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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    828

    LM3914 Low voltage sensing?

    Has any one seen a circuit that will sence 2mV to 150mV using a lm3914 or similar chip to drive leds in dot mode?

    Or can chip do that with out any other additions?

    Thanks
    Dennis

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    2849
    Well generally noise levels are more then that.....why don't you give us more info...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    828
    I'm just try to make a simple high temperature termostat ~1100 F using a thermocouple and since it makes a voltage based on temperature I was thinking I can use it to drive the leds outs and connect them to relays as needed.
    Dennis

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    24221
    You could maybe try it direct coupled, but you may need a linear opamp to scale it if neccessary, You can get info and a nice set of free books from Omega.com on thermocouples etc.
    Al.
    CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design

    “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
    Albert E.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    3312
    You are aware you have to treat the dissimilar metals of the thermocouple with compensation circuits for the copper to xxx metal of the thermoucouple leads?
    Phil, Still too many interests, too many projects, and not enough time!!!!!!!!
    Vist my websites - http://pminmo.com & http://millpcbs.com

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    1498
    060317-2008 EST USA

    DennisCNC:

    I would suggest an op amp, and from its output a meter to read temperature, and threshold detector with hystersis to control your on-off relay.

    See the following site figure 16 for calibration information. At your temperature there is probably no need for cold junction compensation. Of course it depends upon the accuracy you want.

    Relatively speaking you do not need fast response and therefore you can add substantial filtering on the thermocouple output.

    The conversion from F to C is --- C = (F - 32) 5/9 . This you can derive from 0 C = 32 F and 100 C = 212 F, and knowing you have a linear relationship.

    http://www.omega.com/temperature/Z/pdf/z021-032.pdf

    .

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    828
    This will be for a aluminum smelter so +/- 150deg. will be ok.

    gar:

    I like that PDF!!
    Dennis

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