When using pressure sensors, the output signals 0 ? Invasion , 4 ? 20 mA and DC 0 ? 10 V are frequently chosen to ensure that the sensor signals to be evaluated and further processed. For this, the signal output of the pressure sensor is usually connected to a corresponding input card in the PLC.
In this context it could often be confusing, as the day-to-day usage of the terms ?active?, ?passive?, ?current source?, ?voltage source?, ?current sink? and ?load? are often wildly mixed together. Any electrical signal processing always takes a voltage supply (an ? Urge ?) and a ?load?, like a pressure sensor, which represents the ?passive part?. Sometimes the active the main interconnection is also referred to as a power source/voltage source and the passive part is referred to as a ?current sink?. To ensure that an electrical circuit can function, current must flow in a circuit ? even when an instrument is usually known as a load, the current is not consumed because of it, rather it only flows from the existing or voltage source through the strain and back to the current source.
This works only when an ?energy gap? exists between current source and current sink, therefore the power source operates actively (= sending out current) and the existing sink passively (= current flows through it) . Therefore, an interconnection of two current sources or two current sinks will not operate normally. This situation is complicated in day-to-day application:
When does a pressure sensor work passively (current sink) so when does it work actively (current source)?
How does Passionate in my own PLC operate?
Generally of thumb, one can take into account that 2-wire sensors usually work passively and therefore need an active PLC input card. It really is difficult with 4-wire sensors, since, for example, a 4-wire flow sensor consists of 2 wires for another voltage supply and 2 wires for an active or passive 0/4 ? 20 mA signal output. Hence, it is vital to check the datasheets for the sensor and PLC input card used.