- The Zio Qwiic Current & Voltage Sensor INA219 enables easy linking of multiple devices
- It is suitable for measuring power consumption, estimating battery life, measuring battery levels, and power management systems
The Zio Qwiic INA219 Current & Voltage Sensor Breakout Board features an INA219, allowing you to read DC current and power over I2C with a high accuracy of up to 1%. With the use of the Qwiic connector, you can easily link multiple devices such as the Zio OLED Display and many more. This small and versatile board can be used for measuring the power consumption of your projects, estimating battery life, measuring battery levels, and power management systems.
The INA219 is capable of measuring voltages of up to +26VDC, and a maximum current of 3.2A, by using a 0.1 ohm shunt resistor (Labelled R100). The current is calculated by dividing the voltage drop across the shunt, by its resistance; with the voltage and current known, the power can be calculated. The maximum voltage drop the INA219 can measure is 320mV, so the maximum amperage is 3.2A. Experienced users can replace this shunt resistor and change the INA219s gain settings to achieve higher currents and accuracy.
The INA219 supports the I2C interface, making it easier to connect multiple devices and with the use of the Qwiic Connector, retrieving the measurements for voltage, current and power is quick. To measure any load, connect the positive terminal of your power source to the VIN+ pin of the green terminal block, and connect the positive supply of the load to the VIN pin. Connect the ground lead of the load to the ground of the power supply. This creates a closed circuit with current flowing to take the measurements. Additionally, a 2.54mm (0.1in) pin out is provided so you can attach the sensor to a breadboard and make useful test points if required.
To find out more about how to use this device and get up and running, check out the Tutorial.
