Flow Switch Vs. Flow Indicating Switch

[Designer69]

Does anyone know the difference between the two?

thanks

 

[dicklaxt]

I would think just as it's stated,a flow switch has a set of contacts that open and close actuated by the movement of fluid,,,an indicating flow switch would do the same but have an indicator to indicate its actuated and flow is present or calibrated to some known value.

There would be many scenaios that could be called upon.

dick

 

[Designer69]

do you know if they are connected differently to the pipe?

 

[petersonra]

do you know if they are connected differently to the pipe?

There are many different types of flow switches, both indicating and non-indicating. They connect to the process in many different ways. Some are in line, others screw into a tee. Some are electronic, others mechanical, even some that are a combination.

 

[jdsmith]

do you know if they are connected differently to the pipe?

Indicating vs. non-indicating switches or transmitters are typically connected to the pipe in the same manner, but as petersonra indicated a number of different styles are available, and the different styles are usually available in indicated and non-indicating versions.

 

[hurk27]

Think of a flow switch as like the indacators in a car, when you have a oil light come on in you car it is because a "switch" is closed when the pressure is lower then a preset level but if your car has a gauge then the switch is replaced with a sending unit, which is a varible resistor that will move a guage, the later will have more wires to send this info to the gauge, how a flow meter sending unit is mounted to a pipe or other means of fluid transmission method will depend upon the system you are working with, but there can be more wires since there is more info to be transmitted.

 

[highendtron]

A flow switch is a mechanical device that uses a set of contacts hooked to a mechanical baffle inside a pipe for liquid flow indication...used in fire alarm systems and wet systems. A flow indicator can be a sail switch or pressure switch, hooked across a low to high pressure change, sometimes using a magnehilic pressure transducer to show flow/pressure.