Accelerometers

Accelerometers are useful for engineers in a range of industries. Whether building laptops, smartphones, medical devices or earthquake detection equipment, there's a good chance accelerometers are an important part of your job.

In our online store, you'll find accelerometers from a variety of leading manufacturers. These include Wilcoxon Sensing Technologies, SKF Bearings, and Honeywell.

Browse the full range of accelerometer measurement devices below. For your convenience, you can use the advanced filters to narrow your search. Filter by supply voltage, mounting type, IP rating, and more.

If you'd like to find out more about accelerometers before you make a purchase, read on. For additional questions, don't forget you can get in touch with our friendly team!

What is an accelerometer?

Accelerometers are electro mechanical devices used to measure the forces of acceleration. The forces it measures may be static (gravity, for example), or dynamic (measuring any movement the device is subject to).

An accelerometer measures speed, as the name suggests. But it also goes a step further and measures how speed changes over time. This means the accelerometer can inform how certain devices function when there is a sudden change in speed. For example, an accelerometer can trigger the electrical circuit that inflates airbags if it detects a sudden change in a car's speed. When you tilt your iPhone and the screen display changes from portrait to landscape, that's the device's accelerometer in action.

What types of accelerometers are available?

There are three main types of accelerometer you can get. These are:

Triaxial Accelerometer

A triaxial accelerometer measures acceleration in three orthogonal directions. The three sensing elements used to do this are positioned perpendicular to each other. With this feature, a triaxial accelerometer can measure all the vibration components that affect the object.

The triaxial accelerometer is a crucial component of inertial guidance systems, such as those found in aircraft and missiles. This is because they measure any changes in acceleration that affect the net inertial state of the vehicle.

Piezoelectric accelerometer

Piezoelectric accelerometers are commonly used for measuring vibrations and shock. Their active element is a piezoelectric ceramic with one side that is connected to the accelerometer's body and another side that has a seismic mass added. When there is a vibration, a force is generated that acts on the piezoelectric element and the seismic mass. This effect means that a charge output proportional to the applied force is generated from this vibration.

You can choose between an ICP ("integrated circuit piezoelectric") accelerometer or a charge-mode operation accelerometer. The integration of an ICP accelerometer reduces noise to a minimum, simplifies the amplifier design and offers a low-impedance output signal. It can be a little more sensitive to extreme temperatures, though.

A charge mode operation accelerometer has an amplifier circuit that's based outside of the sensor. This physical separation offers a more complex amplifier design and expands the sensor's utility to a more sizeable range of applications.

The piezoelectric accelerometer is popular for industrial testing applications.

Piezoresistive accelerometer

The piezoresistive accelerometer measures vibrations according to changes in resistance. It produces resistance changes in piezoresistive materials which then convert mechanical strain to a DC output voltage. This type of accelerometer is effective in measuring minor vibrations.

The wide bandwidth of a piezoresistive accelerometer makes it a good way of measuring high frequency and high shock. This makes them a choice for automotive crash testing and safety air-bag and traction control system testing.

Need any help choosing the right accelerometer?

You'll be keen to find the correct type of accelerometer. There are several things to look out for when choosing an accelerometer, including:

• The type of measurement - It's important to select the type of accelerometer that is best suited for the type of measurement you are looking for, be that vibration, motion, shock or seismic sensing.
• Device size - The size of the accelerometer you use will need to be compatible with the size of the device you need it for, whether that's a smartphone or heavy machinery.
• Temperature of the environment - Some accelerometers perform well in extreme temperatures, others do not. Double-check the specification before you purchase an accelerometer by downloading the datasheet on the product page. Here, you should find the temperature response range of the product.
• Type of acceleration - The accelerometer you need also partly depends on whether you need it for static or dynamic acceleration. If you're measuring a static force of acceleration (eg: gravity) or the moving force of an object such as a vehicle, the type of accelerometer will need to be compatible with your needs.
• Bear in mind that piezoelectric accelerometers are only suitable for measuring dynamic acceleration, not static. If you want to measure a static or low frequency acceleration of less than 1Hz, make sure you choose a DC-response accelerometer.
• Measurement range and sensitivity - Look out for the dynamic range your accelerometer is capable of when you read the specifications (indicated with a "g"). This is the +/- maximum amplitude that the accelerometer can measure before it clips or distorts the output signal.
• The accelerometer's sensitivity (indicated as "mV/g") is the output voltage produced by a certain force (measured by g's). The output level will need to be proportional to the amplitude of the vibrations. So, if you're measuring high vibrational levels, look for a low output accelerometer. And if you're looking for low level vibrations, look for a high output accelerometer.

Find and buy your accelerometer from RS today

If you're looking for a highly accurate accelerometer device, you've come to the right place! There are hundreds of great options to choose from in our store, designed to suit a range of needs. You'll find industrial accelerometers and seismic accelerometers among our collection. We're one of the largest stockists in North America, so you can trust us to provide you with the top quality products you expect, at a reasonable price.

We want to provide you with a level of customer support that's equally strong, so if you have any questions about your product, we'll be on hand to help. Simply get in contact with a member of our friendly team! Alternatively, look at our expert hub to find out about some of the latest industry information and news.