A sensor wire count reduction system comprising: a sensor apparatus comprising a sensor array and a sensor encoder wherein the sensor encoder is in electrical communication with the sensor array; and characterized by: a transmission cable in electrical communication with the sensor encoder and comprising a multi-level signal wire; and a controller comprising a multi-level to binary decoder in electrical communication with the multi-level signal wire; and wherein the sensor encoder comprises a level setter comprising a voltage divider in electrical communication with the sensor array and whereby different voltages are provided to the multi-level signal wire in response to the sensor array; and wherein the multi-level to binary decoder comprises: a first thresholder configured to determine whether the multi-level signal wire is indicating a voltage within a first range; a second thresholder configured to determine whether the multi-level signal wire is indicating the voltage within a second range; a third thresholder configured to determine whether the multi-level signal wire is indicating the voltage within a third range; a second combiner whereby determinations from the first thresholder and the second thresholder are combined; a third combiner whereby determinations from the first thresholder and the third thresholder are combined; and wherein the second combiner is in electrical communication with a first output, and wherein the third combiner is in electrical communication with a second output. a transmission cable in electrical communication with the sensor encoder and comprising a multi-level signal wire; and a controller comprising a multi-level to binary decoder in electrical communication with the multi-level signal wire; and wherein the sensor encoder comprises a level setter comprising a voltage divider in electrical communication with the sensor array and whereby different voltages are provided to the multi-level signal wire in response to the sensor array; and wherein the multi-level to binary decoder comprises: a first thresholder configured to determine whether the multi-level signal wire is indicating a voltage within a first range; a second thresholder configured to determine whether the multi-level signal wire is indicating the voltage within a second range; a third thresholder configured to determine whether the multi-level signal wire is indicating the voltage within a third range; a second combiner whereby determinations from the first thresholder and the second thresholder are combined; a third combiner whereby determinations from the first thresholder and the third thresholder are combined; and wherein the second combiner is in electrical communication with a first output, and wherein the third combiner is in electrical communication with a second output. a first thresholder configured to determine whether the multi-level signal wire is indicating a voltage within a first range; a second thresholder configured to determine whether the multi-level signal wire is indicating the voltage within a second range; a third thresholder configured to determine whether the multi-level signal wire is indicating the voltage within a third range; a second combiner whereby determinations from the first thresholder and the second thresholder are combined; a third combiner whereby determinations from the first thresholder and the third thresholder are combined; and wherein the second combiner is in electrical communication with a first output, and wherein the third combiner is in electrical communication with a second output.