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Following in the successful footsteps of my IPEM board, a variation of this board has been produced, called IPEC (IoT Power Energy Controller and Monitor SDK)
IPEC is an IoT Power Energy Monitor and Controller. 3 Phase, or 3 x Single Phase with DAC / PWM / MPPT / I2C Expansion Port Outputs.
IPEM works well and is reliable, however, for some other applications, it needed a DAC output and ideally an Expansion Port, The latter allowing for a new range of user accessory boards to be interfaced, or you can design your own!
The ability to provide a DAC output(s), which can track the CT Current Clamp or ATM90E32 Register Values, having a number of applications including:
- Smart Battery Charging
- Resistive Power Control (Such as Immersion Heaters)
- Solar Power Diverter
DAC Outputs can also be used to produce:
- Fixed Voltage Output - Tracking CT/Power
- PWM Output - Tracking CT/Power
- MPPT or Modulated Output - Tracking CT/Power
Examples of this has recently been included in the IPEM Test Software.
Compatibility of IPEM Code is broadly maintained for IPEC. Details will follow on enhancements.
The new complimentary IPEX-1 Expansion board details have just been released and also in Beta.
Boards Overview
The IPEC board is in Beta Test Phase, with the board currently in SMT production for testing for testing Early July. Full production boards will then be available later in July.
Status Update 16th July 2023The IPEC board has been going through bring up and testing. All is looking good so far and apart from a couple of minor improvements which has come out of testing, it look very positive.
Interfacing to the IPEX board worked without any issues and this enabled basic bring up testing of the DAC and ADC to move forward. The IPEX board will then be updated to make minor improvements, so expanding a couple of worthwhile features. Still pinning down the final PWM interface but ideas are on the bench.
The biggest amount of time has been spent on the firmware. Taken the IPEM base code, added automatic detection between IPEM, IPEC and IPEC with IPEX. Then a whole chunk of IPEC and IPEX interfacing code was spread on top.
Overall, I am pleased with progress and this IPEC board is looking to be a very versatile board - especially for those whom would like to delve further into Solar Power Diverters.
Already as seen in the below photo, the IPEC/IPEX board is interfacing to a High Power Motor controller to provide automated Batter Charge control based on surplus energy. This is working really well.
Using the IPEX DC Current Sensor, it is also possible to monitor the charging, as well as Solar Diverting.
Will pursue testing and code development over the next week and this should enable a line to be drawn in the current design.
Status Update 22nd July 2023The below shows the PWM and DAC working together for MPPT.
The current clamp is connected to a variable ramping load and this is then used to test the IPEC board which is automatically outputting the DAC and PWM, based on the Power.
Further details will follow.
IPEM v IPECAdded
- MCP4728 12bit I2C DAC, with On-board Non-volatile EEPROM.
- Allows for Four Independent PWM, DAC and/or MPPT Outputs - Rated 20mA Per).
- Expansion Header 6 Way JST SH (DAC A, B, C and D Outputs PLUS I2C Breakout - Configurable).
- Configurable VOUTA via Transistor for MPPT (Configurable).
- Power Jack 2.1mm or Terminal Block
- External GPIO 2Pin Header on GP39 (ADC VN In or Output Rated 40mA).
- Zero Crossing ZX0 configurable to GP12 or GP16 (Software control for Zero Crossing DAC Outputs).
- AC Voltage Link for AC 1, 2 and 3 input. (Makes it easier to configure for Single AC Input).
- /LDAC from DAC go GPIO35 (Simultaneous Controlling of DAC Outputs)
- 12V DC Out (External Accessories)
Removed
- CT4 Jack Socket (Not Needed)
- ATM90E36 Jumpers (Not Needed)
- CT1-CT3 Jumper Headers (Not Used)
- CT1-CT3 Burden Resistors (Not Needed)
- NTC (Not needed as ATM90E32 has one on Chip)
The IPEC IoT Power Energy Controller board main features:
Compact and Flexible Design SDK Board
- All connections are low voltage, for safe operation
- Easy to interface
OptionalEspressifESP32WROOM
ESP32-WROOM-32E-N4 (Main Version)
- Integral PCB Antenna Wireless and Bluetooth
ESP32-WROOM-32UE-N4 (Optional Alternative)
- Ext Antenna - U.FL Socket
- Wireless and Bluetooth
ATM90E32 Energy Monitor
3 x Phases Line CT Clamp Input
Can be singe phase, split phase or full 3 phase.
- Example Clamp YHDC SCT01300
- 3 x Voltage Sensing Inputs (AC RMS)Can be used with Single Phase, or Multi AC Inputs (For Split or 3Phase)Normally Taken from AC Power Input (by Default)
- Power Modes Settings
MCP4728 DAC
- 12bit I2C DAC
- Four Independent Buffered Output Channels
Configured for Default DAC Out, or Modulated (Example MPPT)
- Configurable Solder Pads
- On-Board DAC EEPROM (For DAC Codes and Addressing)
- Can be configured to drive DAC based on CT Clamp Current / Power
24C64 EEPROM I2C
- Parameter Settings
- Logging
- I2C Interface
OLED I2C Connector
- Configurable Power Pins
AC Low Voltage Input (for Safety)
- Standard 2.1mm Jack Socket
Power safely derived from a SELV / Wall AC/AC Power Supply
- 8 to 12V AC RMS (Nominal 12V)
- Examples GreenBrook DAT01A or TLC TC TR7
Onboard 3V3 DC SMPS Power Supply
- Power taken from AC Input, or USB 5V
Arduino Wemos D1 Compatible USB Interface
- On-board Micro USB Socket
- Flashing and Programming
- Example wemos_d1_mini32
- Can also used to power the board
- Debugging
- Configurable and Flexible Port
- DAC Outputs
- I2C Interface
- 3v3 Power
- Standard JST SH 6 Way Header
- 2 GPIO for User (GP16 and GP17)
- UART Interfacing (UART 2)
- Reset Button
- User Programmable Button
- User Configurable
- On 3V3
- CF1 - Active
- CF2 - ReActive
- CF3 - Fundamental
- CF4 - Harmonic
- Solder Pads on Rear of PCB.
PCB designed to fit neatly into an BMC enclosure
- Also allows for the display to be included, or not.
- Full Example Code in GitHub
- Source Code Based on IPEM
- Publish to MQTT
- Publish to Domoticz
- Publish to ThingSpeak
- Drive DAC for PWM / Voltage or MPPT Based on CT Readings
- Size 70 mm x 53 mm
Updates code can be found on our GitHub.
The full specification list is available here.
Further details maybe also be found on our GitHub
Supporting STEM
Life is one long exciting learning curve, help others by setting the seed to knowledge.
Status Update 16th July 2023
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