lvdt displacement sensor

LVDTs have no physical contact between the core and coil, so there’s nothing to wear out. Potentiometers rely on a wiper sliding over a resistive track, which gets noisy and fails after millions of cycles. LVDTs handle vibration, high cycle counts, and dirty environments much better—they’re often preferred in structural health monitoring where sensors are hard to replace.

Many Kingmach LVDTs are rated IP68, which means they’re sealed against continuous submersion. Just confirm the specified depth and cable gland type when ordering. For purely dry applications, an IP65 model might be enough and cost a bit less. Either way, the measurement performance stays the same.

Look at the expected displacement—whether it’s only 2 mm of crack opening or 200 mm of joint movement—and add about 20% headroom. That way the sensor stays within its linear region and you avoid saturating the output. If you’re unsure, our engineers can review your project specs and suggest a standard range or a custom one.

You’ve got both options. We can provide DIN-rail modules or panel meters that output 4–20 mA, 0–10 V, or RS485. If your PLC already has an AC-LVDT input card, we’ll supply the sensor with raw coil leads and a wiring schematic. Many integrators prefer the 4–20 mA approach for long cable runs.

Compact LVDTs with bodies under 10 mm diameter are available for short ranges up to ±5 mm. They’re often used in laboratory material testing rigs or embedded in concrete specimens. We can also put together a custom probe with a remote electronics module if the head needs to be even smaller.