Valid Measurements - The Benefits of Anderson Loop Signal Conditioning

Valid MeasurementsTM

What benefits can I expect by using an Anderson loop circuit rather than the classic Wheatstone bridge or Kelvin circuits?

Anderson loop outputs are inherently linear with respect to impedance change and, compared with the Wheatstone bridge, benefit the user with a combination of the following:

Only 1/4 of the excitation power provides the same output level from a transducer.
The output is double what is available from the Wheatstone bridge for the same power dissipation (excitation level) in a transducer. Strain gages appear to double in Gage Factor.
Each lead wire resistance can vary randomly - lead wire resistance becomes irrelevant in a measurement application, a major bonus in severe environments.
The impedance elements in what were a bridge circuit can be simultaneously observed independently and in any arithmetic combination.
Resistance variations and temperature can be independently and continuously monitored by connecting to a sensor with thermocouple wires, EVEN WHEN USING DC EXCITATION.
The output is a linear function of sensor resistance or impedance change - even for changes in a single element of what was previously wired as a bridge-topology circuit. This means that single strain gage measurements are inherently linear when using Anderson loop signal conditioning.
Transducers can withstand twice the overload for the same sensitivity.
Transducers can have twice the upper frequency response for the same sensitivity.
Transducers can have both factory- and user-variable compensation, EVEN AFTER FIELD INSTALLATION.
Fewer wires can be used to connect to the transducer - a strain rosette requires only six wires yet random wire resistance changes are irrelevant with only two wires per rosette gauge.
Transmitters are not required to avoid lead-wire resistance change and thermoelectric effects.
Smart transducers can have different calibrations applied to each individual element they contain.
Resistance and impedance differences between widely-separated sensor elements are obtained with outstanding absolute and differential accuracy, yielding a DISPERSED SENSOR.