Sound and vibration expert Brüel & Kjær has released a new CCLD accelerometer, Type 4527, that can operate at a continuous temperature of 180°C, making it ideally suited for automotive powertrain uses.

Type 4527 has wide dynamic, frequency and temperature ranges, making the transducer well-suited to general-purpose use. It has low sensitivity to electro-magnetic interference due to low output impedance and also features a very low noise floor. All of which makes it an all-round accelerometer with many applications.

Using the same design and offering the same range specifications, another new high temperature accelerometer that significantly reduces setup time, thanks to TEDS technology, is the Type 4528-B. It communicates with the user’s data acquisition hardware to automatically self-identify and supply calibration data from a microchip contained inside it. Type 4528-B is rated up to 165°C for continuous use.

Both accelerometers give the user the ability to select the number of axes that they want to measure: three, two or just one axis – avoiding the confusion of unnecessary data, and reducing the amount of measurement channels required.

The new units contain a built-in pre-amplifier, meaning they don’t need an external charge amplifier to power the signal. Instead, they are simple to ‘plug-and-play’ using just an ordinary signal cable.

Previously, non-charge type accelerometers couldn’t measure at such a high temperature as their integral pre-amplifies couldn’t survive the heat.

However every new high temperature unit to be shipped from Brüel & Kjær’s Danish production facilities is continuously tested at 180°C for 48 hours, which ensures they are completely reliable and also pre-ages the materials – keeping their performance consistently stable.

All models are available with a high-temperature cable that safely copes with temperatures up to 250°C without distortion.

A range of mounting options allows users to secure them on anything, using an M3 stud, an adhesive pad that extends the life of the transducer, or a clip mounting that ensures easy positioning.