When using pressure sensors, the output signals 0 ? 20 mA, 4 ? 20 mA and DC 0 ? Promote are generally chosen in order for the sensor signals to be evaluated and further processed. For this, the signal output of the pressure sensor is usually linked 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? tend to be wildly mixed together. Any electrical signal processing always takes a voltage supply (an ?active part?) and a ?load?, for instance a pressure sensor, which represents the ?passive part?. Sometimes the active portion of the interconnection is also described as a power source/voltage source and the passive part is known as a ?current sink?. In order that a power circuit can function, current must flow in a circuit ? even when an instrument is normally known as lots, the current is not consumed because of it, rather it only flows from the current or voltage source through the strain and back to the current source.
This works only if an ?energy gap? exists between current source and current sink, therefore the power source operates actively (= sending out current) and the current sink passively (= current flows through it) . Therefore, an interconnection of two current sources or two current sinks won’t operate normally. This example is complicated in day-to-day application:
When does a pressure sensor work passively (current sink) and when does it work actively (current source)?
How does the input card in my own PLC operate?
Generally of thumb, one can remember that 2-wire sensors usually work passively and thus need an active PLC input card. It really is difficult with 4-wire sensors, since, for instance, a 4-wire flow sensor consists of 2 wires for a separate voltage supply and 2 wires for a dynamic or passive 0/4 ? 20 mA signal output. Hence, Doubtful is imperative to check the datasheets for the sensor and PLC input card used.