Posts Tagged ultrasonic level measurement
Troubleshooting Siemens MultiRanger/HydroRanger mA Inputs
Posted by danstips in 4-20mA, Level, Siemens, Troubleshooting on February 9, 2017
Written by: Dan Weise
Recently, I was helping a customer troubleshoot the analog input on his Siemens MultiRanger 200.
For common troubleshooting, using voltage values to confirm a zero, mid point and span is all that’s needed. I find it easier to put a voltmeter across the analog input and read the voltage drop than to wire an amp meter into the circuit to read directly, but that assumes that the analog input’s resistor value is a known. For the most commonly used input resistance (250 ohms), the equivalent voltage drop is 1.0 to 5.0V.
Being the guy who actually reads the user manuals, I looked in the Siemens manual to find the input resistance, and it’s not there.
The 15-30-15 Rule in Ultrasonic Level Measurements
Posted by danstips in Level, Level Technology, Siemens, Troubleshooting, Ultrasonic on March 25, 2016
Written by: Dan Weise
If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a dozen times when talking with a Siemens support guy while evaluating a problematic ultrasonic level measurement application,
“What’s the echo confidence and strength?” “What’s the noise measurement?”
Those are numbers that quantify the echo quality: the floor values for echo confidence and strength and the ceiling value for the noise. I’d look up the value and the guy on the phone would tell me whether the number was good, bad or so-so. Finally, someone wrote down what those values should be, and they’re worth filing for future reference.
The Impact of Background Echoes on Ultrasonic Level Measurement
Posted by danstips in Configuration, Echomax transducers, Installation, Level, Level Technology, Measurement, Siemens, Ultrasonic, Uncategorized on June 21, 2012
Photography is a pretty good way to illustrate the importance of background.
Look at the two photographs here. In one, the background is minimal, and focuses your eye on the subject matter. In the other, the background seriously detracts from the subject. Where should you be focusing? What’s most important?
But unlike photography, where a good background helps you focus on the subject, in the world of non-contact ultrasonic level measurement, even a “good” background has a negative influence. Background never contributes to a level reading, it only detracts. But Siemens has a built-in function to “cure” for the influence of backgrounds in their level devices. Read the rest of this entry »
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