How to Use INA219 Current Sensor for Real-Time Power Monitoring on ESP32

Using the INA219 Current Sensor for Real-Time Power Monitoring on ESP32 Boards

The INA219 current sensor is an excellent tool for monitoring power consumption in real-time. This tutorial will guide you through the steps to connect and use the INA219 with an ESP32 board to measure voltage, current, and power. By the end, you will have a working setup that allows you to monitor power consumption easily.

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of electronics and programming.
• ESP32 development board.
• INA219 current sensor module.
• Breadboard and jumper wires.
• Arduino IDE installed with ESP32 board support.

Parts/Tools

• 1 x ESP32 Development Board
• 1 x INA219 Current Sensor Module
• Jumper Wires
• Breadboard (optional)

Steps

1. Wiring the INA219 to the ESP32
   1. Connect the INA219 to the ESP32 using the following pin configuration:

   
                   INA219     ESP32
                   VCC        3.3V
                   GND        GND
                   SDA        GPIO 21
                   SCL        GPIO 22
               

   2. Use a breadboard for easier connections if necessary.
2. Installing the Required Libraries
   1. Open the Arduino IDE.
   2. Go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries.
   3. Search for INA219 and install the Adafruit INA219 library.
3. Writing the Code
   1. Create a new Arduino sketch.
   2. Include the necessary libraries:

   
                   #include <Wire.h>
                   #include <Adafruit_INA219.h>
               

   3. Initialize the INA219 sensor:

   
                   Adafruit_INA219 ina219;
               

   4. In the setup() function, initialize the sensor:

   
                   void setup() {
                       Serial.begin(115200);
                       ina219.begin();
                   }
               

   5. In the loop() function, read and print the voltage, current, and power:

   
                   void loop() {
                       float voltage = ina219.getBusVoltage_V();
                       float current = ina219.getCurrent_mA();
                       float power = ina219.getPower_mW();
                       
                       Serial.print("Voltage: ");
                       Serial.print(voltage);
                       Serial.println(" V");
                       
                       Serial.print("Current: ");
                       Serial.print(current);
                       Serial.println(" mA");
                       
                       Serial.print("Power: ");
                       Serial.print(power);
                       Serial.println(" mW");
                       
                       delay(2000);
                   }
               

4. Uploading the Code
   1. Connect your ESP32 to your computer via USB.
   2. Select the appropriate board and port from Tools > Board and Tools > Port.
   3. Click the upload button in the Arduino IDE.
5. Testing the Setup
   1. Open the Serial Monitor in the Arduino IDE.
   2. Set the baud rate to 115200.
   3. You should see voltage, current, and power readings printed every 2 seconds.

Troubleshooting

• No readings: Check the wiring connections and ensure the INA219 is powered correctly.
• Library errors: Ensure that you have the correct libraries installed and that they are up to date.
• Incorrect values: Verify the calibration of the INA219 if the readings seem off.

Conclusion

You have successfully set up the INA219 current sensor with an ESP32 board to monitor real-time power consumption. This project provides a foundation for more complex power monitoring applications. Experiment with different loads and configurations to expand your understanding further!