Sensor Accuracy and Reliability
Operating Range
The LEL-IR sensor is suitable for a variety of environments with a broad operating range:
Temperature range:
When using diffusion cartridges: –20°C to +55°C (–4ºF to 111.2ºF)
When using pump cartridges: –10ºC to +40ºC (14ºF to 104ºF)
Relative Humidity range: 0–90% RH (non-condensing)
Barometric pressure: 80–120kPa (11.6–17.4 psi)
Detection Range
The sensor has a methane detection range of 0% to 100% LEL, or 0% to 5% by volume methane.
Sensor Reliability
The operation and accuracy of the LEL IR sensor will be impacted by:
Moisture condensing inside the sensor optical path: Water vapor (condensation) absorbs IR energy, reducing the sensor response in a nonlinear way.
Dust or particulate matter deposits: This affect the sensor's light source and detector. The light source produces a weaker IR output and the detector can not accurately measure energy absorption.
For more information on how environmental conditions impact the sensor's reliability, see Environmental Considerations.
Safety
The sensor is rated as intrinsically safe.