distance make any difference?

A difference, yes. A noticeable difference? Probably not as long as the cable from the battery to the shunt is hefty enough

 

[pvb]

On a similar note - there is no mention of shunt proximity to the battery in the instructions, it is currently about 1 metre long the positive, I've seen some suggestions it needs to be as close to the batteries as possible - would the distance make any difference?

No difference at all to the current reading. It might be possible for there to be a miniscule difference to the voltage reading, if a high current is being drawn.

 

[cpedw]

I've seen some suggestions it needs to be as close to the batteries as possible - would the distance make any difference?

What matters is "electrical closeness" ; there must be nothing else connected to the battery positive apart from the shunt.

 

[VicS]

Hello: I have a battery monitor onboard made by Averc with a shunt in the system to monitor current useage. I have been investigating the wiring on it, currently the shunt is wired into the positive side of the batteries and the monitor seems to work.
Internet searches suggest a shunt should always be installed on the negative side of the battery circuit.
I have consulted the manual for the battery monitor, it says the shunt should be in the positive side of the circuit (as it currently is).
Now I don't know if I should rewire it or leave it as it is, can anyone give me a bit of advice please?
Regards: IcarusBop

This is the answer to your question
Most battery monitors have the shunt in the negative battery connection but the Adverc has it in the positive.

IIRC the Adverc is able to measure the current in several circuits. It is probably easier to fit multiple shunts in the positive sides of the circuits

 

[icarusbop]

Thanks to everyone for their help with this.
I've left the shunt where it is.