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Home | Measurement, Control and Field Automation | Pepperl+Fuchs | Process Automation | Signal Conditioners

Signal Conditioners

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With the variety of process control systems available, it is often necessary to convert an input signal into a format that the system will accept. Signal conditioners take signals from an assortment of field instruments such as thermocouples and RTDs, and convert those signals into any several standard instrument signals (1 V to 5 V, 4 mA to 20 mA, etc.). Signal conditioners are also beneficial to the accurate transfer of these signals, isolation, and the elimination of ground loops.

Signal Conditioners

Operating Principle

The key to process control is accuracy both in measurement and in signal conditioning. The biggest and most overlooked threat to effective process control is the presence of ground loops. Whenever analog data is transferred through long cable runs, there is a high probability that ground loop problems will occur. A ground loop exists when multiple earth ground connections are made in a system. A difference in potential between the grounds generates an extraneous current flow in the signal conductor.

The result is commonly known as noise. In its mildest form, noise in the signal line causes measurement offsets, incorrect sensor readings, and general signal corruption. In its most severe form, however, noise contamination can deteriorate communication to a point where control of the process is lost. Isolation between the ground circuits is essential to the prevention of ground loop currents and, therefore, the elimination of noise. Signal conditioners provide the necessary isolation as well as amplification, filtering, and linearity corrections.


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