cameronasmith:
Hi crossroads,So, I got a 16bit ADC from adfruit, and i've got the weight system working like almost 99%. However, I have noticed a problem in the fact that when I setup the weight system I weigh two measurements:
Zero weight & 500 grams. (calculated in software)
which works fine! But whenever I do the slightest thing like open the Serial Port Monitor or change the color of my LCD it drops the voltage enough to affect my calculations.
Please see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8BqAKXAnj0&feature=youtu.be (from normal color to a slight change in color)
Can this really be the Arduino USB dropping the power? Can you recommend anything?
Thanks,
Cameron.
A lot has to do with how you are configuring and using that ADC module. As it has it's own internal reference voltage that should not be a problem. So how do you have your strain gauge wired up. Most have four wires, a ground, a bridge drive voltage and two measurement points. The proper way to read the two points is as two independent measurements and and calculate the difference of the two measurements, or set up the adc to use differential input and the difference will be automatically determined by the ADC conversion. Changes in the bridge drive voltage should not have an effect as a bridge is 'radiometric' device, But as CR said maybe noise or capacitance coupling is causing what you are seeing. Anyway if you can share how you have the adc setup and how you are using the adc results in your code may shed some light.