PCR4T Series Through-Hole Four-Terminal Precision Cement Shunt Resistors
Non-inductive copper manganin resistive element sealed in ceramic case with cement moulding
Rated power 3W maximum
Resistance range 1mΩ to 10mΩ
Four-terminal (Kelvin) connection for high-precision measurement independent of lead resistance
Tolerance options ±0.5% and ±1%
TCR ±30 ppm/°C measured from 20°C to 60°C
Low inductance construction — suitable for pulsed and switched-current circuits
High pulse power capability
Operating temperature range −40°C to +150°C
Insulation resistance 20 MΩ minimum at DC 500V
Dielectric strength AC 1500V for 1 minute
Short-time overload rated at 2.5× power for 5 seconds
Through-hole termination with lead-free solder finish — RoHS compliant
What are the PCR4T Series Through-Hole Four-Terminal Precision Cement Shunt Resistors?
The PCR4T is a through-hole precision cement resistor built around a non-inductive copper manganin resistive element housed in a ceramic case and sealed with a cement moulding. It is designed for current sensing applications in the sub-10 milliohm range where conventional two-terminal resistors cannot achieve the required measurement accuracy, and where the rugged mechanical construction of a cement-encased through-hole component is preferred over a surface-mount chip format. The 3W power rating, combined with the thermal stability of the ceramic and cement construction, allows the PCR4T to handle the continuous currents present in power converter and drive circuit measurement loops without requiring an external heatsink.
The four-terminal Kelvin connection is the central design feature of the PCR4T. In the sub-10 milliohm resistance range targeted by this series, the resistance of solder joints and lead lengths is not negligible relative to the element resistance itself, and a conventional two-terminal measurement will incorporate those parasitic resistances into the reading. The PCR4T separates the current-carrying path from the sense path through dedicated terminal pairs: two outer terminals carry the full load current through the manganin element, while two inner sense terminals connect directly to the element body, excluding all lead and contact resistance from the voltage measurement loop. This Kelvin arrangement allows the stated ±0.5% tolerance to be realised in circuit at the full rated resistance range, from 1mΩ upward, in a way that would be impossible with a two-terminal device of equivalent resistance.
The choice of copper manganin as the resistive material is deliberate. Manganin is a copper-manganese-nickel alloy with a very low and stable TCR, and the PCR4T achieves ±30 ppm/°C across the 20°C to 60°C measurement range — a performance level that limits the resistance change due to self-heating and ambient temperature variation to a fraction of the stated tolerance over normal operating conditions. The non-inductive winding configuration of the element ensures that the low inductance of the component is preserved even as resistance values fall into the single-milliohm range, where the inductive reactance of a standard wirewound shunt would become significant in circuits with fast current transients or high switching frequencies.
Reliability is confirmed through a load life test of 500 hours at rated power with a 1.5-hour on and 30-minute off duty cycle, producing a resistance change of no more than ±1.0%, and through a short-time overload at 2.5 times rated power for five seconds with a resistance change limit of ±0.2%. The high insulation resistance of 20 MΩ minimum at DC 500V and the dielectric strength rating of AC 1500V for one minute confirm the PCR4T’s suitability for industrial line-voltage environments where the sense circuit and current path may be referenced to different potentials. All variants are supplied with a lead-free solder finish and meet RoHS requirements.
PCR4T Series Through-Hole Four-Terminal Precision Cement Shunt Resistors Specifications
A practical overview for engineers and procurement teams evaluating resistive solutions.
Model: PCR4T
Resistor type: Current sensing
Description: Through Hole
Power Rating: 3W
Resistance (Ω): 1m-10m
Tolerance (%): ±0.5, ±1, ±5
TCR (ppm/C): 30
Applications of the PCR4T Series Through-Hole Four-Terminal Precision Cement Shunt Resistors
Where RARA metal clad resistors are deployed in the field.
Frequency converters and variable frequency drives — precision phase current sensing in the DC bus or output stage of industrial motor drives, where the four-terminal connection eliminates contact resistance error and the low inductance manganin element accurately reproduces the current waveform without reactive distortion at drive switching frequencies.
Switch-mode power supplies — high-accuracy output current measurement for current-mode control loops, overload protection, and load monitoring in industrial and telecom-grade SMPS designs, where the through-hole PCR4T format suits the board construction and power levels typical of high-reliability power supply assemblies.
Power modules and converter assemblies — four-terminal precision shunt elements within integrated power modules, where the compact cement-encased body can be mounted directly on the power board and the Kelvin sense terminals routed independently to the control circuit without sharing the current-carrying path.
EV charging infrastructure and on-board chargers — precision current monitoring in electric vehicle charging stations and vehicle on-board charger circuits, where the ±30 ppm/°C TCR maintains measurement accuracy across the ambient temperature range of outdoor charging installations and underbonnet automotive environments.
Industrial inverters and regenerative drives — DC link and phase current sensing in regenerative drive systems and industrial inverter modules, where the ability to sense accurately at milliohm values while withstanding the high transient currents of regenerative braking events is provided by the 2.5× overload rating and robust cement-sealed construction.
Battery management and energy storage systems — high-accuracy charge and discharge current measurement in industrial battery management systems and grid-connected energy storage inverters, where the four-terminal construction and low TCR of the manganin element support the sustained measurement accuracy required for state-of-charge and state-of-health calculations over long service intervals.
Precision power analysers and energy meters — current measurement reference elements in calibration-grade power analysers, revenue meters, and sub-metering equipment, where the Kelvin connection, tight tolerance, and stable TCR of the PCR4T provide a well-characterised and repeatable shunt resistance that can be assigned a calibrated value with confidence.
Test and measurement equipment — reference shunt resistors in electronic loads, source-measure units, and laboratory power supplies requiring a stable, low-value resistance in the milliohm range with four-terminal sense access, allowing the instrument’s current measurement to remain accurate and traceable across its operating temperature range.
Uninterruptible power supplies — load current sensing and battery discharge current monitoring in UPS systems, where the 3W-rated through-hole PCR4T handles the continuous measurement duty of UPS load monitoring while the dielectric strength rating of AC 1500V accommodates the potential difference between the sense circuit and the line-voltage-referenced current path.
Related Products of the PCR4T Series Through-Hole Four-Terminal Precision Cement Shunt Resistors
Model: RMF
Resistor type: Precision
Description: High power 4 terminal
Power Rating: 10W
Resistance (Ω): 0.5~200
Tolerance (%): ±0.1~±5
TCR (ppm/C): 5, 10, 15, 20, 30
Model: AH
Resistor type: Current sensing
Description: Four terminal precision
Power Rating: 3W, 10W
Resistance (Ω): 1m~100
Tolerance (%): ±0.1, ±5, ±1
TCR (ppm/C): 10
Model: HPCR4T
Resistor type: Current sensing
Description: Through Hole
Rated Current: 35-65A
Resistance (Ω): 0.5m-4m
Tolerance (%): ±0.5, ±1
TCR (ppm/C): 30
Model: PBV, PBH
Resistor type: Current sensing
Description: Four terminal precision
Power Rating: 3W, 10W
Resistance (Ω): 0.5m~100m
Tolerance (%): ±0.5, ±1, ±5
TCR (ppm/C): 30, 50
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.
