1. Do not share user accounts! Any account that is shared by another person will be blocked and closed. This means: we will close not only the account that is shared, but also the main account of the user who uses another person's account. We have the ability to detect account sharing, so please do not try to cheat the system. This action will take place on 04/18/2023. Read all forum rules.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. For downloading SimTools plugins you need a Download Package. Get it with virtual coins that you receive for forum activity or Buy Download Package - We have a zero Spam tolerance so read our forum rules first.

    Buy Now a Download Plan!
  3. Do not try to cheat our system and do not post an unnecessary amount of useless posts only to earn credits here. We have a zero spam tolerance policy and this will cause a ban of your user account. Otherwise we wish you a pleasant stay here! Read the forum rules
  4. We have a few rules which you need to read and accept before posting anything here! Following these rules will keep the forum clean and your stay pleasant. Do not follow these rules can lead to permanent exclusion from this website: Read the forum rules.
    Are you a company? Read our company rules

Hall effect potentiometer

Discussion in 'Electronic and hardware generally' started by AceOfSpies, Nov 27, 2013.

  1. AceOfSpies

    AceOfSpies Living the Dream!

    Joined:
    May 8, 2012
    Messages:
    260
    Location:
    Kilwinning, Scotland
    Balance:
    19,614Coins
    Ratings:
    +244 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK, Motion platform
    Hi folks, I have found that the rotary 10k pots I'm using are failing in fairly short timescales (2 - 3 weeks). When I replace them everything works fine for another short while, and then I start to get erratic positioning which gradually gets worse. They are mounted directly onto the back of the actuator shaft. I have used cheap 1 turn pots and continuous turn pots which have all failed.
    Now to my question. Have any of our members used Hall effect, continuous turn potentiometers as a straight replacement for rotary linear pots. If so, how effective are they, and did you find any drawbacks using them? I have found "rs-online" stock them but they are expensive - 44GBP. I want to know they will do the job before I part with the cash! :sos
    • Agree Agree x 1
  2. telfel

    telfel Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2011
    Messages:
    170
    Balance:
    4,736Coins
    Ratings:
    +118 / 3 / -0
    Hi I'm testing 180 degree hall sensor, on 5v, output is 0.4v to 4.8v mounted directly on the back of the gearbox.
    also they do not have any mechanical stops, so you cant damage them if the system goes ape.
    about £15.00 each from Farnell, If any good I will dig out the details
    • Like Like x 2
  3. AceOfSpies

    AceOfSpies Living the Dream!

    Joined:
    May 8, 2012
    Messages:
    260
    Location:
    Kilwinning, Scotland
    Balance:
    19,614Coins
    Ratings:
    +244 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK, Motion platform
    Great telfel sounds ideal.

    Mike
    • Like Like x 1
  4. hooshang

    hooshang Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2011
    Messages:
    273
    Balance:
    285Coins
    Ratings:
    +157 / 3 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, AC motor, Arduino, 6DOF
    I've tested the Hall effect one,that thanos mention on his first post of AMC 1.6
    It work properly in 180 degree long life
    • Like Like x 1
  5. telfel

    telfel Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2011
    Messages:
    170
    Balance:
    4,736Coins
    Ratings:
    +118 / 3 / -0
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  6. AceOfSpies

    AceOfSpies Living the Dream!

    Joined:
    May 8, 2012
    Messages:
    260
    Location:
    Kilwinning, Scotland
    Balance:
    19,614Coins
    Ratings:
    +244 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK, Motion platform
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. bsft

    bsft

    Balance:
    Coins
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    do the hall effect pots hook up the same as regular ones? wiring wise?
  8. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    Messages:
    2,145
    Location:
    Oklahoma City, USA
    Balance:
    16,618Coins
    Ratings:
    +1,835 / 32 / -1
    I haven’t used these myself but they should function like a pot with a few exceptions. One, you only get 92% range of the input voltage (so 5v input = .2v min and 4.98v max output). Two, they wire like a pot but you can’t invert the positive and negative wires to invert the output, it must be inverted in SimTools if necessary. Third, since it is digital internally, it may technically not be as linear as a pot.

    The positives are 12bit resolution with .2% drift which is equivalent to a drift of +.1 or -.1 degrees or so and accuracy to .088 degrees. Also they are available in 360, 180, and 90 degrees turn and each at 12bit resolution. So if you only need 90 degrees and use the 90 degree unit, you will still be using 12bits without any reduction as you would get with only using 90 degrees of a 360 unit (equal to 10bit output). Rotational life is 10 million shaft turns. The rotation is continuous, there are no stops unless you special order them. Therefore you must make sure they wont flip from 360 to 0 or 0 to 360 degrees. Also, since they are digital internally, there is no noise on the output!

    I’m going to order some and check them out because they sound like a good option. And a great option over using most pots!
    • Like Like x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2013
  9. Historiker

    Historiker Dramamine Adict Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2010
    Messages:
    2,161
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Michigan USA
    Balance:
    9,201Coins
    Ratings:
    +2,164 / 19 / -1
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform, 6DOF
    BlazinH pretty much covers it. I have only used them in DIY applications such as custom joysticks that I have made. Using hall effect sensors, rare earth magnets and u-joints the results are extremely accurate with no mechanical "noise". They are very precise.

    I do like the idea of using them with SimTools as well, especially the unlimited turning capability. I broke a couple of cheap 180 pots while tinkering with new motor configurations.
  10. AceOfSpies

    AceOfSpies Living the Dream!

    Joined:
    May 8, 2012
    Messages:
    260
    Location:
    Kilwinning, Scotland
    Balance:
    19,614Coins
    Ratings:
    +244 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK, Motion platform
    I have ordered 2 and will swap out my cheapo pots when they arrive. I'll leave feedback regarding how effective they are.

    Mike :)
  11. AceOfSpies

    AceOfSpies Living the Dream!

    Joined:
    May 8, 2012
    Messages:
    260
    Location:
    Kilwinning, Scotland
    Balance:
    19,614Coins
    Ratings:
    +244 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK, Motion platform
    Hi guys,
    My Hall-effect pots arrived and I have replaced a continuous turn Potentiometer which had failed. I calibrated it using the JRK configuration program, and so far I am very impressed. The movement is very smooth and it seems to keep position extremely well. It is so good that it shows the other mechanical pot to be crap. So I will have to swap that out as well. I'll update this post if there is anything iffy about their performance. At the Moment I would say that they are a very good replacement for mechanical pots. See telfel's post above for the link.

    Mike :thumbs
    • Like Like x 3
    • Informative Informative x 1
  12. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    Messages:
    2,145
    Location:
    Oklahoma City, USA
    Balance:
    16,618Coins
    Ratings:
    +1,835 / 32 / -1
    Thank You Terry for the info and the link!
    • Like Like x 1
  13. Historiker

    Historiker Dramamine Adict Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2010
    Messages:
    2,161
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Michigan USA
    Balance:
    9,201Coins
    Ratings:
    +2,164 / 19 / -1
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, Arduino, Motion platform, 6DOF
    Thanks for the feedback :thumbs
    • Like Like x 1
  14. prodigy

    prodigy Burning revs

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2013
    Messages:
    459
    Location:
    Croatia
    Balance:
    6,698Coins
    Ratings:
    +399 / 4 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, 3DOF, AC motor, SCN5, JRK
    Thanks for the info!

    So basically, they connects same as regular pot, just keeping eye to connect right wires, not swap them. I didn't fully understand 180* turn, so it does have unlimited turning (full circles) but it gives feedback for just half circle? Is there marked position from where to where is it counting?
  15. bsft

    bsft

    Balance:
    Coins
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Yes, thanks for the info. I had a thought for mine, I use about 1.8 turns of a 3 turn pot because of the gears. So what hall effect would I use? Are there 3 turn hall effects?
  16. AceOfSpies

    AceOfSpies Living the Dream!

    Joined:
    May 8, 2012
    Messages:
    260
    Location:
    Kilwinning, Scotland
    Balance:
    19,614Coins
    Ratings:
    +244 / 1 / -0
    My Motion Simulator:
    3DOF, DC motor, JRK, Motion platform
    I set my actuator arms to a level position and turned the pot until I had the middle voltage - 2.5volts. Then screwed the pot up tight so the body wouln't move. Then I used the JRK config program
    to set the limits of movement, about 170 degrees.

    I wouldn't think so Dave, as I believe the voltage is generated by the position of the sensor in a magnetic field.
    I would think one turn is all you could get. But I'm sure to be corrected if I'm wrong. Mike:grin
    • Informative Informative x 1
  17. bsft

    bsft

    Balance:
    Coins
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I can switch the gears around, so that would solve the problem of turns
  18. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    Messages:
    2,145
    Location:
    Oklahoma City, USA
    Balance:
    16,618Coins
    Ratings:
    +1,835 / 32 / -1
    @bsft AceofSpies is correct that the output is limited to one turn. The output is limited but the rotation is not. Therefore, it would be possible to use them in multi turn situations. However, it would require the use of custom software or firmware to monitor for a rotation switch over and then mathematically account for it. It would be similar to an incremental encoder that uses an index to keep track of how many revolutions it has made.

    Sure you could use gearing to reduce the turns but if they have any backlash you will get additional “slop” added in of course. These are so accurate that it doesn’t take much to register either. However, also because these are so accurate (to about 4095 units per revolution for a 360 degree pot), one turn is quite sufficient for most applications, at least for mine (for the record I use PWM output hall effect encoders, not analog, but specs are the same, 12bit). Again, they are accurate to +- .088 degrees for a 360 degree pot and have a "clean" output.

    ps I ordered the 360 and the 90 degree hall effect pots to experiment with. But I don't expect to receive them until sometime later in the week. I plan on trying them on a seat mover design.
    • Like Like x 2
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2013
  19. eaorobbie

    eaorobbie Well-Known Member SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

    Joined:
    May 26, 2009
    Messages:
    2,574
    Occupation:
    CAD Detailer
    Location:
    Ellenbrook, Western Australia
    Balance:
    20,436Coins
    Ratings:
    +1,684 / 23 / -2
    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, JRK, SimforceGT, 6DOF
    I have used them too but found them quiet expensive to buy, I went to 5 turn contactless pots from RS components simualar price but with the winch setup I had them on I want a 5 turn arrangement as in 80 deg of lever movement equalled 5 turns of the pot, work well giving me a very fine resolution of movement that I could not get with a single turn hall effect. To me Hall Effects are good but at the time I was testing them with the Jrks , I was not satisfied with the resolution I was getting from high qualily 5 turn units. Higher the resolution the better you sim movements will be.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  20. bsft

    bsft

    Balance:
    Coins
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I can change the gears around on my motors so I get less of a turn on pot end, easy as.