RF Passive

• Wide frequency range to above 5000 Hz (depending on target mass, air gap and velocity)
• No magnetic drag
• Easy installation and long maintenance-free life;
• Able to detect a target through a substantial non-magnetic metal wall without exerting a magnetic braking effect
• Detect passage of aluminum and optionally 316 stainless steel targets
• Reliable in oily, wet and harsh environments;
• Rugged shock and vibration resistant construction;
• Available in most popular sizes
• Air Gap: to .160 (4 mm) or less depending on sensor type and the mechanical conditions
• Shell Material: 303 Stainless Steel; other materials available
• SPECTEC’s RF pickup spec sheet:

Specialized RF Modulated Carrier Sensors:

• Intrinsically Safe to Zone 0
• Dual output
• Additional output for temperature also available
• Hermetically-sealed and sanitary for food processing applications

SPECTEC’s line of DIGISPEC digital modulated carrier sensors, modulated carrier signal conditioners and frequency to voltage converters are available for applications requiring digital or other sensor outputs.

SPECTEC’s modulated carrier sensors are excellent for applications that require near zero speed and zero magnetic drag sensing characteristics. SPECTEC’s modulated carrier (RF) sensors have a long history of use in turbine flow meters in the aerospace, petroleum, chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industry applications. SPECTEC’s RF sensors have a wide variety of applications due to their ability to not only sense the usual magnetic or ferrous target, but also detect passage of aluminum and, optionally, 316 stainless steel targets as well.

These carrier sensors require a remote signal conditioner, such as the SPECTEC PA/10 family, to interface with computers or process control equipment. For applications that require an integral signal conditioner with the sensor, SPECTEC also has a DIGISPEC line of digital modulated carrier sensors.

SPECTEC’s RF pickups are found in high pressure installations, in dirty and oily installations in the oil fields around the world as well as in moist, corrosive and electrically noisy environments of ships at sea. Specialized RF pickoff coils, such as intrinsically safe, dual output, additional output for temperature, hermetically sealed, sanitary and conduit mount sensors are available.

RF Modulated Carrier Sensor Applications:

Applications of inductive sensors are in flow meters, especially low flow situations, and turbine engines. These sensors are also used in detecting micro-motion in the textile industry, and bearing run-out detection. The principle advantage of using the modulated carrier sensor technology is its ability to detect through a substantial non-magnetic metal wall without exerting a magnetic braking effect on the target. This attribute allows turbine meter rotors to spin freely, thus providing coverage of a much wider frequency range as compared to other sensing methods.

Download RF Flow Sensors Specs

SPECTEC’s RF flow meter sensors are active RF pickups driven by an external RF (carrier) signal conditioner. Together they complete an oscillating circuit. The output of this circuit is amplitude modulated when a ferrous, 316 stainless steel or aluminum object passes by the pickup coil. This change in modulation of the carrier frequency is converted into a square wave pulse by the signal conditioner for computing and/or further processing.
All RF pickups must be used with a PA-10 preamp or signal converter:

• RF4 flow sensors are designed to work with the applicable SPECTEC, Cox, F&P and other carrier signal conditioners.
• RF10 flow sensors work with the applicable SPECTEC, FTI, Hoffer, Sponsler and other carrier signal conditioners.

An internal temperature probe (NTC10, RTD100 or others) is available which is positioned near the face of the sensor.
Contact Spectec for specific spec sheets, custom flow sensors or OEM replacement flow meter sensors – or complete and submit our online Information Request Form.

Flow Sensor Specifications

• Frequency range: to 5000 Hz (depending on target mass, air gap and velocity)
• Air Gap: Typically up to .130″ for harsh environments, (.160″ for epoxy-sealed high-sensitivity version)
• No magnetic drag flow meter sensors
• Detects a target through a substantial non-magnetic metal wall with no magnetic braking effect
• Detects passage of aluminum and, optionally, 316 stainless steel targets
• Reliable in oily, wet and harsh environments;
• Rugged shock and vibration resistant construction;
• Available in all popular standard and metric sizes
• Shell Material: 303 Stainless Steel; other materials available

RF Flow Meter Sensor Spec Sheet

RF Pickups – Flow Sensor

SPECTEC RF pickups are excellent flow sensors for applications that require near zero speed and zero magnetic drag sensing characteristics, such as turbine flow meters. SPECTEC RF (modulated carrier) sensors have a long history of use in turbine flow meters and turbine engines in the aerospace, petroleum, chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries.

These flow sensors have a wide variety of applications due to their ability to detect the usual magnetic or ferrous target and the passage of aluminum and 316 stainless steel targets.

These turbine speed sensors require a remote signal processor, such as the SPECTEC RF signal conditioner, that produces a 0-5 or 0-10 Vdc digital output, a frequency to voltage converter or a frequency to current signal converter.

SPECTEC’s RF pickups are found in jet engines, the space station, high pressure installations, in dirty and oily installations in the oil fields around the world, as well as in moist, corrosive and electrically noisy environments.

For applications that require a sensor with an integral signal processor, SPECTEC also has a DIGISPEC digital RF speed sensor.

RF Pickup Applications:

Applications of RF pickups are: turbine flow meter sensors, especially low flow situations, and turbine engine speed sensors. These sensors are also used in detecting micro-motion in the textile industry, and bearing run-out detection.

The principle advantage of using the RF sensor technology is its ability to detect through a substantial non-magnetic metal wall without exerting a magnetic braking effect on the target. This attribute allows turbine meter rotors to spin freely, thus providing coverage of a much wider frequency range as compared to other sensing methods.