Book 1 launches March 16, 2026
Instrumentation & Signals: Field Troubleshooting book cover
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Instrumentation & Signals

Field Troubleshooting

When production stops and everyone's watching, you don't need theory—you need a system.

Standing in front of broken equipment at 2 AM isn't the time for textbooks. This 320-page field guide delivers systematic methods that work when the pressure's on. No guessing. No throwing parts at problems. Just logical troubleshooting that works every time.

Available in: Kindle Paperback
Pre-order on Amazon

What's Covered

Discrete I/O

Six-step troubleshooting path, PNP/NPN problems, card vs field issues

Analog Signals (4-20 mA)

Zero current paths, noisy signals, EMI and ground loops, scaling problems

Temperature Sensors

RTD wiring types, thermocouple type mismatch, IR emissivity, thermowell installation

Pressure, Flow & Level

Impulse lines, transmitter types, diaphragm seals, float switches to radar sensors

Proximity & Photoelectric

Detection distance, material correction factors, mounting mistakes that kill sensors

Cable & Wiring

Half-split method, wiggle tests, shield grounding, continuity procedures

SITVD Framework: Symptom, Isolate, Test, Verify, Document

The SITVD Framework

An anti-panic protocol that gets you to root cause whether you're troubleshooting discrete outputs, analog loops, or temperature sensors reading wrong. Eight real case files. Seven decision tree appendices you can photocopy and laminate for field use. Quick reference tables designed for 2 AM problem-solving.

Who This Is For

Maintenance technicians stepping up to instrumentation
Instrument techs wanting systematic methods
Electricians expanding into controls
Engineering students bridging classroom to reality
Anyone who shows up when equipment breaks
Technical trainers building curriculum

The Series

Instrumentation & Signals

March 2026

PLCs & Controls

Coming Soon

Communications & Networking

Coming Soon

About the Author

Robert Cummer spent 30 years troubleshooting plant floors—automotive to chemical processing. Former Technical Leader at Dow Chemical with two engineering patents. Currently teaches industrial automation as an adjunct professor. This is the book he wished he'd had on day one. Each volume follows the 80/20 principle: master the common problems causing most downtime, build skills for everything else.

Stop Guessing

Start troubleshooting systematically.