Hello,
I just finished to build my emontx v2, downloaded and updated IDE and it's libraries as shown in the guides, now I have to upload the first sketch......
Do i have to power the emontx ( via the mini USB port) during the firmware upload? Or just plug in the USB to UART cable without powering emontx?
Thanks
Re: First firmaware upload to emontx v2
The power supply isn't needed, the emonTx is powered via the (USB to UART cable) FTDI programmer.
Re: First firmaware upload to emontx v2
Thank you very much for the fast reply!
Re: First firmaware upload to emontx v2
That must sound stupid, but I got confused, should I use a 5V ac-ac power supply or a 9v ac-ac power supply?
Re: First firmaware upload to emontx v2
The emonTx v2 needs to be "powered" by a 5v DC supply (when FTDI programmer or other 5v DC source isn't connected) and to "sense" the mains voltage it requires a 9v AC adapter, the 9v AC adapter is not mandatory as there are sketches and applications that do not "sense" voltage, but for the emonTx to function it must have 3.3v which it gets via the on-board voltage regulator that requires a 5v DC supply.
Re: First firmaware upload to emontx v2
When you measure the mains voltage via the 9 V ac-ac adapter (I prefer 'measure'), you can get an accurate reading for the true power. If you don't have the ac-ac adapter, you tell it in software what your nominal mains voltage is, and hence you get only an estimate of 'apparent power' (i.e. the supposed voltage times current). Real Power and Apparent Power are the same for a resistive load but can be wildly different for other types of load - it's explained in Building Blocks.
Re: First firmaware upload to emontx v2
Thanks again for the fast and helpful answers :-)
Re: First firmaware upload to emontx v2
" If you don't have the ac-ac adapter, you tell it in software what your nominal mains voltage is"
Can you show me where in code a change this?
Re: First firmaware upload to emontx v2
It's where the returned value from the call to the function calcIrms is multiplied by the constant 230 or 240, 230 being the nominal EU voltage and 240 the normal UK voltage.