News — Sensor

                Experimenting with the SprintIR 60% CO2 Sensor A client was having trouble getting correct readings with our SprintIR 60% CO2 sensor. They were attempting to use the sensor to read exhaled carbon dioxide in an application similar to capnography, but were getting unexpected results.         To test the sensor, the client was breathing directly on the sensor and graphing the CO2 levels in real time using our GasLab® software. The software reported that the sensor peak readings were flat (see red lines). After verifying the sensor was not damaged, the client...

Altitude makes a difference when you are measuring CO2 levels. CO2 sensor modules are calibrated at sea level, and are not designed to automatically compensate for higher altitudes. CO2 sensors need either a manual offset using a barometer or lookup table for altitude compensation, or a built-in barometric pressure sensor to automatically compensate for the change. Altitude Compensation: Identifying the Problem A customer called recently and said we had sold him a defective CO2 sensor module. He had calibrated it precisely at 0.0ppm (zero parts-per-million), took it outside, and the sensor read 335ppm. “Where do you live?” we asked. “Colorado,” he...