LearnElectricals · Instrumentation course

Instrumentation course

Instrumentation is the plant's "senses": the sensors that measure temperature, pressure, weight, speed and position, and send the reading to the PLC so it can control the process. In this course you will really understand the 4–20 mA signal, wire PNP and NPN sensors, and get hands-on with encoders, thermocouples, PT100s and load cells: calibrate them and find their faults like a field technician.

10 lessons · interactive experiments · final exam and certificateCompletion certificate
← All courses
Before you start: this course assumes you understand voltage, current and resistance and can use a multimeter. If not yet, start with the Electrical basics course → and come back here.

How to study here

  1. Read the explanation: one idea per section, in plain words
  2. Try it on the bench: turn the encoder, heat the thermocouple, put weights on the load cell
  3. Create the faults yourself: cut a wire, reverse the polarity, and see what the reading does
  4. Answer the questions to mark the lesson as done

Lessons in order, each lesson builds on the one before

Course Completion Certificate

Thermocouple tables from NIST ITS-90 (IEC 60584), PT100 per IEC 60751, and signal states per NAMUR NE43. Wire colours and device sizes vary between manufacturers: the device datasheet is the reference. For any device running on 230 V (indicator, 4-wire transmitter, power supply), switch off the power before you undo its terminals. Your progress is saved on this device only.
© 2026 LearnElectricals. All rights reserved. This site is not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned (such as Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Delta, Schneider and others); names and trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to explain the devices.