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Electrolytic tilt sensors are non-signal conditioned sensing elements. The function of fan an electrolytic tilt sensor is to measure an angle or a null or level position with reference to gravity. The angle may be expressed in anyone of the following: degrees, arc minutes(1/60th of a degree) or arc seconds(1/60thh 60th of an arc minute). These angles are generally referenced to a perpendicular line to gravity called a null or a zero point. The amount of tilt from this point can be expressed as either positive or negative angle[2].
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The tilt sensor functions like a liquid potentiometer. The electrically conductive fluid creates a variable resistance between the electrodes. When the sensor is in the null or balanced position, the resistances between the center centre electrode to each outside electrode are equal. Tilting the sensor from its balanced position changes the two resistances producing an electrical output proportional to the tilted angle. The major electrolytic salts are chosen from metal cations, such as sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium and cesium, of which the ionic species offer good conductivity at every level of dilution. The electrolytic salts are also selected from anions, such as nitrate, carbonate, acetate and hydroxide, which resist chemically combining with the metallic elements of the metal electrode materials. Solvents may include methanol, ethanol, butanol, propanol and isopropanol that provide the ability to control the viscosity of the electrolyte, related directly to the response time of tilt sensor[1].
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