In the world of industrial IoT, “pressure” is a broad term. A facility manager might need to know if a filter is blocked, if a storm is approaching, or if a water pump is about to fail. Each of these scenarios requires a completely different type of sensor.
At Concept13, we stock a wide range of technical sensors designed to handle these specific measurement challenges. However, selecting the wrong device can lead to poor data or even hardware failure. To help you navigate our Technical Sensors category, we have broken down the three main types of pressure sensors and the specific products that deliver the best results.
The Quick Answer
What are the main types of pressure sensors? The three most common pressure measurements in smart buildings are Differential Pressure (comparing two points, often used for air filters), Barometric Pressure (measuring atmospheric weight, used for weather and air quality), and Gauge/Liquid Pressure (measuring force within a pipe).
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For Air Filters & Flow: Use the Synetica ENL-STS-DP.
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For Weather & Air Quality: Use the Synetica ENL-IAQ or Elsys ELT-2.
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For Water Pipes & Industrial: Use the Elsys ELT-2 combined with an industrial probe.
1. Differential Pressure Sensors
Best for: HVAC monitoring, Air Filter Status, and Clean Rooms.
Differential pressure does not measure the total pressure in a room; it measures the difference in pressure between two distinct points. This is critical for building management. For example, by placing one tube before an air filter and one tube after it, you can measure the pressure drop. As the filter gets clogged with dust, the pressure drop increases, triggering an alert that maintenance is required.
The Concept13 Solution:
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Synetica ENL-STS-DP: This is our dedicated LoRaWAN differential pressure sensor. It measures the range from 0 to 5000 Pa, making it ideal for detecting airflow issues in ventilation ducts or ensuring that clean rooms maintain positive pressure to keep contaminants out.
2. Barometric (Atmospheric) Pressure Sensors
Best for: Weather Stations, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), and Altitude Correction.
Barometric pressure measures the weight of the air pressing down on the sensor. This data is vital for environmental monitoring. A sudden drop in barometric pressure often indicates an approaching storm system, while stable pressure is key for calibrating other sensitive equipment (like gas sensors) that can drift with altitude changes.
The Concept13 Solutions:
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Synetica ENL-IAQ-PLUS: This all-in-one monitor doesn’t just measure pressure; it combines it with Temperature, Humidity, VOCs, and CO2. It uses the pressure reading to automatically compensate its gas sensors, ensuring high accuracy regardless of the weather.
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Elsys ELT-2-HP: While primarily an industrial bridge, this versatile unit includes an internal atmospheric pressure sensor. It is an excellent choice if you need simple environmental data alongside other inputs.
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Synetica ENL-OAQ: For outdoor deployments, this rugged unit provides barometric data as part of a complete weather and pollution monitoring station.
3. Gauge & Liquid Pressure (The Bridge Solution)
Best for: Water Pipes, Hydraulic Systems, and Tank Levels.
This is the “heavy industry” category. You often need to measure high pressures (e.g., 10 Bar or 100 PSI) inside water risers, heating loops, or fuel tanks. Because the requirements vary so wildly (a steam pipe needs a different probe than a drinking water pipe), we do not sell a single “one-size-fits-all” sensor.
Instead, we use a Bridge Device. This allows you to take any standard off-the-shelf industrial pressure probe (which usually outputs a 0-10V or 4-20mA signal) and turn it into a wireless LoRaWAN smart sensor.
The Concept13 Solution:
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Elsys ELT-2-HP: This is the industry-standard “Swiss Army Knife” for pressure. It has analogue inputs capable of reading 0-10V or 4-20mA signals. You can screw a standard industrial pressure transducer into your pipework, wire it into the ELT-2, and instantly transmit that pressure data to the cloud.
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Synetica ENL-STS-VC: Similar to the ELT-2, this device is designed specifically to bridge Voltage (0-10V) or Current (4-20mA) sensors onto your LoRaWAN network, making it perfect for retrofitting older plant rooms.
Conclusion
Choosing the right pressure sensor is about understanding the medium you are measuring. Are you measuring air flow (Differential), the weather (Barometric), or the force in a pipe (Gauge)?
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Need to check filters? Go for the Synetica ENL-STS-DP.
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Monitoring office air? The Synetica ENL-IAQ range has you covered.
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Digitising a plant room? Use the Elsys ELT-2-HP to connect your existing industrial probes.
If you are unsure which probe fits your specific application, our technical team is available to help you design the perfect sensor architecture. Contact Concept13 today to discuss your requirements.
