Fundamentals of Electrical Instrumentation

In this course you will learn the Fundamentals of Electrical Instrumentation - you will learn about the different types of devices, sensors, and circuits used in this field.

Instrumentation is the vital ingredient that enables the process control systems of buildings and factories to run smoothly. Within these  process control systems are numerous instrumentation devices that take measurements and perform operations which are transmitted and received via electrical circuits - in other words along the wires that they are connected to.

It takes a skilful person to know how these electrical circuits work and how the wiring must be connected. That's where you come in.

After completing this course, you will know how to wire up digital (discrete) & analog instrumentation devices and understand how the electrical circuits connected to them work.

Electrical instrumentation devices come in many forms, the four types that we will focus on in this course are:

-Digital (discrete) Inputs

-Digital (discrete) Outputs

-Analog Inputs

-Analog Outputs

In the course we will start off by looking at Digital Inputs, we will learn about what digital input devices are used for and learn how to connect them to a controller in sink and source configuration. Connecting a push button and a proximity sensor as digital input devices will be demonstrated.

Digital Outputs are covered next, we learn how to connect a solenoid actuated water valve as an output device and also look at sink and source wiring configurations.

About halfway through the course we put what we've learnt to the test by surfing the net and studying some various wiring diagrams of instrumentation & plc circuits.

When we get to Analog Inputs, we hone in on the basic fundamentals of analog circuits such as the 0-10volt and 4-20ma circuits. We then discuss 2, 3, 4 and 5 wire transmitters and round out the chapter by demonstrating a temperature sensor connected in a loop as an input device. WARNING - there may be a little maths involved (just a little).

An Analog Output circuit is demonstrated next by using a variable frequency drive as our output device, we get to see what happens to a motor connected to the drive when the analog signal is changed.

To finish off we study a controller as it would look in a real installation with various inputs and outputs connected to it.

So if you are ready to boost your electrical control skills by learning the fundamentals of instrumentation I'll see you in the course.

But don't forget your pen and paper as there will be some fun exercises along the way.