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Currnet sensing — Parallax Forums

Currnet sensing

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2001-03-06 19:01 in General Discussion
Hello stampers..···
Does anyone out there have a simple solution for sensing currnet from an AC motor?.
The motor is 240 volts ac and draws approx 5 Amps under load. I wish to simply run the active supply wire through a hand wound coil or similar and achieve a clean 5v - 0v signal at a stamp pin, with no physical contact with the mains power.
The circuit will be useful for automatically checking wether or not a bore pump has lost its prime (lower current draw at motor).
Any help would be appreciated.

Regards, Chris

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-05 04:05
    We built a device like this where I used to work. I'm check Tuesday to see
    if I still have a schematic.

    Original Message

    Does anyone out there have a simple solution for sensing currnet from an AC
    motor?.
    The motor is 240 volts ac and draws approx 5 Amps under load. I wish to
    simply run the active supply wire through a hand wound coil or similar and
    achieve a clean 5v - 0v signal at a stamp pin, with no physical contact with
    the mains power.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-05 04:13
    Tanks Rodent, I look forward to your reply.
    Chris
    Original Message
    From: Rodent <daweasel@s...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 12:05 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Currnet sensing


    > We built a device like this where I used to work. I'm check Tuesday to see
    > if I still have a schematic.
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >
    > Does anyone out there have a simple solution for sensing currnet from an
    AC
    > motor?.
    > The motor is 240 volts ac and draws approx 5 Amps under load. I wish to
    > simply run the active supply wire through a hand wound coil or similar and
    > achieve a clean 5v - 0v signal at a stamp pin, with no physical contact
    with
    > the mains power.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-05 18:28
    It's called a CT or current transformer.

    mA output is linear to line current.

    Any electrical store will have something. Jameco offers cheap units,
    and if you are just playing around wrap a few hundred loops of
    uninsulated, varnished transformer wire around a straw (electric
    drill works well) to make your own. Just pass one lead through the
    center. Be careful, the ends of the wire will carry current. Use a
    resistor to limit the current and have fun scaling the output.

    Dave



    --- In basicstamps@y..., Rodent <daweasel@s...> wrote:
    > We built a device like this where I used to work. I'm check Tuesday
    to see
    > if I still have a schematic.
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >
    > Does anyone out there have a simple solution for sensing currnet
    from an AC
    > motor?.
    > The motor is 240 volts ac and draws approx 5 Amps under load. I
    wish to
    > simply run the active supply wire through a hand wound coil or
    similar and
    > achieve a clean 5v - 0v signal at a stamp pin, with no physical
    contact with
    > the mains power.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-06 03:29
    At 11:45 AM +0800 3/5/01, Chris Anderson, you wrote about
    [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Currnet sensing:


    >Hello stampers..
    >Does anyone out there have a simple solution for sensing currnet
    >from an AC motor?.
    >The motor is 240 volts ac and draws approx 5 Amps under load. I wish
    >to simply run the active supply wire through a hand wound coil or
    >similar and achieve a clean 5v - 0v signal at a stamp pin, with no
    >physical contact with the mains power.
    >The circuit will be useful for automatically checking wether or not
    >a bore pump has lost its prime (lower current draw at motor).
    >Any help would be appreciated.
    >


    I have wondered if this could be done with a simple reed switch. Wrap
    JUST enough of the ac wire around the switch to make it close. If the
    current drops ENOUGH when the motor starts freewheeling, the switch
    should open.

    Piece 'o cake for the stamp to monitor the switch.

    Let us know if you try this (either it works or if it doesn't)

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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-06 16:55
    For more ideas on sophisticated pump pump sesning
    you might look at PumpSaver units from

    http://www.symcominc.com

    sense overcurrent, undercurrent, dead head, suck out
    frequent cycling... there are other units available
    also - such as motormind. None cheap :-(
    I live on a rural pump system :-)

    Consider sensing _pressure_ for loss of prime... simple.

    >>
    Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 11:45:14 +0800
    From: "Chris Anderson" <fes@g...>

    The circuit will be useful for automatically checking wether or
    not a bore pump has lost its prime (lower current draw at motor).
    Any help would be appreciated.
    <<

    ________________________________________________________________
    GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
    Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-06 19:01
    Pump sensing..... Sounds like a good commercial use of a Stamp.

    Monitor all the electrical parameters and even motor temperature.


    I checked Jameco, their Current transformers sell for less than $1.00
    for the small units, and less than $20 for the larger ones.

    Dave





    --- In basicstamps@y..., s premena <premzee@j...> wrote:
    > For more ideas on sophisticated pump pump sesning
    > you might look at PumpSaver units from
    >
    > http://www.symcominc.com
    >
    > sense overcurrent, undercurrent, dead head, suck out
    > frequent cycling... there are other units available
    > also - such as motormind. None cheap :-(
    > I live on a rural pump system :-)
    >
    > Consider sensing _pressure_ for loss of prime... simple.
    >
    > >>
    > Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 11:45:14 +0800
    > From: "Chris Anderson" <fes@g...>
    >
    > The circuit will be useful for automatically checking wether or
    > not a bore pump has lost its prime (lower current draw at motor).
    > Any help would be appreciated.
    > <<
    >
    > ________________________________________________________________
    > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
    > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
    > Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
    > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
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