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Standard Signals in Electronic Instruments Standard Signals

07/19/2014 2:47 AM

List out standard electronic,instrumentation signals used in modern PLC,Automation & Drives.and history behind their standardness.i am electrical engineer new to the instrumentation and automation.if you have any suggestion to generate 4- 20mA in 3 wire PLC input module,of 24 V DC sensor.plz reply me.

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#1

Re: standard signals in electronic instruments standard signals

07/19/2014 9:19 AM

Every PLC platform has input modules, interfaces and further documentation on how to connect to their platforms. Read them.

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#2

Re: standard signals in electronic instruments standard signals

07/19/2014 10:10 AM

List out reasons we should educate you.

Read some literature.

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#3

Re: standard signals in electronic instruments standard signals

07/19/2014 12:42 PM

Analog field measurements

4-20mA is widely used in the process industries because its 'live zero' ( zero engineering units at 4.0mA ) allows the field device to be powered over the same 2 wires as the signal and offers instant indication/diagnostics of an open circuit/broken wire fault (0mA). A DC power supply (nominally and typically 24Vdc) wired in series in the loop provides power for the 'loop'. See this link http://blog.lesman.com/tag/4-20-ma/ for why 4-20mA has such wide acceptance and some history.

3 wire instruments have signal (+), DC power supply (+) and common (-) wires for power and signal wiring. 3 wire instruments are more common in machinery controls and discrete manufacturing than process.

Temperature measurement uses dedicated modules, like a modular input card on a PLC or a stand-alone 2-wire transmitter installed in the field because thermocouple measurement requires cold junction compensation (an independent temperature measurement of temperature of connections at the 'cold/measurement' end) and RTDs require a stable fixed excitation current.

2 wire RTDs have an error due to copper wire resistance; the third wire in a 3 wire RTD is used for lead wire compensation. Thermocouple connections require thermocouple lead wire (not copper wire) back to wherever the cold junction measurement is made. In the USA, the thermocouple red wire is negative.

4-20mA control signals, an output from a controller, can be active, powered by the controller, or passive, powered by an external DC power supply.

Grounding and shielding are important. Twisted pair cable is essential. Hazardous area wiring requires approved/listed components and practices that meet national codes and standards.

PLC vendors typically have different levels of modular analog input cards. You get what you pay for: resolution, accuracy, isolation. The manufacturer's spec sheet tells what is and how to connect it, some better than others. Caveat Emptor (buyer beware).

Mismatch of the scaling or ranging of the field transmitter's 4-20 with the receiver's (PLC/PAC/DCS/indicator/controller/recorder) scale is an all-too-common issue, meaning correct wiring is only one step in the process of commissioning.

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#5
In reply to #3

Re: standard signals in electronic instruments standard signals

07/19/2014 1:02 PM

Nice job.

Personally, I'd have pointed him toward the internet and some independent homework.

Look at his history.

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#4

Re: standard signals in electronic instruments standard signals

07/19/2014 12:49 PM

The below quoted request for instant enlightenment is typical of all of your posts here:
"Please,list out safeties where Surveyor can ask me to show him safety system/switch working or not. The systems are,Main Engine,Auxiliary Engine,Seperator,Purifier,Fire/smoke/Flame,Main Switch Board electrical breaker,Emergency generator test operation,bilge oil seperator,sewage treatment plant,Boiler,Incenerator,life boat operation and any other inbuilt system and please tell by using which tool/equipment we can simulate the system." Best regards, Joganand
I can't imagine how you can get a job anywhere while displaying a complete lack of knowledge, competence and common sense.
The internet has all the answers you seek, but nobody's going to do all your legwork and research for you.

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#7
In reply to #4

Re: standard signals in electronic instruments standard signals

07/20/2014 4:00 PM

but nobody's going to do all your legwork and research for you

That's right, your not a paid electrical consultant after all.

;)

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#8
In reply to #7

Re: standard signals in electronic instruments standard signals

07/20/2014 6:31 PM

Even if I were, I'd not do it.

This is too much like tutoring and not consulting.

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#9
In reply to #8

Re: standard signals in electronic instruments standard signals

07/20/2014 9:37 PM

No I meant that joganand is not a paid consultant.

This is the sort of information that paid consultants ask us to supply them for free (an example of this personally occurred to me only just this morning).

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#10
In reply to #9

Re: standard signals in electronic instruments standard signals

07/20/2014 9:45 PM

One can only hope, "that joganand is not a paid consultant."

Unfortunately, his history says otherwise.

I'm typing quickly, lest the site vanish, again.

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#6

Re: Standard Signals in Electronic Instruments Standard Signals

07/20/2014 1:40 AM

Joganand,

I replied to your other post. However, this one asks one question that is different--regarding history.

A signal that ranges from 0 to maximum, such as 0-20mA or 0-10V does not allow the receiver to know if the wiring has opened. An open circuit would give a 0 signal, which would be interpreted as a valid signal and not a fault. However, with a 4-20mA or 1-5V or 1-10V signal range all would drop below this expected signal range in the event of a broken wire. This gives more security.

Finally, any current input is dependent on the total resistance of the instrument loop. The transmitter is being powered typically by a 24VDC supply. If the signal is being sensed as a 0-5 or 1-5 VDC voltage drop across a 250 ohm resistor in the receiver, then the total loop resistance cannot exceed approximately 1200 ohms. Therefore the wire gauge and length both have to be chosen with this limit in mind. And, I'm not even getting into the topics of shielding/screening, separation from power conductors, ground loops, etc.

--JMM

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