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Author Topic:   Sensing DC Current Flow
jimh posted 05-02-2010 09:44 AM ET (US)   Profile for jimh   Send Email to jimh  
Please suggest a very low cost way to sense the flow of 12-volt DC current which does not involve monitoring the voltage drop across a resistor in series with the current flow. I suspect the solution will involve a Hall-Effect sensor. I would like the solution to be a single package device, such as an integrated circuit. I would like the device to cost in the range of $5 to $10 per circuit.
davej14 posted 05-02-2010 01:30 PM ET (US)     Profile for davej14  Send Email to davej14     
Jimh,

What accuracy are you looking for? Can the current carrying wire be put through the device? Are you able to power the current measuring device? Can you use a component with PC pins? What is the current range you are trying to measure?

For a device that can be placed in the current path:

http://www.lemusa.com/hq/en/component/option,com_catalog/ task,displaymodel/id,90.E5.15.000.0/

For a device you can pass a wire through:

http://web4.lem.com/hq/en/component/option,com_catalog/ task,displayserie/serie,LTS%20-%20LTSR%20-%20LTSP/ output_type,instantaneous/

If the wire needs to pass through with a connector attached:

http://web4.lem.com/hq/en/component/option,com_catalog/ task,displaymodel/id,90.13.25.000.0/

The output of these devices is a voltage that is proportional to the current flow. They will measure DC and AC RMS currents.

E.mail me offline if you want a sample.

Something you may want at look at for your UPS battery monitoring system:

http://web4.lem.com/hq/en/content/view/264/210/

jimh posted 05-02-2010 02:22 PM ET (US)     Profile for jimh  Send Email to jimh     
Dave--Thanks for the pointer to the information on the LEM product.

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