Bourns Position Feedback Sensors Selection Guide

A white paper guiding the selection of rotary position feedback sensors for factory automation valve designs, covering potentiometers, Hall effect sensors…


Bourns Position Feedback Sensors Selection Guide - cover page
Brand
Bourns
Category
Industrial Supply
Document type
Application Note
Language
English
Pages
11
File format
PDF
File size
396 KB
Published
17 October, 2026
Updated
17 October, 2026
MD5 checksum
BA7540258EF3EFBCDABE8535034252C9

About this manual

This document serves as a high-level guide for selecting appropriate position feedback sensors specifically for factory automation valve designs. It addresses the challenge of choosing from a wide variety of rotary position sensor technologies available in the market. The text emphasizes the importance of understanding sensor types and performance characteristics to ensure reliability and reduce downtime in harsh industrial environments.

What's inside

  • The Role of Valves in Factory Automation
  • Contacting vs. Non-Contacting Sensors
  • Wirewound and Conductive Polymer Elements
  • Hybritron Technology
  • Single-Turn vs. Multiturn Capability
  • Analog or Digital Output
  • Communication Protocols

Specifications

Maximum Resistance (Wirewound)up to 500 kΩ
Maximum RPM (Non-contacting)up to 10,000 rpm

Frequently asked questions

What are the three primary types of contacting technologies for valve position feedback?

The three primary types are wirewound, conductive polymer, and Bourns Hybritron technologies.

What is the main advantage of non-contacting technology over contacting technology?

Non-contacting technology provides a longer sensor life because the wear and tear associated with mechanical contact is eliminated.

Which communication protocols are mentioned for interrogating sensors?

Popular protocols include Synchronous Serial Interface (SSI), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), Controller Area Network (CAN), and Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM).

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