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What is a 4-20mA Signal
Why is 4-20mA standard?
A 4-20mA signal is an Analog signal that, if connected to an Arduino board or an industrial Arduino-based PLC controller, identifies the value from the sensor. The controller receives a current from the sensor, allowing the Arduino PLC to transform that electrical signal to an understandable value, ready for being used on the software code. This value is used for the programmer to know the right units of measure received from that sensor and understand the Industrial project's situation.
4-20mA is mainly used for long-distance cables because the current signal receives less interference from noise or EMC issues than a voltage signal such as 0-10Vdc analog inputs.Â
Arduino is not able to receive a current analog signal because the analog signals from Arduino work from 0 to 5Vdc, so it is necessary to convert the current analog signal to a Voltage. It is important to know that Industry voltage analog signal standards work from 0 to 10Vdc, so the way to transform a 4-20mA to Arduino is quite different as transformed for Arduino-based PLC, which works at 0-10Vdc.
Converter circuit diagram for 4-20mA Analog Sensor to 0-10Vdc
It is necessary to convert a 4-20mA to a 0-10Vdc signal. As you can see in the below diagram, you can understand how to transform a 4-20mA to 0-10v using Ohm Law.Â
The product families Ardbox Analog and Ethernet industrial PLC have some Analog /Digital configurable input signals.Â
To do this, it is necessary to connect an impedance of 500Ohm between the analog 4-20mA signal and the ground signal as shown in the diagram. If you do, the analog value will change from current to Voltage.
How can you make a 4-20mA to 0-10V signal conversion on your industrial controller Arduino for industrial automation?
      You can use Arduino based PLCs
Arduino as a single board is not able to be used in Industrial environments. For this reason, Industrial Shields has developed an Industrial Shield for Arduino which includes an original Arduino board inside, and it is fully compatible with Industrial Standards.
             4-20ma to 0-10V converter module
It is easy to understand how to transform a 4-20mA to 0-10Vdc through a 500Ohm resistance through the Ohm Law. If you need to test it using an Arduino Uno, Arduino Mega, or Arduino Leonardo Boards, you must replace the 500 Ohms to 250 Ohms to transform 4-20mA to 0-5Vdc.
              Arduino IDE
Requirements
- Ethernet or 20 I/Os PLC
- Industrial Shields boards. To learn how to install the boards, click here.
How does the input value change to Arduino?
When you have a signal of 4-20mA for 10 bits, you get the following data:
4-20mA signal | 10 bits |
4mA | 0 value |
20mA | 1023 value |
But, if you convert this signal to 0-10Vdc, the results are:
4-20mA | 0-10Vdc | 10 bits |
| 4mA | 2Vdc | 204 value* (approximately) |
| 20mA | 10Vdc | 1023 value |
As you can see, the result of 4mA (2Vdc), is close to 204. Below is the linear graph where the results come from:
How to convert a 4-20mA to 0-10V signal in an Arduino PLC