CSTN Series Thin Film Current Sensing Chip Resistors
Thin film nichrome resistive element on high-purity alumina substrate
Power rating 1/16W to 3W
Resistance range 50mΩ to 1000mΩ
Tight tolerance options ±0.5% and ±1%
TCR options ±50, ±100, and ±200 ppm/°C
SMD chip package — surface mount compatible for automated assembly
Available in standard case sizes 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, 2010, and 2512
RoHS compliant; supplied in tape and reel packaging
AEC-Q200 qualified models available for automotive applications
What are the CSTN Series Thin Film Current Sensing Chip Resistors?
The CSTN is a surface-mount thin film chip resistor optimised for current sensing and shunt measurement applications. Built on a high-purity alumina substrate using a nichrome thin film resistive element, the series delivers the combination of low resistance values, tight tolerance, and stable temperature coefficient that current measurement circuits demand. Power ratings extend from 1/16W up to 3W depending on case size, with available footprints of 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206, 2010, and 2512 covering the full range of compact to moderate-power board designs.
Resistance values span 50mΩ to 1000mΩ, covering the milliohm range typical of series-connected current shunts where minimising voltage drop and power loss in the measurement path is essential. Tolerance options of ±0.5% and ±1% are available across the range, with TCR choices of ±50, ±100, or ±200 ppm/°C allowing designers to select the appropriate balance of accuracy and cost for each application. The tightest combination — ±0.5% tolerance with ±50 ppm/°C TCR — is suited to precision current measurement circuits where resistance drift over operating temperature would otherwise introduce unacceptable measurement error.
The thin film construction inherently produces a low-inductance resistive element, making the CSTN suitable for high-frequency switching environments where wirewound alternatives would introduce reactive impedance errors. The planar SMD chip format and alumina substrate provide good thermal conductivity from the resistive element to the solder pads and PCB copper, enabling effective heat dissipation at the rated power levels without requiring a separate heatsink or forced air cooling in typical designs.
All CSTN variants are fully RoHS compliant and are supplied in tape and reel packaging ready for use with standard automated pick-and-place assembly processes, with no special handling requirements beyond normal ESD precautions for SMD components. AEC-Q200 qualified models are available for automotive applications where component qualification to the automotive electronics standard is a procurement requirement.
CSTN Series Thin Film Current Sensing Chip Resistors Specifications
A practical overview for engineers and procurement teams evaluating resistive solutions.
Model: CSTN
Resistor type: Current sensing
Description: Chip
Power Rating: 1/16W~3W
Resistance (Ω): 50m~1000m
Tolerance (%): ±0.5, ±1
TCR (ppm/C): 50, 100, 200
Applications of the CSTN Series Thin Film Current Sensing Chip Resistors
Where RARA metal clad resistors are deployed in the field.
Motor drive and inverter phase current feedback — series shunt resistors in variable frequency drive and servo amplifier current measurement loops for torque control and overload protection.
EV battery management systems — charge and discharge current monitoring for state-of-charge calculation and battery protection in electric vehicle powertrain and on-board charger systems.
Switch-mode power supplies and DC-DC converters — output current sensing for current-mode control, overload detection, and regulation feedback in compact switching power converter designs.
UPS and power conditioning equipment — load current monitoring and discharge path current measurement in uninterruptible power supply systems.
Automotive engine management and body electronics — window lift motor current sensing, fuel pump current monitoring, seat belt pretensioner circuits, and pulse-width modulator feedback loops.
Industrial automation and control panels — compact SMD current measurement in programmable logic controller I/O modules, relay driver circuits, and embedded industrial controller designs.
Portable and handheld electronics — ultra-compact current sensing in battery-powered devices where the small 0402 and 0603 case sizes allow current measurement with minimal board area penalty.
Solar and renewable energy inverters — continuous-duty current measurement across wide operating temperature ranges in solar inverter and battery energy storage system power stages.
Test and measurement instruments — precision shunt elements in current clamp meters, power analyzers, and laboratory bench instruments where low TCR is essential for accurate readings over the full operating temperature range.
Related Products of the CSTN Series Thin Film Current Sensing Chip Resistors
Model: CS
Resistor type: Current sensing
Description: Chip
Power Rating: 1/20W~3W
Resistance (Ω): 1m~8000m
Tolerance (%): ±1, ±2, ±5
TCR (ppm/C): 100, 1000
Model: RS
Resistor type: Current sensing
Description: Thick film chip
Power Rating: 1/16W~2W
Resistance (Ω): 10m~976m
Tolerance (%): ±1, ±5
TCR (ppm/C): 200, 1500
Model: RTX
Resistor type: Current Sensing
Description: Chip
Power Rating: 1/8W~2W
Resistance (Ω): 50m~1000m
Tolerance (%): ±0.5, ±1, ±2, ±5
TCR (ppm/C): 75-300
Why Choose RARA Current Sensing Resistors
What sets RARA apart for engineers and procurement managers in industrial and automotive markets.
01
8 Sub-Categories
No other single supplier covers AEC-Q200 chip shunts, milliohm precision types, four-terminal Kelvin shunts, power metering, and 12,000A panel shunts under one ISO-certified roof.
02
Extreme Precision
HPS, UHPS, and PSS precision shunts deliver ±0.05% tolerance and 3 ppm/°C TCR — meeting the accuracy demands of EV battery coulomb counting, precision power analyzers, and billing-grade energy metering.
03
Automotive Qualified
Multiple AEC-Q200 certified models (BCS, LRA, ECS, BWR, TCS, PCBS) with IATF 16949 manufacturing certification — covering EV battery management, motor control, and charging applications.
04
Global Track Record
Trusted by Tesla, GM Korea, Proterra, Siemens, Rockwell, and Schneider Electric — deployed in EV powertrains, industrial drives, and utility metering systems across six continents.
