Indication & Signaling

Pilot devices provide control and condition monitoring of different types of processes, equipment and machinery in industrial and commercial applications. They are used for communication from a machine to an operator or from an operator to a machine. Pilot devices can be an audio or visual indicator, or an actuator that is used to control the flow of energy to a process. Visual indicators are: pilot lights, signal towers, strobes and beacons. Audio indictors are: buzzers and sounder horns. Actuators are: push buttons, selector switches, toggle switches and potentiometers.

Beacons and signal towers are used in a variety of industrial automation applications. They provide operators of machinery a clear visual indication of the machine’s status. Signal towers and beacons generally come in five different colors. Red can indicate an emergency stop or machine fault. Yellow can indicate a warning. Green can indicate normal operation. Blue can indicate a help request and white can be a user-defined condition.

Pilot lights are devices that provide visual information about the operating status of a circuit. They are normally used for on/off indication, alarm signaling and changing conditions. Pilot lights come in a variety of designs. Indicator pilot lights use LEDs or incandescent lamps as indicating lights in control panels and automated instruments. Pilot lights include a colored lens such as, green, red, amber, white or clear. The colored lens represents the condition of the connected equipment or machine. A green pilot light normally indicates that the system is de-energized or off. A red pilot light normally indicates that a system is energized or on.

Sounder horns output an audible signal when a voltage is applied to their input power terminals. The tone is pre-programmed into the circuitry and the sound is emitted when power is supplied. Sounder horns are widely used for generating evacuation alarms in the event of a fire, chemical spill or gas leak. Other applications include machinery start-up alarms, heavy equipment movement, back-up warning systems and movement of doors, barriers and gates.