I bought a digital wattmeter from ebay and I want to read the seperate voltage and current values from the wattmeter using an arduino. The wattmeter displays watts, voltage, and current on a standard 16x2 display. I know very little about lcds and arduino, but I assume it is possible to figure out which of these lcd pins are data pins and read the analog signals with an Arduino. Do you guys think this is feasible and do you guys have any ideas on how to figure out which pins are data pins?
Thank you very much
Post a data sheet or manual or schematic for the meter.
Or, probably much easier, do some research on sensors to measure voltage and current that can be used with Arduino, and ditch the gadget from eBay.
On reflection, keep it. Virgo intacto, it might be useful to check that you have done a proper job with Arduino.
"I know very little about lcds"
Getting data at the LCD itself would take some magic pixie dust. That being said, you probably can tap some info/input off of the internal sensing components, with the LDC display showing you close you are in measuring with an Arduino. Do note that one needs to be knowledgeable and careful about electronics when interfacing with120vac circuits.
Don't.
Unless you're 110% sure the internal circuit of the wattmeter is isolated from mains power.
Leo..