Evaluating the Si8540 Current Sense Amplifier

I needed a current sensor for another project. I found the Si8540 in Mouser’s catalog. It requires a very low resistance sense resistor. The output voltage is in the zero to 3V range. The Si8540 comes in a SOT-23 package and costs US$0.55/piece in single quantities.

si8540I fabricated a prototype board that has holes large enough to solder 14 awg wires for load and source. Like most of my prototype boards, this one had a flaw in it (as seen by the jumper). Including the pcb, this board cost me less than US$2.00.

 

 

 

Using a current limited supply and some high wattage resistors, I compiled the data to chart the performance over a 3 amp load. The low of end of the current sense is skewed. The datasheet talks about the typical error at 1% of Full Load being 5% to 10%.

Si8540 calibration

Finally Found a CA3020 (Epiphyte Build Log)

It took me nearly six months, but I finally sourced a CA3020. I tried AliExpress and eBay several times. I think I purchased four from different vendors on AliExpress; in every instance they did not have any in stock. I tried a few purchases on eBay from Chinese vendors with the same result. I finally found an individual in Romania who had one. I paid like USD$20 including shipping (ouch)

 

 

IMG_1048 copy

Smd inventory 9/3

10k 1206 partial reel

22nf 0805 partial reel

68pf 0805 partial reel

50k 0805 partial reel

100pf 0805 partial reel

22uF 16V partial reel

47uF 6.3V partial reel

680pF 1206 2500pc

82pf np0 0805 partial reel

100nf 0805 partial reel

100pf np0 0805 partial reel

470pf 08085 ~3900 pcs on reel

33nf 0805 partial reel

1nf 0805 partial reel

56pf 0603 partial reel

82pf 0805 partial reel

1uF 0603 ~100 unknown voltage

1uF 0603 ~100 25V (Mouser)

1k 0805 partial reel

22uh 1206 2000pc

red/blue LED Dialight p/n 597-7701-507 705pc

MMSD914T1G 3000pcs SOD123

47pf NP0 0805 360pcs

4.7k 0603 ~5000 pcs on reel

10k ~100

4.7k ~100

100R ~100

Machrone WB-C3-403025 ~500 on reel

78L05 ~100

Red LED 0805 ~20
Green LED 0805 ~20

Blue LED 0805 ~20

Whitre LED 0805 ~20

AP115AY33G-13 LDO 15V ~10

CD4066BM96E4 ~10

74hC4053D ~4 two channel mux

74HC4040PW ~2 twelve stage binary counter

MCP23008-E ~2 in/out I2C interface

AAT3681AIJS4 ~4 usb port/ac adapter

BCX56 ~20 NPN transistor 80V/1A ft 180mhz

2SC3337 ~30 NPN transistor 15V/100ma ft 4.4ghz

BAS16 3000pcs (new reel) TO-236AB

MMBZ5231BLT1 5.1V zener diode SOT-23 ~ 3000

MMBTH32_Q ~300

BAV99W ~50 SOT323

mmbt3904~100 PNP transistor

mmbt3906 ~100 PNP transistor

2N7002K ~100

MC34063A ~10 step-up/step-down switching regulator

C5706 ~20 PNP transistor ft 360mhz

L9110S ~30 Dual channel motor driver

200uf 100V electrolytic ~500

330nf 0603 ~ 4000 reel

BAV70 sot-23 ~ 1000

ZMM5228B 3.9v zener ~1000

3pf C0G 50V 0603 ~4000 reel

BAS19 SOT-23 ~1000

CDLL1A0 schottky diode ~ 700 DO-213AB