APG Instrumentation
APG (Automation Products Group) instruments are renowned for supplying solid, trustworthy equipment that performs the essential task of measuring level, pressure, and distance in even the roughest industrial settings. For the most part, APG serves the key industries of water and wastewater, chemical processing, oil and gas, food production, and general manufacturing, where rugged measuring devices are a must.
APG has a solid rep for level measurement technology. Its ultrasonic, radar, and submersible pressure level sensors handle a range of tough applications, from "clean" level measurements in water tanks to monitoring the level of slurries and partially set concrete in bulk storage conditions. These sensors are noted for their long-term reliability, simple setup, and strong signal performance, all key virtues for operators who prefer a measuring device that requires little or no recalibration or maintenance after it's installed.
More Information about APG Instrumentation
Pressure measurement is another key area where APG excels. It counts among its products pressure transducers and transmitters designed for industrial automation, fluid systems, pump control, and general process monitoring. Remarkably, APG's measuring devices offer all of the following virtues: solid accuracy, excellent repeatability, and a number of different electrical outputs to suit a wide variety of applications.
APG makes a number of products for measuring distance and position, with ubiquitous ultrasonic sensors for object detection. What sets APG apart, though, is not just the straightforward installation and practical usability of these devices, but also the excellent ruggedness and reliability that has become the norm for any APG product. If technicians have a choice, they always choose to work with tools that make their jobs easier. For these reasons, APG continues to be a dependable name in the field of ultrasonic sensors for object detection and related applications.
FAQs
What does APG specialize in?
APG focuses on level, pressure, and distance measurement instruments designed for industrial and harsh-environment applications.
What types of level sensors does APG offer?
APG provides ultrasonic, radar, submersible pressure, float, and continuous level transmitters for tanks, wells, sumps, silos, and industrial processes.
Does APG make pressure transmitters?
Yes. APG manufactures pressure transducers and transmitters for pump control, fluid systems, automation, and general process monitoring.
What distance or object detection sensors does APG offer?
APG produces industrial ultrasonic distance sensors used for object detection, collision avoidance, and position measurement.
Do APG sensors work with digital communication protocols?
Many APG models support standard outputs such as 4–20 mA, Modbus, and other protocols used in industrial automation.
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).