How do you evaluate long-term drift in current sensing resistors?

In high-current applications, initial tolerance often looks good on paper, but long-term drift under continuous load is where things get tricky. Even with low TCR parts, thermal cycling, sustained self-heating, and mechanical stress can gradually shift resistance over time. In battery or power systems running 24/7, small resistance changes can accumulate into noticeable measurement errors.

How do you typically evaluate long-term stability in your designs? Do you rely mainly on datasheet load-life specs, or do you run extended burn-in / temperature cycling tests in-house? I’m interested in how others validate drift behavior beyond the initial specification.

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  • I probably don't have an answer, but just for clarity - are we talking d.c. systems here? (i.e. the very low resistance but high power resistors you typically see on leisure battery systems and the like - rather than the burden resistor for a current transformer that's more usual for a.c. power monitoring)

       - Andy.

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  • I probably don't have an answer, but just for clarity - are we talking d.c. systems here? (i.e. the very low resistance but high power resistors you typically see on leisure battery systems and the like - rather than the burden resistor for a current transformer that's more usual for a.c. power monitoring)

       - Andy.

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