Pressure Sensors

Pressure sensors measure air or water pressure and provide a signal corresponding to that pressure, and they may be stand-alone units or integrated with a control device. Behind the scenes, pressure and air and/or water flow are important factors to HVAC system efficiency, which can have a big impact on controlling costs. Pressure flow sensors like the KMC SSS series and SSE-1000/2000 series help determine how much air is flowing in an HVAC system.

Pressure Switches

Pressure switches, also called differential pressure switches, sense overpressure, vacuum, or pressure differentials in environments such as ducted ventilation systems. When any of these attributes fall outside a set range, the pressure switch sends a signal to other control devices to change settings, or triggers a remote status alarm for manual inspection and recalibration.

Pressure Transducers & Transmitters

Pressure transducers, also known as pressure transmitters, convert pressure signals into voltage or current signals. Typically used in a hybrid pneumatic-digital building automation system, transducers translate a standard pressure signal into a standard analog electronic signal that serves as an input to a digital BAS, allowing the BAS to monitor the pneumatic control operation. Pressure transducers or transmitters can often function as sensors, and transducers like the TPE-1464-1, TPE-1464-2, and TPE-1464-3 also provide air or water pressure readings.

Converting Pneumatic to DDC Controls

As a communications protocol, air was never proprietary, and pneumatic controls were the original “open system,” in which one manufacturer’s device could be replaced by another manufacturer’s. But while they’re long-lasting and often the less expensive option, pneumatic systems do have their drawbacks. For a business case for full or partial conversion to a digital system, take a look at our white paper, Pneumatic to Digital: Open System Conversions.