SmartShunt Install - System Wire Cable Lugs

corunner · February 2021

Newbie question here. Just getting started with implementing my battery/solar plan. I'm awaiting delivery of a BB 100ah battery, but thought I'd install the Victron Smartshunt on my existing lead acid battery to begin familiarizing myself with the app.

I have a 1 foot 4 AWG gauge cable to connect the negative battery terminal with the "battery minus" terminal on the shunt.

Then I went to remove the 3 cables connected to the negative terminal of the battery to connect to the "system minus" terminal on the shunt and found the lugs were too small to fit over the Smartshunt bolt.

Do I need to replace the connector lugs? Or is there an adapter for this purpose? Interestingly the connector lugs on the positive wires were the larger size. Is this something my dealer setup this way? Or does it come from the factory with different size connector lugs.

Am I missing something?

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/mw/5343fgo6pzu3.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/pc/nrcx8q5snkzv.jpg

Denny16 · February 2021

I would get a buss bar, that has the smaller size connection screws for the wires and a larger lug/bolt for another 4AWG jump cable, this would give a neater looking install, and is what I did on my TaB400 for the solar panel and SAE connector wiring:

Red circle around the buss bar. This one has the same size no 10 blots, but you can get one with mixed size connectors.
cheers

corunner · February 2021

Thanks Denny16. This make sense. I see yours allows for multiple connections. If I only need to one, would this work?

https://www.amazon.com/Terminal-Stainless-Junction-Distribution-Electronics/dp/B07H93YXHP

pthomas745 · February 2021

I had to put bigger lugs on mine.

Denny16 · February 2021

No, both lugs are 1/4”. You will need a bus bar that have other 5/16 and 1/4” terminals, or 1/4” and a 3/8” inch post, would be best, the larger terminal sized for the no 4 battery jump cable.p to match the shunt lug. You need to measure you battery connection and the shunt to see what size you need.
cheers.

corunner · February 2021

Ok. I'm not able to find a bus bar w/ different size posts. However I did find jump cables with a 3/8 lug on one side and a 5/16 lug on the other. I'm guessing that would work to connect the shunt (3/8) to a bus bar that has (4) 5/16 posts? The other three posts can hold the other three 5/16 wires/lugs currently connected to the battery's negative terminal?

3/8 + 5/16 cable
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SFXVJK4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2TN19FHI2Z5KL&psc=1

5/16 - 4 post bus bar
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C5SBZ4M/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1XKVJCRK1NWP1&psc=1

Denny16 · February 2021

That would work, probably your best bet.
cheers

rfuss928 · February 2021

Seems like replacing the lugs would be a pretty straight forward solution and simplify the installation. Am I missing something?

SmartShunt Install - System Wire Cable Lugs

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