What is Current Transducer? let’s cover it!

 

What is a Current transducer

(What is current transducer?)

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Electricity is everywhere around us and power is everything now a days. It is a very important requirement in all features of the modern world. To monitor and control such a common variable is very important for a large amount of work which is going around us. To enter a current transducer, it is an instrument which is used for tracking the use of electricity. Current transducers find application in homes, offices, industries to observe, control and automate all sort of processes. Before diving into current transducer lets know what a transducer is. 

What are the transducers?

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Transducer is an electronic device which is used to convert one form of energy into another form and the process by which the energy is converted from one form to another form is called transduction. Some examples of transducers include microphones, loudspeakers, LEDs etc. 

What is the Need of Transducer

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The exact magnitude of physical force cannot be determined but if this quantity is converted to signal, then its magnitude can be found easily by using a meter. The primary function of transducer is to convert the force into a signal which can be measured easily. 

What are the Parts of Transducer?

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Transducers have two main parts which is: 

• Sensing element: it is the part of transducer which is used to sense the quantity. Its response depends upon the physical phenomenon. 
• Transduction element: it is the part of the transducer which is used to convert the sensing element to signals. It is also known as a secondary transducer. 

What are the Different Types of transducers

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There are two types of transducers which is: 

• Input transducer 
• Output transducer 

 

Now let’s come to our main topic. 

 What is a current transducer?

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Current transducer is a part of transducer and transducer converts one form of energy into another form. In current transducer current is converted to analog signals. Current transducer is used to measure the variable of electricity and translate these variables to a data form which is then used for several control processes. 

Current transducers are available in various shapes, colors, sizes and technical specifications. Most of them can fit on the palm of your hand and can serve the same function. Current transducer measure current some of them can measure current from 0 to 50 amps and some of them can measure current from 0 to 200 amperes of current. To install the current transducer, it is very important to know what type of task it will do and in which environment it will be used. 

How current transducer works?

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The current transducer works on the principle of induction. A process wire will pass through the current transducer. When the current passes through the wire a magnetic field will generate around the wire. The current transducer sense and quantifies that current. The measurement is then converted to the analog signals, and these are transmitted as an output to the control system, control system then utilizes this data for various functions. 

 

Here is the block diagram of current transducer which explain it working.

 

 

Where to use current transducer?

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Electricity is used in every aspect of the modern world. So as the use of electricity increases, the requirement of measuring some specific action also increases. When we dive in the application of current transducer, it is used in the homes. Let’s talk about how the utility companies know how much power we consumed that month; it is because the current transducer is installed in our meters. 

Manufacturing industries are also the consumer of electricity, and they are using current transducers in many devices when they need to produce their products. Just take an example of water pumps or electric motors which are used in industry, and they consume electricity.

Current transducer is used to sense whether the power is delivered to the device or not. If the power is delivered it will send information to the central control system which means that the device is on the load. 

Current transducer is also used in automated systems where it is used to turn on or off any device which needs electricity. It senses electricity, when it is flowing to the device it sends a signal that the device is on. 

The current transducer not only works like a sensor but is also used as a safety device like it can monitor the health of the instrument which is connected to it. When a refrigeration unit takes more current than it means some cleaning and maintenance is required.

It works as a safety switch in some cases like in the case of undesired or dangerous load is measured. Let’s take another example of the water pump. When a water pump is run in dry condition it will take more current and when the current transducer is connected to the water pump it will sense it and send signals to the control system. 

Why to use a current transducer?

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There are different methods to measure electrical current such as ammeter which is used to measure electrical current, just place it in electrical circuit and it will measure the current and it is an alternative of current transducer as well. Ampere meter or clamp meter is also used to measure electrical current. Let’s know why people prefer current transducer. 

• Isolated signals

We know current transducer measures current through induction, but it is not directly connected to measure electrical current. Because it can create noise which can disturb signals and can give wrong reading. Therefore, it is connected isolated. 

• Switch

Current transducer is not only used to measure current and transmit data. It comes within board switching capability. With the help of this switching capability, you can do some switching actions when the current measurement reaches its desired level. 

• Analog signals

The standard of analog signals which use current transducer are 4 to 20 mA and 0-to-50-volt DC. To translate process measurement like current into computable form is power full then passive string of figure. Another advantage of analog signals is it can transmit over a long distance. 

What are the Parts of current transducer?

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Current transducer is consisting of four important parts which is: 

• Sensitive component 
• Conversion component 
• Conversion circuit 
• Power circuit 

First current transducer senses the measuring current. The sensitive components which are installed in the transducer detect the current and produce signals. These signals then pass to a conversion circuit which is used to divide the signals to the small unit, once the signals are divided to the small unit then the conversion circuit accepts it and processes it.

There is a power circuit in the current transducer which is used to give power to the conversion component and conversion circuit, but digital current transducer does not have a power circuit. 

What are the Applications of current transducer?

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Current transducer finds application in different field which includes. 

• Industrial internet of things: it is used in IIoT for motor monitoring application. It measures the amplitude of current and transmits this data to the control center. 
• Healthcare: it is used for the muscle moments detection in acceleromyograph. 
• Ultrasound machine: it is to convert the signal into the sound in ultrasound machine. 
• Speakers: it Is used to convert signals into sound in speakers. 
• Antennas: it is used to convert electromagnetic waves into signals in antennas. 
• Flow measurement: it can take the place of airflow to provide the proof of flow in digital signals. 

Advantage of current transducer

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• Easy signal processing: signals which are provided by a transducer can easily be processed which can be suitable for output. 
• Low power control: a small amount of power is enough to control the electrical system. 
• Easy transmission: the signals can easily be transmitted for measurement. 
• Compact size: in IC technology the electronic system becomes small which needs small components. 
• No mechanical parts: there are no mechanical parts so there is no wear and tear of failure. 
• Safe monitoring: current transducer allows safe monitoring of current which facilitates the protection of electrical system. 
• Adjustable setpoint design: it can detect other errors such as belt slipping. 
• Energy saving: analog signaling current transducer are installed in buildings and offices to detect the consumption of power which allow the users to find high consumption areas and improve it. 

Disadvantage of current transducer

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• Reliability: it is less reliable than the mechanical transducer because of age and drift of the active components. 
• Cost: its signal processing and sensing element is costly. 
• Complexity: it is more complex in case of using a negative feedback technique. 
• Enviromental sensitivity: it is highly sensitive to the Enviromental Condition. 
• Accuracy: in case of drift, it provides moderate accuracy. 
• Response time: it takes time to give a response in case of shock and vibration. 
• Temperature range: it is not suitable for high temperature range. 

Frequently asked questions

Q1: what is a current transducer? 

Ans: it is a device which is used to convert electrical current into electrical signals. 

Q2: where we can used current transducer? 

Ans: current transducers are used in multiple areas, but it commonly finds application in building automation systems. 

Q3: what are the four main components of the current transducer? 

Ans: the four main components of current transducer are followed: 

• Sensitive component 
• Conversion component 
• Conversion circuit 
• Power circuit