Measuring a 4 to 20ma current, Theory of operation, Measuring a 4 to 20 ma current -16 – National Instruments SCB-68 User Manual

Page 61: Theory of operation -16, Measuring a 4 to 20 ma current

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Chapter 5

Adding Components for Special Functions

SCB-68 Shielded Connector Block User Manual

5-16

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Apply a lowpass filter to the signal to remove the high-frequency
component for a cleaner digital signal, as Figure 5-17 shows.

Figure 5-17. Lowpass Filtering of Digital Trigger Input Signals

Note

Due to the filter order, the digital trigger input signal is delayed for a specific amount

of time before the DAQ device senses the signal at the trigger input.

Measuring a 4 to 20 mA Current

Since DAQ devices cannot directly measure current, this section describes
how to add components for measuring current when transistors output a
current value ranging between 4 and 20 mA.

Theory of Operation

The conversion from current to voltage is based on Ohm’s Law, which is
summarized by Equation 5-7, where V is voltage, I is current and R is
resistance:

(5-7)

Thus, you must multiply current by a constant to convert the current to a
voltage. In an electrical circuit, current must flow through a resistor to
produce a voltage drop. This voltage drop then becomes the input for a
DAQ device, as Figure 5-18 shows.

Time (t)

Volts (V)

V

I

R

Ч

=

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