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project: measuring RMS current with ACS712 Hall effect sensor and Bolt 18F2550 system.

Author: Moisés Meléndez Reyes

Overview :

Allegro MicroSystems' ACS712 integrated circuit, allows measurement of current -direct or alternating- flowing in a conductor. The desired measured current generates a magnetic field which the sensor converts to a  proportional output voltage, using the Hall effect. This voltage in turn is read by a microcontroller system through an A/D converter to calculate its peak value and the corresponding RMS value of the load current.

For this project, the test equipment shown in the photo above was used. A program in ANSI C for Bolt 18F2550 system, which reads the analog voltage signal generated by the sensor and displays the ACS712 Irms value in its LCD was developed. In tests, a maximum error of 2% in the measurement is obtained by comparing the values ​​read through the ACS712 and the calibrated current meter.

As test loads, three 60 watts incandescent bulbs connected in parallel were used. The project tests took place in Mexico, where the delivered residential power is 117 VAC, 60 Hz.

There are 3 versions for the ACS712 sensor, for ranges of 5, 20 and 30 amperes. In the current project the sensor range is 5 amperes, with a sensitivity of 0.185 volts/ampere.

The photos displayed immediately give details of each of the project components:

1. ASC712 current sensor:

 

In the picture, the ACS712 module is shown and allows connection to the measuring system in a simple and safe way: on one side, the module has connector screws which connect to the power cable terminals.

At the other end of the module, there is a 3-pin connector, which must be coupled to the system microcontroller 18F2550. Importantly, there is complete electrical isolation between the measured current and the output voltage of the sensor.

 

2. Osciloscope readings:

 

By observing in the two channels of an oscilloscope both the voltage from 117 Vrms mains and the output signal from the ACS712 sensor, the picture shown above is obtained.

In the picture, the upper signal is the voltage output of the sensor ACS712, (pin 'OUT') corresponding to a a load current of about 1 ampere (2 bulbs of 60 watts each). The signal shown below is the supply voltage of 117 Vrms.

The sensor signal comprises a DC component with a value of Vcc/2, in this case approximately 2.5 volts, plus an AC component which is directly proportional to the current to be measured (the datasheet of ACS712 shows a sensitivity is 0.185 volts/ampere, for the sensor with a range of 5 amps, which is being used in this project)

  

  

3. Preparing adecuate connections for ACS712:

To make the connection safely between the sensor ACS712, the microcontroller so as to the 127 VAC load, a special mount for the circuit is made​​.

The current to be measured flows through the red terminals, and through the ACS712 sensor, while the return cable is connected to the black terminals.

 

4. Preparing adecuate connections for ACS712 (2):

 

Back view of ACS712 mounting plate.

 

 

 

5. Connection of ACS712 and Bolt 18F2550 system:

Bolt 18F2550 microcontroller system, fed from a wall transformer is connected to the ACS712 sensor module using the electronic diagram shown on the right. The analog signal generated by the sensor is input to pin RA5 of 18F2550.

 

 6. Electronic diagram of ACS712 and microcontroller:

Electronic diagram of the connections between Bolt 18F2550 microcontroller system, and the ACS712 sensor. The RA5 pin signal on the auxiliary port is in turn fed to an A/D converter in the 18F2550.

 

7. Test loads using 60 watts incandescent bulbs:

As tests load for this project, two incandescent bulbs of 60 watts each were used, for a total load power of about 120 watts.

 

 

 

8. Bolt 18F2550 measuring Irms current:

Using the Bolt 18F2550 system with a program developed in ANSI C, with the C18 compiler, the 18F2550 reads the signal from the sensor through its A/D converter and calculates its peak value.

Subsequently, applying arithmetical formulas, the Irms value of the current is calculated as well as consumption in VA. In this reading, for a load of 120 watts, a value of 0.942 amperes of Irms was obtained.

 

 

9. Calibrated current meter:

During testing, a calibrated current meter was used to perform comparison with the readings obtained by the microcontroller system. Here, a reading for a load of 120 watts (2 bulbs of 60 watts), with a value of 0.962 amperes is shown.

The comparison of the two readings gives an error of about 2% for the measurement obtained with the microcontroller system, using the following formula: E = (0.020/0.942) * 100 = 2.12%

 

Firmware for Bolt 18F2550:

For the the firmware development, MPLAB-IDE v.8.89 and C18 compiler v.3.42 were used. The folder containing all files and libraries is given below (for the moment, comments in this files are in spanish):

Program-Bolt-C18-sensor-ACS712.zip

 

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