Description
Key Technical Specifications
- Model Number: 330104-00-18-10-02-CN
- Manufacturer: Bently Nevada (a Baker Hughes business)
- Probe Technology: Eddy current (non-contact)
- Probe Diameter: 8mm (0.315″)
- Measurement Range: 0-18mm (0-0.709″)
- Cable Length: 10ft (3.05m)
- Connector Type: 2-pin MIL-C-5015 male connector
- Operating Temperature: -54°C to +121°C (-65°F to +250°F)
- Sensitivity: 200 mV/mm (5.08 mV/mil) typical (at 25°C)
- Cable Construction: PFA insulation, stainless steel braided shield (EMI/RFI protection)
- Isolation Rating: 500V AC (probe tip to cable shield)
- Certifications: CE, ATEX Zone 0 (Ex ia IIC T6), IECEx ia IIC T6
- Compatibility: Bently 3300 XL Proximitor Sensors, 3300 Series Monitor Systems, 1900 Series Vibration Monitors
- Calibration: Factory-calibrated for ferrous targets (CN suffix indicates compliance with Bently’s NIST-traceable standards)
Bently Nevada 330104-00-18-10-02-CN
Field Application & Problem Solved
In rotating machinery maintenance—refinery turbines, power plant compressors, chemical plant pumps—the biggest challenge is detecting early-stage shaft vibration or displacement before catastrophic failure. Generic contact sensors fail in harsh environments (high temperature, pressure, oil contamination) and can damage shafts during operation. A Texas refinery lost $320k in a 6-hour outage when a contact sensor seized on a turbine shaft, causing scoring and unplanned downtime. Legacy proximity probes with limited measurement ranges also force frequent re-calibration: a Pennsylvania power plant spent $22k annually adjusting probes that couldn’t handle the 15mm shaft displacement in their steam turbines.
This probe solves these issues. You’ll find it in: gas and steam turbines, centrifugal compressors, reciprocating pumps, and electric motors—any rotating asset where non-contact monitoring is critical. It’s the standard for facilities with strict predictive maintenance protocols, as it provides continuous, real-time data on shaft health.
Its core value is non-contact reliability + wide measurement range + harsh environment durability. Unlike contact sensors, it never touches the shaft, eliminating wear and damage. The 18mm range accommodates large shaft movements, while the braided cable resists oil and EMI. For a Louisiana chemical plant, this probe reduced unplanned downtime by 70% for their centrifugal compressors, as it detected a 2mm shaft displacement anomaly 48 hours before a potential seal failure.
Installation & Maintenance Pitfalls (Expert Tips)
- Probe-to-Target Gap: Calibrate to Mid-Range During Installation: Rookies set the probe to the minimum gap, limiting measurement range. An Ohio steel mill’s vibration data was truncated until the probe was adjusted to 9mm (mid-range of 0-18mm). Use a feeler gauge and proximitor to set the gap—verify with a multimeter (1.8V output = 9mm gap at 200 mV/mm sensitivity).
- Cable Shield Grounding: Single-Point Ground Only: Daisy-chaining cable shields to multiple ground points introduces EMI, causing false vibration spikes. A Florida refinery’s turbine data showed “random” 5g spikes until the shield was grounded only at the proximitor end. Use a crimped ground lug and avoid grounding at the probe or machinery housing.
- Target Surface Condition: Clean and Machined for Accuracy: Rust, paint, or scale on the shaft target distorts the eddy current signal. A Michigan paper mill’s pump probe gave erratic readings until the shaft was cleaned and machined to a 1.6μm surface finish. Ensure the target is ferrous, clean, and free of non-conductive coatings—use a shaft extension if the target area is damaged.
- Cable Bending Radius: Never Exceed 10x Cable Diameter: Kinking the cable (bending radius <25mm) breaks the braided shield, leading to signal loss. A North Carolina water treatment plant’s probe failed after 3 months when the cable was bent at a 15mm radius during installation. Use cable ties to maintain a minimum 25mm bend radius—avoid tight spaces or sharp edges.
- Calibration Verification: Test Post-Installation (Annually Thereafter): Rookies assume factory calibration is permanent, but temperature cycles and vibration can drift sensitivity. A Texas power plant’s probe sensitivity dropped to 180 mV/mm after 12 months, leading to inaccurate displacement readings. Verify calibration with a Bently calibration kit—document results for regulatory compliance.
Bently Nevada 330104-00-18-10-02-CN
Technical Deep Dive & Overview
The Bently 330104-00-18-10-02-CN is an eddy current proximity probe designed to monitor shaft health in rotating machinery. At its core, it uses a high-frequency oscillator (1-20MHz) to generate an alternating magnetic field from the probe tip. When the probe is positioned near a ferrous shaft, the magnetic field induces eddy currents in the shaft’s surface. The interaction between the probe’s magnetic field and the eddy currents creates a load on the oscillator—this load changes with the probe-to-shaft gap.
The probe works in tandem with a Bently proximitor (e.g., 3300 XL), which converts the oscillator load into a linear voltage output (0-10V = 0-18mm gap). The braided cable shields the signal from EMI, critical in industrial environments with VFDs and motors. The 8mm probe diameter is compact enough for tight spaces, while the 18mm range accommodates large shaft movements— a key advantage over smaller-range probes (e.g., 330103 with 8mm range).
What sets it apart is its rugged design: the PFA-insulated cable resists oil and chemicals, and the -54°C to +121°C temperature range works in cryogenic and high-temperature applications. The CN suffix ensures factory calibration to Bently’s strict standards, eliminating the need for on-site calibration. For predictive maintenance teams, this probe isn’t just a sensor—it’s a lifeline that provides early warning of shaft issues, enabling scheduled maintenance instead of unplanned downtime.
