Contents

• Intro
• Disclaimer
• Exterior and connections, S/N 36149
• Teardown of unit S/N 324XX
• Calibration test for S/N 36272
• Temperature stability
• Frequency flatness comparisons
• Summary & Conclusion

Intro

This is stub for Wavetek 4953 Shunt. This shunt is designed and sold in bundle with Wavetek 4950 Multi-function Transfer Calibrator.

xDevs.com	Wavetek 4953	Fluke A40B-10A	Units
Nominal shunt current	0 to 11	0 – 10	A
Nominal DC resistance	0.01	0.08	Ω
Input / output connector	5-way binding posts	N female connector
Frequency range	DC, 10 – 20k	DC, 10 – 100k	Hz
Short-term stability, ±1 °C	± 20	± 26	ppm of FS
Temperature coefficient	10	10	± ppm/°C
AC Flatness Low band	200 ppm, 10 Hz – 1 kHz	26 to 37 ppm, 10 Hz – 1 kHz
AC Flatness Hi band	300 ppm 5kHz, 600 ppm 10 kHz, 1000 ppm, 20 kHz	60 ppm 10kHz, 92 ppm 100 kHz
Temperature coefficient, AC	40 ppm Low band, up to 120 ppm Hi band	4.5 ppm

Table 1: Specification of the Wavetek 4953

Disclaimer

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Exterior and connections, S/N 36149

Image 1-2. Wavetek 4953 AC/DC 10A shunt facepanel

Image 3. Original labels on the bottom of the shunt

Image 1-2. Owner’s calibration results

Teardown of unit S/N 324XX

This unit was evaluated some years back and found to be functional.

Also rare chance presented to look inside of the shunt for internal construction review.

Pretty large shunt element was placed between two dielectric plates. Wiring to the current input ports is done with heavy braid to lower inductance and AC errors from the connection.

Output is routed to output therminals with two short wires soldered to tab rings. Joints at the shunt secured with brown epoxy for mechanical stability.

Shunt element marked as 408941-1 with date code 14th week 1996.

Calibration test, S/N 36272

To perform actual performance test on this model shunt we used yet another sample, S/N 36272 from a friendly lab here in USA.

Top looks exactly like the other two, no surprises here.

To maintain any history and repeatability of results no disassembly or any intrusive operations were done to this shunt. Connectors were cleaned with 99% isopropyl alcohol and light brushing with paper prior to measurements.

This datatable provides calibration result solely for performance evaluation and educational purposes.
It is important to note that these measurements are not accredited documentation and therefore cannot be used as such.
For ANSI Z540-1 or ISO 17025 accredited calibration, please contact your preferred commercial calibration facility or instrument manufacturer.

Model and serial	Calibration date	Test current	Assigned value	Uncertainty	Measured deviation	Notes
W4953 36272	27.OCT.2023 by xDevs	0.245 A DC	0.010008608 Ω	± 1.2 µΩ/Ω	REFERENCE	10 hours, 6010B DCC vs MPx-0R1
W4953 36272	29.OCT.2023 by xDevs	0.245 A DC	0.010008573 Ω	± 2.5 µΩ/Ω	-3.5 µΩ/Ω	10 hours, Fluke 5720A + HPAK 34420A
W4953 36272	30.OCT.2023 by xDevs	0.500 A DC	0.010008606 Ω	± 3 µΩ/Ω	-0.2 µΩ/Ω	24 hours, Fluke 5720A + HPAK 34420A
W4953 36272	30.OCT.2023 by xDevs	1.0 A DC	0.010008620 Ω	± 4 µΩ/Ω	+1.2 µΩ/Ω	24 hours, Fluke 5720A + HPAK 34420A
W4953 36272	1.NOV.2023 by xDevs	2.0 A DC	0.010008697 Ω	± 6 µΩ/Ω	+8.9 µΩ/Ω	24 hours, Fluke 5720A + HPAK 34420A
W4953 36272	3.NOV.2023 by xDevs	4.0 A DC	0.010008980 Ω	± 6 µΩ/Ω	+37 µΩ/Ω	24 hours, Fluke 5720A + HPAK 34420A
W4953 36272	5.NOV.2023 by xDevs	6.0 A DC	0.010009052 Ω	± 8 µΩ/Ω	+44 µΩ/Ω	24 hours, Fluke 5720A + HPAK 34420A
W4953 36272	7.NOV.2023 by xDevs	8.0 A DC	0.010009117 Ω	± 8 µΩ/Ω	+51 µΩ/Ω	24 hours, Fluke 5720A + HPAK 34420A
W4953 36272	8.NOV.2023 by xDevs	10.0 A DC	0.010009226 Ω	± 8 µΩ/Ω	+62 µΩ/Ω	24 hours, Fluke 5720A + HPAK 34420A
W4953 36272	8.NOV.2023 by xDevs	2.0 A DC/AC 1kHz	0.010011435 Ω	± 1900 µΩ/Ω	+274 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	6 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	8.NOV.2023 by xDevs	4.0 A DC/AC 1kHz	0.010012433 Ω	± 1580 µΩ/Ω	+345 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	4 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	8.NOV.2023 by xDevs	6.0 A DC/AC 1kHz	0.010012512 Ω	± 990 µΩ/Ω	+346 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	4 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	10.NOV.2023 by xDevs	10.0 A DC/AC 10 Hz	0.010009381 Ω	± 920 µΩ/Ω	+16 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	8 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	8.NOV.2023 by xDevs	10.0 A DC/AC 40 Hz	0.010009422 Ω	± 700 µΩ/Ω	+20 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	8 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	9.NOV.2023 by xDevs	10.0 A DC/AC 60 Hz	0.010009456 Ω	± 700 µΩ/Ω	+23 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	8 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	10.NOV.2023 by xDevs	10.0 A DC/AC 100 Hz	0.010009470 Ω	± 700 µΩ/Ω	+24 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	8 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	9.NOV.2023 by xDevs	10.0 A DC/AC 300 Hz	0.010010176 Ω	± 700 µΩ/Ω	+94 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	8 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	8.NOV.2023 by xDevs	10.0 A DC/AC 1 kHz	0.010012817 Ω	± 700 µΩ/Ω	+359 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	8 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	10.NOV.2023 by xDevs	10.0 A DC/AC 5 kHz	0.010022438 Ω	± 1190 µΩ/Ω	+1320 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	10 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ
W4953 36272	11.NOV.2023 by xDevs	10.0 A DC/AC 10 kHz	0.010036484 Ω	± 2460 µΩ/Ω	+2724 µΩ/Ω AC/DC	13 hours, Fluke 5720A + Fluke 5790A, INPUT2 HiZ

Summary & Conclusion

In this article we looked at the design of 10A AC/DC shunt from Datron/Wavetek. These shunts were sold as accessory for various Wavetek meters and instruments such as Model 1281, 4920, 4950 and used for AC and DC current metrology uses. Model 4953 are useful for measurements at 10A and smaller currents and can be used to improve uncertainties of calibrators and sources.

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