Comments on: How much electric current does a truck really use?

By: keovannak

keovannak — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:31:23 +0000

i to know how to felt signal output of current sensor (sine wave) to dc voltage that make easy to work with micro controller

By: imsolidstate

imsolidstate — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:38:47 +0000

Jim, I added some component values in the text next to the schematic. I also fixed the schematic, it wasn’t opening to the full-size image for some reason. Check the datasheets for your application and the parts you have to make sure you are using the right values.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:42:07 +0000

Howdy,
I like what you designed and would like to play around with something similar so I can record what actually is happening on board my boat. Unfortunately, I can’t find any parts values on the schematic or elsewhere. Did I miss something? Please advise.

Many thanks….
Jim

By: imsolidstate

imsolidstate — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:53:16 +0000

The filter smooths out the response, it gets rid of ripple. Essentially it is a low-pass filter, removing frequencies you don’t want to see. All you need to do is establish your cutoff frequency and then use the formula for an RC circuit to get your values. You can read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RC_circuit

By: Peter Baker

Peter Baker — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:13:23 +0000

Very cool project. Any chance you can post the BOM or at least the values for caps?

I am working on an Allegro 758 project and I am not sure what values to use on the filter cap. 1nF? To be honest, not really sure what the filter cap does or how to size it.

Thanks!

By: Lessie Pervis

Lessie Pervis — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:13:41 +0000

you are professional.

By: Build a spot welder from a battery charger » imsolidstate

Build a spot welder from a battery charger » imsolidstate — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:53:42 +0000

[...] also added an Allegro hall effect current sensor that I had lying around from my alternator current sense project. It’s overkill, but it measures the amount of peak current being delivered and displays it on [...]

By: imsolidstate

imsolidstate — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:16:50 +0000

I’m not sure if placement (I’m assuming physical, not electrical) would have any effect, I didn’t check for that. I did use a ground plane though, so that should rule out any inductive coupling.
The datasheet has a table that shows what the output will be based on the current through the device and temperature. I assumed the device was calibrated to within the tolerances listed in the datasheet, and it was good enough for my application.

By: Stuart Galt

Stuart Galt — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:42:29 +0000

Great little design. Nice one!!!

A couple of questions – how sensitive is the design/sensor to proximity to the alternator. If you moved it slightly, do your measurements get distorted signifantly?

Also, did you have to calibrate the sensor at all against any known currents, or does the Altera look after all that for you?

By: Measuring alternator current with a Hall Effect Sensor - Vancouver Tickets Olympics Syndicate Hosting Obama - Syndicate Brokers Van BC

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:25:29 +0000

[...] from imsolidstate built this circuit to answer the age old question, how much electric current does a truck really use? Actually, he was having trouble with the alternator (electricity generator) on his vehicle, and [...]