Kobold Messring’s compact magnetic-inductive flow meter, with the C3T0 electronics: a color display, a flow totalizer, temperature measurement, and IO-Link.
¶ What it measures
Flow of conductive liquids by magnetic induction — see Flow. The C3T0 electronics also keep a running volume total and measure the temperature of the liquid.
| Measuring ranges | 0.18 GPH – 7.8 GPH up to 9 – 180 GPM, across six connection sizes (G ½ to G 2¾) — the range is set by the order code |
| Accuracy | ±2 % of full scale |
| Repeatability | ±1 % of full scale |
| Minimum conductivity | 30 µS/cm (200 µS/cm for range codes U0 and U1) |
| Viscosity | Up to 20 cSt (ranges U0–U8) or 70 cSt (ranges UA–UH) |
| Maximum pressure | 145 psig at 70 °F |
| Pressure drop | 3.7 psi at 100 % of rated flow |
| Media temperature | −4 to 176 °F (−20 to 80 °C); 140 °F maximum with PVC fittings |
| Ambient temperature | 14 to 140 °F (−10 to 60 °C) |
| Temperature measurement | Within 3.6 °F (2 °C) |
| Response time | About 1 second |
| Wetted materials | Housing, electrode, and seal combinations: PPS / stainless steel / NBR or FKM; PPS / Hastelloy / NBR or FKM; PVDF / Hastelloy / FFKM; PVDF / tantalum / FFKM |
The measurement does not depend on the liquid’s density, viscosity, or temperature — but the liquid must be conductive and fill the tube completely.
¶ Electrical interface
| Supply | 24 V DC |
| Outputs | Two, configurable. OUT1 carries IO-Link as shipped; OUT2 can be a switching or current output. |
| IO-Link | v1.1, COM3, minimum cycle time 1.1 ms, port class A. SIO mode on OUT1. |
| Ready after power-up | 10 seconds |
| Maximum cable length | 20 m |
| Display | Rotatable color TFT, 1.4 inch |
| Ingress rating | IP65 |
On a class A port, keep OUT2 at 50 mA or less. Drawing more from OUT2 overloads the IO-Link master port and can make it malfunction.
¶ IO-Link data
| Value | Unit (as shipped) |
|---|---|
| Flow | l/min |
| Volume — the totalizer | liters |
| Temperature | °C, to 0.1 |
| OUT1, OUT2 | Switch status, on or off |
IO-Link identity: vendor ID 1105 (0x0451), device ID 262912 (0x040300).
¶ Notes
- Keep the factory units. Flow and volume units can be changed on the meter. A controller reading it over IO-Link reads the values as liters per minute and liters, so a meter set to other units will be mislabeled — and a volume total in the wrong unit doses at the wrong rate.
- The settings menu locks while IO-Link is active. The display shows IOLINK in green in the output status, and the menu cannot be opened. Change settings before connecting it to the controller, or over IO-Link.
- Empty pipe reads as zero flow. When the tube is not full, or the liquid’s conductivity is too low, the meter reports Empty Pipe and its flow value is invalid. Over IO-Link, an invalid value is sent as 0.
- Status messages. When the STATUS symbol flashes orange and red, press the status button for the list: Empty Pipe, Temp Sens Error, Meas saturated (flow too high — reduce it), No Subslave (internal fault), Simulation (a simulation is running). The first confirms the list; persisting errors flash again.
- The totalizer has a grand total and a resettable part total. The controller reads the grand total.
¶ Installation
- Follow the arrow. Flow must run in the direction of the arrow on the body. It can be installed in vertical, horizontal, or rising pipe; avoid mounting it upside down.
- Keep the tube full. Air or a partly full pipe gives large errors and triggers Empty Pipe.
- Straight pipe: keep inlet and outlet pipework 50 mm from the connections, and avoid valves or large reductions on the inlet side.
- Do not over-tighten. PPS and PVDF housings must not be twisted during installation — over-tightening damages the housing, and too loose a joint can work free. Match the thread and sealing to the material.
- Keep it away from extreme loads: pressure surges, pipe movement, vibration near centrifugal pumps, and flooding.
- Check the connections for leaks before commissioning.
Do not open the electronics. Opening the C3T electronics’ screw ring voids the warranty; electronics work is factory-only.
¶ Maintenance
- No routine maintenance is needed if the liquid does not leave deposits.
- Filter dirty water. Kobold recommends a filter ahead of the meter — such as its MFR magnetic filter — to prevent problems.
- Cleaning: rinse the sensor with a suitable liquid; remove fibers or large particles carefully with a cloth.
- Coated electrodes cause drift or noise — see Flow.
¶ Using it with a controller
- InteliHive — on an IO-Link port. Its volume total can drive Volume Dosing; the controller converts liters to gallons for the dose threshold. See Supported Devices.
¶ Sources
- Kobold USA — MIK magnetic flow meter
- Kobold — MIK with IO-Link
- Kobold MIK operating instructions (PDF)