6/12/2013

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN

AGRICULTURE

Chapter 2

Switches & Sensors

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Introduction

• Students will learn

– Several type of switches and sensors.
– Also know its applications.

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Manually Operated Switches
• Manually operated switches are controlled by hand.
Pushbutton switches are the most common form of manual
control found in industry.
Normally Open (NO) pushbutton makes a circuit when it
is pressed and returns to its open position when the
button is released.
Normally Closed (NC) pushbutton opens the circuit when
it is pressed and returns to the closed position when the
button is released. The abbreviations NO and NC
represent the state of the switch when it is not actuated.
The break-make pushbutton is used for interlocking
controls. In this switch the top section is NC, while the
bottom section is NO. When the button is pressed, the
bottom contacts are closed as the top contacts open.

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Selector Switch
• Selector switch positions are made by turning the
operator knob – not pushing it.
• Selector switch positions may have two or more
selector positions with either maintained contact
position or spring return to give momentary
contact operation.
Contacts
Off Position A B
Hand Auto
Hand X

A Off

B Auto X

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Selector Switch Motor Reversing

• Selector switch used in conjunction with a

reversing motor starter to select forward or reverse
operation of the motor.

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Dual In-Line Package (DIP) Switches

ON • Are small switch assemblies

designed for mounting on
OFF printed circuit board
modules.

• Switch settings are seldom

changed, and the changes
occur mainly during
installation or configuration
of the system.

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Mechanically Operated Switches
• A mechanically operated switch is controlled
automatically by factors such as pressure, position,
and temperature.
• The limit switch is a type of mechanically operated
switch designed to operate only when a
predetermined limit is reached, and is usually
actuated by contact with an object such as a cam.
• They are often used in the control of machine
processes to govern the starting, stopping, or reversal
of motors.
Symbols
NO Contact Limit switches take the
place of a human
operator.
NC Contact

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Temperature Switch
• The temperature switch or thermostat is used to
sense temperature changes and is actuated by some
specific environmental temperature change.

Responds to changes in
temperature by opening or
closing an electric circuit.
Symbols

NO Contact NC Contact

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Pressure Switch
• Pressure switches are used to control the pressure
of liquids and gases and are activated when a
specific pressure is reached.

Opens or closes an
Bellows
electric circuit in Switch
response to a
change in pressure.
Symbols

NO Contact NC Contact

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Level Switch
• Level or float switches are used to sense the height
of a liquid.
Switch
Opens or closes an electric circuit in
response to a change in liquid level.

Symbols

Float

NO Contact NC Contact

Two-wire level switch

control of starter.

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Sensor
• Sensors provide the equivalent of eyes, ears, nose,
and tongue to the microprocessor brain.
Microprocessor

Optical
sensor

Gas
sensor

Microphone

Probe

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Proximity Sensor
• Proximity sensors or switches detect the presence of
an object without making physical contact with it.

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Proximity Sensor Applications
• The object being detected is too small, lightweight,
or soft to operate a mechanical switch.
• Rapid response and high switching rates are
required.
• An object has to be sensed through nonmetallic
barriers such as glass, plastic, and paper cartons.
• Hostile environments conditions exist.
• Long life and reliable service are required.
• A fast electronic control system requires a bounce-
free input signal.

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Inductive Proximity Sensor Operation

Barrel type
Block diagram

As the target
moves into the
sensing area,
the sensor
switches
the output ON

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Capacitive Proximity Sensor
A capacitive proximity sensor can be actuated by both
conductive and nonconductive material such as wood,
plastics, liquids, sugar flour and wheat.

Operation is similar to that of inductive

proximity sensor. Instead of a coil, the
active face of the sensor is formed by
two metallic electrodes – rather like an
"opened capacitor".

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Magnetic Switch (Reed Switch)
A magnetic switch (also called
a reed switch) is composed of
flat contact tabs that are
hermetically sealed (air-tight).

Magnet
N S
NO The switch is
NC actuated by a
Common
magnet.

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Reed Switch Activation
Reed switch
Proximity motion – movement
of the switch or magnet will
activate the switch
Magnet

Rotary motion – switch is

actuated twice for every
complete revolution

Shielding – the shield

short circuits the
magnetic field; switch is
activated by removal of
the shield

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Photovoltaic Or Solar Cell
The photovoltaic cell, or solar cell, is
a common light-sensor device that
converts light energy directly into
electric energy.

Solar cell

The solar cell converts light

impulses directly into electrical
charges which can easily be
amplified to provide an input
signal to a PLC.

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Photoconductive Or Photoresistive Cell
The photoconductive cell, or
photoresistive cell, is is another
popular type of light transducer.
Light energy falling on this device
will cause a change in the
resistance of the cell.

Ohms
20 Ohms Light resistance
5,000 Ohms Dark resistance

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Photoelectric Sensor Operation
Most industrial photoelectric sensors use a light-
emitting diode (LED) for the light source and a
phototransistor to sense the presence or absence of light.

Light from the LED

Light detector
falls on the input of the
phototransistor and the
amount of conduction
Object through the transistor
to be changes. Analog
sensed
outputs provide an
output proportional to
the quantity of light
Light source seen by the
photodetector.

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Reflective Photoelectric Sensor

Emits a light beam (visible,

infrared, or laser) from its light
emitting element and detects
the light being reflected.

Diffused-reflective
Retro-reflective type
type
Operating
Operating
Emitter/receiver range
range

Target
Reflector

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Through-Beam Type Photoelectric Sensor
A through-beam photoelectric
sensor is used to measure the
change in light quantity caused
by the target's crossing the
optical axis.

Operating
Emitter Receiver
range

Target

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Bar Code Systems
Bar code systems can be used to
enter data much more quickly
than manual methods, and are
highly accurate.

The decoder receives

Diverter the signal from the
scanner and converts
Decoder these data into the
Scanner character data
representation of the
symbol's code.
PLC

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Ultrasonic Sensor
An ultrasonic sensor operates by
sending sound waves towards the
target and measuring the time it
takes for the pulses to bounce
back.

The returning echo signal

is electronically converted
to a 4 mA to 20 mA output,
which supplies flow rate to
external control devices.

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Strain /Weight Sensors

A strain gauge transducer converts

a mechanical strain into an electric
signal.

Hopper
Wire type Force Controller
The force applied to the gauge causes the
The load cell provides ON/OFF
gauge to bend. This bending action also
Chute
sensor input to the distorts the physical size of the gauge,
Control
controller, which which in turn changes its resistance.
displays the weight
and controls the
hopper chute.

Load cell

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Temperature Sensors
Temperature sensors convert heat into an electric
signal. There are four basic types used:

1.Thermocouple

2. Resistance temperature detector (RTD):

3. Thermistor, and IC sensor:

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Flow Measurement
The usual approach used in
measuring fluid flow is to
convert the kinetic energy that
the fluid has into some other
measurable form.
Turbine Flow Meter
Coil
The turbine blades turn at
Flow a rate proportional to the
Magnet fluid velocity and are
Turbine magnetized to induce
voltage pulses coil.

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Flow Measurement
The usual approach used in
measuring fluid flow is to
convert the kinetic energy that
the fluid has into some other
measurable form.
Electronic Magnetic Can be used with electrically
Flow Meter conducting fluids and offers no
restriction to flow. A coil in the
unit sets up a magnetic field. If
a conductive liquid flows
through this magnetic field, a
voltage is induced and sensed
by two electrodes.

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Velocity/RPM Sensors
A tachometer is a small permanent
magnet DC generator which when
rotated produces a voltage that is
directly proportional to the speed
at which it is driven.

Tachometers coupled
Controller
to motors are
commonly used in
M motor speed control
Motor applications to provide
a feedback voltage to
Tach the controller that is
proportional to motor
speed.

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Velocity/RPM Sensors
The rotating speed of a
shaft is often measured
using a magnetic
(inductive) pickup sensor.

Pickup coil Pole piece

A magnet is attached to the shaft.
A small coil of wire held near the
magnet receives a pulse each time
N S the magnet passes. By measuring
Sensor Magnet the frequency of the pulses, the
output shaft speed can be determined.
0V

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EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Selection of sensors
• Factors that need to be considered:

1. The nature of measurement required. (e.g; the variable to

be measured, its nominal value, the range of values, the
accuracy req, reliability req, environment conditions
under which the measurement is to be made.)
2. The nature of the output req from sensor, this determining
the signal conditioning requirements in order to give
suitable output signals from measurement.
3. Then, possible sensors can be identified, taking into
account such factor as the range, accuracy, linearity, speed
of response, reliability, maintainability, life, power supply
requirements, ruggedness, availability, cost.

EAB 2604: AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE

Summary
• Students have learned
– Several type of switches and sensors.
– Also know its applications.
– Factors need to be considered in selecting sensor.

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