Question

Why do you think its important to know the very basic instrumentation?

Answer 1

Instrumentation is a collective term for measuring instruments that are used for indicating, measuring and recording physical quantities. The term has its origins in the art and science of scientific instrument-making.

Instrumentation can refer to devices as simple as direct-reading thermometers, or as complex as multi-sensor components of industrial control systems. Today, instruments can be found in laboratories, refineries, factories and vehicles, as well as in everyday household use (e.g., smoke detectors and thermostats)

Household

A very simple example of an instrumentation system is a mechanical thermostat, used to control a household furnace and thus to control room temperature. A typical unit senses temperature with a bi-metallic strip. It displays temperature by a needle on the free end of the strip. It activates the furnace by a mercury switch. As the switch is rotated by the strip, the mercury makes physical (and thus electrical) contact between electrodes.

Another example of an instrumentation system is a home security system. Such a system consists of sensors (motion detection, switches to detect door openings), simple algorithms to detect intrusion, local control (arm/disarm) and remote monitoring of the system so that the police can be summoned. Communication is an inherent part of the design.

Kitchen appliances use sensors for control.

• A refrigerator maintains a constant temperature by measuring the internal temperature.
• A microwave oven sometimes cooks via a heat-sense-heat-sense cycle until sensing done.
• An automatic ice machine makes ice until a limit switch is thrown.
• Pop-up bread toasters can operate by time or by heat measurements.
• Some ovens use a temperature probe to cook until a target internal food temperature is reached.
• A common toilet refills the water tank until a float closes the valve. The float is acting as a water level sensor.