8-Channel DC Current Monitor for IoT

Take current monitoring to the cloud and stay connected from anywhere in the world using Particle Electron*.

Monitor DC currents anywhere cellular service is available using the Particle cloud infrastructure. This DC Current Monitoring controller consists of ADS7828 12-Bit Analog-to-Digital Converter connected to eight ACS712-05 hall-effect current sensors.

This controller uses I2C communications and includes a convenient I2C output connector for easy expansion. On-Board address jumpers allow device start address selection for up to four current monitoring controllers on a single I2C port.

No software development is required as our GitHub repository has a complete driver for monitoring 8-Channels at 5 Amps.

Physical implementation is easy, simply pass current through each pair of screw terminals and read the voltages on the ADS7828. The ADS7828 will return approximately 2.5V when 0 current is passed through the ACS712. Forward current will cause the ADS7828 to return values between 2.5 and 5VDC as current increases. Negative current will cause the ADS7828 to return values from 2.5 to 0 as current increases. In theory, this design could monitor AC, but our software currently supports DC only at this time.

*Particle Electron not included.

This is an I²C Master Device, capable of directly connecting to any of our Cross-Platform I²C Slave Devices using the I²C Output. It is directly compatible with:

Particle Electron
Particle Photon (Particle.io)
Bluz Module (Bluz.io)
ESP8266 Module

If using a Particle module, the PKFR Key Fob Receiver overlay shield may be used.

This device may be converted for direct use with:

Arduino Nano using the Arduino Nano Adapter
Arduino Micro using the Arduino Micro Adapter
Onion Omega 1&2 using the OC Adapter
Pycom WiPy using the WiPy Adapter
Adafruit Huzzah ESP8266 using the Adafruit Huzzah Adapter

This device may be converted to an I²C slave device using the Slave Adapter, ideal for use with Raspberry Pi, Beaglebone, Arduino Uno, and BridgeX5.

Arduino Interfaces:
Use the Slave Adapter and a Arduino Uno Interface Adapter
Use the Slave Adapter and a Arduino Nano I²C Shield
Use the Slave Adapter and plug into any Arduino Nano Master Device
Use the Slave Adapter and plug into any Arduino Micro Master Device

Raspberry Pi Interfaces:
Use the Slave Adapter and a Raspberry Pi I²C Interface Adapter
Use the Slave Adapter and a Raspberry Pi 2/3 I²C Interface Adapter
Use the Slave Adapter and a Raspberry Pi Zero I²C Interface Adapter

BeagleBone Interface:
Use the Slave Adapter and a BeagleBone I²C Interface Adapter

Windows 8/10 PC Interface:
Use the Slave Adapter and a Bridge Series Controller