In this video, we will demonstrate how to connect and configure our LPPS-SL series linear potentiometer sensor with a PMD1XT series digital gauge.
We will begin by connecting the linear potentiometer’s lead wires to the gauge.
The PMD1XT digital gauge has a built-in 5 VDC excitation supply on terminals 10 & 6.
Excitation positive, which is the brown wire, connects to screw terminal number ten.
Excitation negative, which is the blue wire, connects to screw terminal number six.
The linear potentiometer’s signal output, which is the black wire, connects to screw terminal number nine.
Next, set your power supply to the required input voltage for your gauge, for this example, it is twenty-four volts DC.
Now that the power supply is set to the correct voltage, power it down until after it is wired to the gauge, then connect the positive wire from the power supply to screw terminal 1, and the negative wire to screw terminal 2.
We are now ready to apply power to our gauge and begin the programming process.
The first step is to calculate the scale factor, which is the full stroke of the linear potentiometer in engineering units.
To calculate this, we need to determine the full stroke length of the potentiometer and the gauge’s excitation voltage.
In this instance, the full stroke length of the potentiometer is 4 inches.
The excitation voltage is obtained by measuring the voltage across terminals six & ten.
Using a multimeter, touch the positive probe to terminal ten and the negative probe to terminal six.
In this instance, the excitation voltage is 4.997 Volts.
To calculate the scale factor, the equation is:
The full stroke length of the potentiometer which is 4 inches, divided by the excitation voltage which is 4.997 volts, times 5… this equals 4.002.
(4 / 5.002 * 5 = 3.998)
Write this number down for later use.
Now, we need to program in the input type, decimal point, and scale factor.
Begin by pressing the SET key once (x1)
Input code 0089 using the ^ and > keys
Press the SET key again to enter programming mode
Now, IntY is on your screen, here we can change the input type.
Press the SET key once (x1)
Press the ^ key to choose “5u”, this stands for five volts input.
Press the SET key once (x1)
Press the ^ key once (x1) until “dot” is in the display
Press the SET key once (x1)
Use the ^ key to determine decimal point position
For this example, we are using three decimal places.
Press the SET key once (x1)
Press ^ once (x1) until “Pul” is in the display window, Pul is the displayed value in engineering units at zero-volts, when the linear potentiometer is fully retracted.
Press the SET key once (x1)
Using the ^ and > keys input any zero value, for this example we will enter all zeros.
Press the SET key once
Press ^ until “Puh” is in the display window, Puh is the displayed value in engineering units at five-volts, when the linear potentiometer is fully extended.
Press the SET key once
We will now input 4.002, which is the scale factor number we calculated earlier.
Press the SET key once (x1)
Press ^ five times (x5) until “end” is in the display window.
Press the SET key once (x1) to exit the programming.
The PMD1XT now displays the potentiometer’s position from 0 to 4 inches
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LPPS-SL Linear Position Sensors
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