Hall Effect Sensors - What Makes Them Tick

Hall Effect Sensors - What Makes Them Tick
By Rosa Telip Ten

Perhaps you have heard of magnetic speed sensors by now and are wondering just how they work? How in the heck can a magnet function to determine the speed of something? If it does, what on earth does the magnet focus on to work, because after all magnets respond to ferrous metals such as iron and steel.

Magnetic Speed Sensors

When someone is speaking about a magnetic speed sensor, what they really are referring to is a hall effect sensor. While they are commonly used in such systems as anti-lock braking systems in cars, they are now in common use in any number of high tech systems and machines that require the use of electronic transmission of speed or RPM data and information.

Say What!?

They get their name for the Hall effect which was discovered by a man by the name of Edwin Hall in 1879. In short, is refers to an electronic phenomena that is created on the opposite sides of an electronic conductor when an electronic current is flowing through it while a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the current.

Still Need Ferrous Metal

While that is a mouthful to comprehend, in layman's terms it allows for mechanisms to be used to actually calculate the speed of something using electricity rather than a cable and gears. However; there has to be ferrous metal components of the system for the magnets in the sensors to focus on.

Counting Gear Teeth Real Fast

For instance, a gear tooth hall effect speed sensor, such as is in use in anti-lock braking systems uses a gear for the sensor to focus on and tracks the speed of the passing gear teeth to generate data that is sent to the main component that regulates the entire anti-lock braking system.

Article written by Rosa Telipten. Here you will get all the details you need on Hall Effect Sensors and you can also find the best info on Hydraulic Motor Speed Sensor.
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