The preceding pages summarized information on typical Integrated Circuit Piezoelectric (ICP®) accelerometers. The electronic systems in these sensors limits their operating temperature range to 250 ºF (121 ºC) in most cases, with “high temperature ICP®” accelerometers operating to 325 ºF (163 ºC).

In higher temperature environments, PCB® separates the electronics to an in line charge amplifier that can be placed in a temperature environment that is below 121 ºC (250 ºF). In these cases, PCB®’s accelerometer can be operated in environments with temperatures exceeding 1000 ºF (538 ºC). PCB®’s customers often refer to these sensors as “charge output” accelerometers, since their output is an electrical charge proportional to acceleration.

Because of its temperature and high/complex vibration environment, the turbine engine measurement environment is perhaps the most demanding application for accelerometers. With 30 years of high temperature measurement experience, PCB® has developed a range of piezoelectric materials and technologies that provide accurate, reliable measurements in this challenging environment. With the cost (and non-repeatability) of each turbine engine test, PCB®’s customers have come to expect and rely on this accuracy and reliability.

Since PCB® manufactures the majority of its own piezoelectric materials, we offer an extensive array of charge mode accelerometer form factors, sensitivities, frequency ranges and sizes. A few of the single-ended accelerometers for use in up to 288 ºC (500 ºF) environments are presented below. Complementing this range of sensors is a variety of in-line and laboratory grade bench top and rack mounted charge amplifiers. A small representative selection of these amplifiers is included below.