Why Fluxgate Current Sensors are More Accurate than Hall Effect Sensors

Fluxgate current sensors generally offer higher accuracy than Hall effect sensors due to several key reasons:

1. Measurement Principle

Fluxgate sensors detect changes in the magnetic field around a conductor to measure current indirectly, avoiding direct contact and reducing errors from contact resistance and temperature variations. Hall effect sensors measure current by applying a magnetic field to create a transverse voltage difference, which can be more susceptible to external factors.

2. Measurement Range

Fluxgate sensors cover a wider range, from microamps to several thousand amps, thanks to their iron core design that enhances sensitivity. Hall effect sensors are typically limited to measuring currents up to a few hundred amps.

3. Interference

Fluxgate sensors experience less interference since they measure the magnetic field changes caused by the current itself, with minimal impact from external magnetic fields. Hall effect sensors are more prone to interference from external magnetic sources.

4. Temperature Stability

Fluxgate sensors have better temperature stability due to temperature compensation methods that eliminate temperature-related errors. Hall effect sensors' accuracy can be significantly affected by temperature changes because of the resistance coefficient variations in the conductor.