Using current sense resistors, circuit designers can measure the current flowing through a circuit to determine its performance and efficiency. Measuring the current is especially important when designing battery management systems. For example, a car's internal-combustion battery needs to deliver over 100 A before the car can start. Knowing the current level allows designers to optimize the performance of the battery and hot-swap server units. Similarly, motor drive designers need to ensure that their systems are running at their maximum efficiency.

 

The Riedon current sense resistor is designed specifically to measure currents with low self-inductance. This makes them ideal for industrial designs. Moreover, current sense resistors provide cost-effective solutions to measuring current flow in a variety of applications.

 

In addition, current sense resistors can also be used for motor speed control. This helps designers to maximize the performance of their battery systems, as well as improve their efficiency. These components have a wide range of power ratings, from fractions of a watt to tens of watts. In addition, they are RoHS compliant.

 

When choosing a current sense resistor, it is important to consider the self-inductance and thermal coefficient of resistance of the resistor. These factors are crucial for measuring current with high frequency. They also affect the accuracy of the measurement. Self-heating of the resistor is another factor to consider, as this will result in a drift in the resistor's nominal value. In higher-accuracy applications, the TCR of the contacts is also a factor to consider.

 

As a result, current sense resistors must be carefully designed. For example, a low-voltage sensed voltage can lead to a common-mode voltage, which can cause short circuits and other problems. This can also impact the safety of the circuit. To avoid this, a circuit designer must ensure that the voltage across the resistor is high enough to reduce the risk of a common-mode voltage. In addition, a circuit designer must ensure that the circuit is designed correctly so that it can handle surges of current.

 

To improve the accuracy of the measurement, circuit designers should ensure that the PCB tracks around the current sense resistor are designed to minimize the conductive path shared between the current path and the sensing loop. This increases the tolerance of the circuit. The voltage across the resistor also contributes to the accuracy of the measurement. This is because the voltage across the resistor subtracts from the voltage delivered to the load. In addition, it also minimizes the effect of noise on the circuit.

 

In addition to these factors, it is also important to consider the power rating of the resistor. This rating can be influenced by the material used to make the resistor, the temperature of the thermal substrate, as well as the design of the PCB. Choosing a current sense resistor with a low power rating can help minimize the impact of these factors on the overall system.

 

If the temperature of the resistor is too high, the power rating will be affected. As a result, designers may have to use more than one current sense resistor in parallel to avoid the problem. Check out this related post to get more enlightened on the topic: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/earth-day-resistor-hats_n_58e73607e4b05413bfe19346.