Manuel, Michael Briand D.

BSEE V -3
Prof. Engr. Daniel P. Durias
Instrumentation and Control (ELEN 3503)
1) Why we convert signal to 4-20mA?
- 4-20mA is the most common current signal standard that use in
instrumentation. Constant current is easily to maintain rather than
voltage, therefore if transmitter device it construct that in current
dependable device therefore we can create a system that depend on
current signal which it is easy to manipulate than to voltage signal.

Notice now how the indicator is an ammeter rather than a voltmeter (the
scale calibrated in inches, feet, or meters of water in the tank, as always).
Because the circuit is a series configuration (accounting for the cable
resistances), current will be precisely equal through all components. With
or without cable resistance, the current at the indicator is exactly the
same as the current at the transmitter, and therefore there is no error
incurred as there might be with a voltage signal system. This assurance of
zero signal degradation is a decided advantage of current signal systems
over voltage signal systems.

2) Why we use digital signal in process of instrumentation?

- Digital signal is discrete to time. Actually digitally signal is sampled from
analog signal.In the conventional method they use two discreet levels for
transmitting the signal from instrument to controller. Logic high And Logic
low. Relays are used for implement the digital signal transmission.
Recently, different types of digital signals are introduced for
communication between instrument and controller. Some signals are
Profibus, HART, FieldBus.