Community Forums

Pillbox · 07-27-2020, 06:06 PM

Well, the install says put the shunt @18 inches away from the battery.
Ok, but, I have all these other gizmos in line also.
So where should I put it?

Pillbox · 07-27-2020, 06:10 PM

More photos of battery bay, this is the house side.

Talloaks · 07-28-2020, 03:49 PM

The shunt goes on the battery ground, right? If you disconnect your battery ground cable from your ground lug on the frame or wherever it fastens, then pick a spot on the compartment wall that the cable will reach without too severe of a bend. Then you need another cable segment of the same size to connect from the shunt to the original ground lug on the frame, or wherever the original was attached. That's pretty basic, but can't tell you much more without seeing a better overall view of your compartment and how the ground cable is routed.

Pillbox · 07-28-2020, 08:55 PM

The instructions say no further than 18 inches from battery.
My question , because I’m not clear is, the black gizmos, do they draw anything or are they just a mounting point for other grounds? Does the BMK reading differ if it’s after the Battery, after the black gizmo? Circled in red.

Talloaks · 07-29-2020, 08:15 AM

The shunt needs to be the first device connected on the negative lead from the battery. The device you show circled in red appears to possibly be simply a connection lug. I see three leads connected to it. I'm guessing one is the battery negative lead, one is the inverter/charger negative lead (or converter, depending on your setup) and third may go to a frame ground. You should verify that is the case by tracing out the cables, but that is a possible/likely arrangement.

So identify the lead that connects to the battery negative terminal, and place the shunt in that line prior to any connection with any other device or ground location. All ground current to/from the battery must go through the shunt in order for it to give you valid information.

Obviously, follow all standard electrical precautions for working around batteries, such as laying insulating mats over the batteries. I actually removed my batteries when I installed my BMK. There are several ways to get seriously hurt or cause serious damage if you make a mistake. It is definitely not a project for a trial and error approach. Good luck.

Pillbox · 07-29-2020, 08:47 AM

John,

Yes,yes,yes,
All of your statements are true.
ALL batteries will be removed prior to work. 1st clean battery tray, stuff like that.
THANK YOU, putting it first in line is really going to be easy. I wanted the BMK to be as accurate as possible. The instruction are not really clear.

Terry

ByeTheWay · 07-31-2020, 04:09 PM

Is there a problem in removing the neg battery cable, mounting one end of the shunt to the battery post and re connecting the battery cable to the other end of the shunt ?

Pillbox · 07-31-2020, 11:11 PM

Good question.
That is an idea, but I believe you want to keep it in a cooler environment?
Vibration might be an issue also.
I dont know.

twinboat · 08-01-2020, 05:08 AM

If you saw the shunt, you would see that you can't connect it to a battery post. Unless you have a different shunt.
Besides, that won't be 18" away.

Find the negetive cable leaving the battery compartment. If there's more the one, remove them all, and put them on one side of the shunt.

Now buy a 18" to 24" heavy cable ( 2/0 or 4/0 ) and run that from the negetive battery post to the other side of the shunt.

If your still not sure, take some pictures of the batteries and post them.

Click image for larger version

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ByeTheWay · 08-01-2020, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

If you saw the shunt, you would see that you can't connect it to a battery post. Unless you have a different shunt.
Besides, that won't be 18" away.

Find the negetive cable leaving the battery compartment. If there's more the one, remove them all, and put them on one side of the shunt.

Now buy a 18" to 24" heavy cable ( 2/0 or 4/0 ) and run that from the negetive battery post to the other side of the shunt.

If your still not sure, take some pictures of the batteries and post them.Attachment 295292

Thanks for the correction. I do have a Magnum BMK with a shunt but it has been several years since I installed it.

n2zon · 08-01-2020, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

If you saw the shunt, you would see that you can't connect it to a battery post. Unless you have a different shunt.
Besides, that won't be 18" away.

Find the negetive cable leaving the battery compartment. If there's more the one, remove them all, and put them on one side of the shunt.

Now buy a 18" to 24" heavy cable ( 2/0 or 4/0 ) and run that from the negetive battery post to the other side of the shunt.

If your still not sure, take some pictures of the batteries and post them.Attachment 295292

Entirely true. I found this a bit irritating. What would be wrong with making it so it attached to the negative battery stud and provided a stud on the other side? That would obviate the need to add a cable and make more connections than should be necessary.

I do like the functions, though.