0.1° General-Purpose 4-20mA Inclinometer

Description

The DR-INC-100-A is a general-purpose inclinometer with 0.1° absolute accuracy and 4-20mA output, for control panels that read analog angles. This general-purpose inclinometer covers ±10° / ±30° / ±60° / ±90° with 0.1° absolute accuracy, 0.01° resolution, and 100 Hz refresh, and hands the result to the controller as two current loops rather than a data stream. Platform leveling, attitude control, and general tilt monitoring all reach an existing PLC through a spare analog channel, two wires per axis. The IP67 / IP68 (customizable) housing and -40°C ~ +85°C rating allow outdoor mounting.

Key Specifications

Where This Sensor Is Used

• Platform leveling — aerial work platforms, scissor lifts, and tilt-bed trailers, where the controller consumes a continuous analog angle and drives the leveling circuit directly.
• Attitude control — hinge arms, gates, ramps, and adjustable frames that need a position reference on a spare analog input.
• General tilt monitoring — plant equipment and outdoor structures where 0.1° is sufficient and an analog signal is the simplest integration path.
• Solar tracker angle feedback — tracker position confirmed through the drive controller’s analog input rather than a separate data link.
• Vehicle leveling — on-board chassis and body tilt where the vehicle controller only accepts 4-20mA.

Why Choose Drksir

• 15+ years designing and manufacturing tilt sensors for industrial and infrastructure monitoring
• 3,000+ projects delivered across civil engineering, renewable energy, and transportation
• Full range of industrial inclinometers from 0.1° to 0.001° accuracy, in both RS485 and 4-20mA output
• 4-20mA output integrates with virtually any analog input module — no protocol converter required
• ±90° full-range coverage in the same housing as the high-accuracy tiers †
• IP67 / IP68 protection options for harsh environment installation
• 24-month warranty and lifetime application engineering support

How It Compares to Alternatives

• Versus the RS485 version of the same sensor — identical mechanics, accuracy, and dimensions; the 4-20mA output needs no protocol converter and drops onto a spare analog channel
• Versus high-accuracy (±30° range class) inclinometers — same housing, wider arc, 0.1° absolute accuracy; the right choice when the requirement is a position reference rather than a settlement measurement
• Versus voltage-output (0-10V) tilt sensors — immune to voltage drop over long cable runs and less sensitive to ground offset between sensor and panel
• Versus potentiometer-based tilt sensors — no wiper wear, no dead band, no mechanical limit, and no calibration drift from contact erosion

Installation & Wiring

Mount on a flat, rigid surface (steel bracket or concrete anchor recommended). For highest accuracy, align the sensor’s X-axis to the primary direction of expected tilt.

The 4-20mA version uses a 6-core shielded cable, with a different wire-to-function mapping from the RS485 version:

Each loop draws 4 mA at negative full-scale tilt, 12 mA at zero tilt, and 20 mA at positive full-scale tilt. Polarity is reversible via the configuration utility on the reserved yellow/green pair.

Keep the loop cable at least 200 mm from power and motor cables, and cross them at 90° if they must intersect. Maximum recommended cable length depends on loop supply voltage and load resistance — refer to the datasheet for the loop resistance budget at a given supply voltage.

Integration & Programming

Connect the white and brown wires to any 4-20mA analog input module and scale the reading:

For a ±90° sensor at default calibration: 4 mA = -90°, 12 mA = 0°, 20 mA = +90°. No protocol converter or configuration software is needed in normal operation.

OEM/ODM & Customization

Standard units ship from stock within 5 business days. Custom measuring ranges (±10° / ±30° / ±60° alternate to default ±90°), cable lengths, connector types, and protection-grade options (IP67 vs IP68) are available for OEM/ODM orders starting at 50 units. Typical custom lead time is 15-25 business days.

FAQ

Q: Which measuring range should I select?

A: Select the smallest range that covers your expected travel. Accuracy is 0.1° across all four options (±10° / ±30° / ±60° / ±90°), so the choice is about arc, not precision. The ±90° default suits platform and vehicle work that uses the full mechanical travel; a frame or mast that stays within a few degrees can use a narrower range. The default SKU ships with ±90°; other ranges are configured at the factory on request.

Q: When should I choose the 4-20mA version over the RS485 version?

A: Choose 4-20mA when the controller only has analog inputs, when the run is long, or when the environment is electrically noisy. Choose RS485 when several sensors share one bus or when you need digital diagnostics. The RS485 equivalent is the 0.1° General-Purpose RS485 Inclinometer.

Q: What if I need higher accuracy?

A: The wired inclinometer family covers 0.1° to 0.001°, all available with 4-20mA output. For a wider arc at tighter accuracy, the 0.01° Industrial-Grade 4-20mA Inclinometer holds 0.01° at ±10° and ±30°. For tower and machine work, the 0.005° High-Precision 4-20mA Inclinometer holds 0.005° across ±5° to ±30°. For sub-millidegree structural monitoring, the 0.001° Ultra-High Accuracy 4-20mA Inclinometer reaches 0.0005° resolution.

Q: Does the sensor require recalibration in the field?

A: No field recalibration is required for normal operation. Periodic verification against a reference fixture is good practice on any safety-related installation; the interval depends on your site standard.

Q: Can the sensor be used in submerged installations?

A: The IP68 protection option (customizable) is specified for continuous immersion. The qualified depth and duration depend on the sealing configuration — request the datasheet for the figures for your installation.

Get a Quote

📧 Email: sales@drksirsensor.com | 💬 WhatsApp: +86-135-1581-0281

Send us your required quantity, measuring range, output interface, and application scenario. We respond within one business day with pricing, datasheet, and lead time.