Our precision current and voltage sensor against the Mauch PL-200, Holybro PM02D and CUAV CAN PMU: how far you can trust the number.
These four all measure pack current and voltage, and they split on how the data leaves the board and how accurate it is. The Mauch is an analog Hall sensor, the Holybro PM02D is a digital I2C module, and the CUAV CAN PMU and ours report over CAN. The buyer question is the calibrated accuracy and the current headroom.
This is a fielded sensor, not a lab board. It is 300 A DC rated with heavy copper layers, senses current and voltage simultaneously at 20-bit resolution, holds a calibrated error below plus or minus 0.039 percent of full span, calibrates with a single value in ArduPilot, and reports over FD CAN as a DroneCAN peripheral.
Side by side
| Attribute | Represented by UnstratPrecision current & voltage sensor | Mauch ElectronicPL-200 current and voltage sensor board (Mauch 003)1Germany | HolybroPM02D digital power module2China | CUAVCAN PMU power module3China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensing method123 | 20-bit simultaneous current and voltage sensing, heavy copper layers | Allegro ACS758-200U Hall-effect sensor, analog output | TI INA228 digital current/voltage sensor over I2C | STM32F412 with CUAV ITT compensation algorithm, factory calibrated |
| Current rating123Ours is rated highest at 300 A DC. The Mauch measures to 200 A, the CUAV CAN PMU to 110 A, and the Holybro PM02D is rated 60 A continuous with a 120 A short-duration ceiling. | 300 A DC | Up to 200 A | 60 A rated, 120 A max (<60 s), 164 A max sensing | 110 A max |
| Input voltage123 | 7-60 VDC (3S-13S LiPo) | Up to 14S (max 60 V) with solder bridge open, up to 7S (30 V) closed | Up to 6S (36 V max) | 6-62 V (2-15S) |
| Stated accuracy123Only the CUAV CAN PMU publishes an accuracy, and it does so as absolute error (±0.05 V, ±0.1 A) rather than a percentage of full span, so the figures are not directly comparable. Ours is stated as a calibrated percentage error. | ±0.039% of full span calibrated, ±0.1% uncalibrated | Not published as a percentage (Hall sensor; accuracy depends on user calibration) | Not published as a percentage on the PX4 page | Voltage ±0.05 V, current ±0.1 A |
| Resolution123The Mauch is analog, so its effective resolution is whatever ADC reads it on the autopilot, not a board figure. | 20-bit, simultaneous voltage and current | Analog (resolution set by the flight controller ADC that reads it) | Set by the INA228 (16-bit ADC on that part) | 0.01 A / 0.01 V |
| Calibration123 | Single-value calibration in ArduPilot | User calibration required against a known load | Digital module; calibration handled in the autopilot parameters | No calibration required (factory calibrated) |
| Auxiliary output123 | 5.3 VDC / 5 A | No regulated output (sensor board only; Mauch pairs it with a separate BEC) | 5.2 V / 3 A switching regulator | 5.4 V / 5 A (POWER port, up to 8 A on some CUAV references) |
| Data interface123Ours and the CUAV CAN PMU report over CAN, which scales on a bus; the PM02D is I2C, and the Mauch is analog. | FD CAN, DroneCAN compatible; Molex ClickMate 2.0 | Analog voltage lines to the flight controller | I2C | CAN (UAVCAN) |
| Operating temperature123The CUAV CAN PMU publishes the widest operating range at -20 to 100 C; ours is stated at -10 to 40 C, a narrower envelope worth noting for hot or cold operations. | -10 to +40 degrees C | Not published on the reseller page | Not published on the PX4 page | -20 to +100 degrees C |
| Weight and size123 | 52 g, 85 x 69 x 12 mm | Sensor board plus 2x 10 cm 10 AWG leads; board weight not published on the reseller page | 20 g | 76 g, 46.5 x 38.5 x 22.5 mm |
| Origin and support line123 | Independent, non-aligned origin, supplied and supported by one accountable team | Mauch Electronic, Germany | Holybro, China | CUAV, China |
Competitor values are quoted from the vendor documents listed under Sources, as published on the date shown. Configurations vary, so treat every row as a starting point for the evaluation rather than a like-for-like test result.
What the table means
On current headroom and accuracy, the numbers favour ours, but read them carefully.
Ours is rated at 300 A DC, above the Mauch PL-200 at 200 A, the CUAV CAN PMU at 110 A and the Holybro PM02D at 60 A continuous. On accuracy ours states a calibrated error below plus or minus 0.039 percent of full span. Only the CUAV CAN PMU publishes an accuracy figure to compare, and it does so as absolute error (±0.05 V, ±0.1 A) rather than a percentage, so the comparison is not like for like. The Mauch and PM02D do not publish a percentage at all, which is common for a Hall sensor whose accuracy depends on how the user calibrates it.
The interface splits this field into three approaches.
The Mauch PL-200 is an analog Hall board: it hands a voltage to the autopilot ADC, so its effective resolution and accuracy are set by that ADC and the user's calibration. The Holybro PM02D is a digital I2C module on the INA228. Ours and the CUAV CAN PMU report over CAN, which is the interface that scales cleanly on a multi-node bus and keeps the reading digital end to end. For a programme standardising on DroneCAN, the analog and I2C options add a conversion step that the CAN sensors avoid.
Where ours gives ground is the temperature envelope.
The CUAV CAN PMU publishes -20 to 100 C, the widest in this set. Ours is stated at -10 to 40 C, a narrower range that matters for a payload that sits in direct sun or flies in the cold. The Mauch and PM02D do not publish an operating range at all. If the mission profile pushes the temperature, confirm the sensor's behaviour at the extremes in a trial, and weigh the CUAV figure honestly against ours.
Questions buyers ask
What is the most accurate current sensor for a large UAV battery pack?
Accuracy claims are hard to compare because vendors state them differently. Ours states a calibrated error below plus or minus 0.039 percent of full span at 20-bit resolution, rated to 300 A DC. The CUAV CAN PMU publishes absolute error of ±0.05 V and ±0.1 A, which is not a percentage and so not directly comparable. The Mauch PL-200 is an analog Hall sensor whose accuracy depends on the autopilot ADC and user calibration, and the Holybro PM02D does not publish a percentage. For a large pack, weigh the calibrated percentage figure and confirm it against your own load.
Which power sensor handles the highest current: yours, the Mauch PL-200, or the Holybro PM02D?
Ours is rated highest at 300 A DC with heavy copper layers. The Mauch PL-200 measures to 200 A, the CUAV CAN PMU to 110 A max, and the Holybro PM02D is rated 60 A continuous with a 120 A short-duration ceiling and 164 A maximum sensing. For a heavy multirotor or a high-current pack, the current rating is the first row to check.
Does it report over CAN like the CUAV CAN PMU, or is it analog like the Mauch?
It reports over FD CAN as a DroneCAN-compatible peripheral, the same digital approach as the CUAV CAN PMU. The Mauch PL-200 is analog and hands a voltage to the autopilot; the Holybro PM02D uses I2C. If your platform standardises on DroneCAN, a CAN sensor keeps the reading digital end to end without a conversion step.
How much calibration does it need?
A single value in ArduPilot, no bench procedure. That sits between the Mauch PL-200, which needs user calibration against a known load, and the CUAV CAN PMU, which is factory calibrated and needs none. The single-value approach is quick to set on a line while still letting you trim it to your own reference.
What voltage range and battery sizes does it support?
It takes 7 to 60 VDC, covering 3S to 13S LiPo packs, with a 5.3 V / 5 A auxiliary output. The Mauch PL-200 covers up to 14S (60 V), the CUAV CAN PMU 2 to 15S (6 to 62 V), and the Holybro PM02D up to 6S (36 V). Match the input range to your largest pack; the PM02D in particular tops out at 6S.
Sources
- 1. Mauch Electronic (via Craft and Theory reseller listing), Mauch 003: PL-200 Current and Voltage Sensor Board 200ARetrieved: 2026-08-15 · Product listing: measures currents up to 200 A and voltages up to 14S (60 V) with solder bridge open, 7S (30 V) closed; based on Allegro Hall sensor ACS758-200U; analog sensor board with 10 AWG leads and CLIK-Mate connector.
- 2. Holybro (via PX4 documentation), Holybro PM02D Power ModuleRetrieved: 2026-08-15 · Specifications: max input 36 V, rated current 60 A, max current 120 A (<60 s), max sensing 164 A, up to 6S, I2C, 5.2 V / 3 A regulator, 20 g, IC TI INA228.
- 3. CUAV, CAN PMU power detection module documentationRetrieved: 2026-08-15 · Quick summary: STM32F412, 6-62 V (2-15S), 110 A max, voltage accuracy ±0.05 V, current accuracy ±0.1 A, resolution 0.01 A/V, 5.4 V / 5 A power port, UAVCAN, -20 to +100 C, no calibration needed, 76 g, 46.5 x 38.5 x 22.5 mm.