Contactless current measurement using magnetic sensors

A method for operating an apparatus for measuring current flow through at least one wire, the method comprising:

• enclosing the wire within an opening in a housing of the apparatus so that the wire extends through the opening, where the opening is for receiving one or more wires and the housing includes a plurality of magnetic sensor pairs arranged therein or thereon;
• using a hardware processor of the apparatus to receive signals generated by the plurality of magnetic sensor pairs while the wire is enclosed within the opening, wherein the signals generated by each magnetic sensor pair of the plurality of magnetic sensor pairs include
• a first signal indicative of a magnetic field in a first direction, and
• a second signal indicative of a magnetic field in a second direction;
• and
• using the hardware processor to derive a measure of a current in the wire based on the signals generated by at least two or more of the plurality of magnetic sensor pairs.

A method for determining current in a wire, the method comprising:

• causing a plurality of magnetic sensor pairs arranged within a housing having an opening for receiving one or more wires to generate signals when the wire extends through the opening, the signals from each magnetic sensor pair including:
• a first signal indicative of a magnetic field in a first direction, and
• a second signal indicative of a magnetic field in a second direction;
• and
• using a hardware processor to derive a measure of a current in the wire based on the signals generated by at least two or more of the plurality of magnetic sensor pairs.

An apparatus for measuring current flow through a multi-conductor cable, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing comprising an opening configured to receive a multi-conductor cable;
• first magnetic sensors arranged around the opening and configured to measure magnetic field strength in a first direction;
• second magnetic sensors arranged around the opening and configured to measure magnetic field strength in a second direction;
• and
• a processor configured to determine current flowing through a single conductor of the multi-conductor cable based on outputs from the first magnetic sensors and the second magnetic sensors.