Danisense DP12IP specifies 18 A current sensing in 32 mm

By Sophie Lindqvist

The latest Danisense DP12IP specifies current measurement up to 18 A and a 32 mm printed-circuit-board (PCB) form factor, with a vendor-stated maximum linearity error of 10 ppm (parts per million). Danisense designed the transducer for isolated direct-current (DC) and alternating-current (AC) measurement in demanding, space-constrained power electronics.

The announcement supplies specifications rather than independent measurements, and Danisense gives no test conditions. The company said, “This allows for integration into 1U (one-unit-high rack format) power supplies and other space-constrained equipment.”

What accuracy does the DP12IP claim?

Danisense bases the DP12IP on closed-loop-compensated fluxgate technology and describes its accuracy as ppm-class. The specification also includes long-term stability, although the announcement states no numerical drift value or exact accuracy band.

• Maximum specified current: 18 A
• Maximum linearity error: 10 ppm
• Measurement resistors: up to 100 Ω at full scale
• Stated form factor: 32 mm
• Accuracy: described as ppm-class, without an exact numerical band
• Stability: long-term, with no numeric drift value supplied

The distinction matters because maximum linearity error does not represent total measurement uncertainty. Without a defined accuracy band, drift specification and test conditions, an engineer cannot combine the 10 ppm figure with other error sources in a measurement budget.

On paper, the DP12IP offers compact packaging and low stated nonlinearity, but its accuracy claim remains incomplete.

How does second-harmonic zero-flux detection work?

Danisense uses a fixed excitation frequency and second-harmonic (twice-the-excitation-frequency) zero-flux detection within its closed-loop-compensated fluxgate design. In the architecture described, the circuit detects the response associated with the zero-flux state and uses feedback compensation to reduce residual flux error.

The announcement does not reveal bandwidth, noise, temperature coefficient or compensation-loop residual error. Those omissions limit comparison with other transducers when a precision supply or drive must maintain stable current measurement under changing loads.

The method favors repeatable zero-flux operation, but the release does not quantify the resulting dynamic performance.

Where does the 32 mm package fit?

Danisense names four application groups for the DP12IP:

• Precision power supplies
• Servo drives for motion control
• Battery test benches and battery emulators
• Power measurement and power analysis systems

The precision-supply and servo-drive cases place the transducer near dense power electronics, where the 32 mm format can relieve board-area pressure. Battery benches, emulators and power-analysis systems shift the environment toward sustained current measurement, where the stated low nonlinearity and long-term stability become more relevant than package size alone.

For integrators, the strongest case is a measurement channel that must fit dense power hardware without adding a large sensor assembly.

What is Lee Goldberg’s engineering background?

Contributing editor Lee Goldberg wrote the product report and the popular PowerBites series. He describes himself as a “Recovering Engineer,” “Maker/Hacker,” “Green-Tech Maven,” “Aviator,” “Gadfly,” and “Geek Dad.”

Goldberg spent his first 18 years in engineering, designing microprocessors, embedded systems, renewable-energy applications and, occasionally, an interplanetary spacecraft. He then traded his scope and soldering iron for a keyboard and spent the next two decades in technical journalism at several print and online engineering publications.

His present focus remains power electronics, especially energy efficiency, energy management and renewable energy. Since 1996, he has covered sustainable technologies and environmental and social issues in engineering, while also following 3D printers, open-source hardware and other maker/hacker technologies.

Goldberg holds a BSEE, or bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, from Thomas Edison College. He participated in a colloquium on technology, society and the environment at Goddard College’s Institute for Social Ecology. His book, “Green Electronics/Green Bottom Line - A Commonsense Guide To Environmentally Responsible Engineering and Management,” was published by Newnes Press.

Goldberg lives outside Princeton, New Jersey, with his wife, Catherine, and daughter, Anwyn. His profile describes them as masquerading as a typical suburban family.

His engineering and power-electronics background fits the product’s technical audience.

Can the DP12IP clear the adoption test?

Adoption remains conditional because the announcement names no calibration interval, ambient-temperature range, noise figure, isolation rating, measurement-standard revision, price or availability date. It also leaves undefined both the ppm-class accuracy range and the duration implied by “long-term stability.”

Before an integrator commits an 18 A channel to the DP12IP, it should request condition-specific data for error versus current and temperature, drift over time, resistor tolerance and the compensation loop. Those data must fit the uncertainty budget of the target power supply, servo drive, battery bench or analysis system.

The adoption question is simple: can Danisense supply complete accuracy, stability and isolation specifications before engineers qualify the DP12IP for precision 18 A systems?