Accommodation of different type of sensors in vibration monitoring system using external input or daughter board with interchangeable operating hardware

A monitoring system including:

• a first sensor having first operating parameters, wherein the first sensor is configured to monitor a condition and create a signal;
• a first printed circuit board, wherein the first printed circuit board includes no signal processing hardware, including no power conditioner, filter, amplifier/attenuator, or bias, the first printed circuit board includes an analog-to-digital hardware circuit and an output circuit;
• a connector in electrical communication with the first printed circuit board;
• and a second printed circuit board;
• wherein the first sensor is in electrical communication with the second printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board including signal processing hardware configured to process the signal;
• the connector is configured to selectively place the second printed circuit board in electrical communication with the first printed circuit board through the connector, wherein the connector is configured to permit insertion and removal of a third printed circuit board to operate a second sensor having second operating parameters that differ from the first operating parameters of the first sensor.

A method of monitoring a condition of operating equipment including:

• providing at least one piece of operating equipment;
• and
• monitoring a condition of the piece of operating equipment using a monitoring system including a first sensor having first operating parameters, wherein the first sensor is configured to monitor the condition and create a signal,
• a first printed circuit board, wherein the first printed circuit board includes an electrical circuit and signal processing hardware,
• a connector in electrical communication with the first printed circuit board, a second printed circuit board, wherein the first sensor is in electrical communication with the second printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board including signal processing hardware configured to process the signal,
• the connector is configured to selectively place the second printed circuit board in electrical communication with the first printed circuit board through the connector, wherein the connector is configured to permit insertion and removal of a third printed circuit board to operate a second sensor having second operating parameters that differ from the first operating parameters of the first sensor.