For different applications, you require current, voltage, and power sensing. hence, you need the sensor. However, if we use many sensors for sensing different parameters, it would cost more. But, there are sensors like INA260 which can sense current, voltage, and power all in one.
An Overview of INA260 Sensor
This breakout board might be the only current sensing solution you ever need. It can not only do the functions of two multimeters, but it can also do this with incredible accuracy and versatility. You may use it to detect DC on the high and low sides, as well as the bus voltage, and have it compute the power for you. It can do so with better than 1% accuracy across a wide range of voltage, current, and temperature, all while transmitting data in a simple I2C format. The sensor works great with different microcontrollers like Arduino. Moreover, you can also use this with raspberry pi.
Features and Specifications of INA260
Features
- Alert Function
- Bi-directional
- Integrated Shunt
- Low-side Capable
- Precision Integrated Shunt Resistor:Current Sense Resistance: 2 mΩ
- Tolerance Equivalent to 0.1%
- 15-A Continuous From –40°C to +85°C
- 10 ppm/°C Temperature Coefficient (0°C to +125°C )
- Senses Bus Voltages From 0 V to 36 V
- High-Side or Low-Side Sensing
- Reports Current, Voltage, and Power
- High Accuracy:0.15% System Gain Error (Maximum)
- 5-mA Offset (Maximum)
- Configurable Averaging Options
- 16 Programmable Addresses
Specifications
- Maximum Common mode voltage: 36V
- Minimum Common mode voltage: 0V
- Maximum Input offset (+/-) (uV): 5mA
- Input offset drift (+/-): 1(uV/C)
- Gain:1Gain
- Error: 0.15%
- Gain error drift (+/-) (Max) (ppm/°C): 35
- Minimum CMRR:126db
- Bandwidth: 3.5KHz
- Maximum Supply voltage: 5.5V
- Minimum Supply voltage: )2.7V
- Maximum Iq: 0.42mA
- Digital interface: I2C, SMS bus
- Resolution: 16bits
- Rating: Catalog
- Operating temperature range (C): -40 to 125
Pinout of INA260 Sensor
| Pin Name | Description |
| VIN- | Sensed Input line -. For measuring the voltage |
| VIN+ | Sensed Input line +. For measuring the voltage |
| VCC | Power pin for Input voltage |
| GND | Power pin for ground |
| SCL | For 12C communication |
| SDA | For 12C communication |
Applications
Test Equipments
A sensor that detects current, voltage, and power helps us to measure parameters without disrupting the circuit. And, therefore, used in test equipment.
Battery Chargers
The battery current sensor is an amplitude clamp that monitors the flow of current into and out of the battery. The flow is subsequently converted into a variable duty cycle signal by the current sensor
