Patent ID: 8305034

Claim:
A battery monitoring system (BMS) for use in determining an amount of current drawn from a battery to power a load within a vehicle, the BMS comprising: a terminal having a connection element and an arm, the connection element being configured to be coupled to a post of the battery, the arm having a first arm side opposite a second arm side; a shunt having a first shunt end and a second shunt end, the first shunt end being configured to be welded to a cable connected to the load and the second shunt end having a first shunt side and a second shunt side where the first shunt side is welded to the second arm side with a weld, wherein at least a non-welded portion of the second arm side is not covered with the weld, the shunt having a measurement portion proximate the second shunt end; a housing comprised of a non-conducting material, the housing being shaped such that the non-conducting material covers at least part of the first arm side and at least part of the second shunt side, and wherein the housing is further shaped such that an isolating portion of the non-conducting material fills a gap between the second arm side and the first shunt side; and a current monitoring device within the housing, the current monitoring device being configured to determine the amount of current drawn from the battery as a function of a voltage drop across the measurement portion of the shunt.