ADC conversion trouble

[HenrikOlsson]

Hi PICante,
What are you using as Vref for the ADC? If you're using your PIC supply as Vref and it is exactly 5.00V you still only get ~2counts per degree C. 5.0V divided by 1024 (10bits) makes one LSB 4,89mV.

If you aren't using an external Vref for the ADC, I'd try that and see what happens. A Vref of 1.024V in this case would let you meassure up to 102.4°C with a resolution of 0.1° - in a perfect world.

HTH
/Henrik.

[PICante]

Hej Henrik,

I am using the supply for reference; it’s very stable and good filtered 5.01 Volts, I also realize the limitations it brings. I see your point about the resolution and I would like to try using an external reference if I just knew how. Any good links for studying the suggested solution?

BTW, do you have any clue about why it skips 28? Could it be something wrong with my math?

Thank you!
Tack!

[mackrackit]

Use a voltage divider to set the VREF. Darrel has info here.
http://www.pbpgroup.com/modules/wfse...p?articleid=25

Try reading your LM35 with a volt meter. Possible it is doing the skipping.

[HenrikOlsson]

BTW, do you have any clue about why it skips 28? Could it be something wrong with my math?

No, not really, except from the fact that you only get two counts per degree from the ADC. You might wan't to try taking 10 or more samples and average them to filter the signal. Also it's possible that you're running into some kind of rounding error in the math due the low resolution but I haven't looked into it that much.

Regarding the external Vref I'd suggest you look at the datasheet for the particular PIC you're using regarding the ADC and its various Vref options.

Another option might be to just put an OPAMP after the sensor, boosting the signal by a factor of xx to better utilize the full range of the ADC.

[mister_e]

A good current/temperature compensate Vref is always more than welcome... boosting the sensor output... mmmmpppppfffffff maybe not a good idea.

There's a load of great few bucks constant voltage source ICs here and there.

[HenrikOlsson]

Hi Steve,
I agree that a temp compensated Vref source is a better solution here but would you care to explain why you think it's not a good idea to boost the signal from the sensor?

Yes, the sensor noice will be amplified too but it shouldn't be that bad. Actually, amplifying the signal or lowering Vref shouldn't make any difference, except from non linearity of the amp and possible noice added BY the amp but I don't think that would be a problem in this case.

/Henrik.

[mister_e]

I guess it depend of the accuracy you need. If you use the internal Vref, when the PSU voltage swing, your accuracy will swing with accordingly right?

Assuming the supply never ever swing... yeah you may boost the sensor output... carefully designed it has to work. Not something i would test on a breadboard... i'm kinda noise freak