
Refer to the following formula for the maximum number of detectors allowed on a single cable: N=Im/
lc=((U-12)/R)/Ic=((U-12)/(ρ×L/S))/Ic
N: Maximum number of detectors
Im: the maximum current passing through the wire(A)
Ic: the average current of a single detector at the lowest starting voltage(A)
U: controller output voltage (our controller is 24V)
R: internal resistance on the cable(Ω)
ρ: core resistivity (copper: 1.85×10ˉ Ω·mm)
L: cable length (the total length of the positive and negative lines of the power supply, if the length
of a single line is 100m, the total length of the two lines is 200m)
S: core cross-sectional area(mm)
When the detector uses our controller to supply power, taking the material as copper (the resistivity is
1.85×10ˉ Ω·mm) as an example, the maximum number of detectors allowed for a single cable can refer to
the following table:
When the detector is not powered by the controller (that is, powered by an independent power supply),
the 4-20mA transmission distance is determined by the load resistance, which includes the output resistance
of the control system (controller, DCS or PLC) and the internal resistance of the cable.
Cable distance (m) 100 200 500 1000
The maximum allowable number of
detectors when using 0.75mm wire
diameter
Toxic gas(100mA@12V) 24 12 4 2
Combustible gas(250mA@12V) 10 5 2 1
The maximum allowable number of
detectors when using 1.0mm wire
diameter
Toxic gas (100mA@12V) 32 16 6 3
Combustible gas (250mA@12V) 12 6 2 1
The maximum allowable number of
detectors when using 1.5mm wire
diameter
Toxic gas (100mA@12V) 48 24 8 4
Combustible gas (250mA@12V) 20 10 4 2
The maximum allowable number of
detectors when using 2.5mm wire
diameter
Toxic gas (100mA@12V) 80 40 15 7
Combustible gas (250mA@12V) 30 15 6 3
The maximum transmission distance refers to the following formula:
L=(R-Rc)/(ρ/S)
L: Maximum transmission distance(m)
R: Maximum load resistance(Ω) (500Ω when powered by 24V, including control system input
resistance and cable internal resistance)
Rc: input resistance of the control system (the input resistance of our controller is 50Ω) ρ:
core resistivity (copper: 1.85×10ˉ Ω·mm)
S: core cross-sectional area(mm)
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