Employs state-of-the-art surface-mount electronics technology to provide a stable, low-cost, programmable, digital conditioning amplifier suitable for most strain gauge devices
The DSC employs state-of-the-art surface-mount electronics technology to provide a stable, low-cost, programmable, digital conditioning amplifier suitable for most strain gauge devices, such as pressure transducers, load cells, force sensors, etc All the user needs to do is to connect to a strain gauge device and to the serial port of a computer and provide a power supply in the new wider range, from 5.4V to 18VDC.
The combination of a strain gauge with the DSC creates a powerful digital strain transducer.
Versions are available with RS232C or RS485, operating over the newly extended baud rate range up to 230,400. Ascii, Modbus RTU and Mantrabus II protocols are available now, with Can, Canopen and Profibus due shortly.
The new generation DSC is available in two versions - a high stability version and, at lower cost, an industrial stability version.
Both versions will take up to 500 readings per second at the fastest, programmable down to 1Hz at the slowest.
Resolutions to 1 part in 400,000 (0.00025% of full scale) are achievable, and the DSC is now fitted with an LED diagnostic indicator.
The instruments are protected against +/-15kV electrostatic discharges, have real mV/V calibration, extreme noise immunity, very high stability, peak and trough recording, and a programmable dynamic filter. Transducer calibration is easy, and a remote shunt calibration facility is now provided.
Bridge excitation is now 5V DC to permit longer cable lengths, and the new unit is compatible with the previous version.
The DSC range has built-in self-diagnostics, system calibration, sensor operation limit alarms, fieldbus compatibility, is reverse polarity protected, has full CE approval, is capable of Atex approval, and carries a three year manufacturer's warranty.
Optional features include temperature compensation via an external sensor, alternative sensitivities and OEM application software through Bootloader, allowing special functions to be programmed via RS485.
Celsum Technologies's managing director, Roy Carter, said: "The DSC is an extremely versatile plug-and-go sensor which will give a digital output in direct engineering units from a standard strain gauge.
"The New Generation provides increased choice and enhanced performance.
"It is simple to use, has an outstanding performance-to-cost ratio, reduces the cost of strain gauge ownership, and provides universal systems compatibility.
"With self-diagnostics allowing easy non-expert maintenance, it is equally suitable for applications from OEM projects to research and development.
"We have a DSC evaluation kit to help assessment of this flexible instrument." Two easy-mount junction boxes are available to provide for fast installation; the DSJ1 is a one-channel version for both RS232 and RS485 versions, while the DSJ4 will mount up to four DSCs with RS485 communication.
The DSC is complementary to Celsum Technologies's wide range of process control instruments, strain gauge and LVDT signal conditioners, materials testing instruments and precision extrusion dies.
