Where to put shunt

Yes, but how is the plastic base of the shunt affixed to the battery itself? I can't screw mine down to these Trojans. Perhaps 3m tape would work?

Thanks.

The Z bracket is flattened 3/4" copper pipe and easy to make with a hammer and vice. The battery post bolt is one of several common terminal types available for Lifeline and other batteries.

Where did you get that copper Z bracket? And how did you mount the shunt to the top of the battery?

Thanks.

Here's mine.

Several DC loads in the RV use the frame for their negative paths to the battery, so you have to put the battery neg to frame wire on the outer end of the shunt along with the rest of the neg wires so the shunt sees all the amps flowing. Then just the one fat wire goes to the battery neg from the inner end of the shunt.

JRRNeiklot wrote:

westend wrote:


Your existing wires stay in place. The shunt should be installed between Battery (-) phase battery post and frame ground. Look to see where your (-) phase battery wire attaches to frame ground. If the negative cable coming off the battery goes to frame ground, it is often easier to attach the shunt at the battery or a short distance away between battery and that negative cable that connects to the frame.

I currently do not have the shunt between the battery and the frame ground. Is that going to be an issue?

Thanks.

Yes. Read and follow the instructions.

westend wrote:


Your existing wires stay in place. The shunt should be installed between Battery (-) phase battery post and frame ground. Look to see where your (-) phase battery wire attaches to frame ground. If the negative cable coming off the battery goes to frame ground, it is often easier to attach the shunt at the battery or a short distance away between battery and that negative cable that connects to the frame.

I currently do not have the shunt between the battery and the frame ground. Is that going to be an issue?

Thanks.

JRRNeiklot wrote:
Those instructions say all negative loads should go directly to the shunt. I am currently using the stock power cables from the trailer and they are ran directly to the battery. Is that going to be an issue or can I leave those as they are?

Everything else I can wire to the shunt fairly easily.

Thanks.

Your existing wires stay in place. The shunt should be installed between Battery (-) phase battery post and frame ground. Look to see where your (-) phase battery wire attaches to frame ground. If the negative cable coming off the battery goes to frame ground, it is often easier to attach the shunt at the battery or a short distance away between battery and that negative cable that connects to the frame.

Those instructions say all negative loads should go directly to the shunt. I am currently using the stock power cables from the trailer and they are ran directly to the battery. Is that going to be an issue or can I leave those as they are?

Everything else I can wire to the shunt fairly easily.

Thanks.

allen8106 wrote:

It matters because the installation instructions say so.

I'll both agree and disagree with that statement. Somebody who knows electricity well knows that the shunt, at least in theory, with work equally in any circuit position that carries the full battery current. In deciding to not follow the instructions he's taking the responsibility for any unintended side effects, but with that electrical knowledge will probably have a sense for noticing any unintended side effects. For somebody without the electrical expertise, the directions are very specific, which reduces the chance of something going wrong. And if somebody needs troubleshooting support, it's a lot easier with a known wiring configuration. So if you really know what you're doing, it's IMO OK to deviate from the instructions. If you don't know what you're doing, follow the instructions.