vbenefits of 4-20ma over 0-10v signals - Wikitechy https://www.wikitechy.com/interview-questions/tag/vbenefits-of-4-20ma-over-0-10v-signals/ Interview Questions Tue, 07 Sep 2021 11:08:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.wikitechy.com/interview-questions/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/cropped-wikitechy-icon-32x32.png vbenefits of 4-20ma over 0-10v signals - Wikitechy https://www.wikitechy.com/interview-questions/tag/vbenefits-of-4-20ma-over-0-10v-signals/ 32 32 Why we don’t use 2-20mA, 1-20mA, 3-20mA or 10-50mA signal instead of 4-20mA ? https://www.wikitechy.com/interview-questions/instrumentation/why-we-dont-use-2-20ma-1-20ma-3-20ma-or-10-50ma-signal-instead-of-4-20ma/ https://www.wikitechy.com/interview-questions/instrumentation/why-we-dont-use-2-20ma-1-20ma-3-20ma-or-10-50ma-signal-instead-of-4-20ma/#respond Thu, 05 Aug 2021 07:07:00 +0000 https://www.wikitechy.com/interview-questions/?p=1485

Why we don’t use 2-20mA, 1-20mA, 3-20mA or 10-50mA signal instead of 4-20mA ?

  • Generally, in a transistor some amount of voltage is required for turning it on.
  • This voltage is the cut in voltage. Up to this voltage it exists a nonlinearity in its characteristics. Beyond this cut in voltage the characteristics of transistor is linear.
  • This nonlinear region lays between 0-4mA, beyond 4ma it linear. That’s why 4-20 mA range is used.

Due to some following reasons 4-20mA signal is used,

  • 4-20mA has an inherent ‘live zero’. Zero engineering unit is 4mA not 0.0mA indicates an open circuit, fault in the line which is not valid.
  • 4-20 mA has little, if any, signal loss in its circuit; current regulation compensates for minor resistances in terminal boxes, whereas voltage drop across resistances for voltage signals creates an error.
  • S 4-20 mA signal is less susceptible to noise pickup than a voltage circuit. So it is free from interference from other signals.
  • 4-20 mA works at a relatively long distance(>1 Km ) boosting the power supply voltage will drive the signal further.
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