Pickering Electronics Releases Comprehensive Guide on How Data Acquisition Benefits from Reed Relays

Pickering Electronics, a leading manufacturer of high-performance reed relays, has introduced a new educational application guide titled “How Data Acquisition Benefits from Reed Relays.” This detailed guide is designed for engineers working on test and measurement (T&M) systems, and it highlights why reed relays are the ideal choice for most data acquisition (DAQ) applications. Authored by subject matter experts, the guide provides an in-depth explanation of reed relays’ role in enhancing DAQ system performance.

In DAQ applications, engineers are often required to gather data from a variety of transducers and sensors, which measure different conditions such as temperature, pressure, movement, sound, and proximity. Many of these sensors generate electrical signals in response to environmental changes. For example, a photovoltaic (PV) cell responds to light, while a Hall effect sensor detects magnetic fields. In other cases, the sensor’s intrinsic properties change in response to environmental factors, such as with a resistance temperature detector (RTD) or a dielectric sensor that measures moisture levels.

The signals or properties produced by these sensors are then processed and conditioned for input into data logging equipment or used as inputs for closed-loop control systems. Often, multiple sensors are required, such as using several RTDs to measure temperatures in different locations. Instead of creating individual signal conditioning circuits for each sensor, it is more efficient to poll the sensors and use shared conditioning circuitry, which can be adjusted for different sensor types.

Reed relays offer the perfect solution for connecting signal conditioning circuitry to sensors due to their numerous advantages, particularly in terms of accuracy:

• Low thermal EMF (electromotive force)
• Low leakage currents and capacitance
• Hermetically sealed contacts that provide protection from environmental contaminants, ensuring reliable performance over up to 1 billion operations

Rob King, Product Development Manager at Pickering Electronics, noted, “Our new application guide is a valuable resource for both seasoned and new T&M engineers. It covers the fundamentals of data acquisition, as well as the specific benefits of reed relays, offering guidance on selecting the most suitable relay technology for your applications.”

The guide is available for free download, providing engineers with expert insights on how to choose the best relay technologies for their specific DAQ needs, and explaining why reed relays are an excellent choice for connecting signal conditioning circuitry to sensors.

Pickering Electronics’ reed relays are renowned for their reliability, thanks to high standards in manufacturing and quality control. They feature instrumentation-grade sputtered ruthenium contacts, which are more stable and reliable than the more commonly used electroplated rhodium contacts found in lower-grade reed relays. The company’s formerless coil construction maximizes magnetic efficiency, allowing the use of less sensitive reed switches, which results in superior switching performance and an extended lifespan even under demanding conditions. Additionally, magnetic mu-metal screening is used to prevent magnetic interference when relays are placed close together.

For more details, visit the Pickering Electronics website at www.pickeringrelay.com.