LTS 25-NP is a current transducer with some features you wouldn’t want to miss having on your electronic devices. Without much ado, we are going to dive deeper into this article where we tell you everything you need to know about this device.
What is a Current Transducer?
A current transducer is a type of electrical instrument or device capable of converting any form of energy into another. The current transducer is also used to convert one form of signal to another form of signal.
We want to point out that the current transducer is also an electrical device that converts either the alternating or the direct electrical signals into the (proportional) variant of an industrial standard electrical signal.
The major need for a current transducer is when you consider the fact that it is nearly impossible to make a direct measurement of the electrical current. As such, there is a need to depend on a device that can make that possible and which could also be used to make the necessary electrical current conversion.
The current transducer steps up to the task by offering a flexible electrical current conversion process that involves converting a direct electrical signal to the industrial standard electrical signal.
How the Current Transducer Works
If you are unclear of how a current transducer works, we would be pleased to break it down for you. The following is a breakdown of how the current transducer works:
1. Current Reception
The first thing the transducer does is to “take in” or receive the current. The current can be received in a variety of ways, such as power, voltage, frequency and the most – in the form of a current.
2. Current Detection
Once the current is inside the transducer, the sensitive component therein would detect it. The detection is the first stage of current conversion.
3. Current Conversion
It is the duty of the sensitive component to detect the current and send out a signal of the same. The signal is sent out to the conversion component, which begins the next step of the conversion.
The conversion component now starts the conversion process by converting the integrated or accepted signal into a small current signal.
Once this has been done, the signal would be passed to the conversion circuit, which sees to the conversion or changing of the small current signal into an industry-standard electrical signal.
4. Signal Passage
The last stage of the current conversion process is the passing of the industry-standard electrical signal into an output signal. This output signal is what would then be sent to the designated terminal equipment, such as the automation control, display, alarm unit, or PLC.
How LTS 25-NP Converts Current
LTS 25-NP follows the same process as the traditional current conversion but it offers some conversion iterations.
It is primarily used for the electronic measurement of the Direct Current (DC), pulsed current and Alternating Current (AC).
The current conversion process typically goes with a galvanic separation between the secondary and the primary circuits.
Extended Resistance
LTS 25-NP features an extended measuring resistance; designed to give the transducer an edge to take in and convert different kinds of currents, irrespective of their distances.
Compact Design
LTS 25-NP is designed to fit perfectly into the target applications, and that is the reason for the compact design. This compact design allows for the transducer to be mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
The following are some of the additional features:
- Incorporated or internal measuring resistance
- Unipolar supply voltage
- Closed loop, hall effect sensor type
- It uses both the voltage and radiometric for output
- A maximum of 85˚C operating temperature
- 25A current sensing
- Bidirectional polarization
- ±0.1% linearity and ±2% accuracy
- 25mV/A sensitivity
- DC ~ 200kHz sensitivity
- 0.4µs response time
Product Advantages
Definitely, one of the driving factors for choosing a current transducer is the performance. And for the performance to be assured, you have to be sure of all that the device has to offer.
LTS 25-NP’s manufacturer promises to deliver the best performances possible through the offering of unique product advantages such as:
5. Immunity
LTS 25-NP is highly-immune to the external interferences. That way, it keeps most of the functions “in a box” and delivers the best performances possible.
6. Linearity and Accuracy
From the detailed features above, you can see that the LTS 25-NP has a ±0.1% linearity and an accuracy of ±0.2%. While that might not be much especially when compared to other options out there, it sure proves that the current transducer is out to improve the functions.
7. Zero Losses
The losses attributed to insertion have no place on the LTS 25-NP because the current transducer has a no insertion loss capability.
The following are some of the additional benefits:
- Current overload capability
- Low temperature drift
- Wide frequency bandwidth
- Optimized response time
The Hall Effect, Closed Loop Design
LTS 25-NP uses a sensor type called the Hall Effect. For emphasis, sensors are the devices or instruments that facilitate the measurement or the detection of the physical properties and processes in electronic devices.
The Hall Effect sensor type, which the LTS 25-NP uses, is defined as a “type of sensor which detects the presence and magnitude of a magnetic field using the Hall Effect.”
To that end, the Hall Effect is the “effect” or process of making a detection of the presence of magnetic fields in circuits and the magnitude or voluminous nature of those magnetic fields.
When it comes to how the Hall Effect sensors work, there are two (2) major processes involved. These are the Open-Loop Current sensing and the Closed-Loop Current sensing. LTS 25-NP uses the latter.
According to All About Circuits, the Closed-Loop Current sensor works by “detecting the negative feedback concepts.”
Generally, both the Open-Loop and the Closed-Loop Current sensors have to do with feedback detection. When compared to the Open-Loop format, the Closed-Loop Current sensor offers additional robustness because of the smaller magnetic flux density inside the sensor.
Final Words
Current transducers like LTS 25-NP help to read currents and generate a signal for the output. Thus, they are one of the most reliable sensor devices that help keep track of the current, as they can be used in applications like motor control and load trending devices.
