Double Micro (nano) Ampere meter
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I have the same problem, I don't have a jumper on my HX711 board so I soldered directly the pin of the IC with a small wire.
It has clearly improved things, but it's still slow so I will try to reduce number of samples and if it's not enough switch to TTP223 touch buttons in toggle mode, one to reset, one to change screen, so I will never miss a press. -
The refresh rate is really slow: a lot slower than 100ms described in
https://www.openhardware.io/view/380/Micro-nano-ampere-meter-double
where in the introduction it says, "~100ms update rate to be able to 'see' power fluctuations (like radio communication)". What do I need to change to get that?It matters less, but response to button pushes is also very slow. Has anyone devised a fix for that?
Rather than re-invent the wheel, I thought I'd ask first.
I did try increasing the sample rate by solder bridging the "RATE" solder pads on the back:
I'm not sure, but that may have helped speed things up a bit. It's still very slow updating though: nearly 7 seconds between screen updates.Anyhow, current consumption during normal operation is something < 1.5mA, according to the datasheet. So, for my purposes (admittedly a bit different than the OP's), I need to get it powered up, take a reading, and then power down again as quickly as possible. The datasheet says the powerdown drain for the HX711 is <1ua.
@NeverDie @Nca78 a lot going on here :grinning: Nice to see that my afternoon project sparked creativity.
I started this to be a datalogger for remote monitoring of MySensors node power consumption. During the run changed my mind and it turned out to be this which fits my needs. But all options are still open..
The converter has a max sample rate of 80Hz which was default on the board I used. I balanced accuracy and readability by applying sample averaging. This averages out much of the noise from USB source etc.
The sparkfun boards are probably designed a little different and don't have the shield which helps to keep out noise.
To increase speed you can change the amount of averaging (number of readings per sample)
To get a better response for the button the way is to go for non blocking (averaging) readings of the Adc. The library is very basic so that would be the best place to start. -
Seems like adding a larger cap on the ADC input would be an alternate way to average the readings, and require fewer ADC cycles. I'll give that a try.
I have the HX711 with the metal can on order, but only China had it, so it will take a while to get here. If anyone gets desperate, I suppose they could make their own metal enclosure and connect it to the "yellow" pin, which is there for that purpose. Unfortunately, noise will still leak in over the wiring, so I don't have high hopes it will make much difference.
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I've concluded that the ADS1220 is, for now, a better fit for my needs. If I have it sample at 20SPS and throw out the first sample, then all subsequent samples are within less than 1ua of the final number. That's from a sloppy dupont wiring on a breadboard, so more proper and shorter connections on a PCB might be even better. Regardless, for my immediate purposes, repeat-ability at <1ua is good enough. The current consumption is less, and I get my answer much faster than with the HX711.
Just to be clear, I'm not here to rain on the HX711's parade. I'm mentioning the above only in case anyone else has needs similar to mine. I may revisit the HX711 later, after I receive the metal can version from China. Meanwhile, I look forward to following whatever progress people make with it.
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I threw together this wireless node for measuring and reporting sub-milliamp currents using an ADS1220. I hope to do the same now with the HX711. Since it's auxillary to the circuit being tested, the extra measurement time of the HX711 won't matter so much.
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I received the red HX711 board with the metal can. What does the J1 solder jumper on the back do?
Also, any mods I should make before attaching the metal lid (to, for example, speed up the sample rate?)
The reference PCB in the HX711 datasheet (https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Sensors/ForceFlex/hx711_english.pdf) does not show a J1. Whatever it is, AWI did not solder bridge his J1, at least not in the photographed version he posted.
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Hi guyes!
Finished my device yesterday but to my surprise the display is blank all the time when running the "Double Micro Ampere meter" sketch. I tested the display with the "Hello World!" example from the Lib and it seems to work. What might I be doing wrong?
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Seems like it cannot communicate with the HX711 so it gets stuck at "scale.begin"
Need to look in to that. I'm using A3 and A6 for the dout and sck this should work right? Or do I have to use A0 and A1? -
Seems I can't use A6 since A6 and A7 are "Analog Exclusively Pins". Darn, need to disassemble and correct...
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Looking great !
@NeverDie check the pinout of the IC on the datasheet and check if the jumper is connected to RATE pin on one side.
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Looking great !
@NeverDie check the pinout of the IC on the datasheet and check if the jumper is connected to RATE pin on one side.
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Hi guyes!
Finished my device yesterday but to my surprise the display is blank all the time when running the "Double Micro Ampere meter" sketch. I tested the display with the "Hello World!" example from the Lib and it seems to work. What might I be doing wrong?
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Looking great !
@NeverDie check the pinout of the IC on the datasheet and check if the jumper is connected to RATE pin on one side.
@Nca78 said in Double Micro (nano) Ampere meter:
@NeverDie check the pinout of the IC on the datasheet and check if the jumper is connected to RATE pin on one side.
Yup, it is. Thanks! Another mystery solved.
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@Nca78 said in Double Micro (nano) Ampere meter:
@NeverDie check the pinout of the IC on the datasheet and check if the jumper is connected to RATE pin on one side.
Yup, it is. Thanks! Another mystery solved.
@NeverDie said in Double Micro (nano) Ampere meter:
@Nca78 said in Double Micro (nano) Ampere meter:
@NeverDie check the pinout of the IC on the datasheet and check if the jumper is connected to RATE pin on one side.
Yup, it is. Thanks! Another mystery solved.
Then you might have to solder it if you're not ready to very very patient :p
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I have the same problem, I don't have a jumper on my HX711 board so I soldered directly the pin of the IC with a small wire.
It has clearly improved things, but it's still slow so I will try to reduce number of samples and if it's not enough switch to TTP223 touch buttons in toggle mode, one to reset, one to change screen, so I will never miss a press.@Nca78 said in Double Micro (nano) Ampere meter:
I have the same problem, I don't have a jumper on my HX711 board so I soldered directly the pin of the IC with a small wire.
It has clearly improved things, but it's still slow so I will try to reduce number of samples and if it's not enough switch to TTP223 touch buttons in toggle mode, one to reset, one to change screen, so I will never miss a press.I just now ordered these:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-LOT-Touch-Sensor-Jog-type-touch-module-capacitive-touch-buttons/32416625224.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.IOBe1p
Is it the kind you're using? I guess the solder bridge determines whether or not it latches? -
@Nca78 said in Double Micro (nano) Ampere meter:
I have the same problem, I don't have a jumper on my HX711 board so I soldered directly the pin of the IC with a small wire.
It has clearly improved things, but it's still slow so I will try to reduce number of samples and if it's not enough switch to TTP223 touch buttons in toggle mode, one to reset, one to change screen, so I will never miss a press.I just now ordered these:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-LOT-Touch-Sensor-Jog-type-touch-module-capacitive-touch-buttons/32416625224.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.IOBe1p
Is it the kind you're using? I guess the solder bridge determines whether or not it latches?@NeverDie said in Double Micro (nano) Ampere meter:
@Nca78 said in Double Micro (nano) Ampere meter:
I have the same problem, I don't have a jumper on my HX711 board so I soldered directly the pin of the IC with a small wire.
It has clearly improved things, but it's still slow so I will try to reduce number of samples and if it's not enough switch to TTP223 touch buttons in toggle mode, one to reset, one to change screen, so I will never miss a press.I just now ordered these:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-LOT-Touch-Sensor-Jog-type-touch-module-capacitive-touch-buttons/32416625224.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.IOBe1p
Is it the kind you're using? I guess the solder bridge determines whether or not it latches?Not using them yet. But using them for other boards and the "big" solder bridge in the corner is for adding a capacitor to set sensitivity (up to 50pF, the higher the less sensitive it is so by default it's at max sensitivity). Toggle mode is set using the the "B" tiny jumper in the middle of the board.
Jumper A is for AHLB pin, it inverses the logic level of the output. -
Once I decided to power the HX711 externally rather than through the solar node, it has turned out to be a nice little current monitor. Typical charging currents for indoor solar nodes that are far from windows is only around 50ua, and the HX711 seems good enough for monitoring charge currents at around that amount. :)
Thanks @AWI for posting the project!
