ACS712 Unstable and Wild Zero Current Reading (DC) - 1

[SOLVED] ACS712 unstable and wild zero current reading (DC) about:reader?url=http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=306720.
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[SOLVED] ACS712 unstable and wild

zero current reading (DC)
15-19 minutos
Hello everyone!
I'm trying to measure DC current with the ACS712 - 20A and it

seems to work ok except for the zero current measurement. I
need some help from someone who has experience with those
sensors.
The code seems to be good as it does work and I do get the
correct reading when the current is flowing. If the current is very
small or actual zero I get wild fluctuations. I'm not talking regular
noise which is to be expected, rather I'm talking about wild
fluctuations.
With the current flowing I get 1A for 1A and 10A for 10A. That is
good. When the load is disconnected the reading will jump all
over the place by as much as 9A!! So, I might see readings like
0.1A, then -2.0A, then 0.0A, then 6.5A, then -9.1A. It's just wild
and it really screws up the operation of my circuit triggering
overcurrent or undercurrent alarms while the load and supply are
actually disconnected! What's up it that? Any ideas?
When I disconnect the sensor from Arduino and just let the
analog pin float I get similar wild fluctuations. I tried measuring
the voltage on the output pin of the sensor and it is steady at
2.542V with 5.01V supply. Measured with good Fluke multimeter.
It seems to me as if there is not enough load on the analog input
pin for the Arduino and I get random noise but then why does it
1 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
[SOLVED] ACS712 unstable and wild zero current reading (DC) about:reader?url=http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=306720.0
work just fine when there is current flowing? I don't get it.
I guess I should mention that I have tried three different Arduino
boards (2x Uno and 1x Mega) and two separate ACS712 sensors
and I always get the same results.
The idea to measure the zero current was to establish the base
sensor voltage to get accurate starting point. Then a small current
is applied to the load (about 100mA) for 500ms to check if the
load is still present and connected. At this point I absolutely
cannot set the zero point and I cannot check the presence of the
load. With no current and 100mA my readings are just crazy.
An example:
The code starts by checking the input voltage on analog in to
establish sensor zero point. Supply and load are disconnected.
The reading I get is... pretty much anything from -10A to 10A.
Let's say that it gets 3.0A as an example here. Then about
100mA is applied for 500ms and the reading goes from -5A to 4A.
As it is averaged as a result I might get the final result as -1A and
that's it. It's a lot less than the expected 100mA and the circuit
goes into error mode saying that the load is disconnected.
If the check current is set to about 1A it might work better but the
initial zero point reading is all over the place so as a result the
circuit will go into shutdown mode anyway.
I appreciate all your help.
Thanks!
Where is your sketch ? I think the problem is in your sketch.
Yes, the capacitors are installed. I got those little boards with
ACS712, two caps and terminals. Both are from the same eBay
seller but like I said, it seems more like a problem with the
Arduino analog pin than the ACS itself.
2 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
I don't have the code with me at the moment, it's on my other

computer. I'll try posting it tomorrow.
My last version of the code doesn't even do the base reading and
I'm using a fixed zero value. Still, small and zero currents result in
wild readings.
Thanks
When I disconnect the sensor from Arduino and just let the
analog pin float I get similar wild fluctuations.
Sounds like the sensor is not properly grounded to the Arduino.

Post a wiring diagram (not Fritzing, please).
Is schematic really needed for this? It's a very simple circuit with
Arduino UNO and the ACS712 - 20A on a separate board with it's
own capacitors. Both are connected to a 9V power supply (tried a
different supply and got the same result). +5V goes from the
power line on the Arduino board as does the GND and the signal
wire (this one goes to one of the analog pins). The 9V coming
directly from the power supply goes through a MOSFET, then the
sensor board and then goes to a light bulb. This is just a test
setup. In the final version the circuit is suppose to drive a large
12V fan. That's it.
I can draw a schematic but with such a simple circuit I don't have
one. It's all just done "one the fly".
BTW, I had to ask Google about what Fritzing is
I use Eagle for my schematics and board layouts. I think I should

add that I'm fairly experienced with electronics but not with
coding.
This is the code that I'm using to get the current reading:
int analogCurrent(int pin)
3 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
float current;
for(int i = 0; i < 50; i++)
current = current + (((0.0048875855327468 *

analogRead(pin) - 2.5) / 0.1)-0.12);
current = current / 50;

return current;
As you can see I'm trying to average out the current value by
doing 50 measurements. That does help a little but it's still not
enough because of the large spread that I'm getting. With just one
measurement the results were totally unusable.
Keep in mind that my current readings are correct. I checked
them with my Fluke meter and everything checks out all the way
to over 12 amps. The problem is only when the current is very low
- about 100mA or less and it's just crazy when there is no current
flowing. The closer to 0 the worst the problem is.
It doesn't make sense to me because if it was caused by noise or
improper grounding then I should see it all the time and not just at
0. It would make sense if 0 current was equal to 0V on the output
but since 0A equals about 2.5V on the output it doesn't seem like
noise or interference to me.
Is my code wrong?
Thank you for your help guys!
Your math return negative numbers. Is this correct?

try: read once -> return a float
4 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
A test sketch:
// Arduino Uno clone
// Arduino IDE 1.6.0
// Test for ACS712 5A
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println("Started");
}
void loop()
{
Serial.println( analogRead(A0));
delay(200);
}
Without any current, it varies a lot. This is near my computer.
504
497
504
514
511
510
515
512
503
499
512
512
509
508
509
506
5 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
514
Some distance away from my computer it is not better:
503
506
506
508
509
509
508
506
506
517
506
510
515
Shortcutting the current pins makes no change.

Keeping the current pins open and connecting one to a
transformer makes no change.
I think that is just how inaccurate they are.
Using average:

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop()
{
6 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
unsigned long total = 0;

for( int i=0; i<100; i++)
{
total += analogRead(A0);
// delayMicroseconds( 200); // stretching
the sampling period did not help.
}
// print with decimal digits, for fun
Serial.println( (float) total / 100.0);
delay(200);
}
That results into something more stable, but it still is not very
stable.
507.39
507.76
507.34
508.48
507.54
507.44
508.07
507.42
507.70
507.80
507.48
507.23
508.52
507.11
508.31
Then I tried your snippet (inclusive the bad float to int conversion
for the return value).
7 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop()
{
Serial.println( analogCurrent(A0));
delay(200);
}
int analogCurrent(int pin)

{
float current;
for(int i = 0; i < 50; i++)
{
current = current + (((0.0048875855327468 *
analogRead(pin) - 2.5) / 0.1)-0.12);
}
return current;
}
And I get only zeros
0
0
0
0
0
8 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Perhaps you should get another ACS712 module and test that.
Can you make a photo of your wiring ? and a schematic would be
very helpful because I don't know what you mean with: power
line.
Can you do a few of these tests, and confirm that you have the
same results as me ?
knut,
I don't understand why my calculation would return negative
values. Actually it doesn't.
That long decimal value calculates amp value from analog read
value (0 to 1023), then -2.5 is to get a zero point (ACS712 puts
out 2.5V when no current is flowing), 0.1 is the value in volts for
each Amp flowing though (20 amp version of ACS712). The final
value is the offset for my particular chip that is always reading
120mA too high and without it I would get 2.12A for actual
2Amps, and 3.12A for actual 3Amps and so on.
I don't understand what you mean by "try: read once -> return a
float". Like I said, I'm a novice when it comes to Arduino. Can you
explain?
Peter,
Your averaged result would be perfectly fine for me. The problem
9 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
is that I'm getting junk. I run it a bit more today and now I got
some really interesting results. I didn't make any changes
(software or hardware), yet it was different. For example, I got a
reading of -129 amps that was steady for a few seconds! Then it
went to positive 104A for another few seconds. It seemed to be
"sticking" at those extreme values. Weird... BTW, I wasn't trying to
measure the charge current on a Tesla Model S, there was
nothing connected to the sensor board - no current flowing and
no magnetic field present. After connecting a load (about 1.2A)
the reading was pretty much steady and accurate.
Anyway, the bad float to int conversion for the return value is my
mistake. What I did before was this: the reading was taken 50
times and then divided by 5. I just had this idea for using a
decimal value without actually using any decimal values. It did
work, but I was getting 10 instead of 1.0. I tried simplifying it for
you guys and actually made a mistake. Sorry about that.
Like I said in my previous post, I have two ACS712 boards and

they both behave in the same way. I could try getting another one
and maybe from a different seller/batch but I thought I'll ask you
guys if this is a known issue/error in my code/error in my thinking.
I can't take a picture of my board at this time but it looks pretty

much exactly as your picture. The only difference is that I use
single piece wires and my ACS712 board doesn't have that bright
LED. Oh, and my Arduino board is blue .
As for the "power line" - When I look at my Arduino Uno board
there is a row of connectors with "POWER" printed next to them.
One of those pins is marked 5V. This is what I was referring to as
+5V power line. I wasn't thinking about one of those 480kV power
lines
Here's a schematic of my circuit. This is just to show what I have.

I hope this is enough.
10 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
As far as I can tell, what you did is okay. The cause is still a
mystery.
Can you get normal numbers if nothing is connected to the

current pins ? As in my photo.
It could be a bad breadboard. I would like to see a photo of your
circuit.
Try new wires, and other breadboard or without breadboard.
Perhaps you make the same assumption every time that
something on the breadboard is connected or not connected.
If both ACS712 modules are from the same seller, they both can
be from a bad factory batch. It happens.
The analog section of the Arduino can be damaged.
To solve this the fastest way: Use a new Arduino Uno, new wires,
new ACS712 module from a different seller and connect only the
ACS712. If that works, you can add the mosfet and the load.
Peter,
It is a complete mystery to me as well because I have used three

separate Arduino boards - two Uno and one Mega.
I do not use a breadboard at this time. I can take a picture
tomorrow but it's going to look just like the one in your post. No
breadboard, just the Arduino board and the ACS712 board. Yes, I
did suspect the wires as well and tried using different ones to no
avail. BTW, during my troubleshooting I have removed everything
from the circuit and ended up with just the Arduino and the ACS,
nothing else at this time. The other components like the LED, the
mosfet and others are just an example of what I'm trying to use it
for.
Yes, I do get correct numbers. Once in a while the reading will

stay somewhere around zero (sometimes within plus/minus
11 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
30mA) but not for long. No more than 10 - 20 seconds and then
the crazy dance comes back. The readouts I've seen today were
totally crazy... I mean, how could it get to some -120 odd Amps?
That's not even possible, is it? I would suspect the ACS but the
values I've seen are not possible with anything this chip is
capable of. Heck, that is not possible for the analog IN on the
ATmega chip! 100A would mean that there was -10V on the
analog IN pin and the A/D converter somehow went into negative
values. I've seen similar values a few days ago and that's why
I've borrowed some Arduino boards from a friend just to see the
same thing happen again today.
Either I'm doing something wrong or my PC is possessed Or
both.
I think I want to start over with my code as I have pretty much

tried everything hardware related except for replacing the
ACS712. The two I have seem to act exactly the same.
Can you guys post a simple code for reading the current?
Something that works. Something that you might recommend for
my application. I would appreciate that.
Thank you for your help guys!
Use one the test sketches in my Reply #7.

Use the first test sketch. I think the raw ADC value is the most
simple at the moment.
The USB power could also have some influence. You could try a
power supply to the DC power jack of 7.5 to 12V.
Hey everyone,
I think I have found what the main problem was and it seems to
be a bit better now. I don't get the wild swings as I used to get
before. The culprit here was the number I was using in converting
12 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
to actual amp value. This number: 0.0048875855327468. This

number was just too long and a buddy of mine told me that if
there is more than six digits after the decimal point it will start
acting up. So, the correct number for the conversion is now
0.004887. It's less accurate but I don't get the large numbers
anymore and it seems to be working much better. This is the best
accuracy that Arduino can provide.
The problem is that it is still not perfect.
The zero point is still drifting. Sometimes it will drift down by 5A
(after conversion) without any current flowing. I'll have to check
that with my multimeter to see if this problem is caused by the
ACS or Arduino itself. OR, there is a huge magnetic field around
my desk that's messing up the sensor... Maybe there's a
wormhole about to open up
I'll post an update soon.
Thanks!
This number was just too long and a buddy of mine told me that if
there is more than six digits after the decimal point it will start
acting up.
If so, that would suggest a compiler error. The compiler should

just ignore extra digits, or round off the result appropriately. So, I
conducted a test to see if that might be the case, and find no
evidence for such a problem.
This is the program that I ran (on a Pro Mini):
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
float x = 0.0048875855327468;
float y = 0.0048876; //rounded slightly
Serial.println("x");
Serial.println(x,3);
13 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
Serial.println("y");
Serial.println(y,3);
Serial.print("y-x = ");
Serial.println(y-x,8);
}
void loop(){}
And this was the result:
X
0.005
0.004888
0.00488759
y
0.005
0.004888
0.00488760
y-x = 0.00000001
int???? analogCurrent(int pin) // ..or float ??

{
float current;
for(int i = 0; i < 50; i++)
{
current = current + (((0.0048875855327468 *
analogRead(pin) - 2.5) / 0.1)-0.12);
}
14 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39
return current;
}
15 of 15 02/11/2018 11:39

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[SOLVED] ACS712 unstable and wild zero current reading (DC) about:reader?url=http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=306720.

[SOLVED] ACS712 unstable and wild

I'm trying to measure DC current with the ACS712 - 20A and it

I appreciate all your help.

Where is your sketch ? I think the problem is in your sketch.

I don't have the code with me at the moment, it's on my other

Sounds like the sensor is not properly grounded to the Arduino.

BTW, I had to ask Google about what Fritzing is

I use Eagle for my schematics and board layouts. I think I should

int analogCurrent(int pin)

for(int i = 0; i < 50; i++)

current = current + (((0.0048875855327468 *

current = current / 50;

Thank you for your help guys!

Your math return negative numbers. Is this correct?

Without any current, it varies a lot. This is near my computer.

Some distance away from my computer it is not better:

Shortcutting the current pins makes no change.

I think that is just how inaccurate they are.

// Arduino Uno clone

unsigned long total = 0;

// Arduino Uno clone

int analogCurrent(int pin)

And I get only zeros

Like I said in my previous post, I have two ACS712 boards and

I can't take a picture of my board at this time but it looks pretty

Here's a schematic of my circuit. This is just to show what I have.

Can you get normal numbers if nothing is connected to the

It is a complete mystery to me as well because I have used three

Yes, I do get correct numbers. Once in a while the reading will

I think I want to start over with my code as I have pretty much

Thank you for your help guys!

Use one the test sketches in my Reply #7.

to actual amp value. This number: 0.0048875855327468. This

If so, that would suggest a compiler error. The compiler should

This is the program that I ran (on a Pro Mini):

And this was the result:

int???? analogCurrent(int pin) // ..or float ??

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