The ACS723 (low current) Sensor breakout board (SEN-14544) I received from Sparkfun is not functioning. I followed the suggested initial checkout/adjustment procedure where only the sensor 5v supply is connected (and not the monitored power connections) to set the Vref position pot. The board is connected to a breadboard with a soldered header (see attached photo). Before powering the board I checked the Vcc, Vout, and Gnd connections to the breadboard with my meter, and checked that there is no short from any of the three pins to one another. Then I powered the board at 5v and now Vout reads 4.95v on my meter. No matter where I set the Vref and gain adjustments, Vout reads 4.95v. (Just in case, I then connected the monitored power lines to the board, ran 500mA through the lines, and the Vout readings remained the same at 4.95v.) Furthermore, I received one of the standard ACS723 breakout boards (SEN-13679) in the same shipment, hooked it up, and it works fine.
Hi kpg.
Where are you connecting the current source too on your board and when you’re measuring the output, are you measuring between VO and GND?
The two brown wires in the photo go to the power and ground rails at the top of the breadboard. Those rails are connected to a Rigol DP832 power supply. As noted in my post, the other ACS723 breakout board I bought works, and it is connected in the same manner as the faulty board. Voltage on Vout is measured between the Vout pin (see photo) and ground with a (very good) volt meter – in the same manner as measured as the board that works properly.
How did you measure your ground pin? The solder looks very slim and might be a cold joint.
The two brown wires in the photo go to the power and ground rails at the top of the breadboard. Those rails are connected to a Rigol DP832 power supply.
OK, I see that, but where are you connecting the current source you’re trying to measure? I’m not seeing that in your photo.
I measured all connections using my volt ohm meter. It registered 0 ohms for all three pins (and infinite ohms when looking for any shorts among the pins)
Regarding “the current source you are trying to measure”, I think you are referring to connections to the IP+ and IP- pins. I said in my original message that the first test of the breakout board is with no connector to a current source. (This was suggested in your ACS723 breakout board hookup guide.) In this case, the input is 0 amps and the Vout pin should be adjusted by Vref to mean 0 amps. But Vout registers 4.95v regardless of the Vref or Gain settings. I also tried it with the IP+ and IP- connected with 500ma going through them. Vout remained at 4.95v no matter the Vref or Gain setting.
OK, it could be a bad board or possibly a board with damaged potentiometers on it.
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