Versatile sensing solutions

September 2005 Sensors & Transducers

Telco sensors have built up a reputation for rugged dependability, often under awkward and hostile operating conditions. Telco conducts annual seminars where its teams from around the world share some of the solutions that they have come up with. Here are two solutions that came up recently, one from Italy and one from South Africa.

Italy

A client needed to be able to sense a moving object through a circular hole in a metal sheet, without being influenced by the proximity of the metal sheet. The hole was 30 mm across. It was found that after careful adjustment of the potentiometer, the SMP 8500 was able to perform the task. The SMP 8500 is an optical sensor that functions reliably from -20 to +60°C, with a sealing class IP 67.

South Africa

Byron Norton came up with a novel level switch application solution using an SMP 8000 optical sensor. By mounting the sensor so that it points downwards into a piece of plastic tube, it was found that the device could be adjusted to switch as soon as the level of the material rises sufficiently to close off the lower end of the tube.

The 8000 series consists of a self-contained transmitter SMT, and a receiver SMR which are to be used in through beam mode, an SMP for diffuse proximity, SMRR for retro reflective and an SMPF for use with fibre-optic cables. All are offered with sensitivity adjustment via integral potentiometer with either cable or plug connection. The complete series is available either as 3 wire, NPN or PNP transistor output with a 10 to 30 V d.c. supply voltage, or as 2-wire, SCR with a 20 to 250 V a.c. supply voltage both offering switch selectable light or dark function.

The control input in the 10 to 30 V d.c. SMT is intended to be used for disabling or enabling the transmitting power temporarily for test purpose or for multiplexing applications. The DC series is protected against reverse polarity of power supplies, control input and output signals. The output is protected against short circuit and inductive loads. (The picture shows the Spacemaster 8000 series of optical sensors from Telco.)

For more information contact Telco-Gail Norton Instrumentation, 031 701 4861.

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