Hey!
I have some experience with Arduino/redboard but would still consider myself a newbie. I am in need of some guidance…I need to control several servos and current sensor at a range of 15’ to 40’…I need to know if I need to do anything specific to eliminate any interference or signal loss…I’m automating my dust collection system in my woodshop and each tool will have a current sensor and a servo. When the Arduino/redboard see that a took is on, it will energize the servo and trigger a 240vac relay to turn the collector on, then and the reverse the process when the tool is off. I hope I made it clear, if not, please ask any clarification questions…
Chris
I need to know if I need to do anything specific to eliminate any interference or signal loss.
With long control and sensor wires, the answer is almost always yes. However, the details depend on the equipment and the environment.
A shop with high power electrical equipment radiates lots of AC interference, which usually means using shielded cable for signal transducers like current sensors.
Line loss is almost always a problem for control and sense signals when significant currents or sharp pulses are required. You will have to experiment to see what gauge of wire to use and where to route it to avoid signal pickup from AC equipment. I’ve never heard of anyone trying to drive servos, which consume high current and require well conditioned pulse signals, over those distances.
Hobby servos, especially the cheap ones, are designed for light duty and infrequent use. They won’t last long in a dusty environment with high duty cycle.
Thank you for the advice…would running everything in conduit help??? If so, plastic or metal?..8 was thinking about Using cat6 wire, if I separated the power from the signal would that work? I’ve thought about double or tripling up to get more current?
any thoughts on the current sensors?
If you have never worked with current sensors, use non-invasive CTs for AC current. Good tutorials at OpenEnergyMonitor.
Get each part of the project working independently and make sure you understand it, before starting to put all the pieces together.
What are the servos supposed to do?
the servos will open and close the blastgate at each tool