Current Loop

What Does Current Loop Mean?

A current loop is an electrical setup that uses two conductors to send signals to a device. It can be used for analog signaling or supplying power.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains Current Loop

In many cases, the purpose of a current loop is to analyze or measure things like temperature, pH value or other variables in an environment. It can also be used for things related to grounding and other system elements.

The devices connected to a current loop may be active and have their own power source, or they may be passive and rely on power from the loop.

There are different types of current loops, including long telecom line loops, discrete control functioning loops and other kinds of process controllers.

This type of electrical engineering has been used extensively in telephony and in two-way radio systems.

A current loop can often be easily monitored using a multimeter.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Latest Hardware Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…