Shunts – as the name indicates – is a specific type of resistor designed tosend a millivolt output to a meter, or other instrument, that is in proportion tothe current flowing through the shunt. It consists of an electrical element thatcreates a low resistance path in a circuit and allows the current to flow throughit. A shunt is used for measuring the amount of current flowing through it. It isalso used in circuits to protect from overvoltage.

Shunts are used commonly in applications such as over-current protection, battery charging and H-bridge, and redirection of high-frequency noise, to name a few. Due to the application of Ohm’s law, aresistor is usually placed in parallel with the ammeter. As a result, there is a division of current, thuspermitting the measurement of ampere levels