So now that I feel comfortable with using ADCs, I am attempting to measure the AC current with the SCT013 clamp with AC current sensor.
Setup: I clamp the SCT013 around the HOT wire of a table lamp I have set up. I plug the sound-jack like end of the SCT013 into the AC current sensor. I then plug the Analog out of the AC sensor into one of the analog ins on the MCP3008, one wire into 5V, and another into the ground. I then use this code and module to read the digital values from the MCP.
Weird Results: While the grounded pins on the MCP hover at 18 (on a 10 bit scale 0-1023), the channel where the current sensor is plugged in hovers at 20 when the table lamp is on, 18 when not. Why is the difference so small? Another weird observation is that when I plug in the lamp, there is a large spike in readings all the way up to 60-80 sometimes, then it drops back to 20.
I know the MCP3008 is working because I have hooked up a photoresistor which is giving accurate readings.
Anyone care the shed any light into this? Thank you!