What is the difference between a current sense resistor and a shunt resistor?

Question

I am told that there is a difference between a sense resistor and a shunt resistor

I can find info about shunt resistors no problem, but I'm having a hard time finding out about sense resistors, any websites explaining them will be appreciated

Answer 1

Generally speaking, it how the resistor is used.

A shunt resistor is usually used to reduce ot "bleed off" a stored electric charge.

But if you somehow use the voltage drop across the same resistor as an indication of the current flowing through it (like in a voltmeter) then it becomes a sensing resistor.

Answer 2

Yes,there is a small different. Infacts,they are just an ordinary resistor.

A shunt resistor uses in a current meter design to make a current meter able to measure much bigger current than it is rated. For example, a current meter that is able to measure 1 ma in full scale,has internal resistance (moving coil resistance) of 1000 ohms. By parellel a resistor of 0.001 ohm with this current meter. It becomes able to  measure up to  1000 ma  in full scale. This 0.001 ohm resistor is called "a shunt resistor". Because 999 ma is passed through it when measure a 1 ampere source.

A current sense resistor usually uses in current control device ,like the power supply that has a current limitter control.

In this case,this current sense resistor has a variable resistance (potential meter). It converts the current into voltage drops acrossing the current sense resistor. This small voltage drops is feeded to a  simple comparator circuit and futher control to output of power supply.

Conclusion:

DIFFERENCE:

A shunt resistor is used to bypass the unwanted current.

A current sense resistor is used to convert current that being monitor into voltage drops. This voltage drops is futher used to control other device.

NO DIFFERENCE:

They are just a two legs ordinary resistor.

Answer 3

Basically the same thing, or very similar.

A current sense resistor is a resistor used to sense the current in a circuit, and is usually a low value, and may be a 4-terminal resistor. It senses current by converting it to a low value voltage, which is read by a voltmeter.  The resistor may be located in the circuit, or in the meter.

A shunt resistor is a low value resistor across a meter to decrease the resistance of the meter to allow it to measure higher values of current. It may be a 4-terminal resistor.

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