Process/panel meters allow you to view instrument readings up to 1000 feet away from hazardous or inconvenient test environments. Meters detect the voltage, current, or frequency signals transmitted by your testing instrument and translate these signals into values based on a user-calibrated scale of units. For electrical-signal simulators for calibrating or "scaling" to engineering units, see our full selection of calibrators/simulators and accessories.
When selecting a process/panel meter, consider the type of electrical signal that your instrument transmits; also consider whether your process requires documentation or a control signal to other instruments. Choose a meter with input/output ranges compatible with the signal requirements of your transmitters, recorders, or electrical equipment.
Loop-Powered Meters need no external power to operatethey draw current from the incoming 4 to 20 mA signal to power the display. Loop-powered meters simplify wiring by eliminating a separate power supply to the meter.
Line-Powered Meters require an external voltage source (usually 120/240 VAC) to power the display. Many line-powered models can generate an output signal to alarms or electrical equipment.
Line-Powered Meters with Transmitter Power can supply voltage to your transmitter, simplifying wiring configurations by eliminating a separate power-source connection to the transmitter.
Meters accept input signals from many different instruments; several models provide output signals to computers, alarms, and other equipment.
Engineering Units: A term referring to any and all units of measurement to which your meter can be scaled (psi, gpm, ft, pH, μS/cm, % RH, °C, etc.).
Hysteresis: The difference between the setpoint at which a meter actuates a relay-output signal and the "reset point" at which the relay is deactuated. Meters with programmable hysteresis allow you to adjust this difference to as narrow or as wide a range around a critical setpoint as your application demands.
Linearization: A feature that ensures accurate readings of nonlinear signals by allowing the user to program more than two calibration points.
Span Adjustment: A control that allows you to set the "span" of measurement by entering the highest and lowest readings on the display.
Transmitter Power: The "excitation voltage" or power supplied by the panel meter to the transmitting instrument. Meters with transmitter power simplify the wiring configurations by eliminating the external power supply to the transmitter.
