Measuring 0-240v 50-60hz Mains AC with Arduino/MCU

Question

What is the proper way to measure 0-240v 50-60hz Mains AC with an arduino / 3.3v mcu?

(Edited to include a diagram of a proof on concept, which is transformerless)

Can anyone confirm that this is the right choice, or provide reasons why this wouldn't work as I intend, given the requirements mentioned below? Keep in mind, I plan to use this in a commercial product

I've been researching the webs through so many ways to accomplish this, from octocouplers, mid400, LM2902N, tl081, voltage dividers, transformers, etc.. for a production product I have in mind, but I haven't ended up an any clear solutions. I'm hoping to get a clear sense of direction.

I'll leave this at the basics and provide more info needed.

I found these seemingly simple devices on amazon, same concept, being plugged into a general US home outlet, but I want to accomplish it using an Arduino. (I.E. I want to read the output via serial.)

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PBW5A4I/
• https://www.amazon.com/Yeeco-Display-Digital-Voltmeter-Voltage/dp/B00PZBEJ7Y/

Requirements:

• Read value of 0-240v (or higher) from AC Mains 0-240v 50-60hz to analog input of 0-3.3v for a microcontroller. (+/- 1% tolerance is probably acceptable aside from 0)
• Safety from reverse polarity/shorts
• Safety from voltage spikes
• Smallest form factor possible. Unit is handheld & battery powered, so prob not enough room for transformers.
• Low heat dissipation (all parts are enclosed in small handheld unit)

Not worried about:

• Isolation to user (device is presumed to be live)
• Powering the device from mains (mcu is powered by battery)

Answer 1

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

Try to combine both solutions - bridge rectifier and RC-filter combined with voltage divider.

Although your device is handheld and powered from internal battery using triple resistor divider will no cause 'common ground wire' problem. Only errors of measurement.

Because you are talking about meassuring of AC Voltage - there will no be 'reverse polarity' problem.

Answer 2

At these high voltages, I don't think that you will find many "off-the-shelf" options for voltage measurement via Arduino or a similar ecosystem at the usual suspects (Sparkfun & Adafruit). However, you can fairly easily assemble your own circuit for this with a small number of components.

Here's an example from DIY-Audio-Heaven (https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/tutorials/power-supplies/rectifiers/)

Breaking down what the circuit does:

1. First, a measurement transformer is needed to reduce you (very high) AC voltages to something lower that the Arduino or other MCU can deal with. You will need to do your own search to find a transformer with a turns ratio and isolation voltage that meets your requirements (for example a 100:1 turns ratio transformer would reduce your 600 VAC to 6 VAC). Transformers above 600 VAC are tricky to find based on a quick search.
2. Second, a full-wave bridge rectifier circuit implemented with diodes (these can be purchased a standalone 'bridge rectifier' components depending on your sizing requirements) converts the AC full-wave into a positive voltage half-wave
3. A large reservoir filtering capacitor is used to 'smooth' out AC half wave to a 'DC' voltage (approximately, there is still some fluctuation dependent upon the capacitance used). A capacitor value of 100 uF seems pretty common. This signal could be additionally filtered, scaled by a voltage divider to a different DC voltage of interest, etc. In your case, if below 5VDC, it can be measured directly by the Arduino UNO or similar ADC (analog-to-digital converter).

Further reading - I heavily referenced this post in writing this answer: https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/diode/diode_6.html