Design a Handheld Electric Field Meter with Arduino

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on designing a handheld electric field meter using Arduino. John seeks guidance on whether to use two antennas to measure voltage differences for calculating electric field strength in volts per meter (v/m). He experimented with an op-amp design powered by 5V but received an output of 2.7V, leaving him uncertain about the accuracy of his measurements. A recommendation was made to search for "E Field Mill" for additional resources, including a specific Instructables guide on building an Arduino-based electrostatic field mill.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Arduino programming and circuitry
  • Knowledge of op-amp configurations and their applications
  • Familiarity with electric field measurement concepts
  • Basic electronics skills, including voltage and current measurement
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "E Field Mill" designs for electric field measurement
  • Study the Instructables guide on Arduino-based electrostatic field mills
  • Learn about op-amp circuit design for sensor applications
  • Explore Arduino libraries for data acquisition and processing
USEFUL FOR

Electronics enthusiasts, hobbyists building measurement devices, and engineers interested in electric field sensing applications.

Jp43
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Hello, I want to create a handheld electric field meter to measure the strength at a certain point with an arduino. I have seen various ideas online but I am still not sure what kind of design to use.

Is the right concept to use two antennas. Measure the voltage on each and then calculate the difference to get so many v/m? If so do I have to run a small current through the plates at a certain voltage? I am just not quite sure where to go with this.
I would like to be able to get a relatively accurate readout onto my arduino. Does the design I chose affect this or are they all the same? I really appreciate any guidance with this.

I did find a design online (using the op amp) which I tried out. I supplied it with the 5v but I got 2.7 out and had no idea whether I was actually measuring electric field or something else.
upload_2018-10-19_15-21-24.gif

Thanks, John
 

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