Products for USB Sensing and Control
In complex mechanical systems, it is often very difficult to accurately measure the movement of a single part, particularly if it has several degrees of freedom. The draw wire potentiometer is a versatile solution to this very problem; it can be attached to a part using an M5 screw or fastened to the end with a zip tie, and the potentiometer itself has a pair of M5 screw threads on the back for easy installation.
When the wire is pulled out, the sensor produces a voltage to describe the length of wire exposed. The reel is spring loaded, so it will retract when there is no tension in the wire. Multiple draw wire sensors could be used to track the position in more than one dimension.
This sensor now comes with a Phidget cable adapter soldered to it, so you can connect it to your Hub or Interfacekit with any Phidget cable. This sensor can be used with any device that has an analog input. See the Connection & Compatibility tab for details.
Below is a full list of Phidget cables you can use to connect this sensor to your Hub. You can solder multiple cables together in order to make even longer Phidget cables, but you should be aware of the effects of having long wires in your system.
| Product | Physical Properties | |
|---|---|---|
| Part Number | Price | Cable Length |
 Phidget Cable 10cm
|
$1.50 | 100 mm |
 Phidget Cable 30cm
|
$1.75 | 300 mm |
 Phidget Cable 60cm
|
$2.00 | 600 mm |
 Phidget Cable 90cm
|
$2.00 | 900 mm |
 Phidget Cable 120cm
|
$2.25 | 1.2 m |
 Phidget Cable 150cm
|
$2.50 | 1.5 m |
 Phidget Cable 180cm
|
$2.75 | 1.8 m |
 Phidget Cable 350cm
|
$3.00 | 3.5 m |
 Phidget Cable Kit
|
$10.00 | 80 mm |
This potentiometer can be read by any Phidget with an Analog Input or VINT Hub port. VINT Hub ports can behave just like Analog Inputs, but have the added flexibility of being able to be used as digital inputs, digital outputs, or ports to communicate with VINT devices. For more information about VINT, see the VINT Overview page.
| Product | Voltage Inputs | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part Number | Price | Number of Voltage Inputs | Voltage Input Resolution (bits) |
 VINT Hub Phidget
|
$40.00 | 6 (Shared) | *** 15 bit |
 1-Port VINT Hub Phidget
|
$24.00 | 1 (Shared) | ** 16 bit |
 VINT Hub Phidget
|
$35.00 | 6 (Shared) | * 15 bit |
 VINT Hub Phidget
|
$30.00 | 6 (Shared) | *** 15 bit |
 Wireless VINT Hub
|
$60.00 | 6 (Shared) | * 16 bit |
 PhidgetSBC4
|
$120.00 | 6 (Shared) | * 16 bit |
 8x Voltage Input Phidget
|
$20.00 | 8 | 12 bit |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8
|
$80.00 | 8 | — |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 2/2/2
|
$50.00 | 2 | 10 bit |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8
|
$80.00 | 8 | 10 bit |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 Mini-Format
|
$70.00 | 8 | 10 bit |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 w/6 Port Hub
|
$110.00 | 8 | 10 bit |
 PhidgetTextLCD 20X2 : White : Integrated PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8
|
$70.00 | 8 | 10 bit |
| Sensor Properties | |
|---|---|
| Sensor Type | Distance (Draw Wire) |
| Wire Pull Length | 1 m |
| Potentiometer Impedance | 5 kΩ |
| Repeatability Error Max | 2 % |
| Electrical Properties | |
| Supply Voltage Min | 5 V DC |
| Supply Voltage Max | 24 V DC |
| Physical Properties | |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Wire Load Maximum | 16 kg |
| Wire Pull Speed Max | 600 mm/s |
| Lifespan | 200000 actuations |
| Weight | 355 g |
| Operating Temperature Min | -10 °C |
| Operating Temperature Max | 70 °C |
| Screw Thread Size | M5 |
| Customs Information | |
| Canadian HS Export Code | 8501.10.00 |
| American HTS Import Code | 8501.10.40.40 |
| Country of Origin | CN (China) |
