PASCO CI-6520A Magnetic Field Sensor User Manual
Magnetic field sensor, Introduction, Ci-6520a
I n s t r u c t i o n S h e e t
012-06928C
Magnetic Field Sensor
CI-6520A
800-772-8700
www.pasco.com
*012-06928*
®
Introduction
The PASCO CI-6520A Magnetic Field Sensor is used with a PASCO computer interface. The sensor can connect directly to an
analog channel on the PASCO Universal Interface (US-5000) or a ScienceWorkshop interface (such as the ScienceWorkshop 750),
or it can connect to the interface through the included DIN-plug-to-DIN-plug cable. It can also be used with the PS-2158 Analog
Adapter to connect to a PASPORT interface. The sensor has three magnetic field ranges, selectable by the RANGE SELECT
switch on the top of the sensor box. The ranges are 1X (±1000 gauss), 10X (±100 gauss), and 100X (±10 gauss). The three ranges
allow the sensor to be used for measuring small magnetic fields such as the earth’s magnetic field, medium strength fields created
by current-carrying wires, or stronger fields around permanent magnets.
The sensor uses Hall Effect devices as sensing elements. There are two of these devices oriented perpendicularly to one another
located at the end of the probe. One device is sensitive to axial field lines that are parallel to the length of the probe and the other
device is sensitive to radial field lines that are perpendicular to the probe. A small white dot on the probe end indicates the plane of
each sensing device. The RADIAL/AXIAL switch on the top of the sensor selects the sensor orientation. NOTE: It is not possible
to measure magnetic fields in both directions simultaneously.
In addition, the top of the sensor has a TARE button. The TARE button allows the output of the sensor to be set at zero. Typically,
the sensor is “zeroed” (by pressing the TARE button) when the Hall Effect devices in the probe are not exposed to any magnetic
fields. The optional EM-8652 Zero Gauss Chamber is available for removing the effects of the earth’s magnetic field when “zero-
ing” the sensor at the 100X (±10 gauss) range.
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CI-6520A
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10X
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WIT
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MAGN
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Magnetic Field
Sensor
cable with DIN
connectors
Zero Gauss
Chamber
(optional)
EM-8652
probe
to interface
Sensor
Mounting Stud