Current sensor 15A SCT-013

[Vicky_]

@robert-hh Hello. The coding you shared, it works! Thanks a lot.
I use it to measure a hairdryer rated 1000w to 1200w.
when hairdryer is off I get 0.something.
when I open level 1 I get 10. something.
when I open level 2 I get 45. something.
when I open level 3 I get 71. something.
I chose the maximum value 71.something and divide 512 (9 bits ADC) times with 3.3v and 15A.

eg:
((71.22/512)*3.3)*15 = 6.86A

but the maximum current should be 1200/240v =5A, right?

or my calculation is wrong?

I used it to measure a phone charger but it has no different with when it is off, maybe the current is too small.

once again, thanks

[robert-hh]

@vicky_ The transfer ratio is hard to guess, because there are some unknown figures in between, like the transfer function of your sensor. That is 1Veff at 15A. So at 5 A it should deliver 0.333Veff. But i did never determine the remainder of the transfer function.
What you should do is to take the current of the hairdryer with an known good Multimeter and determine a factor from that. The ESP32 ADC is non-linear, especially at 11 dB attenuation. But the mid range values should be OK. Using 6 dB attenuation the linearity is better. But then you'll need a different interface circuit.
Yes, at low currents the ADC noise and the phase noise of the sampling steps in. If the time for reading a value is larger, you'll have somewhat less noise. This time should be a integer multiple of the wave period. For 50 Hz, a multiple of 20 is fine, for 60 Hz a multiple of 50. So taking a multiple of 100 is good for both frequencies.

[Vicky_]

@robert-hh Thanks for your suggestion! I understand what you trying to say until this part "If the time for reading a value is larger, you'll have somewhat less noise. This time should be a integer multiple of the wave period. For 50 Hz, a multiple of 20 is fine, for 60 Hz a multiple of 50. So taking a multiple of 100 is good for both frequencies."

do you mean that at the coding the time I should modify it
time1 = time x 100 and all time change it to time1?
sorry.

[robert-hh]

@vicky_ in my example, the time for reading is 1000 = 1000ms. If that is too slow, you may take any multiple of 100, like 100, 200, 300, .... instead. Besides that, you can freely select the total measuring time.

[Vicky_]

@robert-hh ok thank you so much!

[StefanoF]

@robert-hh

Hi,
sorry Robert, because this schema is different of schema di Vicky? ,,
can you kindly let me know which schema I need used?

Many thanks

[robert-hh]

@StefanoF They are identical in that they shift up the signal to be measured by Vdd/2. The difference:

• In my schematic the sensor is directly tied to GND, here it is tied to a virtual GND at Vdd/2 with a impedance at 50 Hz of about 30 Ohm.
• I added in my schematics overvoltage protection, which is missing here.

As long as there is no excess current you are try to measure, both will work. In case of a shortage in the sensed circuit, there is a high risk that the connected Pycom device will be damaged.

P.S.: To get a result for measuring, only C1, R1 and R2 are needed in my circuit. Everything else is for protection.

[robert-hh]

@StefanoF The schema in your post and the one of Vicky are identical, just differently sketched.

[StefanoF]

@robert-hh Thanks for your suggestion!

[StefanoF]

@robert-hh

StefanoF 2 days ago
Hi ,
I've used this the electronic schema , I've in out 1.65 volt at empty, the sensor is at 15A (STC 013-015)
Can you kindly help me with easy code,

apin = adc.channel(pin='P13', attn=ADC.ATTN_11DB)

peakVoltage = float(0)
ACCurrtntValue = float(0)
for i in range(5):
    peakVoltage += apin.voltage()
    utime.sleep_ms(1)
peakVoltage = (peakVoltage / 5)
voltageVirtualValue = (peakVoltage / 1000)
print(round(voltageVirtualValue,2))

result 1.65

Many thanks

[robert-hh]

This post is deleted!

[robert-hh]

@StefanoF You code snippet calculates the average DC voltage at the input. But what you need is the amplitude of the 50 Hz (or 60 Hz) AC voltage. So you have to do some kind of frequency analysis for that frequency. The most simple algorithm for doing that is the so called goertzel algorithm. If you scroll back in this thread, you will find an example which I posted there. I used that and it works fine, except for very small currents. But that is not the problem of the algorithm, that caused by the noise of the ADC capture, both amplitude and phase noise.

[StefanoF]

@robert-hh

Hi Robert,
I've used this my code e variabile ma è valido:
Thanks you

def readACCurrentValue():
    global RANGE_AMPS, ADJUST_VOLTAGE
    peakVoltage = float(0)
    ACCurrtntValue = float(0)
    for i in range(5):
        peakVoltage += apin.voltage()
        utime.sleep_ms(1)
    peakVoltage = (peakVoltage / 5) 
    voltageVirtualValue = round(peakVoltage / 1000,2) - 1.65   
    if(math.fabs(voltageVirtualValue)>0.1):
        ACCurrtntValue = (math.fabs(voltageVirtualValue) * 15)   #15 A
    return round(ACCurrtntValue,2)

[robert-hh]

@StefanoF I think your code is not useful. It does not determine the value of the 50HZ AC component. Instead it calculate the average value of a 5ms time window somewhere in the 20ms period of a 50 Hz wave. For a given constant current you will get a largely varying output value, if you repeat the call several time non-synchronous with the mains frequency. And even is the value is in the synchronous case seemingly constant, it may be totally wrong.
I tried similar approaches, e.g. finding the highest and lowest value and then calculating the difference, like a Vpp determination. But that was not robust at all. The only robust approach was using a FFT approach, like the mentioned Goertzel algorithm.

[StefanoF]

@robert-hh

Not exist a driver for this component , ex. EmonLib.h of arduino ?

Many thanks

[robert-hh]

@StefanoF said in Current sensor 15A SCT-013:

EmonLib.h, Emonlib.cpp

I do not know a python implementation for that algorithm. As far as I understand is, if calculates the integral over the zero compensated voltage square. That can be done and may work for strong signals. I expect it to fail for small signals.

[robert-hh]

@StefanoF Here is another code, which uses plain vanilla calc instead of the goertzel algorithm. That is more robust to cumulating rounding errors. I have my doubts about that for goertzel. This also tries to cater for sampling jitter.

#
import gc
import math
import array
from utime import ticks_us, ticks_ms, ticks_diff, sleep_ms
from machine import ADC, Timer, idle, enable_irq, disable_irq

#
# acquire ADC values. The paramters of the constructor are:
# 1. the mains frequency (number, typically 50 or 60)
# 2. the time (ms) for one test period. time must be an integer
#    multiple of frequency period duration and the sampling period
#    being n * 50ms for 60Hz and n * 20ms for 50 Hz. A good value is 200
# 3. the sampling period (ms). time must be an integer multiple
#    of the sampling period. The default is 2.
#
class Acquire:
    def __init__(self, freq=50, *, time=200, sample_rate=2):
        self.sample_rate = sample_rate
        self.samples = time // sample_rate
        self.adc = ADC(bits=12)
        self.freq = freq

        self.data = array.array("f", [0.0 for _ in range(self.samples)])
        pi_f = (2 * math.pi * freq * self.sample_rate) / 1000
        self.timestamp = array.array("L", [0 for _ in range(self.samples)])

    def start(self, pin):
        self.pin_adc = self.adc.channel(pin=pin, attn=ADC.ATTN_11DB)
        self.count = 0
        self.busy = True
        self.alarm = Timer.Alarm(self.read_adc, 0, ms=self.sample_rate, periodic=True)

    def stop(self):
        self.alarm.cancel()

    def read_adc(self, alarm):
        self.data[self.count] = self.pin_adc.value()
        self.timestamp[self.count] = ticks_us()
        self.count += 1
        if self.count >= self.samples:
            self.alarm.cancel()
            self.busy = False

    def result(self):
        while self.busy == True:
            sleep_ms(self.sample_rate)
        # normalize the time stamps
        for _ in range(1, self.count):
            self.timestamp[_] = ticks_diff(self.timestamp[_], self.timestamp[0])
        self.timestamp[0] = 0

        vsin = 0.0
        vcos = 0.0
        pi_f = (2 * math.pi * self.freq) / 1000000
        for _ in range(self.count):
            vsin += self.data[_] * math.sin(self.timestamp[_] * pi_f)
            vcos += self.data[_] * math.cos(self.timestamp[_] * pi_f)
        amplitude = math.sqrt(vsin * vsin + vcos * vcos) / self.count
        gc.collect() # avoids automatic gc during sampling
        return amplitude

    def reading(self, pin):
        self.start(pin)
        return self.result()

def run():

    pin = "P13"
    freq = 50
    meas_time = 1000
    acq = Acquire(freq, time=meas_time)

    try:
        for _ in range(100):
            value = acq.reading(pin)
            print(value)
    except:
        pass
    acq.stop()
    print("Handler stopped")

run()

[StefanoF]

@robert-hh said in Current sensor 15A SCT-013:

Goertze

Many thanks Robert,

I am attaching a files at empty (1.65 volt setoff)

how should I interpret it ?
Goertze.py

[robert-hh]

@StefanoF I repeated the test with a real current set-up (variable 0..30V transformer and a 1 Ohm load resistor) and the attached script:
at 0 current it outputs. 0.06 +/- 0.3
at ~0.2 A it reports ~2.5
at ~0.5A it reports ~6.9
at 1 A it reports ~13.0
at 2 A it reports ~26.0
at 3 A it reports ~39.0
at 4 A it reports ~52.0
at 5 A it reports ~65
at 6 A it reports ~78.2
at 7A it reports ~92
at 8 A it reports ~105
at 9 A it reports ~118.7
Then the fuse of the 5 A transformer supply tripped in and the load resistor got HOT. No fear. It is an extremely robust supply, used for teaching. And the load resistor is a 50W type with a short time overrating of 250W, surface temperature up to 275°C.
So the values are good in a range from .2 A up. Lower current readings are noisy.

#
import gc
import math
import array
from utime import sleep_ms, sleep_us
from machine import ADC, Timer, idle, enable_irq, disable_irq, Pin

#
# acquire ADC values. The paramters of the constructor are:
# 1. the mains frequency (number, typically 50 or 60)
# 2. the sampling period (ms). The default is 2 ms.
#
class Acquire:
    def __init__(self, freq=50, *, sample_period=2):
        self.sample_period = sample_period
        self.omega = 2.0 * math.pi * freq / (1000 / sample_period)
        self.coeff = 2.0 * math.cos(self.omega)
        self.adc = ADC(bits=9)

    def start(self, pin, time=200):
        gc.collect() # avoids automatic gc during sampling
        self.pin_adc = self.adc.channel(pin=pin, attn=ADC.ATTN_11DB)
        self.samples = time // self.sample_period
        self.count = 0
        self.busy = True
        self.q1 = 0.0
        self.q2 = 0.0
        self.alarm = Timer.Alarm(self.read_adc, 0, ms=self.sample_period, periodic=True)

    def stop(self):
        self.alarm.cancel()

    def read_adc(self, alarm):
        self.q0 = self.pin_adc() + self.coeff * self.q1 - self.q2
        self.q2 = self.q1
        self.q1 = self.q0
        self.count += 1
        if self.count >= self.samples:
            self.alarm.cancel()
            self.busy = False

    def result(self):
        while self.busy == True:
            sleep_ms(self.sample_period)

        # amplitude = 2 * math.sqrt(self.q1 * self.q1 +
        #                           self.q2 * self.q2 -
        #                           self.q1 * self.q2 * self.coeff) / self.count
        # if phase is required:
        real = self.q1 - self.q2 * math.cos(self.omega)
        imag = self.q2 * math.sin(self.omega)
        amplitude = 2 * math.sqrt(real * real + imag * imag) / self.count
        phase = math.atan2(real, imag)
        #
        return amplitude

    def reading(self, pin, time):
        self.start(pin, time)
        return self.result()
#

while True:
    acq = Acquire(50) # 50 Hz
    value = acq.reading("P13", 1000)
    print (value)

[robert-hh]

@StefanoF Just one question:
are you living in a 50Hz or 60Hz mains region. For 60Hz you have to change the call to Acquire into Acquire(60).