6 channel monitoring - What to use

Hardware
1

I want to monitor 6 channels currently, with possible expansion to 12 channels later
I use the SCT013-000 clamps

I tried with an ATMega328 with 6 sensors, but the readings are not accurate if it’s fast, when the sample time is long enough to read accurate readings (As compared to a commercial CT ammeter), I get one cycle every 30 seconds

My options are:

  1. Use multiple ATMega328 with 2-3 clamps attached to each.

  2. Use ATMega32u4 which has more analog lines, not sure if it will actually read any faster, but it is used here: https://shop.controleverything.com/products/12-channel-on-board-ac-current-monitor-for-iot, they state ‘Current Monitoring controllers spend 1/2 second evaluating each channel.’ which is a lot faster than what I am getting out of a 328.

  3. Use Arduino Due, I see there is a ported version which can be used: Home Energy Monitoring System

Option 3 looks like the best, but the Due is very scarce here in South Africa, and very expensive at the few places I can get them

2

If you don’t mind a two week delivery time, a Due clone can be purchased for quite a bit less than the genuine article. I bought one for USD 17 and have had no issues wit it.

Here’s an example.

3

Yes and no, long story short, the South African Post Office is terrible, ebay orders take anywhere from 10 weeks up to a lifetime to deliver, so buying from ebay is only viable if DHL or similar is used, and then it’s cheaper to actually buy locally.

4

How about one from about this shop? Same story?

5

IotaWatt would be perfect for this. We hope to have some pre-production units in the shop in the next few months:

6

IotaWatt does look like exactly what I need, have thought of maybe using an ESP-12E since I have two or three of them laying around and I would’ve probably used an ESP to transmit the data either way.

I’ll definitely look at it a bit closer, thanks