Jewell Instruments, LLC

United States

Wired connections bring some advantages to your tilt or motion measurement system. The cable is already included with a standard unit, so no need to run out and grab a compatible cable and spend time setting it up. Wire connections are sealed to protect the connection, while pin terminals are left more exposed. The materials made for protecting the wired version are similarly rugged as a connector and mating cable, but generally lower cost.

The one drawback to a wired connection is that it may not be able to withstand a lot of strain caused by constant cable movement. A connector typically uses a mating cable that includes a cap at the end to prevent strain on the connection. A wired version does not include a cable with the same foundation which means it is more flexible and more vulnerable to strain. For industrial applications such as OEM and robotics, you will have to take this into consideration when placing the sensor within your design. For example, if a sensor is placed within the arm of a backhoe, the arm will exert a lot of movement on the cable which will put strain at the base of the connection.

Electrolytic tiltmeters are excellent solutions to constantly monitor the structural health of large, important infrastructure or landmasses. They are highly sensitive, low maintenance and have long lifespans. However, they are temperamental to linear motion which is why they should avoid environments where excessive vibration and motion are present.

If you’re monitoring a bridge or automating a machine, a high precision sensor is a great solution, but it’s no good if the output signal can’t reach the data logger. Depending on what you need to measure and what environment you’re in, determining how long your cable must run can be crucial. High precision sensors offer three common output types: analog, digital and current and each one can serve a certain purpose based on your application

MEMS sensors have been competing against force-balanced technology, mostly due to their lower cost. However, some models can match or even beat the price of some MEMS without sacrificing precision. The Emerald series inclinometers and accelerometers are the low-cost version of force-balanced sensors. They are not fluid-damped, but beat MEMS with higher precision while hitting similar price points.

A wired connection is a reliable option that saves time, money and materials. It provides more protection than pin terminals, but not as much as a connecter with a mating cable. Jewell sensors available with wired versions include the LSOX and RMI force balanced inclinometers and most electrolytic tiltmeters. If you’re still not certain which connection type is the one for you, reach out to us and we will be happy to help.