Displays & Controllers

When the Eagles were telling everyone to “Take It Easy,” they had no idea the MDI would make level measurement in hazardous locations so easy. The MDI, APG’s new Intrinsically Safe Modbus Display and Controller, is the basis for a Self-Contained, Intrinsically Safe, Modbus Level Measurement System, and everything about it is easy. Easy to set up and use, easy to connect and install, and easy to match with a Modbus slave sensor.

You don’t ask for much.

You want to be able to control your Modbus sensor network, whether locally or remotely. Or both. You want automated, customizable alerts. You want data logging capabilities, and not just for reminiscing about the past; rather, you want enough data for both accurate forecasting and reliable trend identification.

Simple, right?

Right! It is simple! In fact, it’s so simple we’ve got two solutions for you: the RST-5003 and the LOE Web Enable Controllers. Both can control up to 10 Modbus sensors, have embedded webpages for local Ethernet setup and configuration, and connect directly to www.levelandflow.com.

So, which one makes more sense for you? Let’s take a look.

The easiest comparison to make between the DCR-1006A Controller and the MND Modbus Display is that the DCR-1006A is generally specific, while the MND is specifically general. Makes complete sense, right?

Simple tank level controls are a popular addition to many of the tanks sold either directly from manufacturers or through value-added suppliers. They typically include pumps, alarms, valves, a level sensor, and a controller. Our DCR-1006A is one such controller, equipped with 4 relays (10A 110VAC), a 4-20mA output, and a variety of programmable control logic modes.

We prefer to keep our articles informative rather than promotional. We like to teach about level and pressure measurement principles and the surrounding issues that our customers often have to tackle. But today, we really want to show you something rather cool.

The tethered gauge display – for level or pressure sensors.

What do we mean by tethered? We mean there is simply a cable between the sensing element and the display. You can do it for pressure gauges to make reading them more convenient, and to isolate the electronics from vibration, shock, and heat.

You can also do it for level measurements – kind of like a digital level stick....

To be honest, when I first saw the MND (Modbus Network Display) I didn’t know what to expect. It’s a small LCD display housed in a circular plastic mold – a bit unassuming. But I guess the old saying that good things come in small packages is still true today.

What our customers love about the MND is that it is easy to use and is very flexible. While the MND has many capabilities, in its simplest form it is a local display that can be wired into a local Tank Cloud network. Once wired in, it can display readings from any of the sensors in the network (up to ten).