YOKOGAWA LR 4220E Desktop recording equipment
The YOKOGAWA LR4220E is a high-performance laboratory-grade desktop recorder, specifically a 4-pen model from the legendary LR series.
It is renowned for its reliability in capturing fast-moving analog signals with extreme precision on a wide-format strip chart.
1. Introduction
The LR4220E is part of the LR4200 family, which revolutionized the industry by combining traditional analog pen-recording with digital data processing.
The “4220” designation indicates a 4-pen continuous trace model, and the “E” suffix typically denotes the international/English version with a universal power supply.
It uses a high-speed, high-accuracy servo-drive system to move pens across a 250mm wide chart paper.
2. Technical Parameter Table
| Parameter | Specification |
| Manufacturer | Yokogawa Electric |
| Model Number | LR4220E |
| Number of Pens | 4 (Red, Green, Blue, Violet) |
| Measurement Method | Automatic null-balance DC servo |
| Input Types | Universal (DC Voltage, Thermocouple, RTD) |
| Effective Chart Width | 250 mm |
| Pen Speed | Approx. 1600 mm/s |
| Max. Acceleration | Approx. $8G$ |
| Accuracy | $\pm 0.1\%$ of effective recording width |
| Chart Speed | 10 mm/h to 1200 mm/min |
| Power Supply | 100 to 240V AC, 50/60 Hz |
3. Product Advantages and Features
High-Speed Dynamic Response: With a pen speed of 1600 mm/s and $8G$ acceleration, it can accurately track rapid signal fluctuations that would be blurred by slower recorders.
Digital & Analog Hybrid: While it draws a continuous analog line, it also features a built-in vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) for digital monitoring and can print numeric date/time data directly on the chart.
Intelligent Measurement Functions: Supports delta T (temperature difference) calculations, scaling, and square root extraction without requiring external signal conditioners.
Superior Durability: Designed for long-term laboratory use with a non-contact ultrasonic pen-position sensor that eliminates the wear-and-tear associated with traditional slide-wire potentiometers.
4. Application Cases
Battery Testing: Monitoring charge/discharge cycles where 4 different variables (Voltage, Current, Temperature, and Internal Pressure) must be compared simultaneously.
R&D Labs: Capturing transient phenomena in chemistry or physics experiments that require a high-resolution physical “hard copy” for legal or scientific records.
Automotive Engineering: Recording sensor data during engine dyno tests or suspension stress tests.
Pilot Plant Monitoring: Tracking critical process variables in small-scale chemical production before scaling to full factory levels.
5. Other Models in the Same Series
The LR series is categorized by the number of pens and the physical layout:
LR4210: 1-pen version.
LR4220: 2-pen version.
LR8100: A larger, vertical rack-mount series (up to 8 pens).
LR12000: A high-end model featuring advanced mathematical computing capabilities and color LCDs.
6. Consumables & Related Models
To maintain the LR4220E, specific genuine Yokogawa supplies are required:
B9573AN: Disposable felt-tip pens (available in different colors for each channel).
B9619AK: Z-fold chart paper (30 meters length, 250mm width).
B9573AG: Replacement ribbon for digital printing functions.
Note: As the LR4220E is a legacy product, many users are transitioning to the Yokogawa GP10/GP20 series paperless recorders.
However, the LR series remains in high demand for applications where an immediate, physical, and continuous analog trace is legally or technically preferred.