What are jumpers and shunts?

Jumpers and shunts refer to electrical circuits designed for closing, opening, or bypassing specific parts of a circuit. Typically, jumpers are electrically conductive and remain covered under a plastic block, preventing short circuits. 

Jumpers and shunts, however, have different functions where applications are concerned. For instance, jumpers can be found in PCBs or printed circuit boards like motherboards. Shunts, on the other hand, are used in a multitude of consumer applications such as Christmas tree lights. 

How do jumpers and shunts work?

The working principle of jumpers and shunts is pretty simple. A pair of contact points called jumper points allow the jumper to establish a direct alternative path for the electric current to flow, connecting the jumper sleeve to the main circuit. 

Shunts create a low-resistance pathway through the circuit, enabling the electric current to pass around another alternative point. This makes sure that the circuit operates normally even when one part gets damaged or is defective.

Types

Jumpers and shunts come in a wide range of varieties, with different size specifications, numbers of contacts and rows. They can differ significantly depending on the plating and contact material used. But more broadly, they can be categorised into the following types:

• Closed top
• Closed top, grip
• Open top
• Open top, grip
• Insulated
• Non-insulated