New environmental sensors detect ambient and UV light

L-com has expanded its line of IoT light-detection environmental sensors. The sensors gauge ambient or ultraviolet light. The new sensors help in the usage of IoT data collection to make process control more efficient and to reduce building and process costs.

Its new light sensors measure ambient light or UV light. The wall-mount ambient light models measure light intensity up to 65,000 Lux or 200,000 Lux. They offer a waterproof housing and are ideal for outdoor and demanding indoor environments, including factory floors.

The UV light model mounts to a DIN rail or a panel and is ideal for UV testers, UV index meters, flame detection, germicidal lamps, UV monitoring equipment and other applications. It is sensitive to UV light in 200nm to 370nm wavelengths. It provides a 4-20mA output and screw-type terminals for simple field termination.

Also offered is a 3-in-1 environmental integrated transmitter that measures illuminance and temperature, and humidity. Enclosed in a weatherproof, wall-mount housing, it is ideal for outdoors and tough indoor environments such as solar farms and industrial automation. Its output is through the Modbus protocol.

“Our new light-detection sensors have high sensitivities to detect specific light levels. They transmit a signal to an I/O module or PLC that then reports the information to a PC or SCADA system. This allows system integrators, engineers and others to use IoT data collection to improve safety, make processes more efficient and lower building costs,” said Tim Houghton, L-com senior product line manager.

Applications for light-detection sensors include agriculture, greenhouses, solar farms, factory floors, labs, manufacturing and general environmental monitoring.