
Obviously not all receiving devices are the same.
However, connecting your encoder to one, no mat-
ter what type or brand it may be, is not difficult. As
discussed in the previous section, all encoders have
certain electrical features. Each of these features/
functions are identified in the encoder’s Electrical
Connections table along with its corresponding pin
and wire color. Each wire specified in the table must
be connected to the receiving device.
Determining where to connect each wire is as easy as
following the Electrical Connections table and match-
ing each wire to the proper terminal on the receiving
device. In general, no matter what type of receiving
device you are using, the terminal strip is marked,
indicating the proper location for each function/wire.
These markings may either be numbers or text labels
identifying functions. If they are numbers, the receiv-
ing device’s manual should define what function cor-
responds to each number.
Since receiving devices are made by various manu-
facturers, not all text labels/references are the same.
There are various ways to identify each function. Fol-
lowing are a few examples:
Note: Encoders that
feature differential
outputs will also have
complementary outputs
referenced as
–
A, –
B, –Z, (A-not, B-not,
Z-not).
When encoders have a differential line driver, there
are two signals for each of the outputs. Each signal (A,
B and Z) has a compliment or inverse (–
A, –
B and –Z
referred to as A not, B not, and Z not). The signal and
its compliment (i.e. A and –A) are separate outputs.
Connect each output to a separate input.
-
A multicolor LED Status light will indicate to the user
the overall condition of the encoder. The LED is built
into the encoder and does not require any additional
wiring or power to activate it. There are 4 basic status
conditions for the light:
No power to Encoder, Low supply voltage
(<3.0VDC), Total Failure of Encoder
Correct Power to Encoder, Ready to
operate, No wheel movement Detected.
-
Unit operating, Unit sending pulses
out
Low power to encoder
(<4.5VDC), Line Driver Failure, Line Driver Over-
Temperature (generally caused by external short
circuit), Line Driver Logic Failure
Do not connect them to the receiving device. Any
unused encoder signal wires must be individually
insulated and tied back. They should NEVER be
in contact with common, power sources, or other
output signal lines.
In order to reverse the counting direction, the output
signal connections must be switched. If the encoder
has a single ended output, swap A and B. If the
encoder has a differential line driver, swap A and –
A.
Many encoders have internal protection circuits
which shut down the encoder to prevent damage
if the input power is not correct or the outputs are
overloaded. Check the following: Input Voltage (is
it too high?); Input Polarity (is it reversed?); and
Output Wiring (are they wired properly?).
Calm down - help is at your fingertips! Simply pick
up the phone and dial our Applications Engineering
Department at 1-800-234-8731 (US & Canada) or
847-662-2666 from 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM (Central
time) Monday - Friday. One of our engineers will
gladly help you solve the problem.