Adafruit INA228 85V 20-bit I2C Power Monitor Breakout

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

ADC

An analogue-to-digital converter reads a changing voltage and turns it into a number the microcontroller can use. It matters when connecting analogue sensors such as light, sound, or variable-resistor sensors.

breakout

A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.

CircuitPython

A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.

common-mode voltage

The voltage level that both measurement inputs sit at relative to ground while the sensor measures the small difference between them. A high common-mode rating means the board can monitor current in higher-voltage circuits without the measurement chip being damaged.

high-side measurement

Measuring current on the positive supply side of a load, before the power reaches the device being measured. This matters because it lets you monitor a circuit without disturbing its ground connection, which is often safer and more accurate for shared-ground projects.

I2C

I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.

INA228

A power-monitoring chip that measures current, voltage and power in a circuit and reports the readings digitally. The exact chip matters because it sets the measurement range, resolution and communication method for the breakout.

LSB

Least significant bit is the smallest step a digital converter can represent. In a DAC, it tells you the tiniest voltage change the output can make at a given resolution and output range.

oversampling

Taking many measurements and combining them to reduce noise and improve the stability of a reading. It matters when you want smoother current or power measurements, though it can make updates slower.

shunt resistor

A very low-value resistor placed in the current path so the board can measure the tiny voltage drop across it and calculate current. Its resistance and tolerance affect the maximum current range, heat produced and accuracy of the readings.

Terminal block

A connector used to join wires together in a neat, removable, or serviceable way. For this product, it helps split one power input into several outputs without soldering.

Tolerance

Tolerance tells you how far the real resistance value may be from the printed value. A 1% resistor is useful when a circuit needs more predictable behaviour than a looser 5% or 10% part.

VBUS

A label often used for the main bus or supply voltage being measured or distributed on a board. Knowing what VBUS refers to helps you wire the monitor to the correct point in the circuit, especially for high-side measurements.