Reading the EMF inputs for EMF Detector for Underground Armoured Cables

Other Hardware Sensors
1

Greetings,

I am currently working on my final year project which is on developing an EMF Detector for Underground Armoured Cables. This hand-held device will function in such a way whereby it could detect if the underground cable is live or dead besides also recording the very information in a SD Card via Arduino Data Logger. The sole purpose of developing this prototype is to ensure the personnel on site does not make a mistake by cutting the wrong underground cable during his maintenance work.

The primary sensor of this project which works on components like the 100mH inductor (used as sensor), two pieces of MC1458 Dual Op Amp and other related components. The audio output is good whereby the detector could detect the minute excretion of EMF from the armoured cable. The signal is then connected to LM3915 IC whereby the output is also then shown via LEDs'.

The signal is also transmitted thru Arduino to be logged into the data logger. A simple message of 'Live' or 'Dead' should be programmed upon detecting the EMF from the cable. For an example, a strong signal should prompt Arduino to recognize it as live while minimum signal should be identified as 'Dead'. Unfortunately, I am currently facing a problem whereby the input that i receive from the serial monitor is very close and sometimes does not show any difference in terms of the resolution with or without the contact of the underground cable. The audio seems to work fine where upon contact the audio sound is loud while away, it is significantly low. I am confused why am I not receiving a similar pattern in the arduino serial monitor?

Please excuse my poor English, kindly let me know if you have any doubts in my question. I would really appreciate if you guys could help me with this problem.

Thank You.

2

Your English is very good! I like your phrase "minute excretion of EMF ". Never though of it that way!

You gave lots of information, but nothing about how the Arduino is involved, how it is connected , or a copy of the code you think should be doing something, but is dong something different.

Paul

3

Paul_KD7HB:
Your English is very good! I like your phrase "minute excretion of EMF ". Never though of it that way!

You gave lots of information, but nothing about how the Arduino is involved, how it is connected , or a copy of the code you think should be doing something, but is dong something different.

Paul

I am so sorry, I am so lost with words..anyways, the entire circuit is connected as shown in the following pictures. I am connecting the analog input from pin 7 ( written Arduino in the circuit ) to analog input A0 along with a common ground connection. So, as of for the start, I used this simple code that I found from the net, just to check on if the arduino could read the input from the EMF sensors (100mH inductors).

The following is the code;

int sensePin =0;

int val = 0;           // variable to store the value read


void setup() {
  analogReference(DEFAULT);

   
  Serial.begin(9600);
  

}

void loop() {
 
   val = analogRead(sensePin);    // read the input pin
  delay(500);
  Serial.println(val);             // debug value

}

However i found the results to be rather confusing as the readings/resolutions did not make significant change with or without the contact of the armoured cable.

Below is the reading I got from the serial monitor; * Note: the readings did not make difference with or without the contact of the armoured cable, it constantly fluctuates with drastic increase or sometimes with minimum fluctuation however I could not conclude as the reading is pretty much the same, but the audio output from the earphone is pretty clear with the difference.

Results from the serial monitor;

223
224
227
279
231
229
229
228
228
216
223
227
324
386
223
224
224
229
535
536
385
236
231
228
228
276
629
392
402
338
365
639
606
666
629
642
650
598
631
635
636
632
635
634
640
662
649
654
477
482
515
233
236
230
234
235
228
232
236
232
227
229
232
226
220
222
224
224
236
232
232
230
229
230
228
228
232
230
228
230
229
229
226
229
230
235
226
231
231
231
230
225
226
226
226
224
235
227
224
225
227
227
227
224
313
352
640
644
650
641
641
610
667
639
652
647
615
647
647
643
647
631
640
648
652
641
648
644
646
647
645
652
620
601
234
232
237
232
232
235
231
232
231
232
231
231
232
237
231
234
232
226
230
230
229
229
232
230
235
235
232
230
235
233
234
233
233
232
233
233
235
233
233
234
234
234
233
233
232
232
236
232
233
233
233
233
233
231
233
233
233
227
230
223
226
225
225
227
227
224
228
226
228
228
227
227
230
230
228
230
228
229
229
230
229
228
229
230
226
233
226
227
228
229
228
225
228
227
228
228
231
230
232
234
232
239
233
233
227
232
232
234
232
233
231
234
228
232
232
228
223
228
225
224
226
226
212
227
233
226
235
239
219
227
233
223
228
229
240
242
234
237
232
239
228
230
232
242
242
248
235
233
235
239
236
240
239
234
234
239
234
237
235
162
0
0

Hope that helps, kindly please let me know, if you require any further information. I am using the Arduino for the first time, so I am kinda lost, please kindly bare with me.

Thank You.

4

Image :

5

Your list of stuff from the monitor is a waste of space.

Do you understand the sensor will produce AC, alternating current? The Arduino can only measure DC voltage. Do you have a circuit connected to the sensor to rectify and filter the AC and make it DC that can be measured? If so, what is the voltage produced?

Paul