Vibro-Meter AMC8 Analog Monitoring Card



Vibro-Meter AMC8 (Analog Monitoring Card) is an 8-channel process and temperature monitoring card engineered by Meggitt’s Vibro-Meter® product line for the VM600 rack-based machinery protection system.

Paired with the IOC8T input/output module, it provides continuous condition monitoring, signal conditioning, and automated trip/alarm protection for industrial rotating machinery.

Unique Product Description

The Vibro-Meter AMC8 is a high-density, software-configurable monitoring card designed to process critical operational parameters such as bearing temperature, process pressure, flow, and voltage/current inputs across 8 independent channels.

Operating within the VM600 system, it combines individual channel monitoring with multi-channel mathematical logic (averaging, temperature differential, and min/max detection) to deliver early fault detection and prevent catastrophic equipment failure.

Product Advantages and Features

Universal Sensor Processing: Software-selectable channel configurations support 3-wire and 4-wire RTDs (Pt100. Ni120. Cu10), Thermocouples (TC), DC voltage (0–10 V), and process currents (0–25 mA / 4–20 mA).

Integrated Relay & Alarm Logic: Features programmable Alert, Danger, and OK status thresholds. Drives four local relays on the IOC8T card and up to 16 external relays on an RLC16 relay module via the rack backplane.

Cold-Junction Compensation (CJC): Embedded CJC processing on dedicated channels ensures precision temperature readings when using thermocouples.

Multi-Channel Math Functions: Performs real-time math operations, including multi-point temperature averaging, differential calculations, and peak/minimum tracking across up to 8 channels.

Hot-Swappable Architecture: Supports live insertion and removal from powered VM600 racks without interrupting adjacent cards or backplane communications.

Comprehensive Self-Diagnostics: Built-in test (BIT) functions detect sensor line breaks, hardware faults, and slot-mismatch issues automatically.

Application Cases

Other Models in the Same Series (VM600 Platform)

IOC8T: Input/Output companion card installed in the rear rack slot to interface wiring and provide local relay outputs.

MPC4 / IOC4T: Machinery protection card pair for vibration, dynamic pressure, and shaft position monitoring.

CMC16 / IOC16T: Condition monitoring card set for high-density vibration and scalar data processing.

CPUM / IOCN: Central Processing Unit card pair providing VMEbus management, Ethernet communication, and Modbus/Profibus fieldbus connectivity.

RLC16: Open-collector relay card providing 16 additional programmable alarm contacts.

ABE040 / ABE042: VM600 19-inch 3U rack enclosures (front and rear slot backplane system).

Installation and Maintenance

Mechanical Pairing: Install the AMC8 card in the front slot of the ABE04x rack and the corresponding IOC8T card directly behind it in the rear slot. Mechanical slot coding prevents accidental insertion into wrong card slots.

System Configuration: Configure sensor types, trip setpoints, and relay logic via the front-panel RS-232 serial port or over the VMEbus using VM600 MPSx software / VibroSight® software.

Wiring & Termination: Connect field wiring (RTD, TC, 4–20 mA loops) to terminal blocks on the rear IOC8T card to maintain clean separation between field wiring and front-panel diagnostics.

Maintenance Diagnostics: Monitor status using front-panel LEDs (OK, Alert, Danger per channel). Routine maintenance involves verifying calibration values, checking sensor line integrity via software, and testing relay trips during planned unit outages.