FAQ’s on Siemens Magmeters
1. The cables for the coils and electrodes for the magmeters look the same. Does it matter which cable is used for coils and which one is used for the electrodes?
Both cables are the same outside diameter. When they are cut back, both
have an overall braided shield. The heavier gage wire is used for the coils,
and only 2 of the three conductors are used. The lighter gage wire is used
for the electrodes, and all three conductors are used. As each of the three
electrode wires are revealed, cut into them and you will find that each wire
again has its own shield and another center conductor. The wires for the
coils and electrodes from the mag body are terminated in black molded
plugs with the correct conductor number corresponding to each pin of the
plug.
2. Can the electode cable and the coil cable run in the same conduit in a remote transmitter configuration?
It is suggested that 1 standard cable be used for the coils and one special
double shielded cable is used for the electrodes. In this case, both cable can
run in the same conduit from the mag body to the remote transmitter. If
two standard cables are used without the double shielding for the
electrode connection, the empty pipe detection capability is gone and
separate conduits are suggested.
3. What do I do with the Shields?
The overall braids of the both cables are tied to ground in the termination
chamber of the mag body. When you get to the transmitter end, ONLY THE
COIL CABLE (LARGER GAGE WIRE) has the shield tied to ground, while the
overall braid of the electrode cable (lighter gage wire) is cut off and taped,
not grounded.
The shields of the three individual conductors of the electrode cable are
tied on both ends, with the 0 terminal having both the conductor and shield
4. How long can the cables be from the mag body to the transmitter for a remote transmitter, and can they be spliced?
The length of the cable is determined by the conductivity of the fluid being
measured. The higher the conductivity, the longer the allowable cable
length, up to 600ft and more for most conductive fluids. The MagFlo
Handbook includes a conductivity vs. cable length chart. Splices are
discouraged to avoid moisture ingress. Both cables may be run in the same
conduit.
5 . Where is the SensorProm to be located? The SENSORPROM is shipped in the housing on top of the mag body. If it is to
be an integral mounted transmitter, the SENSORPROM stays in the mag
termination chamber. If the transmitter is to be remote, the SENSORPROM
MUST BE MOVED. The SENSORPROM must be located wherever you mount
your transmitter.
6 . When the meter is turned on, flow readings are present but I have no mA output.
The 4‐20mA output of the magmeter is default as off. It must be turned on as
it is one of the many variables that are monitored, and will be flagged as an
error if loop continuity is not detected.
The 4‐20mA signal is sourced and will drive up to 800 ohms, with selection of
unidirectional or bidirectional. Unidirectional will only detect forward flow,
and will stay at 4mA when a negative flow value appears.
Another cause for a ma output to stay at 4ma even with a flowrate present in
that a 5000 series transmitter may have been purchased with built in HART, or
the 6000 series with an add‐on Hart module. To operate with Hart in the ma
output mode, the HART address must be set to 00. With a HART address of 01
thru 15, the ma output will stay at 4mA and expect to communicate the
process data digitally over a multi‐drop HART wiring configuration.
7 . A rate of flow value is shown, but my totalizer does not register.
There are two totalizers available on the 5000 and 6000 series transmitters.
Each totalizer acts independently of the other and may be set for forward
flow, reverse flow, or net flow, where forward flow adds to the total, and
reverse flow subtracts. If a totalizer is set for negative flow and forward flow
occurs, the totalizer will appear to be not operating. The totalizer may be
assigned to a scaled pulse with a programmable on‐time duration, or to the
relay.
8 . The flowmeter shows rate and total, but it appears to be reading invalid flow values, and will not allow me to configure a full scale value any higher than a flow value much lower than my line size dictates I should be able to read. Each meter is shipped with a SENSORPROM with the information as to the size
and calibration factors for a specific body. If the SENSORPROM is not seated
properly to allow the transmitter to read it, or if in a remote configuration the
SENSORPROM was not moved from the mag body to be located with its’ now
remote transmitter, the meter will default to a 2” meter, that has a max flow
around 300 to 400 GPM. It is a good practice to check to make sure the
transmitter is making good connection with, and is able to read the
SENSORPROM. In the configuration menu – go to SENSORPROM and an
“installed” or “not present” indication will be displayed. Make sure the
SENSORPROM is there, and reseat it to the wiring termination board.
9. The display show a flashing box with a diagonal line, and I am getting a P40 error code to replace my SENSORPROM
The SENSORPROM could get corrupted by removing the transmitter with
power on or from unclean power to the transmitter, either due to power
surges or harmonics on the AC line of the primary power. The nameplate
information is needed and your local Gilson office should be contacted to get a
To get by, even with the SENSORPROM not read, you can enter the
configuration mode and manually program the meter size. This value is
programmed in METERS . From the nameplate on the side of the meter body
junction box get the DN number that states the size in mm. Take the DN
number and simply divide by 1000 to get what you need so a 2” meter = DN50.
DN50 / 1000 = size of 0.050 METERS.
When the meter starts up, it looks for the SENSORPROM. When it doesn’t read
a valid data set, it goes to the transmitters default. The above step is
reprogramming the transmitters DEFAULT to your actual size. Do get the new
SENSORPROM ordered and installed to keep the interchangeability of
transmitters without the need to reprogram, and maintain the ability to
perform a re‐verification of accuracy with the Siemens VERIFICATOR by
comparing present mag body parameters to those when the meter was first
built as stored on the valid SENSORPROM.
10. Can the transmitter be removed with power on the unit?
The transmitters do have short‐circuit protection so the coil driver will not
blow if removed with power on, although removing the transmitter with
power on is not recommended as it may result in corruption of the
SENSORPROM should this occur during a period when data is being written to
the chip.
11. The meter is installed reading accurate rate and total, but shows an overflow error.
The transmitter offers a 4‐20mA output for remote rate, but has multiple
outputs like scaled pulse, relay, or frequency for remote totalization. Any
outputs not being used should be turned off in the configuration to avoid
having to make sure the important parameters being used are not causing the
additional outputs to go into overflow, or exceed their configured output
12. The transmitter was ordered with HART, but I cannot communicate with the meter.
The device being used to communicate HART (HART Handheld or a Laptop with
a HART Modem and a configuration software package like Siemens PDM) first
must have the correct Device Descriptor and the loop must have between 250
and 1100 ohms to allow HART communications. As far as the transmitters are
concerned, the 5000 Series is purchased with or without HART, while the 6000
Series has an add‐on module that is plugged into a socket on the bottom of the
transmitter. The 5000 has the same molded body as the 6000 but will not read
the add‐on module. In addition to having HART, two wiring jumpers must be
added to the wiring board as indicated by a decal on the module or on the
bottom of the 5000 HART transmitter, shorting terminal 31 to 91, and 32 to
92. Terminal 31 if the positive current connection while 32 is the negative
current output connection. The HART capability is wired into the loop in
parallel. You are not creating a parallel current path, but allowing the HART
frequency to be read off the loop. Any other components in your loop must
be wired in series as with all current sensing devices.
13. I have configured my meter and it reads and totalizes accurately, but the 4‐20mA output is locked at 4mA, and cannot even be forced in the
maintenance section of the configuration menu.
When a transmitter has HART, it can be set to operate in a mA output mode
where HART is used primarily for configuration, or it can be set to operate in
HART Digital Mode. This is determined by the HART address. If the address is
set to 0, the transmitter will allow current output to fluctuate with the process
variable, or to be forced in diagnostics. If the address is set to 01 thru 15, the
transmitter is looking to communicate digitally over HART and will lock the
current output to 4 mA in both operational mode as well as in diagnostic
mode.
14. There is a directional arrow on the neck of the meter body, and it is opposite of my actual direction of flow. Does the meter have to be removed and turned around?
The arrow actually indicated the direction the unit was tested at the factory.
After the unit is installed and wired, there is a 50/50 chance you will have a
negative flow value, which can also make a forward flow totalizer not register.
In the Configuration menu under Basic Settings is a selection to reverse the
direction the meter recognizes as forward flow, so the meter does not have to
be removed and turned around.
15. I have the meter installed properly but it shows 0 or zero flow??
Open the termination box on the sensor (mag tube), either integral or remote
transmitter configuration, and check to see that the “electrode connector” is
plugged into corresponding terminals 82‐0‐83, on the termination strip. The
black molded connector has the proper terminal numbers molded into the
plug across from the corresponding pin. In a remote transmitter configuration
make sure that the cables for the electrodes (lighter gage wire with individual
shields) have their center conductors wired to the terminals directly across
from the corresponding pin number and that the shield is not tied to an
incorrect terminal. Also for remote configurations, make sure that the
conductors follow the same color from the terminal strip in the mag body the
same corresponding terminal at the remote transmitter.
16. F70 Coil resistance Error
F70 indicates Coil Excitation has failed. Check your electrical connections
on both the transmitter and mag body end. Another source of this error is
an incorrect coil excitation frequency. Go to www.gilsoneng.com, point to
the Siemens magmeter in Gilson Flow Lab pictures on the homepage and
you can download or view the instruction manual that lists the various mag
body models for the correct drive frequency. Be careful as two values are
stated, one for 50Hz and a different for 60Hz. Settings can be changed by
not eliminate the error, then remove power and check the resistance from
85‐gnd And 86‐gnd. Resistance should be greater than 10 meg ohms. If less
than 10 megohms, then check wiring. Also check resistance of the coil. This
resistance should be in the range of 80‐100 ohms.
17. My flow reading is half of what it should be.
One of the two electrode circuits is not functioning. Check the electrode
circuits for shorts to ground (82 to ground and 83 to ground), open circuits
along electrode cable in remote mount installations, and continuity with actual
electrodes inside meter body (82 to one electrode inside meter tube, 83 to
other electrode inside meter tube). The Verificator cannot discern between
short circuits to ground on the electrodes and a meter filled with a conductive
liquid.
18. The display seems dim or flickers.
A dim or flickering display can be the result of the display board
connector that mates to the main board of the transmitter working its way
loose during shipment. Remove the bezel around the display and the screws
holding the display board in place will be revealed. Remove the screws and lift
the display to gain access to the interconnecting cable. Reseat the cable
connection to the main board and replace the display board in the desired
orientation ( may be rotated in 90 degree increments) and snap the bezel
cover back in place.
19. What is empty pipe detection? (Read this if you potentially have a pipe that’s not all the way full with fluid OR if you are getting a flow reading when
you know the meter doesn’t even have fluid in it)
Empty pipe detection is an available feature only if you are using the special
double shielded cable and the standard coil cable for remote wiring
(feature not available when using 2 standard coil cables). When this
feature is turned on, the meter will read 0 gpm until the monitoring
of the pipe (at 12 o’clock) on the 5100W, and this electrode must be
covered by the fluid before a reading occurs. Therefore, you will not get a
flow reading if your pipe is partially full, and you will not get the floating
associated electrodes in air. This feature can be turned on/off in the
programming. This feature is not only helpful in detecting an empty or
partially full pipe but also in eliminating outside EMI/RFI interferences.
20. Why does my totalizer read #####?
The totalizers each have a limit of 8 digits. You will want to double check
where your decimal points are when programming. This ##### symbol
means that you have gone over the 8 digit limit (i.e. 99,999,999). To display
the totalizer again, you must do one of two things:
1) Reset the totalizer back to zero and start over.
2) Increase the units to accommodate the total flow (for example,
99,999,999 gallons should be increased to 99 million gallons)
21. Is the Siemens Magmeter secured for billing purposes?
The Siemens Magmeter Transmitters, model 5000 or 6000, have a
Configuration Menu that is password protected, and an Operator Menu
that is not protected. The user can in the Configuration Menu define which
of the possible 20 menu items that will be accessible to the operator, or
unprotected by password including resetting of the local totalizers. Even
when password protected, there is a back door entry to reset the password
to the factory default 1000. This may not be acceptable when used for
billing purposes as in a municipality accepting the magmeter for billing
purposes.
Both the 5000 and 6000 transmitters are available in the “CT” version, short
for “Custody Transfer”, meaning suitably secure for billing. These units
include solder pads on both sides of the termination board and a jumper
key. When the key is in place, all configurable parameters may be changed.
When the key is removed, all configurable parameters, including resets, are
and Lead crimp. To accommodate this need, the transmitter enclosure base
for both the integral and remote transmitter configurations have eyelets
for the wires securing the transmitters in place by the monitoring authority.
22. I just installed my new magmeter in finished water exiting the plant and the reported flow is all over the place. The flow I expect to be 1000 gpm bounces from 1000 to 300 to 250 to 750, drifting all over the place
After looking making sure all electrical cabling is away from electrical
interferences on the power cables, the output cables and the sensors cables for
coils and electrodes, and that all shielded cables are terminated correctly, look for
a chemical addition point upstream of the flow meter inlet. Chemical addition,
like Sodium Hypochlorite addition in finished water can create wild swings in
conductivity of the overall fluid making it appear the magmeter is drifting. The
effects can vary based upon the chemical. To be safe keep all chemical addition
points downstream of the mag body.
23. My magmeter reads half flow, and I have checked the unit is set for the proper frequency (60 hz in USA), checked my coil drive frequency, and checked everything else but continue to get a crazy low reading.
Double check all coil and electrode connections, especially in a remote
transmitter configuration. With the clamp down style terminals, make sure that a
sufficient amount of insulation has been stripped so you have a good electrical
connection, at all junction point, in the mag body, as well as at the transmitter. It
is easy to overlook that either a wire was not stripped far enough back leaving the
terminals to clamp on insulation, or that a screw was not tightened leaving a
loose conductor.
24. I have a 6000i transmitter in a metal enclosure. I have powered the mag transmitter with 120VAC as ordered, but I am getting no 4‐20mA output.
4‐ 20mA output must be turned on in the configuration menu. On the 6000i,
another step may be required as the 4‐20mA is standard as a sinking output. A
jumper must be changed to source the 4‐20 (drive the 4‐20 with the internal
24VDC supply). Only the 6000i transmitter offers a field selection of sink or
source. The compact 5000 and 6000 transmitters in the plastic housing only
source, no sinking.
25. I have the magmeter installed and configured. Can I simulate the outputs to check my control system?
Outputs can be simulated without the need for flow. Go into the Configuration
menu, and scroll across to the Service Menu.
Under the current output, you can select NORMAL with the current output
tracking the current flow, or FORCED. With FORCED selected, you get a prompt
to enter the desired forced current output.
Under Digital output, If you have the digital output configured for a frequency
output, change the setting from NORMAL to FORCED and you will get a prompt
for the desired frequency to simulate. If the digital output is configured for any
output other than frequence, like totalizer output, error detect, flow direction,
flow limit, etc, you will get a prompt to drive HIGH or LOW.
Under Relay Output, you can select ON or OFF. Keep in mind the relay output
cannot be tied to the totalizer output. Only diagnostics, Flow Direction, or a Flow
Rate Alarm.
