Simple-to-use distributed measurement architecture eliminates long cable runs

MonoDAQ has launched its latest product, the MonoDAQ E-ACC accelerometer amplifier which the company claims will save costs and raise the accuracy of acceleration and vibration measurement by allowing the module to be placed near the sensor, excluding the need for long analogue cabling. The product is a small, compact device in a robust aluminium housing consisting of analogue front end with 18kHz alias-free bandwidth, 24-bit ADC converter with up to 40kS/s sample rate and EtherCAT interface. The EtherCAT protocol is an important factor in allowing large distances between devices - up to 50m node-to-node. Devices are daisy-chained using a single network cable carrying signal and power. Synchronization below 1µs is assured along a virtually-unlimited chain of these devices. Each device has a fully isolated front end with high dynamic performance as well as TEDS support for sensor auto-recognition. The devices come bundled with DEWESoft software enabling engineers with no specialist electronics knowledge to be able to measure their phenomena of interest – usually acceleration, pressure, force, temperature, etc. Digital, analogue, GPS and video signals can be measured in the same environment and synchronized without customization - no programming is required to make a high-fidelity measurement.