Rolta Academy : Engineering Design Services

CHAPTER 5
CURRENT LOOP APPLCATON
5!" ntrod#ction
The purpose of this current loop application note is to introduce the reader to
the physical aspects of 20 mA current loop communications.
Until the early 1960s, military teleprinters used 60 ma current loops to
communicate over long distances. n 1962, the !odel "" teletype #as
introduced and 20 mA current loop interfaces $ecame #idely used.
Throughout the 60s, %0s, and early &0s, 20 mA current loop interfaces #ere
applied in many types of e'uipment. (urrent loop interfaces $ecame popular
at this time $ecause they offered the most cost effective approach to long
distance, noise immune data transmission. The 20 mA current loop is suita$le
for distances to 2000 feet at data rates up to 19.2) $aud #ith careful attention
to interface design. t can $e used at longer distances #hen data rates are as
lo# as "00 $aud.
*hen the +A ,22 -tandard ./ecem$er 19%&0 and the +A ,&1 -tandard
.April 19&"0 $rought forth the application of $alanced differential digital data
transmission, the popularity of 20 mA current loop rapidly diminished.
5!$ T%e &asics o' C#rrent Loo(
5!$!$ )#ll*d#(le+ ," mA Circ#it
2igure 1 is a full3duple4 20 mA current loop circuit. -imultaneous t#o3#ay
communications is possi$le #ith this circuit. T#o 20 mA current generators are
necessary #ith this circuit. t is possi$le to have one of the t#o current
generators in one current loop interface and the other current generator in the
other interface. 2or e4ample, the original 5! 6( serial adapter card had a
current loop interface that contained only one current generator. *hen you
made a correct connection to this current loop interface, the second current
loop device #ould need to provide one current loop generator.
)ig 5!$ )#ll D#(le+ ,"mA circ#it
nstrumentation +ngineering
1
Rolta Academy : Engineering Design Services
5!$!, T%e Sim(le+ ," mA Circ#it
2igure 1.2 is a diagram of a simple4 20 mA current loop circuit. The
fundamental elements of a 20 mA current loop are a current source, a current
s#itch, and a current detector. The transmitter is the current s#itch and the
receiver is the current detector. The interface that contains the current source
is called the active unit and all other units are referred to as passive units.
2igure 1." is a diagram of the levels in an 7-32"2 interface and ho# they
relate to the presence and a$sence of current in a 20 mA current loop circuit.
n a 20 mA loop the current flo#s #hen the loop is idle .no data $eing
transmitted0. n a simple4 type circuit a num$er of transmitters and receivers
are put in series in a current loop. As long as only one transmitter sends data,
all receivers receive the data.
)ig 5!, Sim(le+ ,"mA circ#it
)ig 5!- Com(arison o' signal levels in a RS*,-, circ#it and a ,"mA
c#rrent loo( circ#it
5!$!- Pro.lems /it% ," mA C#rrent Loo(
The main pro$lem #ith 20 mA current loop is that there is no mechanical or
electrical standard defined for this interface. This ma)es every interface
some#hat uni'ue and the user must )no# some of the technical details a$out
the circuits used in the interface.
nstrumentation +ngineering
2
Rolta Academy : Engineering Design Services
)ig 5!0 Sim(li'ied One direction c#rrent loo(
2ig 1 , is a simplified one3#ay current loop implemented #ith t#o
optocouplers, a voltage source, and a resistor. 8ptocoupler U1 is the
transmitter and optocoupler U2 is the receiver. The value of the loop current in
this circuit is9

loop
: .;
s
3 ;
transmitter
3;
receiver
0<7
s
for typical optocouplers
;
transmitter
.U10 : 0.2 ; #hen turned 8=
;
receiver
.U20 : 1.& ; #hen input >+/ is conducting
f ;
s
: $, volts ? 7
s
: ,%0 ohms then

loop
: .12; 3 0.2; 3 1.&;0 < ,%0 ohms

loop
: 10;<,%0 ohms : ,$!- mA
f #e changed ;
s
: 1" 2 and left 7
s
: ,%0 then
loop : .60; 30.2; 31.&;0<,%0 ohms : $,- mA
f #e changed ;
s
: 5 2 and left 7
-
: ,%0 ohms then

loop
: .1; 30.2; 31.&;0<,%0 ohms : 1!0 mA
The point of sho#ing these different calculations is to demonstrate that the
loop currents circuit can vary $y considera$le amounts, if ;s is varied.
>i)e#ise, if 7
s
#as changed the loop currents could also vary considera$ly.
The only #ay to determine that currents are near 20 mA is to e4amine the
circuit in detail.
5!$!0 C#rrent Reg#lation in C#rrent Loo(s
-everal methods can $e used to control the amount of current in a current
loop circuit. This section #ill illustrate several common methods of regulating
the current in a current loop.
Constant C#rrent 3enerator C#rrent So#rce
2igure 1 is a circuit that uses a linear voltage regulator integrated circuit to
serve as a constant current source. Almost any fi4ed or ad@usta$le voltage
regulator can $e used. The e4ample sho#n in 2igure 6 uses an >!"1%
ad@usta$le regulator $ecause is provides a lo# amount of voltage drop ."
volts0 across the current regulator circuit. 2or e4ample, if ;s #as 12 volts in
this circuit, then the ma4imum voltage that the constant current regulator could
drive #ould $e 9 volts. The 623ohm, 7g resistor sets the regulator current
$ecause there is an internal voltage reference in the >!"1% $et#een ;8 and
the A/A pins of 1.21 volts.
nstrumentation +ngineering
3
.1.10
Rolta Academy : Engineering Design Services
)ig 5!5 Constant C#rrent generator 'or a ,"mA c#rrent loo(
n a current loop, the sum of all the voltage drops across all the devices must
$e less than the voltage source, ;s driving the loop. +ach device in the
current loop #hether it is a transmitter .current s#itch0 or receiver .current
detector0 has some voltage drop across it. 2or instance, a typical transistor
s#itch can have typically 0.2 volts drop across it. 2or most of 5?5 +lectronics
converters, the voltage drop across the transmitters can $e as much 2." volts
#hen the s#itch is turned 8=. The reason for this is that the transmitter s#itch
must provide for the reverse $ias of the internal photo detector diode inside
the opto coupler. An opto coupler used as a current detector #ill have from 1.2
to 2.0 volts drop across it.
)ig 5!1 C#rrent Limiter &#ild into transmitter
Transmitter C#rrent Limiter
-ome current loop interfaces incorporate current limiting into the transmitter
.current s#itch0 itself. 2igure 6 is an e4ample of a circuit that has $uilt3in
current limiting so that the loop current cannot e4ceed 20 mA. n this circuit
7g provides a source of $ias current for B2 so that if the loop current tries to
e4ceed 20 mA B2 #ill shunt B1 $ase $ias current so that B1 #ill not conduct
more than 20 mA.
nstrumentation +ngineering
4
Rolta Academy : Engineering Design Services
)ig! 5 4 C#rrent Limiter .#ilt into Receiver
Receiver C#rrent Limiter
The circuit sho#n in 2igure % is used not to regulate the loop current, $ut to
regulate the ma4imum emitter current in the opt coupler, U1. This is done
$ecause some opt couplers re'uire less than 20 mA to operate at ma4imum
speed. Transistor B1 is used to shunt some of the loop current around the
emitter of opt coupler, U1.
5!, C#rrent Loo( nter'ace Connections
To connect our converter to an e4isting current loop port, you must first
determine if the port is active or passive. *hat this means is9 does the port
have an internal po#er supply that provides the current .active0 for the
transmitter, the receiver, or $oth .transmitter and receiver0. The simplest #ay
to determine this is to $rea) the loop .disconnect it0 and see if there is any /(
voltage across the output or input pairs. f you have access to the instruction
manual for the unit you can also loo) in there for the information.
(urrent loop interfaces normally consist of four #ires. They are usually
la$eled TC, T3, 7C, and 73. TC and T3 are the transmit plus and transmit minus
lines and data is output from that device on those lines. The 7C and 73 lines
are the receive plus and receive minus lines and data is input into that device
on these lines.
nterconnection of the t#o current loop devices is different depending on
#hether your unit is active or passive.
5!,!$ Connection to an Active C#rrent Loo( Port
(onnection to an active current loop port is very simple. Dour units TC and T3
lines go to our units 7C and 73 lines. And your units 7C and 73 lines go to our
units TC and T3 lines. -ee the follo#ing dra#ing.
)ig 5!5 Connection to an active (ort
5!,!, Connection to a Passive C#rrent Loo( Port
nstrumentation +ngineering
5
Rolta Academy : Engineering Design Services
(onnection to a passive current loop port is a little harder. Dou must use a 12
;/( po#er supply #ith the ,%0 ohm resistors inside of our converter to
EcreateE a 20 ma current source. -ee the follo#ing dra#ing.
)ig 5!6 Connection to a (assive c#rrent Loo( (ort
5!,!- nterconnection o' T/o C#rrent Loo( Converters
nterconnection of t#o 5?5 current loop converters also re'uires the use of a
12 ;/( po#er supply since they are $oth passive port. -ee the follo#ing
dra#ing.
)ig 5!$" interconnection o' t/o c#rrent loo( converters
5!- 7%at sn8t Digital C#rrent Loo(
5!-!$ 0 to ," mA Analog C#rrent Loo(
The diagram sho#n in 2igure 1.11 is an analog , to 20 mA current loop. This
circuit is mentioned here $ecause it is sometimes confused #ith 20 mA digital
current loop. The purpose of , to 20 mA analog current loop is to transmit the
signal from an analog sensor over some distance in the form of current signal.
8nly t#o #ires are re'uired to send the analog signal and also supply po#er
to the sensor. A loop supply voltage .2, volts in 2igure 1.110 is used to po#er
the remote sensor. The remote sensor regulates the loop current such that the
loop current represents the value of the parameter $eing measured $y the
sensor. A series resistor 7> at loop po#er supply converts this current to a
voltage that can $e used $y the electronics to record or distri$ute the
parameter $eing measured.
nstrumentation +ngineering
6
Rolta Academy : Engineering Design Services
)ig 5!$$ 0 to ,"mA c#rrent Loo(
5!-!, HART9 0 to ," mA C#rrent Loo(s
2igure 1.12 is another e4ample of a type of , to 20 mA com$ined analog ?
digital current loop. This current loop uses FA7TG (ommunications protocol.
The FA7TG .Figh#ay Addressa$le 7emote Transducer0 protocol is used for
-!A7T remote transducers that are compati$le #ith , to 20 mA analog
current loops $ut also have digital communications on the same t#o #ires.
This is accomplished $y superimposing a t#o3tone 2re'uency -hift Heyed
.2-H0 digital current signal on the , to 20 mA analog signal.
)ig 5!$, 0 to ,"mA analog c#rrent loo( /it% digital comm#nications
#sing HART (rotocol
nstrumentation +ngineering
7