Battery Monitor Shunt placement

[Marphi]

I have just purchased a battery monitor and need to install a shunt near the battery compartment. I have a pop-up camper where my battery is in a box right at the front of the tongue sitting right above the motorized crank to raise the camper roof.

I was wondering where I could put the shunt since it should be protected from the elements. I was thinking of opening the cover to my battery and gluing a little piece of wood on top of the battery. I would then be able to screw the shunt to that little board (without damaging the battery). This way I would just need to have a very short battery cable going from the negative terminal of the battery to the shunt battery terminal and use the existing load cables coming from the camper without having to make extensions for them, in order to plug them on the other (load) shunt terminal.

Would you have other suggestions? Thank you

[Bama Rambler]

That sounds like a good idea, other than every time you replace the battery you'll have to remove and remount the shunt and board. And it'd be subject to corrosion from excaping fumes that close to the top of the battery.

[ScottBrownstein]

Here is a nice bracket made from 3/4 inch copper tubing pounded flat. Holds the shunt and eliminates a cable.

[LegacyFB38]

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

Here is a nice bracket made from 3/4 inch copper tubing pounded flat. Holds the shunt and eliminates a cable.

THAT is really nice!

[Marphi]

OK thank you for the suggestions

[rlh1957]

Originally Posted by ScottBrownstein

Here is a nice bracket made from 3/4 inch copper tubing pounded flat. Holds the shunt and eliminates a cable.

This is the correct idea, safest, cheapest. Very good.

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by rlh1957

This is the correct idea, safest, cheapest. Very good.

Wish I could take credit...but saw it an immediately knew it was the best solution and have been recommending it since.

[wanderer44]

You can buy weather proof junctin boxes that you could probably fasten to the side of your existing battery box.

[CGK]

I love Scott's installation, but those AGM batteries are sealed. As Bama mentioned, anything in a battery compartment is subject to corrosion if you are not using a sealed battery. I use something like this when I need to locate something near the battery box but do not want it in the box: https://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-2018...s%2C120&sr=8-2. I mount it right on the A-frame, close to the battery box, so it's easy to run the wires from one box to the other. I did have to drill holes in the bottom of this one to ensure there is no rainwater build-up, but there are others on the market that already have the holes and some that even lock. Good luck!

[Bluepill]

You might also want to consider at the battery cable connection at the converter/charger inside the camper. It should measure all the current except possibly the roof motor, as that may be on a dedicated line to the battery. Still, that shouldn't be a big deal.

[Comanchecreek]

I mounted mine behind the converter on the main ground run from the battery to the converter. Screwed it to the floor of the trailer. May have some minor readings variation due to the length of the cable from the batteries to there, but seems to give me the readings I was looking for.