Hall Sensor Speed Safety

Gear speeds can be controlled by a Hall effect sensor.

Mechanical devices, from simple motors to groupings of gears, need a way of controlling their speed. To keep the safety and integrity of the device intact, Hall effect sensors are installed for overall monitoring and control.

Function

Hall effect sensors use electricity and magnetism to control speed. As a gear, or motor, rotates near the sensor, it reads the magnetic strength in the area as lower, since the gear has infiltrated the space. Once the gear leaves the sensor's magnetic field, it senses a strengthening of the magnetic field once again. As the signal changes over time, the sensor stays at a steady pace, due to the magnetism, and controls the gear's speed as a result.

Significance

The sensor is extremely important for the safety of a device. Without the speed control, motors can overheat and fail. If, while sensing rotation, the speed sensors within a car's engine for the crankshaft founder, the vehicle could overheat or cause an accident.

Considerations

Like any electronic device, Hall effect sensors can fail. A common symptom of sensor failure is uncontrollable rotation. The failing device should be shut off and evaluated before any attempt is made to power it up again.

References

• EE Times: Differential Hall-effect sensors aid rotational speed control
• Simple Motors: Motor On A Hall Effect Switch