Modbus

It’s Titanium. It’s bulletproof. Right?

Okay, perhaps our MPI-T isn’t literally bulletproof, but then again neither is Sia. And while the bulletproof metaphor nearly works for APG’s new MPI-T Intrinsically Safe, Titanium Stem Magnetostrictive Float Level Transmitter, perhaps an even better one is that of dodging bullets. There are all sorts of bullets related to crude oil storage just waiting to kill your level measurement systems, but the MPI-T can help you dodge those bullets.

No Jedi mind-tricks necessary here. APG’s new MPI-F Intrinsically Safe Flexible Stem Magnetostrictive Level Transmitter is just the flexible probe you’ve been looking for. The MPI-F is flexible, intrinsically safe, and can be inherently safe, and when we say flexible, we aren’t just referring to the stem. The safety value of the MPI-F extends beyond protected operation in hazardous locations.

When it comes to choosing a liquid level sensor, the one that gives you the most advantages is the one you are going to choose. Whether the advantage is in price, availability, technical performance and specifications, or durability and reliability, the sensor that checks off the most boxes is going to win. The new MPI-E and MPI-R Intrinsically Safe Magnetostrictive Float Level Transmitters offer quite a nice pile of advantages, from quality design and manufacturing to precision measurements and configurable outputs. Let’s take a look at three specific advantages the MPI-E/R gives you.

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.

If you were to look up “versatile” in the dictionary, you might find a picture of APG’s new MNU IS Intrinsically Safe Modbus Ultrasonic Sensor. Ok, you might not yet, but you should, and soon. With features like APG’s new QuickMode, global Class I, Division 1 hazardous location certification, and RS-485/Modbus RTU standard on every unit, the new MNU IS is capable of handling just about any level measurement situation. Let’s take a look.

There are so many communications standards out there: Modbus, Fieldbus, Profibus, Hart, and that’s just a few. You can get systems with HMI’s and PLC’s and RTU’s and… Yikes!

So how do you choose? What do they mean? “I just want to get the readings from my sensors!”

We hear you. We make several of our sensors Modbus-compatible, but we don’t do it for our sake, or even Modbus’s sake. We do it for you. So today, let’s take a look at what Modbus is, and why we use it.

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?

One of the most frequently asked questions our Measurement Experts field is “How far away can my sensor be?” And the most popular answer we give is “What kind of signal does your sensor use?”

Because it really is as simple as that: the allowable distance between your sensor and control equipment is almost entirely dependent on the signal type your sends. There are, of course, other physical factors, like resistance and voltage, but the way they limit distance is different for each signal type.

So, how far can your signal go?

Ever wondered about sensor outputs? Why are there so many to choose from? Why not just standardize on one output, and be done?

Let’s take a quick look through the most popular types of sensor outputs. Each type has strengths and weaknesses that give it advantages in certain situations. Matching these qualities with your situation will help you maximize your sensors’ performance.

We’ve been quietly working on expanding our sensors that have a Modbus output. These updates have helped a lot of customers do more with their sensors. Well, we thought it was time to break the silence and announce it to the world.

Modbus is nothing new – not for us, and certainly not for the industry – but it is an improvement on a few of our level and pressure sensors that we wanted to bring to your attention. Our Modbus line-up has gotten bigger, and includes ultrasonic...