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True RMS measurement digitally with PIC

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atferrari

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ltc1966

Considering how to measure / calculate RMS power in an AC line I've got the concept: The rms value results from squaring the values over intervals of time, finding their average value, and taking the square root of it.

Thinking of measuring power used by a common appliance connected to 220 V AC monophasic using a PIC for the measurement and calculation, I understand I should do this:

a - Measure V and simultaneously I (well, as close in time as possible to each other!!).

b - Multiply V * I to get instantaneous value of power.

c - Add succesive instantaneous values of power.

d - Calculate the square root of their sum

e - Repeat the process for the next cycle.

My questions:

1 - How many times per full period (or per second) should I measure instantaneous V and I to make this reasonably precise? I could not find a suggested figure in the so many places talking about true RMS.

2 - Is the zero crossing information a must to start counting the above or could I use a precise timer to trigger the next pair of measurements plus the calculation?

2 - Is it wrong to do this kind of measurement/calculation for one of every two full periods? Am I cheating the reasult in that way?

3 - A 10-digits ADC is it enough if taking the output from current / voltage transformers with adequated down scaling?

4 - Even if the above is a yes, could the 18F452 (which I've just started to work with) be useful here? (Quite an improvement over the 16F877!!)
 

My gut feelings are that PIC will struggle trying to convert "trueRMS"-to-DC and perform further calculations ..
Why not to help it by using off-the-shelf trueRMS-to-DC ICs ( LTC1966, AD536A, MAX536, AD637 - to name just a few) or even employ a power meter circuit and use its output voltage to feed to PIC for display etc etc. ..
Here is an example:
https://www.analog.com/UploadedFiles/Application_Notes/528608457AN641_0.pdf

Rgards,
IanP
 

Hola Ian,

The idea is to achieve this for my own education. Thanks for replying anyway.

I keep reading. The cos fi factor is involved, as far as I understand.
 

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