• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
SensorsONE

SensorsONE

Measurement Instrumentation Products

  • Products
  • Tools
  • Contact

How to get a 10 volt signal from a 4-20mA output pressure sensor

I have a 4 to 20mA output pressure sensor, is there a way of converting the current output into a 10 volt output signal so I can use a voltage input data acquisition card?

Typically a 4-20mA output pressure sensor is configured as 2 wire current loop and with this type of signal circuit it is possible to add load resistance without affecting the current signal.  At a particular pressure the pressure sensor behaves like a constant current source regardless of the load resistance connected in series to the circuit.  If a 500 Ohm load resistor is added in series to the loop circuit, it is possible to generate a voltage drop across the resistor which will vary from 2 to 10 volts according to the current output variation of 4 to 20mA.    So a 2-10Vdc output signal can be sent to the data acquisition card connecting the input wires across the load resistor.

load resistor and supply voltage limits for 4-20mA pressure sensorA 4-20mA pressure sensor has a low and high limit of load resistance that must not be exceeded.  the limits vary depending on the product type and supply voltage. The resistance limits are normally specified on the product data sheet.  This is important to consider since by generating a 2-10Vdc signal you have added an additional 10V max to the circuit which will be deducted for the power supply.  Therefore you need to ensure there is sufficient voltage left to power the 4-20mA pressure sensor without exceeding the maximum supply voltage for the circuit.

4-20mA output pressure sensor products
  • DMD341 Compact Differential Air Pressure Sensor
  • PrimAtü 10 Low Cost Low Range Differential Air Pressure Transducer
  • DPS Low Differential Pressure Transmitter Low Pressure Transmitters
  • Chemical Resistant Pressure Sensor Elements for Electronic Devices & Embedded Product Design & Development

Primary Sidebar

Pressure Sensor Specifier

Specify a pressure sensor
Select your pressure sensor requirements

Help Guides

  • Measuring negative pressure using a positive differential pressure range
  • Pressure Sensor Accuracy Specifications
  • Process Connections
  • Determining calibration error of Bourdon tube pressure gauge
  • Measurement Accuracy
  • Supply voltage and load resistance considerations for pressure transmitters
  • Measuring vacuum with negative gauge or absolute ranges
  • What is the difference between gauge and absolute pressure measurement
  • Measuring the difference in air pressure between rooms
  • How to Connect a 4-20mA Current Loop Pressure Transmitter
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of using a 4 to 20 mA Signal
  • Determining water tank volume using hydrostatic pressure
  • How do you measure the volume of a liquid using pressure
  • What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure
  • What does negative and positive gauge pressure mean

Product Enquiry

Send us your enquiry for a product associated with this How to get a 10 volt signal from a 4-20mA output pressure sensor page, and get assistance with selecting a product for your application.

Email Your Enquiry

enquiries@sensorsone.com

© 2023 SensorsONE Ltd, all rights reserved

  • Home
  • Products
  • Tools
  • Legal
  • Contact