Technical Learning

What is a type "K" Thermocouple?

Upgrade Legacy Systems to IIoT and Achieve More

Industrial Internet of Things or IIoT is a prerequisite for industries looking to embrace digital transformation. It is through this connected ecosystem that businesses gain increased visibility in their processes, ensure equipment uptime, perform predictive maintenance, and increase productivity and profitability.

However, realizing these benefits through smart factory initiatives is more challenging than it may seem. The most common obstacle is collecting operational data from legacy machines and communicating that data to the cloud...

How is temperature measured?

Temperature can be measured via a diverse array of sensors. All of them infer temperature by sensing some change in a physical characteristic. Six types with which the engineer is likely to come into contact are: thermocouples, resistive temperature devices (RTDs and thermistors), infrared radiators, bimetallic devices, liquid expansion devices, and change-of-state devices.

Choose the right temperature measurement instrument for your application...

How to Connect MODBUS Devices to the Layer N

Industrial automation systems are expensive assets, designed to offer reliable performance for years. Typically, industrial systems last for decades. It is impractical than to discard these existing systems when new technology becomes available.

So, how do businesses remain competitive and efficient if they cannot afford to adopt new technology? The scenario is common today for most industrial setups...

Thermocouple Sensor - What is a Thermocouple?

A thermocouple is a sensor for measuring temperature. This sensor consists of two dissimilar metal wires, joined at one end, and connected to a thermocouple thermometer or other thermocouple-capable device at the other end. When properly configured, thermocouples can provide temperature measurements over wide range of temperatures.

Thermocouples are known for their versatility as temperature sensors therefore commonly used on a wide range of applications...

Data Logger - Introduction to Data Logging Devices

Technically speaking, a data logger is any device that can be used to store data. This includes many data acquisition devices such as plug-in boards or serial communication systems which use a computer as a real time data recording system. Most instrument manufacturers, however, consider a datalogger a stand alone device that can read various types of electrical signals and store the data in internal memory for later download to a computer.

The advantage of data loggers is that they can operate independently of a computer, unlike many other types of data acquisition devices. Data loggers are available in various shapes and sizes...

Thermocouple Wire - How it Works?

The thermocouple wire or cable is used to manufacture thermocouple probes in order to sense temperature using the point of cold junction compensation (cjc end). On the other side, as it has been explain in this other article, a thermocouple is a sensor for measuring temperature, that consists of two dissimilar metals that are joined together at the sensing end.

Different thermocouple types (e.g. J or K type thermocouple wire) use different mixtures of metals in the cable. At the cjc end, the millivolt value provided by the thermocouple represents the difference in temperature of the sensing end as compared to the cjc end (also called the reference end)...

What are infrared temperature sensors?

An infrared thermometer is a sensor that consists of a lens to focus the infrared (IR) energy on to a detector, which converts the energy to an electrical signal that can be displayed in units of temperature after being compensated for ambient temperature variation. This configuration facilitates temperature measurement from a distance without contact with the object to be measured (non-contact temperature measurement).

As such, the infrared thermometer is useful for measuring temperature under circumstances where thermocouples or other probe type sensors cannot be used or do not produce accurate data for a variety of reasons...

Pressure Transducers and Transmitters

A pressure transducer, often called a pressure transmitter, is a sensor that converts pressure into an analog electrical signal. Although there are various types of transducers, one of the most common is the strain-gage wheatstone bridge pressure transducer.

The conversion of pressure into an electrical signal is achieved by the physical deformation of strain gages which are bonded into the diaphragm of the pressure transducer and wired into a wheatstone bridge configuration. Pressure applied to the transducer produces a deflection of the diaphragm which introduces strain to the gages. The strain will produce an electrical resistance change proportional to the pressure...

Introduction to Load Cells

A load cell (or loadcell) is a transducer which converts force into a measurable electrical output. Although there are many varieties of force sensors, strain gauge load cells are the most commonly used type.

Except for certain laboratories where precision mechanical balances are still used, strain gauge load cells dominate the weighing industry. Pneumatic load cells are sometimes used where intrinsic safety and hygiene are desired, and hydraulic load cells are considered in remote locations, as they do not require a power supply...