Hi guys,
I started a new approach in measuring current, voltage and power sensing in UAV devices.
In common, voltage and current measurements are not galvanicaly isolated, read by analog inputs and thus they can cause many headaches to the developers.
I found sone nice current/voltage/power -> I2C ICs, which could perfectly fit the design.
The two examples placed here are with Linear Technology ICs, but you could also use INA219/220/226 or 230 the same manner.....just add a digital optocouplers and...have fun!
The measured voltages with LT ICs could reach 80VDC, while with the TI ICs - up to 30VDC. Measured currents could be higher than 200 and even 300A and depend only on schunts used.
Best regards
Nick
Comments
Yes, Allegro's current sensors are galvanicaly isolated. The galvanical isolation of voltage sensing remains a problem. The interesting point in all those ICs ( LT and TI ) is not the isolation as they are not, but they have I2C interface, current, voltage and power measurements. I2C makes the galvanic isolation so simple. I prefer optoisolation as the grounding in such complex devices as UAVs is not so simple to implement.
Just me - or doesn't the Allegro line offer galvanic isolation in a single chip? (current only)
not sure how I would address voltage across a gap - but it seems having a common ground is fairly universal.
Yes, but resolution is more than enough. Also you can choose among different ICs according your needs.
bit of resolution is important because you can always add a voltage divider or change the shunt
Measured currents could be higher than 200 and even 300A and depend only on schunts used.
Nice find!