Specific Application

• Vibration and position measurement on tight fluid-film bearing machines where physical spacing prevents the use of standard 8mm probes.
• Relative shaft displacement monitoring in constrained machinery spaces, such as mounting directly between thrust bearing pads.
• Speed sensing and high-frequency Keyphasor measurements on industrial turbine shafts situated in hazardous, certified environments.

System Compatibility and Alternatives

• System Compatibility:
  Fully compatible with the Bently Nevada 3300 XL 5mm Proximitor Sensor and standard 3300 XL extension cables. When combined with these components, the system achieves stable signal conversion across a broad operating temperature range without needing manual bench recalibration.
• Alternative Model:
  330172-00-14-10-02-05 (Identical 5mm case design containing stainless steel armored cable protection) or 330101-00-14-10-02-05 (Standard 3300 XL 8mm probe equivalent).
• Difference from Alternative Model:
  The 330171-00-14-10-02-05 features an unarmored FEP insulated triaxial cable, whereas the 330172 alternative adds a flexible stainless steel armor braid jacket with an outer FEP layer to shield the line against physical damage. When evaluated against the 330101 8mm probe, this 5mm module utilizes a significantly smaller physical package to fit into restricted machine brackets; however, it retains identical sideview clearance and tip-to-tip spacing requirements as the larger 8mm version.

Ordering Information

Installation & Troubleshooting FAQ

Q1: What is the correct initial gap voltage and measurement procedure for setting up this 5mm probe?
A: Connect a digital multimeter to your Proximitor sensor output and rotate the 1/4-28 UNF probe into the mounting thread until the multimeter registers -10.0 VDC. This electrical voltage aligns the probe tip at a recommended 1.27 mm (50 mils) physical gap, placing it exactly at the midpoint of its 2.0 mm (80 mils) linear measuring range.

Q2: Why does this 5mm probe exhibit lower structural resistance against physical abuse compared to an 8mm probe?
A: To accommodate tight mechanical boundaries, the 5mm probe case utilizes a narrower physical structure, resulting in a thinner encapsulation of the internal coil in the molded polyphenylene sulfide plastic tip. While it shares the same electrical range, it is inherently less rugged than an 8mm probe, meaning field crews must avoid exposing the tip to direct mechanical impacts.

Q3: Why am I experiencing signal degradation or a truncated linear range when combining this probe with XL components?
A: Using advanced 3300 XL extension cables or sensors with a base 3300 5mm probe physically caps overall loop performance to the legacy, non-XL system criteria. To maintain full accuracy, ensure the combined system length equals exactly 5 or 9 meters, and that the incoming power supply provides a clean, stable -24 VDC source line.

Accessories