Blancett F-to-I Operating Manual

Sensor/Transducer

F-to-V or F-to-I Active Sensor

INTRODUCTION

The Blancett Active Sensor is a state-of-the-art, digital signal processing device designed to provide exceptional accuracy at a very affordable price. Designed for use with turbine meters, the sensor measures and calculates the flow rate to produce an analog current or voltage output representative of the meter’s flow rate.

The Active Sensor is offered in two versions with a wide range of compatible turbine flow sensors:

• The F-to-I converter provides a 4…20 mA output in a two wire, loop powered configuration.

• The F-to-V converter offers a 0…5V DC output for those applications where a Voltage output is preferred.

• Can be used with Blancett 1100, QuikSert, and FloClean series turbine flow sensors.

OPERATING PRINCIPLE

Fluid entering the meter passes through the inlet flow straightener which reduces its turbulent flow pattern and improves the fluid’s velocity profile. Fluid then passes through the turbine, causing it to rotate at a speed proportional to the fluid velocity. As each turbine blade passes through the magnetic field at the base of the magnetic pickup, an AC Voltage pulse is generated in the pickup coil (see Figure 1). These pulses are converted to either a current or Voltage that is proportional to the volumetric flow through the meter.

METER BODY

INPUT: 10 - 30 VDC

OUTPUT: 4 - 20 mA

MAX INPUT CURRENT: 25 mA

NEMA 4X, TEMP CODE T6

USE IN CLASS I, GROUPS B, C & D,

CLASS II, GROUPS E, F & G,

CLASS III

MADE IN USA

INPUT: 10 - 30 VDC OUTPUT: 4 - 20 mA MAX INPUT CURRENT: 25 mA NEMA 4X, TEMP CODE T6 USE IN CLASS I, GROUPS B, C & D, CLASS II, GROUPS E, F & G, CLASS III

MADE IN USA

ACTIVE PICK-UP

INPUT: 10 - 30 VDC

OUTPUT: 4 - 20 mA

MAX INPUT CURRENT: 25 mA

NEMA 4X, TEMP CODE T6

USE IN CLASS I, GROUPS B, C & D,

CLASS II, GROUPS E, F & G,

CLASS III

MADE IN USA

OUTPUT

SIGNAL

TURBINE

ROTOR

ACTIVE

PICK-UP

Figure 1: Schematic illustration of electric signal generated by rotor movement Figure 2: Typical turbine flow meter with active sensor installed

SPECIFICATIONS

Power

Frequency to Current (F-to-I) Loop powered, 6 V insertion loss maximum 10…30V DC supply range Frequency to Voltage (F-to-V) 10…30V DC supply range (3-wire output) Inputs Magnetic Pickup

Frequency 0…3500 Hz Trigger Sensitivity 30 mV Frequency Measurement Accuracy ±1%

Analog Output 4…20 mA current loop

Resolution 1:4000 Temperature Drift 50 ppm / °C (max)

Linearization 10 point using IFC programming utility (PN B220-953) Threads 5/8-18 UNF Environmental

Ambient Temperature –22…158° F (–30…70° C) Humidity 0…90% non-condensing

p-p

SEN-UM-00084-EN-02 (July 2014)

User Manual

Connection

Loop Load (Ohm's)

CONNECTION

The 4…20 mA output can drive auxiliary devices (resistive loads) such as displays, recorders and computers, provided the voltage supplied by the power source is adequate. Devices must be wired in series with the F-to-I converter and power supply. The voltage drop across the load(s) and the 6V DC minimum needed to drive the F-to-I converter determine the minimum voltage required from the power supply.

The F-to-I converter acts as a current controlling device. Thus, the current output remains the same even if the power supply voltage fluctuates or the load resistance changes. The current varies only with respect to the flow rate from the turbine flow meter, as long as the voltage drop across the F-to-I converter is at least 6V DC.

The load(s) in the circuit generally have some electrical resistance, 100 Ohms for this example. The 4…20 mA loop current produces a Voltage drop across each load. The maximum Voltage drop across a load(s) exists when the loop current is 20 mA. The power supply must provide enough Voltage for the load(s) plus the 6V DC minimum insertion loss of the F-to-I converter.

Figure 5 shows a graphical representation of the allowable loads for a given power supply voltage.

F to I

Converter

150

Ohms

4…20 mA

100

Ohms50Ohms

24V DC

Power

Supply

Total load resistance = 300 Ohms

Total current loop current = 20 mA

300 Ohms x 20 mA = 6000 mV = 6 Volts

The total voltage drop across the load is 6 Volts.

Figure 3: Example 1—Sufficient power supply Voltage Figure 4: Example 2—Insufficient power supply Voltage

F to I

Converter

4…20 mA

1000

Ohms

Total load resistance = 1000 Ohms Total current loop current = 20 mA

1000 Ohms x 20 mA = 20,000 mV = 20 Volts

The total voltage drop across the load is 20 Volts

24V DC

Power

Supply

Example 1 shows an installation where the available voltage from the power supply is sufficient to accommodate a 6 Volt drop. Subtract 6 Volts from the 24 Volt source to determine that 18 Volts are available to power the F-to-I converter. The 18 Volts is within the specified 10…30 Volt range and is sufficient to power the F-to-I converter.

Example 2 shows an installation where the available voltage from the power supply is not sufficient to accommodate a 20 Volt drop. Subtract 20 Volts from the 24 Volt source to determine that 4 Volts is available to power the F-to-I converter. The 4 Volts is below the specified 10…30 Volt range so is not adequate to power the F-to-I converter. If for example, the power supply voltage was 30 Volts instead of 24 Volts, the Voltage available to power the F-to-I converter would be 10 Volts and within the specified range.

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

Supply Voltage (VDC)

Figure 5: Allowable loop resistance chart

Operate in the

Shaded Region

28 30

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OPERATION

(BLACK) - Loop

30V DC

28V DC

Cable Assembly

Once power is applied, the converter outputs an analog value representative of the measured frequency from the turbine meter. See Figure 6 or Figure 7—whichever corresponds to the converter that you have selected for your application.

Operation

CONVERTER

MALE CONNECTOR

+ 4…20 mA

- 4…20 mA N.C. N.C. N.C.

PIN 1 PIN 2 PIN 3 PIN 4 PIN 5

RED BLACK WHITE

+ 4…20 mA (Sink)

- 4…20 mA (Source) No Connection

CABLE ASSEMBLY B220952-6 6 FT. B220952-15 15 FT.

CABLE

CONNECTOR

(RED) + Loop

(WHITE) N.C.

Figure 6: Frequency to current output wiring

CONVERTER

MALE CONNECTOR

RED

10…30V DC

SIGNAL GND N.C. N.C.

PIN 1 PIN 2 PIN 3 PIN 4 PIN 5

BLACK WHITE

10…30V DC

SIGNAL 0 V

CABLE ASSEMBLY B220952-6 6 FT. B220952-15 15 FT.

CABLE

CONNECTOR

(RED) 10…

(BLACK) SIGNAL

(WHITE) 0V

Figure 7: Frequency to Voltage output wiring

OTE:N If your active sensor was purchased with a Blancett turbine meter, the two components ship from the factory calibrated as

a set. If the active sensor is a replacement, the turbine’s K factor has changed, or the sensor is being used with some other pulse-generating device, programming is necessary.

PROGRAMMING

OTE:N For complete instructions on programming the Blancett intelligent converters see the IFC Programming Manual.

Requirements

• Sensor/Transducer IFC programming kit PN B220-953

• RS232 cable (connects programming cable to PC)

• IBM Compatible PC running Windows® 95 or newer operating system

• DC Power Supply

Active Sensor

Cable Assembly Blancett P.N. 6558

Figure 8: 6558 programming cable connections

OTE:N The TTL-to-RS232 converter may be as shown in Figure 8 or it may be a black molded model.

TTL to RS232 Converter

TTL

Model 232LPTTL

RS-232 TO TTL Converter

RS-232

B220952-6 6 ft. B220952-15 15 ft.

Cable To Computer

(RED) 10… (BLACK) SIGNAL (WHITE) 0V

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1. Install the programming software.

2. Attach the programming cable (Figure 8) to the active sensor through a Com port on your PC. OTE:N For computers without an RS232 serial port, you may need a USB-to-serial converter.

3. Using a DC power supply, apply 10…30V DC to the active sensor.

4. Start the IFC programming software. The rst screen should appear as in Figure 9.

OTE:N If communication fails, check cabling and/or Com port address and try again.

IFC Programming Utility

File Options Tools

Setup

Device:

Rate Units:

Rate Interval:

K Factor Units:

K Factor:

Damping:

Flow at 4mA:

Flow at 4mA

Flow at 20mA

Linear Points:

Status: Com1 9/23/2008 2:33 PM

Status: Com1 4/25/2013 2:33 PM

4-20mA 0-5V

Gallons

Minute

Pulses/Gallon

350.400

0.000

50.000

Linear Points

Read Setup

Download Setup

Frequency

0 00 0

Monitor

On O

O

Figure 9: IFC programming screen

5. Press Read Setup to view how the converter is currently programmed.

6. Make any necessary changes and press Download Setup.

MAINTENANCE

1. Make frequent inspections. Create a schedule for maintenance checks based on the environment and frequency of use.

2. Perform visual, electrical and mechanical checks on all components on a regular basis.

a. Visually check for undue heating evidenced by discoloration of wires or other components, damaged or worn parts, or leakage

evidenced by water or corrosion in the interior.

b. Electrically check to make sure that all connections are clean and tight, and that the device is operating correctly.

DIMENSIONS

A B

Figure 10: Active sensor dimensions

A B

4.28 in. (109 mm) 1.15 in. (29 mm)

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

Trouble Remedy

No Current Output

Analog output reads a constant reading

Analog output is not stable

Check polarity of the current loop connections for proper orientation. Make sure receiving device is configured to provide loop current.

Make sure there is flow in the system. Verify that the rotor inside the turbine meter turns freely.

External noise is being picked up by the sensor. Keep all AC wires separate from DC wires. Check for radio antenna in close proximity. This usually indicates a weak signal.

Control. Manage. Optimize.

Blancett is a registered trademarks of Badger Meter, Inc. Other trademarks appearing in this document are the property of their respective entities. Due to continuous research, product improvements and enhancements, Badger Meter reserves the right to change product or system specications without notice, except to the extent an outstanding contractual obligation exists. © 2014 Badger Meter, Inc. All rights reserved.

www.badgermeter.com

Blancett F-to-I Operating Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual