4 Advice to Choose a Underground Sensors

Posted on by Henry Menke

Raycom Product Page

How do I choose the right sensor?

Selecting an industrial sensor can be a daunting task.  With so many different sensing technologies and the endless variety of products in the market, how is it possible to find that one ideal sensor for any given application?

Turns out, it&#;s not really so much a process of selecting the right sensor&#;it&#;s really about eliminating all the wrong choices.  Selecting a sensor is a process of asking a series of questions to eliminate any technology or product that doesn&#;t fit the application requirements.  For example:

1) Type of Sensing

Am I sensing a process parameter (e.g. temperature, pressure, flow), the presence of an object, the distance to a target, or the position of a mechanism? Let&#;s say I want to detect the presence of an object. That means I am looking for some kind of proximity sensor (sometimes called &#;presence sensors&#; or &#;object detection sensors&#;). There are several kinds of sensor technologies that can detect the presence (or absence) of an object. Inductive, photoelectric, capacitive, magnetic, and ultrasonic sensors are all possible candidates at this stage of the selection process.

2) Composition of Target

What is the material composition of the object (metallic, non-metallic, solid, liquid, granular)? Let&#;s say the object is metallic. Inductive, photoelectric, capacitive, and ultrasonic sensors are all capable of detecting metallic objects, so we need to ask some more questions.

3) Distance to Target

How far away from the object must the sensor be? Well, if I am building a compact piece of automation machinery, I want to keep everything as close together as possible. I expect the sensor to be installed pretty close to the metallic object that I want to detect. In this case, an inductive proximity sensor would be the best choice. Although inductive sensors have rather short sensing distances (typically 1mm up to about 50mm) compared to other sensing technologies, they have some strong advantages: a) they ignore all materials except metal (e.g. water, oil, non-metallic dust) b) they are very robust physically and c) they are relatively inexpensive. Let&#;s say that I have decided the sensor needs to see the metallic target at a distance of 4mm.

4) Form Factor

What sort of physical form-factor best fits my application? In our example, it&#;s fairly tight space and there isn&#;t much room to mount something with a lot of length to it. That eliminates the most common inductive proximity sensor type: the threaded tubular housing. We&#;re going to be looking at some kind of low-profile, flat sensor, typically called a block style or rectangular type.

5) Control Interface

What kind of controller interface and switching logic is required? These days, most sensors are 3-wire DC types. There are other types out there, such as 2-wire DC and 2-wire AC/DC, but by far the vast majority of control systems will require a 3-wire DC sensor. In our case, we need a &#;3-wire PNP N.O. sensor,&#; meaning 3 wires (+24DC, 0VDC, and output), a PNP-type &#;sourcing&#; output (current is sourced from the sensor to the controller), and &#;normally open&#; switching logic (means the output is &#;off&#; when the sensor does not see the target).

6) Special Requirements

Are there any special application requirements? Special application requirements might be things like high temperatures (more than 80 degrees C), nearby welding processes, or high-pressure washdown procedures. In our machine, we don&#;t expect anything worse than a little machine tool oil getting splashed around. This is completely normal for inductive sensors to work around, so nothing special is required other than an IP67 liquid ingress protection rating (standard on most good-quality sensors).

7) Electrical Connection

How do I want to make the electrical connection? Sensors are typically available with three kinds of electrical connections: a) pre-wired cable with flying leads b) integrated quick-disconnect connector c) a pre-wired cable with a molded-on connector (often called a &#;pigtail&#; connector). A fourth connection type &#; terminal chamber &#; was once common in the days when proximity sensors were used to replace mechanical limit switches, but has become less common in today&#;s industrial environment.

Armed with the above information, it&#;s now possible to visit a sensor manufacturer&#;s website or catalog and be able to find an appropriate match for nearly any application.  If you&#;re still not sure, sales people and technical support personnel are always ready to help you find the right sensor for your application.

Motion sensors can make your home more secure by activating cameras or alarms when intruders trip them, and can also provide you with energy savings by controlling lights or climate control systems so that they run on your family&#;s schedule. But the benefits you get from your motion sensors will depend on which ones you buy, how you power them, and how and where they&#;re installed.

As leading providers of home electrical services in Calgary, the 4-Star Electric team is here to show you what to consider before buying motion detectors. Read on to learn about important features, placement tips, and more.

#1: Buy the Right Type of Sensors

Not all motion sensors use the same technology to detect movement. The most common types of sensors are:

• Passive infrared: the most common type of motion detectors in home security systems. These detectors look for temperature changes to identify body heat.
• LED infrared or area reflective: sensors that reflect infrared rays off objects within their range to measure their distance from the sensor and register movement when that distance changes.
• Microwave: these sensors use the same concept as area reflective sensors but bounce microwave pulses off objects in a given area instead.
• Ultrasonic: sensors that bounce high-frequency sound waves off objects in a given area to determine whether they are moving (like in animals that use sonar).
• Vibration: sensors that use a small mass to activate a switch when vibrations are caused by people or animals moving through nearby space.

Some sensors combine more than one of the above methods to provide a failsafe or backup. Typically, passive infrared sensors tend to be popular because they offer good value and reliability. Microwave sensors are also a common choice, but are more expensive up front.

#2: Buy Sensors with Enough Range

Motion sensors are available in a wide variety of ranges. Some can detect movement from up to 50 feet away, but most are designed to work within the 10-30 foot range.

Consider where you intend to place the sensors before purchasing them. For example, a motion sensor with a 10-foot range may serve you well if placed near a narrow opening like a kitchen or bathroom window, but you&#;ll likely want a sensor with a range closer to 50 feet if you&#;re using it to turn on the lights in the entire garage anytime someone enters.

#3: Hardwired vs. Battery Sensors

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Underground Sensors. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Some sensors are battery powered, while others must be hardwired into your home&#;s electrical system. Each type has its own pros and cons, but we recommend hardwired sensors because they require less maintenance and offer better reliability once installed.

It&#;s easy to forget to change the batteries in motion sensors that use them&#;especially if you have lots of them. This can lead to security vulnerabilities or convenience issues in your home. Conversely, once our team has installed hardwired sensors in your home, they&#;ll be as reliable as your lights, thermostat, or anything else connected directly to your electrical panel.

#4: Motion Sensors Aren&#;t Just for Security

While motion detectors are frequently linked to cameras or alarm systems, you can do more with them than simply deter trespassers. You can also connect motion detectors to your lights, thermostat, and other utilities so that they automatically power down when you leave the house and activate when you return home.

#5: Place the Sensors Properly

Motion sensors won&#;t do much good if they aren&#;t aimed at the areas where people are most likely to walk or move, so study your new motion sensors carefully and experiment with putting them in a few different spots to get optimal coverage.

Avoid placing your sensors in narrow areas (unless you&#;re trying to monitor specific openings or passages for security purposes), and ensure that their range is not blocked by objects. Take the angle of your sensors into account as well&#;a sensor placed in the right area can still be of limited use if it&#;s facing the wrong way and leaving a blind spot.

#6: Sensor Sensitivity

Most sensors can be adjusted so that they only trigger the devices they&#;re connected to when enough movement occurs. Since you don&#;t want a leaf blown by the wind or a stray cat in your backyard to trigger your burglar alarm, make sure to set your sensors before placing them and turning them on.

#7: Consider Tamper-Proof Sensors

If you are using motion sensors for security purposes, make sure they are installed in a location where they are not easily accessible to intruders. You should also consider using sensors with tamper-proof features to prevent them from being disabled.

Some examples of tamper-proof features in modern motion sensors include anti-masking, which detects when a person has deliberately covered the sensor, and encryptions to prevent information transmitted by the sensor from being intercepted. Many high-quality security sensors also use tamper-proof housing to make damaging them more difficult.

#8: Test Your Sensors After Installing Them

Once you&#;ve purchased, powered, set, and placed your motion sensors, it&#;s time to test them and make sure they work properly, start by walking around the area where you&#;ve set your sensors up, and check to see if the desired response is triggered (turning on lights or activating an alarm). Then adjust your sensitivity and placement as needed.

To save effort and make sure your motion sensors are installed properly the first time, contact 4-Star Electric. Our professional electricians can provide you with high-quality motion sensors that meet your needs and hardwire them into your home&#;s electrical system to ensure they function safely and effectively.

Are you interested in learning more about perimeter intrusion detection system? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!