Voltage & Current Sensor – MAX471

A module for measuring voltage and current and can be interfaced to a microcontroller or Arduino with ease.

Interfacing with Microcontroller:
There are five pins of activity on this device sensor. To interface the sensor with any microcontroller, you need to connect RS+ to the positive pole of your supply source while RS- to the high side of your load, connect ground to the ground of the system. Now, connect the remaining OUT (an analog output) to your microcontroller.

Features:

• Monitors Both Charge and Discharge
• Complete High-Side Current Sensing
• Precision Internal Sense Resistor
• Monitors Both Charge and Discharge
• 3A Sense Capability with Internal Sense Resistor (MAX471)
• Higher Current-Sense Capability with External Sense Resistor (MAX472)
• 8-Pin DIP/SO Packages
• Vast range of applications
• Energy Management

Specifications:

• Current sensor max: +/- 3A
• 100µA Max Supply Current
• 18µA Max Shutdown Mode
• Current sensor voltage: 3 to 36V
• Sensor output: 1V / Amp
• Dimensions: 20mm x 19.5mm

Pinouts of MAX471:

• RS+: Alternative load positive supply (3 to 36V)
• GND: Connect to loads 0V/GND supply
• OUT: Current sensor output (1V / Amp, 3V max)
• SIGN: Current flow direction. An open-collector
• GND: Alternative GND (Connect to loads 0V/GND supply)
• RS-: Alternative load/charger connection.

Applications of MAX471 Sensor

• Smart Battery Packs: A smart battery pack provides information that can manage the charging of the device. In the battery packs, the current sensor can measure current flow into and out of the battery.
• Energy Management Systems: Connection current sensors with energy monitoring software to monitor each machine’s energy use may help to give accurate, real-time energy consumption data and present usage. From which, it could make informed decisions on where energy can be stored.