Industrial Counters

If you are trying to source suitable industrial counters for your workplace, you will find what you need here at RS. We stock a range of digital counters, panel meters and accessories by established manufacturers, which can be shipped to you today.

With a huge selection of industrial counters available, you will be able to discover a range of items that can assist in a multitude of different industries.

Read on to find out more about industrial counters, how they work, and what they are used for.

What are industrial counters?

vIndustrial counters are sequential circuits that, quite simply, count. These devices store (and can display) the number of times in which a certain process or event has happened. When it comes to counting accurately, digital counters can outperform people very easily.

The number from which the counter starts counting and the number at which it ends depends upon your design. You can design your counter depending on your needs.

Counters are essential devices that are commonly utilized in the automation process of different industries.

How do industrial counters work?

A counter is a circuit which is used to count the number of pulses up to a particular value. Digital counters in their simplest forms track and count time, working similarly to a stopwatch. They can also be reset when they need to be.

The most common type of counter is a sequential digital logic circuit, which possess an input line, and multiple output lines. The outputs represent binary or binary coded decimal numbers, and each clock pulse then either increases or decreases the number.

What are industrial counters used for?

Counters play a crucial role in electronics, particularly in circumstances where it is difficult for humans to keep note of numbers by hand.

As well as counting, industrial counters are used for measuring time and frequency. Before and after a football game in a large stadium, for example, counters are utilized to count the number of people that enter and leave the stadium.

Some of the more common types of counters are used in applications where an accurate total is needed. For example, if a company needs to know the amount of material that has been used, the number of parts that have been produced, or the number of cycles a machine has done, industrial counters can provide them with such numbers.

When signaling is needed for processes such as dispensing or filing, counters can also be predetermined, and a preset count value can therefore trigger an output signal.

If you need to visually see how your process control machinery is functioning, panel meters are also fantastic instruments that can read input signals, such as voltage or current. These signals are then displayed in either a digital or analog format so that they can be interpreted by a user. Panel meters boast a number of different additional functionalities like data transfer options and alarms. Depending on what output you will need from the panel meter, you will then be able to determine what type you require.

Digital panel meters display numerical information in an extremely easy-to-read way. In process control equipment, they are used extensively, as they are ideal for presenting data from the likes of instruments such as pressure sensors. Companies utilize digital panel meters to monitor the performance of certain electrical equipment. The display on analog panel meters, on the other hand, looks very similar to the design of an old car’s speedometer – with a needle and gauge.

An additional type of industrial counter is the timer. Where time is a vital factor in the use of an application, timers can be used to start and stop certain processes, schedule maintenance, or gauge the efficiency of an operation.

Why choose RS for your industrial counters?

Here at RS, we stock a huge range of industrial counters and accessories, and only offer products that meet the very best industry standards from leading manufacturers such as Red Lion Controls, Omron Automation, and Trumeter. We are proud to be the largest distributor of electronic equipment in North America, which means that you can rely on us to provide what you need, when you need it.

You can search our extensive selection by category or manufacturer, or directly by name or number if you know exactly what you’re looking for. If you have any questions about industrial counters, the various types, and which products might best suit your needs, please feel free to contact us at your convenience and we’ll be happy to answer these for you. Alternatively, our expert hub contains lots of useful information, advice, and guidance on industrial counters – plus many more components.