FAQs
Common questions about the 4-20mA Node.
What kind of sensors can the 4-20mA Node connect to?
Any instrument with a standard 4-20mA current-loop output — this covers a very wide range of industrial transmitters, including pressure, level, flow, and temperature transmitters, as well as many other process instruments that use 4-20mA as their standard output.
Why use 4-20mA instead of a voltage signal?
Current-loop signaling is inherently more resistant to electrical noise and voltage drop over long cable runs than voltage-based signals, which is why it remains the industry-standard output for process instrumentation. The catalogue specifically rates the node's noise immunity as "Excellent."
Does the node need any local programming to set up?
No — the catalogue describes it as a plug-and-play device. Exactly how scaling and reporting parameters are configured should be confirmed and clarified before publishing, since this affects how the installation process is described to customers.
Is the node battery powered?
No. Like the RS-485 Node, the 4-20mA Node is externally powered only, running from a 12V DC supply. There is no battery-operated variant currently in the product line.
What is the communication range?
Per the internal catalogue, up to 10km at clear line of sight, the same best-case figure quoted for the RS-485 Node.
How is this different from the RS-485 Node?
The RS-485 Node is built to interface with digital Modbus RTU devices over a serial bus, and can manage up to 20 such devices from a single unit with configurable register mapping. The 4-20mA Node instead reads a single analog current-loop signal directly — it's the right choice when the instrument in question outputs a 4-20mA signal rather than speaking Modbus.