Achieve continuous insights into current fluctuations using ACHS-7194 and PIC18F4553

Amp Up Accuracy

Published Nov 01, 2023

Click board™

Hall Current 10 Click

Dev. board

EasyPIC v8

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18F4553

Maximize the lifespan of your equipment by utilizing our Hall-effect current sensing solution, which assists in identifying overload conditions and preventing potential damage

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Hall Current 10 Click is based on the ACHS-7194, a Hall-effect current sensor from Broadcom Limited that sends an analog voltage proportional to the magnetic field intensity caused by the current flowing through the primary input conductor. Without a magnetic field, the output voltage is half of the supply voltage. The ACHS-7194 can detect both DC and AC, designed for the current range of ±40A. Device accuracy is optimized across the operating ambient temperature through the close proximity of the magnetic signal to the Hall sensors. The copper conductor's thickness allows the device's survival at high overcurrent conditions. The terminals of the conductive path are electrically

isolated from the signal leads. This feature enables the ACHS-7194 to be used in applications requiring electrical isolation without optoisolators or other costly isolation techniques. The ACHS-7194 also has a ratiometric output, which changes proportionally to the supply voltage. Just like that, the output voltage, analog signal, can be converted to a digital value using MCP3221, a successive approximation A/D converter with a 12-bit resolution from Microchip, using a 2-wire I2C compatible interface, or can be sent directly to an analog pin of the mikroBUS™ socket labeled as AN. Selection can be performed by onboard SMD jumper labeled ADC SEL to an appropriate position

marked as AN and I2C. With the MCP3221, data transfers at rates of up to 100kbit/s in the Standard and 400kbit/s in the Fast Mode. Also, maximum sample rates of 22.3kSPS with the MCP3221 are possible in a Continuous-Conversion Mode with a clock rate of 400kHz. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VIO 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.

Hall Current 10 Click hardware overview image

Hall Current 10 Click Current Warning image

Features overview

Development board

EasyPIC v8 is a development board specially designed for the needs of rapid development of embedded applications. It supports many high pin count 8-bit PIC microcontrollers from Microchip, regardless of their number of pins, and a broad set of unique functions, such as the first-ever embedded debugger/programmer. The development board is well organized and designed so that the end-user has all the necessary elements, such as switches, buttons, indicators, connectors, and others, in one place. Thanks to innovative manufacturing technology, EasyPIC v8 provides a fluid and immersive working experience, allowing access anywhere and under any

circumstances at any time. Each part of the EasyPIC v8 development board contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. In addition to the advanced integrated CODEGRIP programmer/debugger module, which offers many valuable programming/debugging options and seamless integration with the Mikroe software environment, the board also includes a clean and regulated power supply module for the development board. It can use a wide range of external power sources, including a battery, an external 12V power supply, and a power source via the USB Type-C (USB-C) connector.

Communication options such as USB-UART, USB DEVICE, and CAN are also included, including the well-established mikroBUS™ standard, two display options (graphical and character-based LCD), and several different DIP sockets. These sockets cover a wide range of 8-bit PIC MCUs, from the smallest PIC MCU devices with only eight up to forty pins. EasyPIC v8 is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem for rapid development. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping and development thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

Architecture

PIC

MCU Memory (KB)

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

RAM (Bytes)

2048

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Analog Signal

RA2

RST

SCK

MISO

MOSI

Power Supply

3.3V

Ground

GND

PWM

INT

I2C Clock

RC3

SCL

I2C Data

RC4

SDA

Power Supply

Ground

GND

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

Hall Current 10 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

EasyPIC v8 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the EasyPIC v8 as your development board.

NECTO Output Selection Step Image hardware assembly

In the advanced settings, pay special attention to the Redirect standard output field. By default, it is set to Application output as the method of displaying final results. To show results via a UART terminal, select the “UART” option in that field and click the “SAVE” button. You will be returned to the Compiler field, and now you can move on to the next step by pressing the “NEXT” button.

GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly

GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly

EasyPIC v8 Access DIPMB 1 - upright/background hardware assembly

NECTO Compiler Selection Step Image hardware assembly

Necto DIP image step 7 hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

1. Application Output - In Debug mode, the 'Application Output' window enables real-time data monitoring, offering direct insight into execution results. Ensure proper data display by configuring the environment correctly using the provided tutorial.

2. UART Terminal - Use the UART Terminal to monitor data transmission via a USB to UART converter, allowing direct communication between the Click board™ and your development system. Configure the baud rate and other serial settings according to your project's requirements to ensure proper functionality. For step-by-step setup instructions, refer to the provided tutorial.

3. Plot Output - The Plot feature offers a powerful way to visualize real-time sensor data, enabling trend analysis, debugging, and comparison of multiple data points. To set it up correctly, follow the provided tutorial, which includes a step-by-step example of using the Plot feature to display Click board™ readings. To use the Plot feature in your code, use the function: plot(*insert_graph_name*, variable_name);. This is a general format, and it is up to the user to replace 'insert_graph_name' with the actual graph name and 'variable_name' with the parameter to be displayed.

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for Hall Current 10 Click driver.

Key functions:

hallcurrent10_read_adc - Hall Current 10 I2C ADC reading function
hallcurrent10_get_adc_volatge - Hall Current 10 get ADC voltage function
hallcurrent10_get_current - Hall Current 10 get current function

Open Source

Code example

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.

/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief HallCurrent10 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This library contains API for Hall Current 10 Click driver.
 * The demo application reads ADC value, ADC voltage and current value.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes I2C driver and log UART.
 * After driver initialization the app set default settings.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * This is an example that demonstrates the use of the Hall Current 10 Click board™.
 * In this example, we read and display the ADC values and current ( mA ) data.
 * Results are being sent to the Usart Terminal where you can track their changes.
 *
 * @author Nenad Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "hallcurrent10.h"

static hallcurrent10_t hallcurrent10;
static log_t logger;
static uint16_t adc_data;
static float current;
static float adc_voltage;

void application_init ( void ) 
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;                      /**< Logger config object. */
    hallcurrent10_cfg_t hallcurrent10_cfg;  /**< Click config object. */

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Init " );

    // Click initialization.
    hallcurrent10_cfg_setup( &hallcurrent10_cfg );
    HALLCURRENT10_MAP_MIKROBUS( hallcurrent10_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( I2C_MASTER_ERROR == hallcurrent10_init( &hallcurrent10, &hallcurrent10_cfg ) ) 
    {
        log_info( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );
        for ( ; ; );
    }

    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
}

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    hallcurrent10_read_adc( &hallcurrent10, &adc_data );
    log_printf( &logger, " ADC Value   : %d \r\n", adc_data );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    
    hallcurrent10_get_adc_voltage( &hallcurrent10, &adc_voltage );
    log_printf( &logger, " ADC Voltage : %.2f mV \r\n", adc_voltage );
    log_printf( &logger, "- - - - - - - - - - -  - -\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    
    hallcurrent10_get_current ( &hallcurrent10, &current );
    log_printf( &logger, " Current     : %.2f mA \r\n", current );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}

int main ( void ) 
{
    /* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
    #ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
    preinit();
    #endif
    
    application_init( );
    
    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }

    return 0;
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief HallCurrent10 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This library contains API for Hall Current 10 Click driver.
 * The demo application reads ADC value, ADC voltage and current value.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes I2C driver and log UART.
 * After driver initialization the app set default settings.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * This is an example that demonstrates the use of the Hall Current 10 Click board™.
 * In this example, we read and display the ADC values and current ( mA ) data.
 * Results are being sent to the Usart Terminal where you can track their changes.
 *
 * @author Nenad Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "hallcurrent10.h"

static hallcurrent10_t hallcurrent10;
static log_t logger;
static uint16_t adc_data;
static float current;
static float adc_voltage;

void application_init ( void ) 
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;                      /**< Logger config object. */
    hallcurrent10_cfg_t hallcurrent10_cfg;  /**< Click config object. */

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Init " );

    // Click initialization.
    hallcurrent10_cfg_setup( &hallcurrent10_cfg );
    HALLCURRENT10_MAP_MIKROBUS( hallcurrent10_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( I2C_MASTER_ERROR == hallcurrent10_init( &hallcurrent10, &hallcurrent10_cfg ) ) 
    {
        log_info( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );
        for ( ; ; );
    }

    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
}

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    hallcurrent10_read_adc( &hallcurrent10, &adc_data );
    log_printf( &logger, " ADC Value   : %d \r\n", adc_data );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    
    hallcurrent10_get_adc_voltage( &hallcurrent10, &adc_voltage );
    log_printf( &logger, " ADC Voltage : %.2f mV \r\n", adc_voltage );
    log_printf( &logger, "- - - - - - - - - - -  - -\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    
    hallcurrent10_get_current ( &hallcurrent10, &current );
    log_printf( &logger, " Current     : %.2f mA \r\n", current );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}

int main ( void ) 
{
    /* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
    #ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
    preinit();
    #endif
    
    application_init( );
    
    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }

    return 0;
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief HallCurrent10 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This library contains API for Hall Current 10 Click driver.
 * The demo application reads ADC value, ADC voltage and current value.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes I2C driver and log UART.
 * After driver initialization the app set default settings.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * This is an example that demonstrates the use of the Hall Current 10 Click board™.
 * In this example, we read and display the ADC values and current ( mA ) data.
 * Results are being sent to the Usart Terminal where you can track their changes.
 *
 * @author Nenad Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "hallcurrent10.h"

static hallcurrent10_t hallcurrent10;
static log_t logger;
static uint16_t adc_data;
static float current;
static float adc_voltage;

void application_init ( void ) 
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;                      /**< Logger config object. */
    hallcurrent10_cfg_t hallcurrent10_cfg;  /**< Click config object. */

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Init " );

    // Click initialization.
    hallcurrent10_cfg_setup( &hallcurrent10_cfg );
    HALLCURRENT10_MAP_MIKROBUS( hallcurrent10_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( I2C_MASTER_ERROR == hallcurrent10_init( &hallcurrent10, &hallcurrent10_cfg ) ) 
    {
        log_info( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );
        for ( ; ; );
    }

    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
}

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    hallcurrent10_read_adc( &hallcurrent10, &adc_data );
    log_printf( &logger, " ADC Value   : %d \r\n", adc_data );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    
    hallcurrent10_get_adc_voltage( &hallcurrent10, &adc_voltage );
    log_printf( &logger, " ADC Voltage : %.2f mV \r\n", adc_voltage );
    log_printf( &logger, "- - - - - - - - - - -  - -\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    
    hallcurrent10_get_current ( &hallcurrent10, &current );
    log_printf( &logger, " Current     : %.2f mA \r\n", current );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}

int main ( void ) 
{
    /* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
    #ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
    preinit();
    #endif
    
    application_init( );
    
    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }

    return 0;
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END