Products for USB Sensing and Control
In complex mechanical systems, it is often very difficult to accurately measure the movement of a single part, especially if the linear alignment isn't guaranteed to be perfect. The draw wire encoder is a versatile solution to this very problem. When the wire is pulled out, the encoder produces a quadrature signal to describe the change in distance.
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 can be used with any device with an analog input. Simply cut and connect a 3-wire Phidget cable as described in the Phidget Cable section on the Connection & Compatibility tab.
To easily connect this potentiometer to a Phidget we recommend you use a Phidget cable. Just snip off the connector from one end of the Phidget cable, strip the ends of the wires and solder them to the wires as described in this table. 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 60cm
|
$2.00 | 600 mm |
 Phidget Cable 10cm
|
$1.50 | 100 mm |
 Phidget Cable 350cm
|
$3.00 | 3.5 m |
 Phidget Cable 120cm
|
$2.25 | 1.2 m |
 Phidget Cable 180cm
|
$2.75 | 1.8 m |
 Phidget Cable 30cm
|
$1.75 | 300 mm |
 Phidget Cable 90cm
|
$2.00 | 900 mm |
 Phidget Cable 150cm
|
$2.50 | 1.5 m |
 Phidget Cable Kit
|
$10.00 | 80 mm |
This potentiometer can be read by any Phidget with an Analog Input or VINT Hub port. It will connect to either one using a Phidget cable; see the diagram in the Phidget Cables section below for wiring instructions. 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) |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 Mini-Format
|
$70.00 | 8 | 10 bit |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 2/2/2
|
$50.00 | 2 | 10 bit |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8
|
$80.00 | 8 | 10 bit |
 PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8
|
$80.00 | 8 | — |
 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 |
 8x Voltage Input Phidget
|
$20.00 | 8 | 12 bit |
 VINT Hub Phidget
|
$30.00 | 6 (Shared) | *** 15 bit |
 VINT Hub Phidget
|
$35.00 | 6 (Shared) | * 15 bit |
 VINT Hub Phidget
|
$40.00 | 6 (Shared) | *** 15 bit |
 1-Port VINT Hub Phidget
|
$24.00 | 1 (Shared) | ** 16 bit |
 Wireless VINT Hub
|
$60.00 | 6 (Shared) | * 16 bit |
 PhidgetSBC4
|
$120.00 | 6 (Shared) | * 16 bit |
| Sensor Properties | |
|---|---|
| Sensor Type | Distance (Draw Wire) |
| Wire Pull Length | 500 mm |
| 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 | 340 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) |
