Simulation or Source -

[thegrunt15]

When using a signal generator to simulate a measured variable what is the difference in injecting mA using a source function and injecting mA using a simulation function ??

 

[Skogsgurra]

There shouldn't be any difference at all. The current source is just that, a current source with infinite internal resistance. And so should the simulated current source also be.

Then again, there is very often a possibility to adjust the parallel resistor in the source or simulated injection mechanism. They are the same thing - at least to me.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[dogleg43]

I have an Altek meter and in their terms "source" means the mA signal gets its voltage source from the meter itself. "Simulate" means to simulate a 2-wire transmitter that gets its DC power from an external power supply

Source = imitate a 4-wire transmitter
Simulate = imitate a 2-wire transmitter

 

[Skogsgurra]

Oops! I thought we were talking simulators and different terminology in different simulators. It is probably what dogleg says. If it is about real-world things.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[thegrunt15]

Thanks for that lads, i work at calibration and the other day a pt100 sensor could not be removed from a temperature probe so i simulated 4-20 mA across the other two cables terminated in the probe, would i have done harm if i had sourced the current instead of simulating ??

 

[roydm]

No, it happens all the time.
Roy