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Panel Indicators and Pilot Lights

Panel indicators and pilot lights are electrical components used to control and communicate the functions of a machine, or serve as visual cues of an indication that a process is going on. They are necessary for machines to constantly operate without having too much observational input from the operator. This article explores the application field and working principle of these components.

Application Field

Panel indicators and pilot lights are most commonly used in a wide range of industries, from food and beverage production to aircraft engineering and more. That being said, they are especially popular in these three major application fields:

• Industrial automation: Panel indicators are commonly used in automated systems in factories and assembly lines to monitor processes and keep track of the conditions and states of various machines. Pilot lights are typically used to indicate when a process is running, or when an alarm needs to be sounded.
• Transportation: Panel indicators are essential to the typical transportation vehicle, whether it be a truck, bus, airplane, or train. They are commonly used to alert the driver of the vehicle’s condition or parameters, and alert him or her when a dangerous situation is present. This information is key for preventable accidents.
• Medical: Panel indicators are also used in medical settings to inform nurses of patient status and monitor vital signs. Pilot lights, on the other hand, are used to sound warnings and alarms when dangerous or unexpected situations arise.

Working Principle

Panel indicators and pilot lights typically explain various phenomena, either in terms of a machine’s performance or of the state of its environment. Technically speaking, they are basically just electrical switches that open or close the current flow. To make them operational, electricity is introduced to one end of the switch, and the other end is connected to some electric equipment. Depending on the application, the electric equipment might be an electric motor, a solenoid basin, a relay, or some sort of sensor.

When electricity is introduced to the switch, the electric equipment reacts according to the state of the switch. In most cases, the panel indicator or pilot light turns on or off, and indicates the process going on. The switch is either ‘ON’ or ‘OFF,’ and these two states can be used to indicate a machine’s operational state.

Types of Panel Indicators and Pilot Lights

When it comes to types, there are two main categories for these components: incandescent and LED. Incandescent panel indicators and pilot lights are the traditional versions, as they rely on a thin wire that, when exposed to an electrical current, will produce visible light and will glow. On the other hand, LED indicators and pilot lights are powered by light-emitting diodes. These diodes use less electricity and are usually considered to be more reliable than incandescent elements. Additionally, LEDs are usually better suited for harsher conditions.

Panel indicators and pilot lights are essential components for almost any industrial application, from factory automation to transportation and medical. They are based on basic electrical switches that open or close the current flow, turning on or off a light that indicates a machine’s status or a process going on. Incandescent and LED versions are available, with the former being more traditional and the latter being more reliable.

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