Data Transmitters

EVO 1650 Smart Core, MCG 1200M

Analog signals in, digital data out.

What It Is & How It Works

A data transmitter is a microprocessor-based field device that receives analog and digital inputs from tank-side instruments, converts them into standardized digital protocols, and delivers that data to a control system, inventory software, or SCADA host. It is the link between what happens at the tank and what operators see in the control room.

The data flow follows a consistent path: level gauges, temperature probes, pressure transducers, and discrete sensors connect their 4–20 mA, RTD, or RS-485 signals to the transmitter’s input terminals. The transmitter digitizes those inputs, displays them on a local graphical LCD, and publishes the data upstream over a variety of supported protocols. Because the transmitter aggregates multiple inputs at the tank, it eliminates individual analog cable runs to the control room, reducing cabling and installation cost.

Transmitters mount in explosion-proof enclosures at or near the tank. Field wiring enters through conduit connections with integrated lightning and surge protection. All configuration and calibration is performed through infrared programming using a remote calibrator, which communicates through the sealed glass window of the enclosure, so the housing cover never needs to be removed in hazardous environments. Flash memory enables firmware updates in the field without replacing hardware.

One important detail: data transmitters accept signals from any compatible field instrument, not just one gauge type. A single transmitter can simultaneously process level from a radar gauge, temperature from an RTD probe, pressure from a transducer, and discrete contact status from alarm switches, publishing all of it as a unified data set to the host system.

Data Transmitter vs. Float & Tape Transmitter

Both devices digitize tank measurements, but they serve different system roles. A float and tape transmitter mounts directly to a mechanical gauge and encodes that gauge’s tape position into a digital signal. A data transmitter is instrument-agnostic: it accepts standardized signals from any combination of gauges, probes, and sensors and converts them to digital protocols. Choose a float and tape transmitter to digitize a specific mechanical gauge. Choose a data transmitter when the system requires multi-input aggregation, protocol conversion, or integration with instruments beyond a single gauge. See Float & Tape Transmitters.

When to Choose a Data Transmitter

Data transmitters are the right choice when tank-side instruments need a reliable path into digital infrastructure:

Radar Gauge Installations Requiring Ground-Level Data Access Pairing with the evo 1610 or MCG 1600SFI radar to provide local display, alarm relay outputs, and protocol conversion at the tank.
Multi-Instrument Tank Installations Tanks equipped with a level gauge, temperature probe, pressure transducer, and discrete alarm contacts that need all measurements consolidated and transmitted through a single device.
Terminal Automation and Inventory Systems Facilities where tank data must reach FuelsManager®, SCADA, or DCS platforms over Modbus, HART, or proprietary digital highways.
Hazardous and Classified Locations Class I Division 1, ATEX Zone 1, and IECEx environments requiring explosion-proof enclosures with non-intrusive infrared configuration.
Retrofit and Legacy System Integration Facilities upgrading from analog-only infrastructure to digital protocols, or bridging between proprietary legacy highways and modern Modbus or HART networks.

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EVO 1650 Smart Core, MCG 1200M

Why Top Mount Level Control Switches Excel

Tanks with Multiple Sensors Requiring a Single Data Path

One transmitter aggregates level, temperature, pressure, and discrete inputs, eliminating individual analog cable runs to the control room.

Hazardous Environments Requiring Non-Intrusive Configuration

Infrared calibration through a sealed glass window means the explosion-proof housing is never opened for programming, maintaining the integrity of the hazardous-area rating.

Mixed-Protocol Tank Farms

Configurable output protocols allow a single transmitter model to integrate with L&J Tankway, Mark Space, Modbus, HART, or other host system protocols depending on the installation.

Facilities Subject to Power Interruptions

Flash memory retains all configuration and calibration data through power cycles, and absolute level data resumes immediately on power restoration with no re-zeroing required.

Sites Requiring Field-Updatable Firmware

New protocols and functionality can be downloaded to flash memory in the field without replacing hardware, extending the useful life of the installed base.

What to Consider Alongside Data Transmitters

Consider an alternative when:

You need only local display and calibration access for a single gauge without protocol conversion or multi-input aggregation. See Ground Level Displays.
You need centralized multi-tank visibility with alarm handling, trending, and operator interaction from a single station. See Touch Panel Displays.
You need to digitize a float and tape gauge specifically, mounting directly to the gauge head. See Float & Tape Transmitters.

How Data Transmitters Fit Into a Larger System

Pair with evo1610 or MCG 1600SFI Radar Level Gauges as the upstream measurement source, with the transmitter providing local display, relay alarm outputs, and protocol conversion for the radar’s level data. See Radar Level Gauges.
Pair with MCG 351 Average Temperature Probes (via the MCG 2350 interface) for integrated level and temperature data, enabling temperature-compensated volume calculations downstream. See Temperature Probes.
Pair with FuelsManager® as the downstream inventory platform, receiving digitized level, temperature, and alarm data for real-time corrected volumes, compliance reporting, and multi-site inventory management. See FuelsManager®.