Controllers & Timers
Controllers are specialized electronic devices used to regulate, maintain, or sequence processes and amounts in industrial automation and electrical control systems. Timers, on the other hand, are units that provide time-based switching or sequencing functions. Both serve critical roles across nearly all sectors of manufacturing, machinery automation, building management systems, institutional facilities control, and countless other applications where precise monitoring and repeatability are important.
Industrial controllers process input data, evaluate logic or conditions, and output commands to motors, valves, relays, or other actuators. They help maintain desired levels (speed, flow, pressure, temperature, etc.), initiate start/stop sequences, coordinate safety shutoffs, switch power, and more. They act as the brains of industrial equipment and housekeeping systems, letting operators automate complex or repetitive tasks reliably.
Timers are used to delay the activation or deactivation of electrical loads, repeat a process for a fixed interval, cycle a duty sequence, or provide backup in conditions where sequencing is critical. Common timer applications include motor protection (preventing short-cycling), lighting control (on/off overnight), pump alternating, process batching, and HVAC equipment. Industrial timers are ruggedly constructed for harsh environments and available with on-delay, off-delay, one-shot, cyclic, multi-function, and repeat cycle programming.
Dwyer Controllers & Timers
Eaton Controllers & Timers
Omega Controllers & Timers
Tek-Trol Controllers & Timers
FAQs
What do controllers and timers do in industrial automation?
Controllers and timers manage logic, sequencing and scheduling, ensuring machines and processes operate with accuracy, consistency and automation.
What types of industrial timers are commonly used?
Industrial environments use delay-on, delay-off, interval, repeat cycle and multi-function timers to coordinate precise operational timing.
How are controllers used in process and equipment control?
Controllers interpret inputs, apply programmed logic and activate outputs to regulate motors, pumps, heating, cooling and automated sequences.
What industries rely on controllers and timers?
Controllers and timers are widely used in manufacturing, HVAC, water treatment, packaging, food processing and building automation systems.
How do modern controllers improve operational efficiency?
Advanced digital controllers offer programmable logic, enhanced accuracy, remote monitoring and integration with automation networks to optimize performance.
Analog and Digital Control Signals: The Basics
Digital Signals
Digital signals are represented in either a true or false. There is no gray area with digital signals. An example of this might be a light switch. A light switch is either on or off. Another example of this might be a motor that is running or not running. Digital signals can be generated with both AC and DC circuits with varying voltages, currents and resistance. Some practical examples of using digital signals in an industrial environment might be if a pump is running or not running or a whether a valve is open or closed.
Analog Signals
Analog signals convey information in the form of a range. A light switch might be on or off as a digital signal, but a dimmer switch would be an analog signal. It can be on or off, but it can also be somewhere in between. A practical example of using analog signals in an industrial environment would be if there is a need to measure the level of a tank; whether it's full, empty or somewhere in between. Analog signals can take many different forms with some of the more common being a 4 to 20 milliamp signal or a 0 to 5 or 0 to 10 volt signal.
Communication
Communication in a device can either be sent or received. Whether that data is sent or received depends on the type of information. Is there a need to monitor the status of something? If so, an input needs to be received about that information. Is there a need to control something? If so, an output needs to be sent about what needs to occur. Receiving inputs and setting outputs are both things that can be accomplished by using both digital and analog signal types. Therefore, the signals are referred to as analog outputs (AO), analog inputs (AI), digital inputs (DI) or digital outputs (DO).