The benefits of flexibility for a current transformer are pretty easy to identify. Flexibility means that you can put the current transformer capability in different configurations as needed to deal with hard to reach places and mechanics. A flexible current transformer will do the job when it is important to get into those spaces that would otherwise be impossible to get to.
Generally, the flexible current transformer is easier to install and can go where space is limited, as well. It can be argued that this type of transformer is even safer to operate and it doesn’t degrade from magnetic saturation. When you need process controls, any kind of system monitoring or status alarms across a multitude of platforms or applications, then flexible current transformers are the usual way to go these days.
Another component that is important when working with electricity is the current transducer. A transducer at its most basic is a conversion device. It converts one form of electrical activity to another type of energy. The most common application is converting AC or DC current electrical signals over to an analog-based type of instrumentation. In many cases, this is an industrial application for control purposes for example converting the power supply of a pump to a pneumatic signal for pneumatic control or monitoring systems.
This grew out of the computerization of huge process plants like refineries during the 70s and 80s. Many of these plants used pneumatic systems because they are highly safe in flammable or combustible situations. Because the plants depended heavily on pneumatic transmitters for levels, temps, pressures and other processes that need monitoring, they needed a way to get those signals converted over to electronic ones that computers could manipulate. Enter the current transducer. This device makes it so they could convert pneumatic to electronic and also electronic to pneumatic.
This was the catalyst for true upgrades in these process plants, and these conversions actually continue to this day. The current transducer also measures the magnetic fluctuations of power conductors in order to act as a sensor for machinery or equipment and transmits an analog signal for control systems. What you need to be aware of is what the input signal type is supposed to be as opposed to what the output signal type needs to be – if you have either of these points wrong, you will not end up with a good result as the transducer will not perform as expected.
So you can have a current transducer that takes AC amp input and convert it to DC voltage output. This can be important for applications like in homes where AC current is running through the homes wiring and the components being plugged in are DC current needy – there is going to be an AC amp in to DC voltage out type of transducer in the plug in for the component. This has become commonplace today. But for larger installations where something isn’t built in, but has to be installed separately, you should familiarize yourself with the input and output needs so you have the right device.