Work shop automation

[simpleturnings]

I am trying to set an automated dust collection system in my wood shop. I have a raspberry pi 2 a servo motor and a ct sensor. I want to use the ct sensor to detect amperage draw when I turn on a machine read that into the pi and use it as an on or off signal. Then have the pi send a signal to the servo to open a blast gate. The ct sensor that I have is the sct-013-000. From what I have read this sensor will detect amperage up to 100 amps and output a signal up to 50mA. The biggest issue that I am running into is how to read the output of the ct sensor into the pi and then turn that signal into an on off signal.

If anyone has any advise on this or even if you have a better idea of how to accomplish this I would be very grateful.

[Blueprint Robotics]

Does the CT output a small voltage with 50mA? you could use a transistor (current controlled) that switches a 5V line on and off.

When the 5V line is on the machine is on and the Pi can perform moving the servo and open the vent, then when the line is off the servo then closes the vent.

This could work
http://uk.farnell.com/multicomp/2n3906/ ... dp/1574372

But make sure to check that the output of the CT against whatever transistor your using first.

[BMS Doug]

Follow this guide for connecting the ct sensor to an arduino analogue input.

You could then use an ADC to monitor the CT sensor.

You might prefer to use an arduino for this application.

[MeanderingLaser]

If I am reading you correctly, then all you want to do is have the Pi send an "on" signal to a motor when it reads another "on" signal?

I think a Raspberry Pi probably isn't the best tool for this. Once you have a circuit that is making an "on" signal when the tool is on, then you can just use that as your "on" signal to send to the motor, unless there's some other sort of functionality you are looking for..

I would personally just hook up the sensor to an oscilloscope to see what it outputs when it's hooked up. I would probably need to do some conversion to get it to a TTL signal, then use that TTL signal with some digital logic components to mess with my functionality a bit (maybe I want the gate to stay open a few seconds after I turn off my tool), and send the end signal to a motor control.

The nice thing about hard-wired circuits is you'll never have to wait for them to turn on. Just plug them in and go.