DC Voltage and Current Input Signal
Accuracy of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts. High read rates at up to 60 or 50 conversions per second.
Industrial Digital Panel Meters with Analog Inputs
Load Cell Strain Gauge and Microvolt
Accuracy of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts. High read rates at up to 60 or 50 conversions per second.
Scale Meter for Weighing
Accuracy of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts. High read rates at up to 60 or 50 conversions per second.
Process and Ratiometric
Accuracy of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts. High read rates at up to 60 or 50 conversions per second.
True RMS AC Voltage and Current
Accuracy of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts. High read rates at up to 60 or 50 conversions per second.
Thermocouple Temperature
Accuracy of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts. High read rates at up to 60 or 50 conversions per second.
RTD Temperature
Accuracy of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts. High read rates at up to 60 or 50 conversions per second.
Ohmmeter for Resistance in Ohms
Accuracy of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts. High read rates at up to 60 or 50 conversions per second.
What Are Industrial Digital Panel Meters with Analog Inputs?
An industrial digital panel meter with analog inputs is a panel-mounted instrument built to read a continuously variable electrical or process signal and display it as a precise numeric value. "Analog input" describes the signal type being measured — DC voltage, DC current, true-RMS AC, a load cell's millivolt output, a 4-20 mA process loop, a thermocouple or RTD, or resistance — all of which vary continuously rather than arriving as discrete pulses. Laurel builds these meters on a shared 1/8 DIN modular platform: a main computer/display module, an isolated power supply board, and a signal conditioner board matched to the specific input type, with room for up to five plug-in boards total in one housing. That architecture is what allows eight distinct input configurations to share one accuracy spec, one setup software package, and one panel footprint.
Analog Input Configurations Available
- DC voltage and current: General-purpose indication of DC signals across multiple ranges.
- Load cell, strain gauge, and microvolt: Low-level signal amplification for force and material-testing applications.
- Scale and weighing: Tare and zero functions built specifically for industrial scale readouts.
- Process and ratiometric: 4-20 mA, 0-10 V, and ratiometric/potentiometer-follower signals for process loops.
- True-RMS AC voltage and current: Accurate measurement of non-sinusoidal waveforms from VFDs and switching loads.
- Thermocouple temperature: Cold-junction-compensated readings across common thermocouple types.
- RTD temperature: Lead-compensated resistance-based temperature measurement for high-stability applications.
- Resistance (ohmmeter): Direct resistance measurement across multiple ranges.
Specifications Common to the Line
- Accuracy: 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts.
- Read rate: Up to 60 or 50 conversions per second.
- Board isolation: All boards isolated from meter and power grounds.
- Expandability: Up to five plug-in boards in a single 1/8 DIN housing — signal conditioner, power supply, relay/setpoint, analog output, and digital communications.
- Setup: Front-panel USB-C port with free downloadable setup software.
Where These Meters Are Used
- Industrial weighing and batching: Load cell and scale configurations for fill, dosing, and material-handling operations.
- Process control panels: Direct indication of 4-20 mA and 0-10 V loop signals for operators and control-room monitoring.
- Power and energy monitoring: True-RMS voltage and current readings for VFD-driven equipment and renewable energy systems.
- Temperature monitoring: Thermocouple and RTD indication across manufacturing and process equipment.
- Test and calibration benches: General-purpose DC and resistance measurement for equipment testing.
Industrial Digital Panel Meter Frequently Asked Questions
What does "analog input" mean on a digital panel meter?
It describes the nature of the incoming signal — a continuously variable electrical quantity such as DC voltage, 4-20 mA, or a load cell's millivolt output — rather than the type of display. The meter itself converts that analog signal into a digital value internally and shows it on a numeric LED or LCD readout, so "analog input" and "digital display" aren't contradictory; they describe two different stages of the same instrument.
How do I know which of the eight configurations I need?
Start with the signal you're actually measuring: DC voltage or current calls for the DC configuration, a load cell or strain gauge calls for the load cell configuration (or the scale/weighing variant if it's specifically a scale application), a 4-20 mA or 0-10 V loop calls for the process configuration, AC power monitoring calls for the true-RMS configuration, and temperature sensing calls for either the thermocouple or RTD configuration depending on the sensor type installed.
Can one meter be reconfigured for a different input type later?
Generally yes, since the signal conditioner board is what determines the input type and the platform is modular — reconfiguring for a different analog input typically means replacing that board rather than replacing the entire instrument, though the correct replacement board depends on which input type it's being changed to.
Why does true-RMS measurement matter for AC applications?
True-RMS measurement reports the actual heating-equivalent value of an AC signal regardless of its waveform shape. Variable-frequency drives and other switching electronic loads produce distorted, non-sinusoidal waveforms that an average-responding meter reads incorrectly, so true-RMS is necessary whenever the waveform isn't guaranteed to be a clean sine wave.
What's the practical difference between the thermocouple and RTD configurations?
A thermocouple configuration reads a millivolt signal with cold-junction compensation and is suited to very high temperatures and fast response. An RTD configuration instead derives temperature from a resistance change and offers greater accuracy and long-term stability, particularly across a wide mid-range span. The choice generally follows which sensor type is already installed or best suited to the application's temperature range.
Can these meters connect to a PLC or SCADA system?
Yes, with the appropriate option board. A meter can retransmit its reading as a scaled analog output, trigger relay outputs from configurable setpoints, and communicate digitally over RS-232, RS-485, Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP/IP, or Ethernet, letting it serve as indicator, controller, and network node at once.
How many option boards can one meter support at once?
Up to five plug-in boards total in a single 1/8 DIN housing — the signal conditioner and power supply, plus up to three further option boards such as relay/setpoint, analog output, and digital communications.
How accurate are these meters across the different input types?
All configurations in this line share a common accuracy spec of 0.01% of reading ± 2 counts, with read rates up to 60 or 50 conversions per second depending on power line frequency, regardless of which analog input type the meter is configured for.
Industrial Digital Panel Meter Questions From the Field
My meter displays a reading but it doesn't match a known reference value — what's the first thing to check?
Confirming the meter's input range and scaling configuration match the actual connected sensor or signal source is the first step, since a mismatch between the configured range and the real signal produces a plausible-looking but incorrect reading rather than an obvious fault.
I ordered a replacement signal conditioner board but it doesn't seem to match what I expected — what should I check?
Confirming the exact model and board part number against the original configuration before installing is the first step, since boards for different analog input types are physically similar but not interchangeable, and installing the wrong type won't produce a correct reading even though it may fit and power up normally.
My load cell or strain gauge reading seems noisy or unstable — what's the likely cause?
Low-level signals like load cell and strain gauge output are especially susceptible to electrical noise from nearby motors, VFDs, or switching equipment; checking cable shielding, grounding, and physical separation from noise sources is the standard remedy before suspecting the meter or sensor itself.
My current reading looks different when monitoring a VFD-driven motor versus a standard AC load — is that expected?
Yes, to some degree — variable-frequency drive outputs contain high-frequency switching components that true-RMS measurement is specifically designed to handle accurately, so some difference in reading behavior compared to a clean sinusoidal load isn't necessarily a fault, provided the meter is a true-RMS configuration.
My relay alarm isn't triggering at the setpoint I configured — what should I check?
Confirming the setpoint value, hysteresis, and relay mode (normally open vs. normally closed) are configured as intended is the first step, since a relay that appears not to trigger is often configured correctly but for a different condition than expected.
My temperature reading drifts gradually over the course of a shift even though the process seems stable — what should I check?
Gradual drift over hours is commonly linked to temperature changes affecting sensor leads or signal conditioning rather than the process itself; verifying cold-junction compensation (thermocouple) or lead-wire configuration (RTD) is the standard first step before suspecting the meter itself.
My analog retransmission output doesn't match what's shown on the display — why?
This typically points to the analog output's own scaling configuration being set independently from the display scaling, since the two are configured separately; verifying the analog output's high and low endpoints match the intended range is the standard first check.
My meter isn't communicating with my PLC or SCADA system — where should I start?
Verifying the communication protocol, baud rate, and address settings configured in the meter match what the PLC or SCADA system expects is the standard first check, since a mismatch in any one of these will prevent communication even when the physical wiring is correct.
