Current Sensing?

[gohan]

The boxed pulse sensor with velcro is the perfect solution, but it is darn expensive.
Clamps are a solution, but in order to have power consumption you need also voltage reading and PFC calculation like THIS little project. Imho it is safer to use the pulse sensor :)

[Samuel235]

@gohan I think we're all thinking that pulse is the better option for overall monitoring. I'm going to get to some designs asap!

[gohan]

I am about to order some LM393 light sensor modules to test them out, but the real challenge will be to remove the photodiode, add a little cable and find a way to stick it to the pulsing LED

[Samuel235]

@gohan I already have some designs in my head. I don't think this would be that hard to make from scratch to be honest. I'm aiming to make it look exactly like what we have been looking at with: https://shop.openenergymonitor.com/optical-utility-meter-led-pulse-sensor/

[Samuel235]

Is everyone's power meter omitting a RED LED flashing, or do some countries have different colours?

[Yveaux]

@Samuel235 yellowish here

[Samuel235]

@Yveaux - You're still in the rough area of 600nM wavelength, so we're all good for you :)

[Yveaux]

@Samuel235 Great! Surprise me ;-)

[Samuel235]

@Yveaux I'm attempting to 😉

Rough designs have been started.

[scalz]

too hard to resist, so first draft freshly printed

[Samuel235]

@scalz - I hate being a student and having no time. Beat me to it! Do you have the circuitry sorted?

What 3D modelling software do you use? Fusion, solidworks?

Also, what size have you made that, what size PCB would it accept?

[gohan]

@scalz
It may be a good idea to make an housing for the phototransistor that is basically an led, so you can have pcb externally in the same box with the Arduino.

[Samuel235]

@gohan - While it would be possible, its not allowing much surface to attach to the meter. My soloution will be out by tonight i hope. I'm proposing we attach this module to the meter and connect into another board that is attached to the side of the meter that is the heart of the module (a atmega328 board). The designs and schematic anyway, we can then ponder over what my designs call and we can improve before production and release to openhardware.io

[Samuel235]

From my initial bit of research, the product that we were talking about from OpenEnergyMonitor doesn't seem to be optimized for detecting a blinking LED. It works, but is not optimized for best result. If the pulse started becoming relatively quick for any reason then this would start to saturate and the LDR will not return to its normal status quick enough. I'm designing using a compactor and photodiode to get around this issue. Schematics are nearly done and will attempt to get this PCB small as possible for either my own 3d printable model to stick onto the meter or @scalz.

Could you possibly share that model at all @scalz? Obviously, depending on what engine you have used to create this that is :)

[sundberg84]

I dont know it its worth anything, but here is my solution for a energymonitor (pulse counter)

https://www.byggahus.se/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=156953&d=1445108667
https://www.byggahus.se/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=156955&d=1445109103
https://www.byggahus.se/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=208900&d=1486415706

And to asnwer your question above, I use this for my hole house, and are going to build a portable current sensing monitor which i can move around and measure different outlets.

[Samuel235]

@sundberg84 - An interested little throw together!

I really like the idea of that portable current sensor to move around. Please do publish those designs, that is something that could be of use to some!

[gohan]

@Samuel235
Of course it would need a bigger surface than an led diameter, but could be smaller in volume.

[Samuel235]

@gohan The trouble is though, as i mentioned just in the post regarding the product from OpenEnergyMonitor, a photo transistor is not the best/optimal way to go about this. As the LM393 module is built, it is the correct method. Using a photodiode and a comparator. No one seems to be doing that, and this is exactly what i'm doing right now. I'm pretty confident we can get this to a size that would satisfy your suggestions, we shall see.

Edit: Typo.

[scalz]

Beep beep lol
I'm joking. That was really quick to do. The box is same size 22mm. I'm not sure to see the point of making it smaller as it needs holding points.
I've used solidworks.
Yep I've done the pcb too. Ultra low power, a few parts. But I need to test the circuit (maybe at lunch) as I'm not planning to use comp nor amp. Again I did it because it was quick and because I can :)

[Samuel235]

@scalz - I might as well just leave it to you >.<

Nice, solidworks is what i'm using at the moment too. Fancy sharing the files or is it just a quick rough idea that you're not sticking with?

Would be nice to compare the two designs together for the circuit. I might see about getting a board produced at my Uni on the routing machine. Lets both make our versions and would be nice to compare them side by side. (I'm thinking about sending you one of mine once its produced, and you're welcome to scrutinise it to help me improve)

Out of interest, i'm looking at either 3.5mm audio jack or RJ45 (RJ45 looks to be a slightly cheaper route) to connect back to the 'arduino' box. What are you thinking of doing for connectivity?