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Inst Tools > Blog > Animation > Two Wire Sensor Working Principle and Animation

Two Wire Sensor Working Principle and Animation

Last updated: September 19, 2019 7:13 pm
Editorial Staff
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Sensors can also be broken down by their wiring configurations. The most common are 2-wire and 3-wire.

Contents
Two Wire SensorDifference between 2-wire and 3-wire technology

Two-wire devices are designed to wire in series with the load. In a 3-wire configuration, two of the three leads supply power while the third switches the load. Both types can be wired strategically, in series or parallel configurations, to conserve inputs or perform logic.

Two-wire sensors are the easiest devices to wire, but they can hinder the overall system performance. Two-wire sensors require power from the same line they are switching; this, combined with their characteristically higher voltage drop, typically limits the practical number that can be connected to two.

In addition, because each device supplies power to the subsequent devices, response time is equal to the sum of the turn-on times for each device.

Two Wire Sensor

Two Wire Sensor principle

Difference between 2-wire and 3-wire technology

What exactly is the difference between the 4-20 mA output signal in 2- and 3-wire technology? This question is answered best from the viewpoint of the user: An output signal in 2-wire technology means:

  • less wiring required
  • better EMC protection, since interferences can be filtered more easily
  • better protection against wiring errors

The only advantage of 3-wire technology is that higher ohmic loads are possible, i.e., the current loop can also be operated on a measuring instrument of relatively high input impedance.

Conclusion: With the exception of a high ohmic load requirement, 4-20 mA in 2-wire technology offers the user clear advantages- also over other signals, such as 0-10 V

2 wire sensor is basically a loop-powered device without requiring a separate supply voltage (the source voltage is supplied to the destination device) whereas the 3 wire sensor is a self-powered device meaning, you supply source voltage to the sensor and it can drive a 4-20 ma input device directly without the destination device requiring any supply voltage.

Generally, 3 wire devices can supply to larger impedance load compared to 2 wire devices at the same voltage levels.

2 wire devices are easy to connect in circuits with a positive or negative common i.e. you can insert anywhere in a loop whereas 3 wire devices connections are usually fixed.

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3 Comments
  • Isaac Newton says:
    August 9, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    Thanks

    Reply
  • Manuel Rojo says:
    April 24, 2022 at 10:35 pm

    Thank you for your publication explanation on sensor devices. I’m working on the sensor. Input 3 pins and 2 wires output connector which chow positive and negative. 5 volts on it when is hooked up. To the sensor dropped to 2.27 volts can you get me an idea of what could be happening. Thank you in advance

    Reply
  • Salvador Saldivar says:
    July 30, 2022 at 6:26 pm

    Someone pull the two wires from a crash sensor, on a Honda civic, and the two are black, how do I know which one is going on the right or left of the sensor ? Thanks !

    Reply

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