1122 User Guide
Required Hardware
- A 1122 Current Sensor
- An InterfaceKit or Hub to read the sensor
- A Phidget cable
- A USB cable
- A computer
- A current-carrying wire to test the sensor
Connecting the Pieces
- Connect the current sensor to the InterfaceKit or Hub with the Phidget cable.
- To measure alternating current, you can use the DC port to measure a peak-to-peak AC signal, or you can use the AC port to measure the RMS value. To measure direct current, either the AC port or the DC port will work, since RMS calculations will have no effect on a DC signal.
- Connect the current-carrying wire into the terminals of the current sensor, paying attention to polarity. For safety, ensure that the wire is not powered until you're finished connecting everything.
- Connect the InterfaceKit or Hub to your computer with the USB cable.
Testing Using Windows
Phidget Control Panel
In order to demonstrate the functionality of the 1018, the Phidget Control Panel running on a Windows machine will be used.
The Phidget Control Panel is available for use on both macOS and Windows machines.
Windows
To open the Phidget Control Panel on Windows, find the 
icon in the taskbar. If it is not there, open up the start menu and search for Phidget Control Panel
macOS
To open the Phidget Control Panel on macOS, open Finder and navigate to the Phidget Control Panel in the Applications list. Double click on the icon to bring up the Phidget Control Panel.
For more information, take a look at the getting started guide for your operating system:
Linux users can follow the getting started with Linux guide and continue reading here for more information about the 1018.
First Look
After plugging the 1018 into your computer and opening the Phidget Control Panel, you will see something like this:
The Phidget Control Panel will list all connected Phidgets and associated objects, as well as the following information:
- Serial number: allows you to differentiate between similar Phidgets.
- Channel: allows you to differentiate between similar objects on a Phidget.
- Version number: corresponds to the firmware version your Phidget is running. If your Phidget is listed in red, your firmware is out of date. Update the firmware by double-clicking the entry.
The Phidget Control Panel can also be used to test your device. Double-clicking on an object will open an example.
Voltage Input
Double-click on a Voltage Input object in order to run the example: [[Image:{{{1}}}_VoltageInputSensor_Example.jpg|center|link=]]
General information about the selected object will be displayed at the top of the window. You can also experiment with the following functionality:
- Modify the change trigger and/or data interval value by dragging the sliders. For more information on these settings, see the data interval/change trigger page.
- If you have an analog sensor connected that you bought from us, you can select it from the Sensor Type drop-down menu. The example will then convert the voltage into a more meaningful value based on your sensor, with units included, and display it beside the Sensor Value label. Converting voltage to a Sensor Value is not specific to this example, it is handled by the Phidget libraries, with functions you have access to when you begin developing!
For more information about Voltage Inputs, check out the Voltage Input Primer.
Testing Using Mac OS X
- Go to the Quick Downloads section on the Mac OS X page.
- Download and run the Phidget OS X Installer
- Click on System Preferences >> Phidgets (under Other) to activate the Preference Pane
- Make sure your device is properly attached
- Double click on your device's objects in the listing to open them. The Preference Pane and examples will function very similarly to the ones described above in the Windows section.
Testing Using Linux
For a general step-by-step guide on getting Phidgets running on Linux, see the Linux page.
Using a Remote OS
We recommend testing your Phidget on a desktop OS before moving on to remote OS. Once you've tested your Phidget, you can go to the PhidgetSBC, or iOS pages to learn how to proceed.
Technical Details
The 30 Amp Sensor measures alternating current (AC) up to 30 Amps and direct current (DC) between –30 and +30 Amps. It uses a hall-effect based sensor to measure the magnetic field induced by the applied current flowing through a copper conductor. It then converts the magnetic data into a current measurement with internal calculations. The AC output will give the RMS (Root Mean Square) value of an alternating current assuming the current is sinusoidal, and the sine wave is varying equally across the zero point. The AC output can also be used for signals that are not varying evenly around the zero point but the value will be the RMS plus a DC component. If a DC signal is being measured, the AC output will produce a signal that can be used to calculate the current but without the value representing direction of current flow.
Measuring Current
The Phidgets Current Sensor should be wired in series with the circuit under test, as shown in the following diagrams.
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In the diagrams above, the voltage source is represented by the battery symbol. The load is represented by a light bulb or schematic resistor symbol. The current flowing from the battery to the load is measured through the current sensor.
Formulas
The formula to translate SensorValue into Current is:
Phidget Cable
The Phidget Cable is a 3-pin, 0.100 inch pitch locking connector. Pictured here is a plug with the connections labelled. The connectors are commonly available - refer to the Analog Input Primer for manufacturer part numbers.
What to do Next
- Programming Languages - Find your preferred programming language here and learn how to write your own code with Phidgets!
- Phidget Programming Basics - Once you have set up Phidgets to work with your programming environment, we recommend you read our page on to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.
