FLOMEC Meters: Understanding Output Options
When selecting a FLOMEC meter for your application, it's essential to choose the right output option to match your specific needs. FLOMEC offers a variety of meters with different output options, including pulse, scaled pulse, and 4-20 mA. Each of these options serves different applications and operational requirements, ensuring you have the right tools to achieve precise and efficient flow measurement.
Meters with digital pulse outputs can be configured to output unscaled raw pulses for the highest possible resolution. Meters with digital pulse outputs can also be configured to output pulses for each unit of pre-determined volume recorded by the meter, known as scaled pulses, to maintain compatibility with PLCs that have limited input configurability.
Pulse and scaled-pulse outputs are well-suited for measuring specified volumes of fluid, since the meter outputs discrete pulses for each unit of volume. If you are batching fluids, these discreet pulses will easily allow your controller to record totals while also controlling valves and pumps to automatically follow specified batching recipes.
Meters with 4-20 mA outputs are designed to transmit an electrical current proportional to the flow velocity recorded by the meter. This output ranges from 4 mA at the low end to 20 mA at the high end, depending on the flow rate. This type of output is ideal for applications that require continuous flow monitoring, such as blending liquids, because the meter provides a constant current when a stable flow is detected. If there is any change in flow, the amperage changes accordingly, allowing the system to trigger necessary actions such as opening or closing valves, adjusting pump speeds, or activating alarms.
Choosing the right output for your needs
- For precise volume measurement (e.g., in batching processes), choose a meter with pulse or scaled-pulse output.
- For continuous flow monitoring (e.g., in blending operations), opt for a meter with a 4-20 mA output.
