Monitoring & Controlling a System

A wide range of tools are available to display values being read from equipment.  The example in Figure 8 includes a numeric display of pressure, a visual indicator of the current fluid level in the tank and a color-coded indicator on the compressor showing whether or not it is currently running.  This is but a small sampling of the indicators available.

Figure 8

From an operator’s perspective, one of the most important things about an application is how easy it is to monitor.  Careful selection of the most appropriate indicators and clear, uncluttered spacing can make the difference between whether the application is usable or not.

Figure 9

By linking to analog or digital outputs, an application can also control a system, allowing manual control of pumps, valves, motor speeds etc.