Limit switches are used for many different purposes. They allow you to track the status of moving objects like doors, hinges or parts or a machine. The limit switch converts this movement into a 0 or 1 signal. For many different reasons you might want to know about these movements remotely. In this blogpost we investigate how you can easily visualise the status of a limit switch in the cloud.
What is a limit switch?
A limit switch can be described as a mechanical switch operated by the presence of an object or the movement of a machine part. Limit switches can be purchased in many different forms and brands. We like to work with Honeywell or Pizzato, but any other make wil do. The actual shape or size differs per model.
How often do you register the status of a limit switch?
The status of a limit switch is either open or closed, 0 or 1. The information logged from a limit switch can be reduced to state changes only. This is more efficient in data storage and network traffic.
Getting the limit switch status online
So how can we easily visualise the state of a limit switch in the cloud? First of all we need a sensor device or data logger to connect to. At Crodeon we designed Reporter®, a wireless sensor gateway with real-time connection to the cloud. Reporter is plug & play compatible with a wide range of limit switches from different manufacturers.
Every Reporter is out-of-the-box connected to the Crodeon Dashboard, a lightweight web application on your pc or smartphone. Sensor data is transmitted in real-time and visualized in a graphical way. From the Crodeon Dashboard, there’s also the possibility to export data to Excel as a CSV-file or access data through a Rest API.
Combination with other sensors
Your Reporter offers multiple sensor connectors so you can combine a limit switch with any other sensor from our shop. This allows you for example to read pressure, temperature or a tank level along with the status of a limit switch.
It’s also possible to connect multiple limit switches to one Reporter, as long as your Reporter has a connector available, additional switches can be plugged in. All sensors and switches have a wired connection to the Reporter because that’s where power, data storage and connectivity are managed.
Start measuring today
Do you have a project that involves getting one or more limit switches online? Reporter is an easy and reliable way to start logging data today. At Crodeon we make sure you’re not wasting time with setup and installation. We source the sensors from renowned manufacturers and our hardware is 100% plug & play. Get in touch if you have any questions or follow Crodeon on LinkedIn for more updates.
