Current Sensors | PCB, Panel, Busbar Mount
At a Glance
A PCB mount current sensor (also called a current transducer) is a Hall effect sensor that measures AC, DC or pulsed DC current directly on a circuit board, from 100A up to 1,000A depending on model. PML manufactures PCB mount, panel mount and busbar mount current sensors in 5V and 3.3V variants, with accuracy grades from under 0.5% to under 1.5% full-scale.
Whether you are designing EV traction inverters, smart grid infrastructure, or heavy-duty motor drives, PML offers current sensors delivering precision AC/DC current measurement with up to ±0.5% linearity, under extreme operating conditions. PML’s current sensor portfolio covers all your technical and commercial needs.
UL94 V0
REACH
RoHS
PML offers PCB mount current sensors, Panel mount current sensors and Busbar mount current sensors.
Key Features of PML Current Sensors
- Wide Current Range
Measure from 0A to ±1000A (AC & DC) with precision.
- Excellent Performance
Up to ±0.5% linearity, pre-calibrated for low drift and long-term measurement consistency.
- Simplified Yet Robust Design
AEC-Q100-ready sensors tested for extreme harsh conditions — a simplified design that offers the lowest cost.
- Certified & Compliant
Built to meet RoHS, REACH and UL94 V0 standards for global acceptance.
Key Technologies and Applications
PML provides a comprehensive suite of current sensing solutions, including Open-Loop Hall, Closed-Loop Hall, and Fluxgate technologies, designed to meet diverse application requirements.
EV (Electric Vehicle)
Inverter, traction control, DC-DC converter, OBC (On-Board Charger), charging station, battery (BMS).
Datacenter
UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and PDU (Power Distribution Unit).
HVAC
Compressor and energy sub-metering.
Renewable Energy
Solar inverter, wind turbines.
Locomotive
Traction control, safety system (overcurrent protection).
Industrial Automation
Motor drives, welding, robotics.
Why PCB-Mount Current Sensors from PML
Compared to conventional current transducers that require a separate daughter board or external housing, PML's HNCA/HNCB/HNCC/HNRA/HNRB/HNRC series mount directly to your PCB — no extra components, no extra board space, and no extra assembly step.
| What matters | PML PCB-Mount Series |
|---|---|
| Mounting | Direct PCB-mount, no daughter board or external connectors |
| Linearity | Up to ±0.5% |
| FS Error | <±1% FS |
| Rated Max Current | ±10A to ±1000A |
| Supply Voltage | +5V DC, or +3.3V DC |
| Over-Current Detection | Built-in on HNCA/HNRA — firmware can act the instant a fault current appears |
| Footprint | Circular or Rectangular |
| Compliance | UL94 V0, REACH, RoHS |
How PML Compares to Other Current Sensor Options
Current sensors on the market fall into a few different categories, and the right one depends on what your design actually needs. Bare Hall effect sensor ICs give the lowest per-unit cost at high volume, but need your own PCB layout, isolation and thermal design built around them before they work. Large current-transducer manufacturers offer the widest current range, into the thousands of amps, but typically gate pricing behind a distributor quote and leave model selection to a datasheet comparison. PML's HNCA/HNCB/HNCC/HNRA/HNRB/HNRC series sit in between: a finished, ready-to-solder PCB-mount module with no design-in work required, visible pricing, and a Sensor Advisor that matches you to the right model in under a minute. For applications above ±1,000A, PML's engineering team can also scope a custom or panel-mount solution.
Explore Our Range of Sensors
Every PML PCB mount current sensor has a direct-mount philosophy offering simplified design and reduced cost. The difference between series is which trade-off they're built around: fail-safe protection (OCD), raw speed (Fast Response), or cost at volume (Cost Effective) — each available in circular (HNCx) or rectangular (HNRx) footprints.
HNCA Series
High-accuracy PCB-mounted current sensors from ±100A to ±1000A with 5V/3.3V support, <±1% FS error, and built-in Over-Current Detection.
Rated Max Current: ±100A to ±1000A
Supply Voltage: +5V DC or +3.3V DC
FS Error: <±1% FS
Feature: Over-Current Detection
Measurement: AC / DC / Pulsed DC
HNRA Series
Robust sensors for harsh environments, ±100A to ±1000A, with 5V/3.3V options, <±1% FS error and integrated OCD for system safety.
Rated Max Current: ±100A to ±1000A
Supply Voltage: +5V DC or +3.3V DC
FS Error: <±1% FS
Feature: Over-Current Detection
Measurement: AC / DC / Pulsed DC
HNCB Series
Engineered for extremely fast response, ±10A to ±1000A, with industry-leading <±1% FS error and dedicated fast-response architecture.
Rated Max Current: ±10A to ±1000A
Supply Voltage: +5V DC
FS Error: <±1% FS
Feature: Fast Response
Measurement: AC / DC / Pulsed DC
HNRB Series
High-speed response and robust performance from ±10A to ±1000A — ideal for rapid transient measurement.
Rated Max Current: ±10A to ±1000A
Supply Voltage: +5V DC
FS Error: <±1% FS
Feature: Fast Response
Measurement: AC / DC / Pulsed DC
HNCC Series
Cost-effective PCB-mounted sensors in 5V and 3.3V versions, ±100A to ±1000A, with <±1.5% FS error performance.
Rated Max Current: ±100A to ±1000A
Supply Voltage: +5V DC or +3.3V DC
FS Error: <±1.5% FS
Feature: Cost Effective
Measurement: AC / DC / Pulsed DC
HNRC Series
Cost-optimised with <±1.5% FS error across ±100A to ±1000A in both 5V and 3.3V versions — ideal for scalable, price-sensitive applications.
Rated Max Current: ±100A to ±1000A
Supply Voltage: +5V DC or +3.3V DC
FS Error: <±1.5% FS
Feature: Cost Effective
Measurement: AC / DC / Pulsed DC
Why Buy From PML
- 65+ years of magnetic and sensing expertise — PCB mount current sensors are engineered by the same team that supplies current-sensing components to automotive and energy customers worldwide.
- ISO-certified manufacturing with stringent quality control on every batch.
- Global compliance — RoHS, REACH and UL94 V0 standards met as standard.
- Trusted by industry leaders in EV, renewable energy and industrial automation.
Need help selecting a model, or a custom specification? Chat with our engineering team on WhatsApp and we'll match you to the right part — or design one.
How to Choose a PCB Mount Current Sensor
Hall effect vs. shunt resistor vs. Rogowski coil — which current-sensing method should I use?
Shunt resistors measure current via voltage drop across a known resistance — simple and cheap, but they dissipate power, add I²R loss, and offer no galvanic isolation between the measured circuit and your control electronics. Rogowski coils suit high-current AC measurement but can't measure DC. Hall effect sensors like PML's HNCx/HNRx series measure the magnetic field around the current-carrying conductor directly — near-zero power loss, inherent galvanic isolation, and full AC/DC/pulsed-DC measurement in one PCB-mount package, which is why they're the standard choice for EV traction inverters, DC-DC converters, and battery management systems.
How do I choose between the HNCA, HNCB and HNCC families?
Choose HNCA/HNRA if your design needs built-in Over-Current Detection for fail-safe protection. Choose HNCB/HNRB if response speed is critical (short-circuit protection, fast transients). Choose HNCC/HNRC if you're optimising for cost at volume and don't need OCD or the fastest response time — accuracy is <±1.5% FS, versus <±1% FS on the HNCA/HNRA and HNCB/HNRB lines.
Which current sensor is best for an EV motor control unit or traction inverter?
For EV MCUs and traction inverters, prioritise fail-safe protection: the HNCA (circular) or HNRA (rectangular) series pairs <1% FS accuracy with built-in Over-Current Detection, so firmware can react the instant a fault current appears — the same protection profile automotive-grade current sensing is built around industry-wide.
Circular (HNCx) or rectangular (HNRx) — which footprint do I need?
Both offer the same electrical performance within a given family; the choice comes down to your PCB layout and available clearance. Rectangular models suit tight busbar-style layouts; circular models are the more common default.
Do these sensors measure AC, DC, or both?
PML PCB mount current sensors measure both AC and DC current, which is why they suit EV, renewable energy and motor-drive applications where current direction and waveform vary.
How does PML's accuracy compare to other Hall effect current sensor manufacturers?
PML's HNCA/HNRA and HNCB/HNRB series are verified to <±1% FS accuracy on every unit shipped, with the cost-optimised HNCC/HNRC series at <±1.5% FS — both in the same accuracy band as established Hall effect sensor manufacturers, with the added benefit of direct PCB mounting that removes the daughter board and external connectors those alternatives typically require.
Can PML design a custom sensor for my application?
Yes — tell us your current range, voltage, footprint and accuracy requirement and our engineering team will match you to the right standard part or design a custom one.