When Machines Started Talking
For decades, plant engineers judged machine health by sound and touch. As oil, gas, and heavy industry pushed equipment harder, that changed. Vibration monitoring became the early-warning system that keeps turbines, compressors, and pumps running. The CA202 piezoelectric accelerometer from Meggitt’s vibro-meter® line carries that evolution forward with a symmetrical shear-mode measuring element built for the world’s harshest environments.
Product Overview
The CA202 is a piezoelectric accelerometer designed for heavy-duty industrial vibration monitoring and measurement. Its symmetrical shear-mode polycrystalline element sits inside an austenitic stainless-steel case with internal case insulation and differential output. The integral low-noise cable is protected by a flexible stainless-steel hose, hermetically welded to the sensor to form a sealed, leaktight assembly. This particular configuration, part number 144-202-000-126, is the Ex version with an 11 m integral cable.
Key Parameters That Matter
Sensitivity reaches 100 pC/g ±5%, letting the sensor resolve small vibration changes across a dynamic measurement range of 0.01 to 400 g peak. Frequency response spans 0.5 to 6000 Hz with ±5% deviation, so the CA202 covers the low-frequency rumble of slow-rotating machinery and the higher-frequency signatures of bearings and gears. Linearity stays within ±1% from 0.01 to 20 g peak and ±2% from 20 to 400 g peak. The resonant frequency sits above 22 kHz nominal, keeping measurement clean well beyond the working band.
Built for Heat, Humidity, and Hazardous Areas
The sensor operates continuously from −55 to +260°C, while the integral cable handles −55 to +200°C. Short-term survival extends to −70 to +280°C for the sensor. Temperature sensitivity error is 0.25%/°C from −55 to +23°C and 0.1%/°C from +23 to 260°C. The hermetically welded stainless-steel construction resists 100% relative humidity, water, steam, oil, and sea-salt atmospheres, along with dust, fungus, and sand. Because this is the Ex version, it suits installation in potentially explosive atmospheres and other harsh industrial environments.
Where the CA202 Earns Its Keep
In oil and gas, the CA202 mounts on compressors, turbines, and reciprocating machinery where vibration data feeds protection systems. In power generation, it watches cooling-tower fans and rotating shafts. In heavy process industries, it tracks pumps and mixers exposed to heat, washdown, and corrosive air. The sealed assembly means fewer moisture-related failures and longer intervals between interventions—practical ROI for teams managing unplanned downtime.
Installation and Integration Notes
Mounting uses four M6 × 35 Allen screws and four M4 spring-lock washers at a nominal tightening torque of 15 Nm. The sensor weighs approximately 250 g, and the cable adds about 135 g/m. The unit requires no input power; it produces a charge output through a 2-pin system insulated from the case. Signal processing requires a charge converter, such as the IPC70x signal conditioner. The connector is terminated with flying leads, and the lower cutoff frequency is determined by the signal conditioner. Confirm cabling and gateway needs with your supplier before commissioning.
Selection Checklist
Before ordering, verify the Ex rating matches your area classification, confirm the 11 m cable length suits your routing, and check that your charge converter is compatible. Because lifecycle status can change, please verify current lifecycle status and availability with Oil AutoTech before ordering. Oil AutoTech offers fast-dispatch spares for oil, gas, and industrial automation, with quick worldwide delivery and hands-on technical selection help. Contact Oil AutoTech today for pricing and availability.
