VEGA VEGACAP 63 Insulated Capacitive Rod Level Switch

VEGACAP 63 fully insulated capacitive rod level switch

The VEGACAP 63 is a capacitive point level switch with a fully insulated rod electrode, intended for conductive liquids and for products with a high dielectric value. It is one of five related rod and cable switches in the VEGACAP 60 series, and it is the one VEGA positions for conductive liquids where a rod fully covered in PTFE is needed to resist corrosion. Seven Star LLC supplies the VEGACAP 63 in Oman and the GCC as an independent supplier in Muscat.

How the VEGACAP 63 detects level

The probe, the liquid and the vessel wall together form a capacitor. When the liquid rises along the rod, the capacitance changes; the electronics convert that change into a switching command. Because conductive liquids and products with a dielectric value above roughly 5 behave like a very high dielectric, a fully insulated rod is the normal choice. The documentation notes that the mounting position is free (from above, from the side or from below), that the sensor is maintenance free and insensitive to buildup, and that a laterally mounted horizontal rod gives the most precise switching point because it is covered along its whole length at once.

Technical specifications of the VEGACAP 63

The approval list for the series covers ATEX, IEC, FM, CSA, EAC, NEPSI and CCC schemes, intrinsic safety, flameproof and dust protection types, FDA conformity and marine approvals. Which of these applies depends on the electronics and housing selected.

Where the VEGACAP 63 sits in the VEGACAP 60 series

The series has five members. The VEGACAP 62 is a partly insulated rod for non-conductive liquids. The VEGACAP 63 is the fully insulated rod for conductive liquids. The VEGACAP 64 is a fully insulated rod with an active screening segment for very adhesive conductive products, intended for lateral mounting and tolerant of buildup several centimetres thick. The VEGACAP 66 is an insulated cable version with lengths from 0.4 to 32 m, and the VEGACAP 69 is a double-rod design for non-conductive vessels. Our site also lists the VEGACAP 62, 64, 65, 66 and 67 as separate models.

Selection checklist for the VEGACAP 63

• Confirm the liquid is conductive or has a dielectric value above about 5.
• Decide overfill (high level) or dry-run protection (low level) and choose the mounting direction to match.
• Choose the insulation version for temperature, pressure and chemical resistance; the screening-tube versions are graded PN1, PN16 and PN40.
• Choose rod length so that the probe is immersed enough at the switching point. Conductive products need more than 30 mm of coverage.
• Select thread or flange, and a plated flange if the metal is not resistant to the medium.
• Select the output: relay, electronic switch, transistor or two-wire, and the hazardous-area approval.

Installation of the VEGACAP 63

Mount the probe so it projects freely into the vessel; avoid sockets and tubes where the product can build up. Keep it out of the filling stream and away from agitators, because strong lateral forces can make a long rod resonate. If a longer rod is needed, stabilise it with a support just above the tip. In a metal vessel the mechanical connection must be electrically conductive, so use conductive seals and avoid covering the thread with PTFE tape; where that cannot be avoided, use the ground terminal on the housing. In a plastic vessel the second pole of the capacitor is missing and must be supplied, with a double rod or a large grounding surface.

Wiring and commissioning

Connect the supply only with power off. Round cable with an outer diameter of 5 to 9 mm seals correctly in the cable gland. The relay outputs are drawn in the idle state, and VEGA recommends wiring so that the circuit is open on a level signal, a cable break or a fault, which gives a safe state. The electronic switch must always be connected to a load and is not intended for low-voltage PLC inputs; the transistor output serves PLC binary inputs in NPN or PNP action. Set the switching point on site, then verify it by raising and lowering the liquid.

Typical applications in Oman and the GCC

The VEGACAP 63 is used for overfill protection in chemical storage, caustic and acid dosing tanks, water treatment chemicals at desalination plants, and process vessels at refineries and power stations. High ambient temperatures call for a weather cover on the housing, and dust and humidity are covered by the IP66/IP68 ratings. PTFE insulation allows temperatures to 200 °C for hot condensate and heated process liquids.

Information to send with an RFQ for the VEGACAP 63

• Medium, conductivity or dielectric value, and temperature.
• Pressure, and whether it is overfill or dry-run protection.
• Rod length, mounting direction and process fitting.
• Output type, supply voltage and hazardous-area requirements.
• Housing material and quantity.

Documents and quotation

A product information datasheet for the VEGACAP series (VEGACAP 62, 63, 64, 66, 69) is attached on this page. Send us the type code or the details above and we will confirm availability and quote the VEGACAP 63 in Oman and the GCC.