# Unstable zero load value emontx shield **URL:** \ **Category:** Hardware\ **Created:** [17 March 2019 18:13 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418 "2019-03-17T18:13:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/4/bbe5ce/32.png) [@4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/4est)\ **Post date:** [17 March 2019 18:13 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/1 "2019-03-17T18:13:58Z")
I am reading unstable zero value when a SCT013 is connected to the emontx shield. However when I turn on a load, readings although apparently a bit off (I haven’t analyzed it exactly yet), they are a bit more consistent. Still fluctuating, but less any idea why? No AC adapter, Shield\_CT1234 sketch 34 0 0 0 → no load 81 0 0 0 45 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 74 0 0 0 107 0 0 0 64 0 0 0 85 0 0 0 - I turn on a 75W light bulb 85 0 0 0 83 0 0 0 105 0 0 0 86 0 0 0 85 0 0 0 Thanks ---
**Author:** ![4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/4/bbe5ce/32.png) [@4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/4est)\ **Post date:** [17 March 2019 19:39 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/2 "2019-03-17T19:39:01Z")
this sort of explains my issue **[Learn | OpenEnergyMonitor](https://learn.openenergymonitor.org/electricity-monitoring/ct-sensors/measurement-implications-of-adc-resolution-at-low-current-values)** but the oscilations are not only to 13.5w ---
**Author:** ![Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/robert.wall/32/38246_2.png) [@Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Robert.Wall)\ **Post date:** [17 March 2019 22:12 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/3 "2019-03-17T22:12:17Z")
> [@4est](#): > > No AC adapter, That is a clue. When you calculate a rms value, the signal is squared. This rectifies the signal. Therefore, any noise that has found its way into the ADC in the Arduino has been rectified, so it will not fluctuate about zero and average to nothing over time, but instead produce a measurable value. I am almost certain that this is what you are reading. When you add the a.c. adapter, power comes from multiplying voltage and current and then averaging - there is no squaring, and the noise, although still present, is noticeably smaller. ---
**Author:** ![4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/4/bbe5ce/32.png) [@4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/4est)\ **Post date:** [18 March 2019 08:18 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/4 "2019-03-18T08:18:33Z")
ok, I’m waiting for the AC transformer to arrive 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/4/bbe5ce/32.png) [@4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/4est)\ **Post date:** [18 March 2019 19:37 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/5 "2019-03-18T19:37:08Z")
I found a 2x9V transformer locally, so I installed it and indeed the precision improved a lot I had to tune the calibration a lot, as in open circuit the transformer output was ~9.9V I ended up with if (CT1) ct1.voltage(0, 303, 1.7); ---
**Author:** ![Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/robert.wall/32/38246_2.png) [@Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Robert.Wall)\ **Post date:** [18 March 2019 19:48 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/6 "2019-03-18T19:48:19Z")
That’s what the calibration is for 😌 The numbers we give you only work for one particular c.t. and one particular a.c. adapter, for anything else, our calibration will be wrong. If you want the most accurate measurements, the full calibration procedure in at [Learn→Electricity Monitoring→Current & Voltage→1. Calibration Procedure→Calibration Procedure](https://learn.openenergymonitor.org/electricity-monitoring/ctac/calibration#calibration-procedure) ---
**Author:** ![4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/4/bbe5ce/32.png) [@4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/4est)\ **Post date:** [18 March 2019 19:55 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/7 "2019-03-18T19:55:35Z")
yes, I plan to fully calibrate it, I have a plug meter somewhere that measures V, I, real power, total power and the power factor. So far I only used a multimeter, but that measures only total power. It worked fine for a incandescent light bulb but it was way off for a led bulb, as expected. I haven’t fully understood what 1.7 power factor does in the sketch. Should I change it or not? ---
**Author:** ![Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/robert.wall/32/38246_2.png) [@Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Robert.Wall)\ **Post date:** [18 March 2019 20:41 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/8 "2019-03-18T20:41:09Z")
Almost certainly you should change it. It’s there to compensate for the phase errors that are inherent in the transformers. Like the other calibration factors, “1.7” will be wrong for you - how much wrong I cannot say. It should be possible to calculate it, if you know the phase error for each transformer, but by far the easiest is by trial and error, by following the calibration procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Bill.Thomson](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/bill.thomson/32/1834_2.png) [@Bill.Thomson](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Bill.Thomson)\ **Post date:** [19 March 2019 01:55 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/9 "2019-03-19T01:55:39Z")
> [@4est](#): > > It worked fine for a incandescent light bulb From the FAQ: > [@Frequently Asked Questions](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/frequently-asked-questions/3005/2): > > _ **Q: I’m trying to calibrate my system with a 60 Watt lamp. Why are my readings wrong?** _ > _ **A:** _ > > - You need to use a _ **resistive** _ load _much_ larger than 60 Watts, e.g. a 2000 Watt heater. > - Attempting calibration with a motorized load, especially one that draws a substantial amount of current, such as a vacuum cleaner or air conditioner, will not yield correct results. > - See the relevant _[Learn](https://learn.openenergymonitor.org/electricity-monitoring/ctac/calibration)_ section and > [@Frequently Asked Questions](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/frequently-asked-questions/3005/2): > > _ **Q: I calibrated my system with a 2000 Watt heater, but my low power readings are still wrong!** _ > _ **A:** _ > > - All CTs are inherently inaccurate at low currents. Most are accurate down to about 5% of their max current rating. To improve on that, you’d need a “revenue” grade one, which will be costly. > - When the current is very low, below about 2% of the CT’s max current rating, errors in the analog-to-digital converter start to become significant too. > - See the relevant _[Learn](https://learn.openenergymonitor.org/electricity-monitoring/ctac/calibration)_ section * * * I mention it because it’s often overlooked despite being in the FAQ. Hopefully, it’ll save you from a _Huh? WTH? What am I doing wrong? etc._ moment. ---
**Author:** ![4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/4/bbe5ce/32.png) [@4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/4est)\ **Post date:** [19 March 2019 18:41 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/10 "2019-03-19T18:41:30Z")
Should I be using different CTs, like lower current rating for areas where the consumption won’t go that high? I’ll recalibrate using a 2kw heater, I think I have one I will read again the calibration procedure Robert, but I’m not sure I understand all of it though. I’ll post questions about it if I have any 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/robert.wall/32/38246_2.png) [@Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Robert.Wall)\ **Post date:** [19 March 2019 19:23 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/11 "2019-03-19T19:23:15Z")
> [@4est](#): > > Should I be using different CTs, If you are only reading a lamp current - most certainly yes! All manufacturers say that you should choose the c.t. so that its rated current is as close as possible to, but less than, the maximum current that you want to measure. But you can multiply the sensitivity of your c.t. by threading the wire through the centre a number of times. For example, when I test the 100 A c.t., I use a coil of 20 turns and a current of 5 A, and the c.t. reads 100 A. If I wanted my sketch to display 5 A, I would change the current calibration constant from 90.9 to 4.545 ---
**Author:** ![4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/4/bbe5ce/32.png) [@4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/4est)\ **Post date:** [19 March 2019 19:35 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/12 "2019-03-19T19:35:23Z")
Oh yes, I forgot about that trick I’ve purchased 5 CTs 1 for total house current 1 for PV panels output 2 for monitoring PHEV charging 1 for monitoring AC current draw I will also build a diverter to use the PV unused power, so I guess that will require another CT. AC draws ~1kw max. the most important will be PV output (2kw max) and diverter power usage, to make sure it does it’s job correctly and does not use power when it shouldn’t. I guess it will be 2kw too, so these both last ones will require threading the wire multiple times to improve accuracy, right? ---
**Author:** ![Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/robert.wall/32/38246_2.png) [@Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Robert.Wall)\ **Post date:** [19 March 2019 19:57 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/13 "2019-03-19T19:57:20Z")
> [@4est](#): > > so these both last ones will require threading the wire multiple times to improve accuracy, right? Quite probably. The SCT-013-000 is specified for linearity from 10% - 120% of rated current, i.e below 10 A, they don’t guarantee the 3% accuracy. They don’t specify phase error at all, but I’ve measured it, and the phase error goes silly below about 300 mA (not surprising really as the c.t. is designed to handle 100 A). If you do use a multiple turn primary winding (because that is what it is), make sure the wire has an adequate current rating bearing in mind the conductors are bunched together and will overheat very easily. ---
**Author:** ![4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/4/bbe5ce/32.png) [@4est](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/4est)\ **Post date:** [19 March 2019 20:07 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/14 "2019-03-19T20:07:19Z")
does it matter if I use single wire or multiple wire conductor? multiple wire conductor would be easier to thread and yes, I’ll take care about the current rating, thanks ---
**Author:** ![Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/user_avatar/community.openenergymonitor.org/robert.wall/32/38246_2.png) [@Robert.Wall](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/u/Robert.Wall)\ **Post date:** [19 March 2019 21:11 UTC](https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/unstable-zero-load-value-emontx-shield/10418/15 "2019-03-19T21:11:31Z")
Yes, you can use a conductor with multiple strands - it will not affect how the c.t. works.