πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double)




  • Contest Winner

    I like it! Great work! πŸ™‚
    I realized this idea nearly year ago, but I am so lazy... so I didn't post it )
    This is my variant:
    0_1493204825884_IMG_2017-04-26_110025.jpg
    I can make some suggestions.
    We can add a switch which will short inputs sometimes for automatic calibration. I used sealed contact relay.
    It is not clear for me how you realize input offset (input signal of HX711 should be between AGND+1.2 and AVDD-1.3 according HX711 datasheet. So I do it in the following way which is not optimal but easy:
    0_1493206665757_measure1.png


  • Hardware Contributor

    Parts ordered from a local shop, I should be able to make the assembly next week πŸ™‚


  • Hero Member

    @Koresh The offset is accomplished with a 2 * 1k voltage divider between Aref and gnd.
    It is probably a good idea to list all our (undocumented) projects to share with the MySensors community πŸ˜‰


  • Hardware Contributor

    Hello @AWI,

    I made one, but I have a problem with the refresh rate.
    As I have no jumper at the back to set refresh rate like on HX711 breakout board, I lifted the pin 15 (RATE) on my breakout board to connect to VCC using a 10k resistor.
    So now it's sampling at 80Hz, but the refresh rate is still a bit slow and the reactivity of the button is really bad. Despite setting only 2s to switch to next channel I have to keep the button pressed for several seconds more for the screen to change. And I need something like 2s press to trigger the offset setting.
    Do you have the same behavior or do I have to fix some settings in the code (didn't look into the details at the moment...) ?

    Thank you for sharing this great little project !

    0_1494046539514_IMAG1674.jpg


  • Hero Member

    @Nca78 Looks good, Hard to say why the response is slow. There is quite some averaging in taking readings from the ADC and I tried to find a right balance between accuracy and response time/ button behaviour. For me it is not spot on but very usable.
    You could try to remove some of the averaging to get a better refresh rate. (i.e. the "32" to "8")


  • Hero Member

    Wow, those HX711 modules really are inexpensive. As little as 48 cents each on Aliexpress.
    http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/HX711-Module-Weighing-Sensor-Dedicated-AD-Module-For-Arduino-Free-Shipping-50PCS-LOT/716258_32228651474.html?spm=2114.12010615.0.0.MWbQV9
    I just ordered some from Amazon for about triple that price, but, meh, they'll be here this Sunday, not a month or two from now, so I'm cool with that. I'd like to use them to measure the rate of charge on some solar nodes that I'm in the process of figuring out how to make. Not sure, but at a mere 48 cents each, I might even bake them into the final design instead of being forced into a much longer measurement interval that the 10 bits of ADC on the ATmega328P would require.

    So, thanks for this great project write-up! It tipped me off to go look into it. And while I'm at it, I may as well make this project too. πŸ™‚

    [Oops. I cancelled my Amazon order, as I just noticed that I should have ordered the shielded version, which Amazon doesn't appear to have. ]


  • Hardware Contributor

    @AWI said in πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double):

    @Nca78 Looks good, Hard to say why the response is slow. There is quite some averaging in taking readings from the ADC and I tried to find a right balance between accuracy and response time/ button behaviour. For me it is not spot on but very usable.
    You could try to remove some of the averaging to get a better refresh rate. (i.e. the "32" to "8")

    Missed your answer when you posted it. Thank you for the suggestion, I will try to reduce the number of samples and hopefully I will find a good balance between reactivity and precision.
    Else I will use 2 touch buttons in toggle mode so it will never miss a command.



  • Just a question, are the common side of the shunts connectet to A(+) ? I can not see it on the picture it could also connecte to GND (but I don*t belive it).
    Thank you for a helping hand!



  • OK, I will give the answer by myself πŸ˜‰ The common side of the shunt's should be connected to A+ / B+ that means together with the common side of the voltage divider for the offset.
    Next question, is the any way to measure the voltage of the connected note ?- I know that there shoud be not a common GND - possibe do use Diodes?


  • Hero Member

    @Nca78 , my HX711 board looks like yours. I'm a bit confused on how to connect the J1 pins to the load / power. Can you share how did you connected it? Thx!


  • Hardware Contributor

    @rvendrame sure, I'll do it tomorrow morning as I cannot do it right now. In case I forget, don't hesitate to ring me πŸ˜‰


  • Hardware Contributor

    @rvendrame said in πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double):

    @Nca78 , my HX711 board looks like yours. I'm a bit confused on how to connect the J1 pins to the load / power. Can you share how did you connected it? Thx!

    Soldering is a bit messy and not helping much to understand, so I did a (gorgeous) drawing. I think I'll frame that in my living room πŸ˜„
    0_1499396932760_HX711.png

    And in case you want to increase the data rate
    0_1499397497585_hx711_2.jpg


  • Hero Member

    @Nca78 , perfect, thank you! I was right with the two 1K resistors, but I connected the 1R 1W resistors both to E+, instead A+ and B+ separately...

    One more question, how did you connect the load to be measured? Sorry for dumb question, but this is the first time I build such type of device...


  • Hero Member

    @Nca78 , updating: I figured out how to connect the load, so I'm done with it (including calibration).

    I changed the original code a bit, as I also wanted it a bit more responsive. I didn't lift pin 15 as you did.

    BTW, what bootloader + clock are you using? Perhaps that could influence? I'm using MYSBootloaderV13pre.hex, 8Mhz internal clock...

    Changes:

    • Less average reading per cycle (from 32 to 4 ) --> Didn't notice significant changes in measurements.
    • More accumulated avg reads ( from 16 to 32 ) --> Just to keep a less volatile avg numbers in display.
    • Change the logic of short/long press. short press (~1s) = change mode, long press (~3s) = Offset.

    In case you want to give it a try...

    // uA meter with HX711
    /*
     PROJECT: MySensors - uA meter with HX711
     PROGRAMMER: AWI
     DATE: 20170414/ last update: 
     FILE: AWI_uA_meter.ino
     LICENSE: Public domain
    
     Performance improvements: rvendrame 
     
    Hardware: tbd Nano ATmega328p board w/ NRF24l01
    	
    Special:
    	program with Arduino Nano
    	
    SUMMARY:
    	Measures mV accross a shunt resistor ~ uA - channel A
    	Measures mV on channel B
    	Modes:
    		- default: measure uV in full resolution (Stable reading only for 0.1uV)
    		- other:
    			A: channel A: default, amplification 128 - div 500: 0.1uV stable,  range +/- 20mV, (1ohm +/- 20mA, res 100 nA)
    			B: channel B: amplification 32 - div 125: 100nA stable, range +/- 80mV,  (10 ohm +/- 8 mA, res 10 nA)
    			AB: both channels:  
    		- uA - calibration: depending on the actual shunt:
    			0.47 ohm -> 1 uV ~ 2uA, range -40 mA - 40 mA
    			1 ohm -> 1 uV = 1uA, range -20 mA - 20 mA
    			10 ohm -> 1 uv = 0.1uA
    		- mV - calibration, depend on amplification
    	Button switch:
    		- Short press, reset current channel to offset 0 (keep terminals shorted, no need with uA ;-)
    		- Long press, change channel A (uA) / B(uA)/ A & B (uA)
    		
    	Hx711 24bit weight scale sensor
    		- Noise and temperature sensitive (x bit effective)
    	OLED 128x64 display
    	
    Remarks:
    	Size is large as result of font library for display
    update:
    	
    */
    
    #include <U8g2lib.h>									// U8glib for OLED display
    #include <Wire.h> 										// I2C
    #include <Button.h>										// https://github.com/JChristensen/Button
    #include "HX711.h"										// local ADC lib
    
    const double calibrationFactorA = 599.18f ;				// calibration for channel A: set to 1.0 for known current and divide
    const double calibrationFactorB = 149.76f ;				// calibration for channel B: set to 1.0 for known current and divide
    long offsetChannelA = 0 ;								// channel offsets for A and B (drifts) are calibrated at startup and on command. 
    long offsetChannelB = 0 ;
    
    const uint8_t HX711_dout = A1 ;							// HX711 data out pin
    const uint8_t HX711_sck = A0 ;							// HX711 serial clock
    const uint8_t buttonPin = A2 ;							// connects the button to select function and reset offset
    //const unsigned long longPress = 1500UL ;				//	- long press set reference temperature - in ms												// 	- when alarm, short press resets alarm	
    Button myBtn(buttonPin, true,  true, 40);				// Declare the button( pin, pullup, invert, debounce ms)
    
    enum convertMode_t {channelA, channelB, channelAB} ;	// measurement modes, 32 port B / 128 port A / A & B
    
    HX711 scale;											// instantiate ADC
    
    // U8G instantiate, Change this constructor to match the display!!!
    U8G2_SSD1306_128X64_NONAME_1_HW_I2C u8g(U8G2_R0, /* reset=*/ U8X8_PIN_NONE);   // All Boards without Reset of the Display
    
    const int nettReadingsSize = 32 ; 						// the number of readings to determine the average and calculate variance/ accuracy
    double lastReading, lastReadingB ; 
    double nettReadings[nettReadingsSize] ; 				// store the rolling average of readings
    int nettReadingPointer = 0 ; 
    
    convertMode_t convertMode = channelA ;					// default channelA
    
    enum state_t {idleState, waitForRelease} ;      // define possible states
    static state_t state = idleState ;  
    
    
    void setup() {
    	Serial.begin(115200);
    
      Serial.println("AWI uA meter");
    
    	// u8g setup
    	u8g.begin() ;
    	u8g.setFont(u8g2_font_helvR14_tf);					// 'r' = reduced (or 'n' = numeric) font only for size
    	//u8g.setFont(u8g2_font_profont15_tf);					// 'r' = reduced (or 'n' = numeric) font only for size
    
    	// HX711.DOUT	- pin #A1
    	// HX711.PD_SCK	- pin #A0
    	// if parameter "gain" is ommited; the default value 128 is used by the library
    	//   64 & 128 is port A ; 32 is port B
    	scale.begin(HX711_dout, HX711_sck, 128); 			// set port based on state of selection
    
    	LCD_banner("Initializing") ;
    	Serial.print("read average: \t\t");
    	Serial.println(scale.read_average(20));  			// print the average of 20 raw readings from the ADC
    	
    	getOffset();										// get the offsets (drift values)
    	scale.set_offset(offsetChannelA) ;					// set it for measured channel
    	scale.set_scale(calibrationFactorA);				// this value is obtained by calibrating with known value; see the README for details
    	
    	Serial.print("read: \t\t");
    	Serial.println(scale.read());						// print a raw reading from the ADC
    	Serial.print("read average: \t\t");
    	Serial.println(scale.read_average(10));				// print the average of 20 readings from the ADC
    	Serial.print("get value: \t\t");
    	Serial.println(scale.get_value(5));					// print the average of 5 readings from the ADC minus the tare weight, set with tare()
    	Serial.print("get units: \t\t");
    	Serial.println(scale.get_units(5), 3);				// print the average of 5 readings from the ADC minus tare weight, divided by scale
    	Serial.println("Readings:");
    }
    
    void loop() {
    
    	//Serial.print("one reading:\t");
    	//Serial.print(scale.get_units(), 1);
    	//Serial.print("\t| average:\t");
    	//Serial.println(scale.get_units(30), 3);
    
      checkButton(); 
      
    	// get ADC readings dependent on setting: read A, B or A & B
    	// only A reads has average buffer when A&B mode is selected
    	if (convertMode == channelA){
    		scale.set_gain(128) ;
    		scale.set_offset(offsetChannelA) ;
    		scale.set_scale(calibrationFactorA );			// set division to A value and set mode to A
    		lastReading = scale.get_units(4) ; 			// get value (average 4 readings)corrected with scaling
    		nettReadings[nettReadingPointer] = lastReading ;	// store readings in averagebuffer
    		nettReadingPointer = (++nettReadingPointer) % nettReadingsSize ; // increment and wrap
        checkButton(); 
        LCD_local_display();
    	} else if (convertMode == channelB){
    		scale.set_gain(32) ;
    		scale.set_offset(offsetChannelB) ;
    		scale.set_scale(calibrationFactorB);			// set division to B value and set mode to B
    		lastReading = scale.get_units(4) ; 		  	// get value (average 4 readings)corrected with scaling
    		nettReadings[nettReadingPointer] = lastReading ;	// store readings in averagebuffer
    		nettReadingPointer = (++nettReadingPointer) % nettReadingsSize ; // increment and wrap
        checkButton(); 
        LCD_local_display();
    	} else if (convertMode == channelAB){				// if both channels average 128 readings iso 32 (no buffer)
    		scale.set_gain(128) ;
    		scale.set_offset(offsetChannelA) ;
    		scale.set_scale(calibrationFactorA);			// set division to A value and set mode to A
    		lastReading = scale.get_units(2) ; 		  	// get value (average 4 readings)corrected with scaling
    		checkButton(); 
    		scale.set_gain(32) ;
    		scale.set_offset(offsetChannelB) ;
    		scale.set_scale(calibrationFactorB);			// set division to A value and set mode to A
    		lastReadingB = scale.get_units(2) ; 			// get value (average 4 readings) corrected with scaling
        checkButton(); 
    		LCD_local_displayAB();
    	}
    	//scale.power_down();			       				// put the ADC in sleep mode
    	//delay(500);
    	//scale.power_up();
    	//delay(100);
    }
    
    void checkButton() { 
      
      myBtn.read();                   // read button state
      
      switch (state){
         case idleState:                  // Idle
          if (myBtn.wasPressed()) {       // Pressed 
            // change channel and wait release
            state = waitForRelease ;
          }
          break ;
        case waitForRelease:  
          if (myBtn.pressedFor(3000UL)) {  // Long Press 
             LCD_banner("Offset");
             getOffset();              
             state = idleState; 
          } else if (myBtn.wasReleased()) { // Short Press  
            state = idleState;
            switchMode() ;
          }
          break ;
        
      }
      
    }
    void LCD_banner(const char *s){
    /* prints all avaiable variables on LCD display with units
    	input: all "last" variables
    */
    	u8g.firstPage();
    	do {
    		int strWidth = u8g.getStrWidth(s) ;				// get the length of the string to determine print position
    		u8g.drawStr((128- strWidth)/2, 40, s ) ;			// print right aligned 
    	} while (u8g.nextPage()) ;
    }
    
    
    void LCD_local_display(void){
    /* prints all avaiable variables on LCD display with units
    	input: all "last" variables
    */
    	char buf[21];  										// buffer for max 20 char display
    	char lastNettBuf[14];
    	dtostrf(lastReading, 10, 2, lastNettBuf);			// Convert real to char
    	char averageNettBuf[14];
    	dtostrf(nettReadingsAverage(), 10, 2, averageNettBuf);	// Convert real to char
    	char spreadNettBuf[14];
    	dtostrf(nettReadingsSpread(), 10, 2, spreadNettBuf);	// Convert real to char
    	Serial.print("Average: \t") ; Serial.print(nettReadingsAverage());
    	Serial.print("\tSpread: \t") ; Serial.println(nettReadingsSpread());
    
    	u8g.firstPage();
    	do {
        checkButton(); 
    		snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "Current %s", (convertMode==channelB)?"B":"A"); // Header
    		int strWidth = u8g.getStrWidth(buf) ;			//   length of the string to determine print position
    		u8g.drawStr((128- strWidth)/2, 14, buf ) ;		//   print middle aligned 
    		u8g.drawStr(0,31,"I") ;							// Current
    		snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "%10s\xB5\A", lastNettBuf);
    		strWidth = u8g.getStrWidth(buf) ;				//   length of the string to determine print position
    		u8g.drawStr((128- strWidth), 31, buf ) ;		//   print right aligned 
    		u8g.drawStr(0,47,"avg") ;						// Average current
    		snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "%10s\xB5\A", averageNettBuf);
    		strWidth = u8g.getStrWidth(buf) ;				// get the length of the string to determine print position
    		u8g.drawStr((128- strWidth), 47, buf ) ;		// print right aligned 
    		u8g.drawStr(0,63,"d\xB1") ;						// delta +/-
    		snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "%10s\xB5\A", spreadNettBuf);
    		strWidth = u8g.getStrWidth(buf) ;				// get the length of the string to determine print position
    		u8g.drawStr((128- strWidth), 63, buf ) ;		// print right aligned 
    	} while (u8g.nextPage()) ;
    }
    void LCD_local_displayAB(void){
    /* prints A & B channel on LCD display with units
    	input: all "last" variables
    */
    	char buf[21];  										// buffer for max 20 char display
    	char lastNettBuf[14];
    	dtostrf(lastReading, 10, 2, lastNettBuf);			// Convert real to char
    	char lastNettBufB[14];
    	dtostrf(lastReadingB, 10, 2, lastNettBufB);			// Convert real to char
    	char lastNettBufAB[14];
    	dtostrf(lastReading +lastReadingB, 10, 2, lastNettBufAB);	// Convert real to char for added values
    	u8g.firstPage();
    	do {
        checkButton(); 
    		snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "Current A+B"); 		// Header
    		int strWidth = u8g.getStrWidth(buf) ;			//   length of the string to determine print position
    		u8g.drawStr((128- strWidth)/2, 14, buf ) ;		//   print middle aligned 
    		u8g.drawStr(0,31,"IA");							// Current A
    		snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "%10s\xB5\A", lastNettBuf);
    		strWidth = u8g.getStrWidth(buf) ;				//   length of the string to determine print position
    		u8g.drawStr((128- strWidth), 31, buf ) ;		//   print right aligned 
    		u8g.drawStr(0,47,"IB");							// Current B
    		snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "%10s\xB5\A", lastNettBufB);
    		strWidth = u8g.getStrWidth(buf) ;				//   length of the string to determine print position
    		u8g.drawStr((128- strWidth), 47, buf ) ;		//   print right aligned 
    		u8g.drawStr(0,63,"A+B");						// Current A + B
    		snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "%10s\xB5\A", lastNettBufAB);
    		strWidth = u8g.getStrWidth(buf) ;				//   length of the string to determine print position
    		u8g.drawStr((128- strWidth), 63, buf ) ;		//   print right aligned 
    	} while (u8g.nextPage()) ;
    }
    
    // calculate average of nett readings
    double nettReadingsAverage() {
    	double sum = 0;
    	for (byte i = 0; i < nettReadingsSize; i++) {
    		sum += nettReadings[ i ];
    	}
    	return sum / nettReadingsSize;
    }
    
    // calculate spread of nett readings (+/-)
    double nettReadingsSpread() {
    	double minReading = nettReadings[0];
    	double maxReading = minReading ;
    	for (byte i = 1; i < nettReadingsSize; i++) {
        checkButton(); 
    		if (minReading > nettReadings[ i ]){
    			minReading = nettReadings[i] ;
    		}
    		if (maxReading < nettReadings[ i ]){
    			maxReading = nettReadings[i] ; 
    		}
    	}
    	return (maxReading - minReading)/2 ;
    }
    
    // switch the mode
    void switchMode(){
    	if (convertMode == channelA){
    		convertMode = channelB ;
    	} else if (convertMode == channelB){
    		convertMode = channelAB ;
    	} else {
    		convertMode = channelA ;
    	}
    }
    
    // assuming both channels are shorted, calculate the offset values for channel A and B
    double getOffset(){
    	scale.set_gain(128) ;							// get channel A
    	offsetChannelA = scale.read_average(32) ;		// average 512 readings for offset
    	Serial.print("Offset A: \t") ; 
    	Serial.println(offsetChannelA);
    	scale.set_gain(32) ;							// get channel B
    	offsetChannelB = scale.read_average(32) ;		// average 512 readings for offset
    	Serial.print("Offset B: \t") ; 
    	Serial.println(offsetChannelB);
    }```

  • Hardware Contributor

    @rvendrame thank you I will try it, good idea for the button change.
    Just need to change the code for another screen as I broke my oled 😞


  • Hero Member

    For the short press, with the original code, I noticed that an easy way to get it every time is to press until the display changes, then release. Anyhow, worked for me.


  • Mod

    @AWI I'm unable to find the "local ADC lib". Is it available somewhere?


  • Hero Member

    @mfalkvidd the 'local adc' library is the hx711 library which I placed in the sketch folder. Sorry for the confusion


  • Mod

    @AWI where can I download it? It does not seem to be compatible with the hx711 library I found through the Arduino IDE Library Manager 😞

    EDIT: Seems to work with https://github.com/bogde/HX711 (if installing it manually)



  • I am confused the 1k resistors seem to be wired differently in AWI photo's and Nca78 photo's.
    I would like to build this but not certain how it is wired now


  • Hardware Contributor

    @rmtucker said in πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double):

    I am confused the 1k resistors seem to be wired differently in AWI photo's and Nca78 photo's.
    I would like to build this but not certain how it is wired now

    If you do like drawn on my post from July 7, it works.



  • @Nca78 said in πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double):

    @rmtucker said in πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double):

    I am confused the 1k resistors seem to be wired differently in AWI photo's and Nca78 photo's.
    I would like to build this but not certain how it is wired now

    If you do like drawn on my post from July 7, it works.

    Are the blue and green resistors you have drawn on the back of the adc module the 1k resistors?
    Have you soldered them on the other side?


  • Hardware Contributor

    @rmtucker said in πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double):

    Are the blue and green resistors you have drawn on the back of the adc module the 1k resistors?
    Have you soldered them on the other side?

    Yes & yes.



  • @nca78 Exactly the same pin of the IC can be connected to the next pin (VCC) to change the refresh rate.

    https://github.com/iforce2d/thrustTester/blob/master/README.md



  • I had some spare time and all parts so decided to assemble ampere meter.
    Firstly, the sketch has to be changed. The lib Button.h does not exist (it has been renamed). It has to be changed to JC_Button.h. This has to be added to setup {}:

    myBtn.begin();
    

    in order for the button to work.

    My question is this - reading are jumping like a yo-yo despite having a separate power supply (power bank). After calibration, reading maybe +30% or -30% off needless to say that its drifting dynamically. So constant current of 120uA is read +90 or +150 jumping up and down. Is this the way this meter is supposed to work?



  • Can you make a schematic of this circuit please?
    I need this project.



  • Hello, is there, somewhere, a real complete diagram of this project? This subject is interesting but not clearly documented ... It's a shame! Thank you.



  • Hi, pin A+ and pin B+ are connected together, on the same terminal block?



  • @mfalkvidd If you have something related to this project, can you share it? (circuit schema or something)


  • Mod

    @Metin-Can-AYAR sorry, I have nothing.


  • Hardware Contributor

    @metceyn said in πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double):

    @mfalkvidd If you have something related to this project, can you share it? (circuit schema or something)

    Hello, I will try to work again on this project in the coming days, I have made one years ago but reused (then broke !) the screen so it's not fonctional now. I will use another screen and make a functional one again as I will need it for some project.



  • @Nca78 Thank you for your answer. I'm looking forward.



  • @Nca78 Where do i attach the probes? How can i measure?



  • Is the result we get ac or dc?



  • @Nca78 said in πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double):

    @rvendrame sure, I'll do it tomorrow morning as I cannot do it right now. In case I forget, don't hesitate to ring me πŸ˜‰

    Hi to all,

    These two resistors are 1K ? (betwen E+ and A+) and (E- and B+) ?
    Need I use Diodes to ground ?



  • @ligteltelecom said in πŸ’¬ Micro (nano) ampere meter (double):

    e Diodes to ground ?
    There a way you may have a chance to correct me, I have ordered everything I will need to build this project. I need your help to make a Scheme and how to wire part and connect the load, I have to 2 days trying to figuring out but I yet I need to understand it. You are the last user who visited the project. Thank you in advance if you are able to.



  • @mfalkvidd HI, There's a way you may help to do a circuit schema I am studying it, but yet I need to understand many thing how to wire it. If are able to. Thanks.


  • Mod

    @EdCali sorry I don’t understand. I don’t know how this device is designed.


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