Formulas to calculate mA from PV, LRV and URV

The formula for calculating equivalent current (ma) from known process variable (PV), Lower range value (LRV) and Upper range value (URV).

Formula to calculate mA from PV

The formula is:

SPAN = URV – LRV

Where

PV          =  Process Variable
LRV       =  Low Range Value
URV      = Upper Range Value
ma        = milli ampere

Consider left side of formula for Process variable, LRV of transmitter lower range, Span is the difference between LRV & URV of transmitter ranges.

Consider right side of formula for current (ma), LRV of standard current range .i.e is 4ma,

Span is the difference between LRV (4ma) & URV (20ma) of standard current range

.i.e. 20 – 4 = 16, Using this formula we can calculate ma from pv and as well as pv from ma.

For example: The temperature transmitter range is 0 to 50 deg c and  known current ma is 12 then how to calculate the PV of the transmitter ?

Known values :

LRV =  0
URV =  50
mA = 12mA

Standard mA LRV and URV values are as follows –

LRV = 4mA
URV = 20mA

Span = URV – LRV
Span = 20 – 4
Span = 16

Required :

PV = ?

Formula :

 Solution:

Put Values in Formula

SPAN                 16

SPAN = URV – LRV
SPAN = 50 – 0
SPAN = 50

PV – 0  =       0.5  * 50

PV  =       0.5  * 50

PV  =    25

Also Read: Instrumentation Formulas