Shunt Resistor: What is it (And How Does it Work)?

Contents

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Key learnings:

Shunt Resistor Definition: A shunt resistor is a device with low resistance used to direct most of the circuit’s current through a specified path.
Connection Method: Shunt resistors are connected in parallel with measurement devices like ammeters to maintain equal voltage across them.
Using Ohm’s Law: To determine the current flowing through a shunt resistor, Ohm’s law is applied by measuring the voltage across the resistor.
Construction Tips: When building a shunt resistor, the type of wire and its length are crucial to achieving the desired resistance and functionality.
Applications: Shunt resistors are integral in applications such as current measurement, overvoltage protection, and bypassing faulty components in circuits.

What is a Shunt Resistor?

A shunt resistor (or shunt) is defined as a device that creates a low resistance path to force most of the electric current through the circuit to flow through this path. In most cases, a shunt resistor is made up of a material having a low-temperature coefficient of resistance, giving it a very low resistance over a wide temperature range.

Shunt resistors are commonly used in current measuring devices called “ammeters”. In an ammeter, the shunt resistance is connected in parallel. An ammeter is connected in series with a device or circuit.

How Does a Shunt Resistor Work?

A shunt resistor has low resistance, offering a path of least resistance for current. It is connected in parallel with devices like ammeters to ensure accurate current measurement.

The shunt resistor employs Ohm’s law to calculate current by measuring voltage across its known resistance, which is identical to the voltage across the connected ammeter.

Hence, if we measure the voltage across a shunt resistance, we can measure the current passing through the device by the equation below of ohm’s law.

$I = \frac{V}{R}$

Using a Shunt Resistor to Measure Current

Consider an ammeter that has resistance R_a and measures a very small current I_a. For exceeding the range of an ammeter, a shunt resistor R_s is placed parallel with R_m.

The circuit diagram of these connections is shown in the figure below.

The total current supplied by the source is I. It is divided into two paths.

According to Kirchhoff’s current law (KCL),

$I = I_s + I_a$

Where,

I_s = current passes through resistance R_s (shunt current)

I_a = current passes through resistance R_a

$I_s = I - I_a$

The shunt resister R_s is connected parallel with resistor R_a. Hence the voltage drop across both resisters are equal.

$V_s = V_a$

$I_s R_s = I_a R_a$

$(I - I_a) R_s = I_a R_a$

$IR_s - I_a R_s = I_a R_a$

$IR_s = I_a R_a + I_a R_s$

$IR_s = I_a (R_a + R_s)$

$\frac{I}{I_a} = \frac{ R_a + R_s }{R_s}$

$N = 1 + \frac{R_a}{R_s}$

Where N is a multiplying power of shunt.

How to Build a Shunt Resistor

The shunt resister can be built with very thin copper wires. The length and size of the shunt resister depend on the resistance you require.

The resistance of the shunt resistor will decide the range of the ammeter.

If you use 10 AWG (2.59 mm diameter) copper wire, the resistance of this wire is 0.9989 ohms per 1000 feet. This resistance may vary according to the quality of a wire.

Hence, make sure of the resistance before using it. To calculate the required length of wire for a particular value of shunt resistor, use the below equation.

$Length \, of \, wire = \frac{Required \, shunt \, resistance \, (m \Omega)}{Resistance \, per \, 1000 \, feet }$

For example, if you require a shunt of 0.5 mΩ and use 10 AWG wire, put the above values in this equation.

$Length \, of \, wire = \frac{0.5}{0.9989}$

$Length \, of \, wire \approx 0.5 feet$

What Is the Purpose of Shunt Resistor (Applications)?

Shunt resistors are used in several key applications, as listed below:

A shunt resistor is used in an electrical circuit to protect against overvoltage.
It is used in a current measuring device.
It is used to bypass defective devices. (When a number of components are connected in series, one component is failed to operate, it will break the entire circuit. In this condition, the shunt resistor bypasses the fail component and continues the circuit path.)
A shunt resistor with a capacitor is used in a circuit to avoid the problem of high-frequency noise.
It is used in overload protection control circuits, including power supplies.

How to Size a Shunt Resistor

Generally, a shunt resistor is used in the current measuring device. The size of the shunt resister will decide the range of the ammeter.

The size of a shunt resistor is determined by the maximum current it can handle, which in turn depends on the desired voltage drop at this maximum current.

Let say a shunt resistor is designed for maximum current 100 A and voltage drop 50 mV. Typically, the voltage drop at maximum current is 50 mV, 75 mV, or 100 mV.

Using Ohm’s law, we can calculate the resistance needed for a shunt resistor based on the maximum current and voltage drop, as demonstrated in the example.

$V = I R$

$50 \times 10^{-3} = 100 R$

$R = 0.5 m \Omega$