Germanjet Magnetostrictive Sensors: Brand, Range and Supply

Two things are worth settling before choosing a sensor: what the brand actually builds, and who you get it from. Germanjet builds only magnetostrictive position and level sensors — no optical, no capacitive. In mainland China, selection, supply and service are handled by Shenzhen Yice Electric. This page sets out the brand boundary, how the range maps to applications, and how supply works.

What the principle decides

A waveguide wire, a magnet, and the time a pulse takes to travel and return. That gives three properties: absolute position that survives a power loss, no contact and no wear parts, and usable resolution over long strokes. It also sets the boundary — sub-micron work and strokes of a few millimetres belong to capacitive or eddy-current sensors, not to this principle. The range is split into position measurement, with a rod and a magnet, and level measurement, where a float replaces the magnet.

Mapping the range to an application

There are many model numbers but only a few structures. Start from where it mounts, then fix the interface:

Construction	Series	Mounting	Typical duty
In-cylinder	16 / 19H	Rod bore or cylinder head	Injection moulding, die casting, presses
Cylinder integrated	17 / 17EX	Threaded into the cylinder body	Mobile hydraulics, metallurgy, Ex areas
External rod	18 / 19P	Outside the frame, magnet follows	Retrofits, adjustable strokes
General purpose	12 / 13	Frame, guideway, mobile hydraulics	Wall-thickness control, general position
Fieldbus	194 / 195 / 197 / 198 / 199PROFINET	As above, driven by the master	Multi-axis, central control

Interfaces are covered separately on this site: analogue (0-10 V, 4-20 mA, 0-20 mA), Start-Stop, SSI, CANopen, Profibus, EtherCAT, PROFINET, Modbus and IO-Link. The order that avoids rework is construction first, interface second, stroke and resolution last.

What the distributor provides

A distributor is not a pass-through, and the boundary matters as much as the service:

• Selection and cross-checking. Give stroke, envelope, medium, temperature, interface and ingress protection; the model is checked against the factory specification, with outline and bore drawings issued where the machine builder needs to confirm.
• Samples and documentation. Evaluation units, EDS / GSD / ESI files, wiring diagrams and datasheets — the material that actually gets used during commissioning.
• Spares and service. Common models held in stock; on split designs the probe alone can be replaced; calibration and repair go through the distributor rather than a full replacement.
• Not design or certification. Structure, certification and firmware belong to the factory. Non-standard work is assessed by them; the distributor cannot promise that a modification is trivial.

Telling a genuine unit from a rebuilt one

Three checks cover most of it. Read the nameplate: model, stroke, serial number and date of manufacture, all matching the accompanying documents. Read the bus identity parameters on CANopen models — vendor ID, product code and device type are in the EDS, and rebuilt or copied units do not match. Compare datasheet revisions: dimensions and electrical data should match the current issue line by line. If doubt remains, send the serial number to the distributor rather than guessing.

Where this technology is the wrong choice

A switch-only requirement is better served by a proximity or limit switch. Strokes of a few millimetres leave too little effective range against the dead zones, which belong to eddy-current or capacitive sensors. Ambient temperature beyond the model's rating can be mitigated with a heat shield but not solved, and long-term over-temperature shortens life. And strokes far beyond the standard range are non-standard work, so lead time and cost need settling before the design is frozen.

Questions that come up

How do Germanjet and Yice Electric relate

Germanjet is the sensor brand; Shenzhen Yice Electric is its distributor in mainland China, handling selection support, supply, spares and service. Documentation is passed through the distributor; design and certification remain with the factory.

Can I order by model number alone

Yes, if the model is complete. Stroke, output, connector and ingress protection are separate options within one series, so a series number alone is not enough. Give mounting position, stroke, interface and protection, and let the order be confirmed against them.

Are common models in stock

Common structures and strokes are stocked; availability and lead time vary by batch, so confirm before ordering. Non-standard and Ex models are scheduled by the factory, and their lead time is the factory's to quote.

Can just the head or the probe be replaced

On split designs yes, but a new head requires a fresh two-point calibration. Sealed one-piece designs are replaced as a whole. The order code and the joint between head and probe tell you which you have.

For selection questions, send the application details through contact. Full specifications are under the product centre, and application-based routes are on the hydraulic cylinder topic page.