Get accurate AC current readings without breaking the circuit with MCP607, MCP3221 and PIC18F57Q43

AC Current 2 Click is an add-on board made for the safe and accurate measurement of alternating current (AC) running through a conductor. It is specifically designed to work with a non-invasive current sensor, like AC Current Sensor - 30A that MIKROE offers, allowing the current in high-voltage installations such as mains wiring to be monitored without direct electrical contact. Thanks to its galvanic isolation and non-intrusive design, this board is ideal for applications such as current consumption monitoring, safety systems, and general AC current measurement where user safety and circuit integrity are priorities. The board is equipped with a 3.5mm jack connector and a connection terminal, offering flexibility depending on how the sensing probe needs to be connected in the user’s application. The sensing probe operates

on the principle of electromagnetic induction, much like a transformer, but without a primary winding. Instead, the AC current flowing through the conductor naturally generates the electromagnetic field necessary for sensing. The probe’s core is split, allowing it to clamp around the cable easily and measure current without modifying or affecting the electrical system. To maintain signal quality, the incoming voltage from the sensor passes through an RC filter that suppresses electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-frequency noise. After filtering, the signal is amplified by the MCP607 operational amplifier from Microchip, a rail-to-rail OpAmp with extremely low offset voltage and low bias current, ensuring that the measurement remains accurate and stable across different conditions. For digital signal processing, the

amplified voltage is then converted into a digital form by the MCP3221, a 12-bit successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that communicates with the host MCU via a standard I2C interface. In addition to the digital output, AC Current 2 Click also offers a direct analog signal path via AN pin, enabling users to access the amplified signal without conversion if needed. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. Also, this Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

PIC18F57Q43 Curiosity Nano evaluation kit is a cutting-edge hardware platform designed to evaluate microcontrollers within the PIC18-Q43 family. Central to its design is the inclusion of the powerful PIC18F57Q43 microcontroller (MCU), offering advanced functionalities and robust performance. Key features of this evaluation kit include a yellow user LED and a responsive

mechanical user switch, providing seamless interaction and testing. The provision for a 32.768kHz crystal footprint ensures precision timing capabilities. With an onboard debugger boasting a green power and status LED, programming and debugging become intuitive and efficient. Further enhancing its utility is the Virtual serial port (CDC) and a debug GPIO channel (DGI

GPIO), offering extensive connectivity options. Powered via USB, this kit boasts an adjustable target voltage feature facilitated by the MIC5353 LDO regulator, ensuring stable operation with an output voltage ranging from 1.8V to 5.1V, with a maximum output current of 500mA, subject to ambient temperature and voltage constraints.