While the science is the same, it's the product enhancements over the years that will cause one brand to differentiate itself from others.
SEE ALSO: Back to Basics: The Power of the Loop
Otek says its been doing that all along, and its latest example is the new LPD Series loop-powered display, built — as the latest successor to the original analog voltmeter — to brightly and consistently illuminate its 51 automatic tricolor (R/G/Y) bargraph and four digits.
"But that's not all," says Dr. Otto Fest, founder and president of Otek, which has been designing and building these devices since 1974. "The LPD is 100% DCS/SCADA/Ethernet-compatible with its Serial I/O capabilities, all of it loop-powered. In addition, it tells the operator if and when the loop fails by flashing its display message 'Loop Fail,' and transmits the distress message via serial with ID, date and time stamp for about 20 seconds before going dark." Fest says these features eliminate the need for finger tapping on an analog meter to decide whether its meter needle is dead (stuck) or that the signal is absent.
"Now the operators can't ignore the meter as probably could have happened in Fukushima, Chernobyl or Three Mile Island," Fest says, "or as a cause in the Carnival Triumph cruise ship fiasco or in many airplane accidents that have been blamed on operator error."
[sidebar id="4"]How does it work? The LPD uses less than 12 mW at 4 mA (<60 mW at 20 mA) to run its ASIC processor and high-efficiency bicolor display and isolated serial interface, Fest says, adding that it requires only about 3 V burden on the loop, compared to about 1 V for the analog counterpart. "The alarm 'after the fact,' or the dead loop, is handled by a unique energy storage technique used by the LPD to store power when the loop is operating normally, which is after about 30 seconds. And, if and when the loop fails shorted or open, that energy is used to flash its display, and transmit the distress message to supervisory equipment for about 20 seconds before going dark."Fest adds that Otek also is expanding the LPD Series with the addition of the LPC (loop-powered controller) Series of bargraphs, and will include isolated retransmission (4-20 mA out), four isolated alarms, relays and PoE. "While the LPC will require external power for the outputs, it will maintain the loop-powered features of the LPD," he explains.
Fest also stresses that no rewiring is required. "This is considered a very important feature by control room engineers and managers," he explains. "Since the new technology is a 100% drop in replacement for analog meters (only two wires), there is no need to reengineer power or signal lines, as is required by conventional digital meters. And, if you want to integrate the LPD with DCS/SCADA, the serial I/O is already there. Just connect the LPD in parallel with the analog meter, and disconnect the old device."
Otek owns several patents on Powerless technology, Fest adds. "The next variation to be released will be the SPD/SPC Series of signal-powered display/controllers," he says. "This series will use less than 50 mW of an ac signal to power the display, rather than use the loop power."
