Telemecanique Instrumentation
Telemecanique has a well-established reputation in the automation world as a manufacturer of reliable, high-quality sensors, switches, and safety devices for industrial use. As a wholly owned subsidiary of industrial giant Schneider Electric, Telemecanique has its manufacturing and design facilities spread across several countries, primarily in Europe. Nowadays Telemecanique is mostly known for its products in the North American and international markets.
Telemecanique focuses on making electronic and electromechanical devices that are simple to install, easy to integrate into an automated control scheme, and able to perform well in demanding environments. Its product line runs the gamut from "sensing solutions"—in particular, proximity sensors and photoelectric sensors—to limit switches, control switches, and safety devices that users can employ to meet the kind of regulatory standards that any company must adhere to.
FAQs
What does Telemecanique specialize in?
Telemecanique focuses on sensors, switches, limit switches, safety devices, and industrial control products used across automation and machinery.
What types of sensors does Telemecanique offer?
They manufacture proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, ultrasonic sensors, pressure switches, and safety sensors for various detection needs.
Do Telemecanique products integrate with PLCs and automation systems?
Yes. Most devices offer industry-standard outputs and wiring formats that integrate seamlessly with PLCs, controllers, and safety systems.
Does Telemecanique make safety devices?
They offer emergency stop switches, interlock switches, safety limit switches, and other components that help meet global safety standards.
Are Telemecanique and Schneider Electric related?
Yes. Telemecanique is a Schneider Electric brand, benefiting from their engineering, quality standards, and global support network.
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).