Selecting the Right Wireless Temperature Sensor for Your Cold Storage Application

Start With The Right Sensor

There are three things that are important to consider when selecting a wireless temperature sensor for your cold storage application:

• Temperature range is the temperature variation in the environment the sensor will be placed. For all wireless sensors, the battery life is reduced at very high and very low temperatures.

• Measurement interval. How frequently does the sensor need to measure the temperature? Shorter intervals decrease battery life but can catch faster fluctuations in temperature.

• Regulatory requirements. Does your application require any specific certifications, like EN12830, for monitoring medicines or food?

To minimize the cost per data point over the lifetime of the installation, it is important to evaluate which sensor type fits best for the application based on these three criteria.

We offer three different types of wireless temperature sensors.

#1 - Standard Temperature Sensor

For most applications. The Wireless Temperature Sensor (902058) has a fixed measurement interval of 15 minutes and can last up to 15 years, making it perfect for room temperature measurements where the changes in temperature are slow.

#2 - EN12830 Temperature Sensor

For regulation compliance. The Wireless EN12830 Temperature Sensor (902067) has a fixed measurement interval of 5.5 minutes and can last up to 5 years. It is certified after the EN12830 standard for temperature monitoring of stored temperature-sensitive goods.

#3 - Industrial Temperature Sensor

For extreme environments. The Wireless Industrial Temperature Sensor comes in two versions - with 15 minutes (901945) or 5.5 minutes (902231) measurement intervals and is designed for a long lifetime in temperatures below - 25°C and above 50°C.

 

Understanding Battery Life

The expected battery life of the sensor depends on the measurement interval and the expected temperature range.

At room temperature, the expected battery life of the Standard Temperature Sensor and the Industrial Temperature Sensor is the same, because the maximum operating lifetime of our battery technology is 15 years. However, at -25°C the Industrial Temperature Sensor can last up to 2 years longer than the Standard Temperature Sensor with the measurement interval. That's because it uses different battery chemistry.

Similarly, if the temperature sensor is used above the recommended operating temperature of 50°C, the Industrial Temperature Sensor has a longer lifetime than both the Standard Temperature Sensor and the EN12830 Temperature Sensor.

The chart below helps you evaluate the expected lifetime of the different sensor models and select the right temperature sensor for your applications.

Please note: The battery lifetimes listed here are estimates and can vary from sensor to sensor depending on usage patterns, wireless coverage, and environment.

Balancing Hardware Investment & Subscription Cost

Most IoT installations come with a hardware cost for sensors and a recurring subscription for service and data usage. The expected battery life of the sensor has a big impact on the unit economics of the business case because it determines how often the sensor needs to be replaced.

A key to making IoT economics work is therefore to calculate the total cost of ownership per sensor over time. This calculation includes the cost of hardware, installation, subscription, and maintenance. The longer the battery life is, the lower the operational cost will be.

Concerned About Range?

The wireless range of sensors installed in refrigerators and freezers is often reduced by metal structures that attenuate radio waves. To ensure a robust installation, we recommend using the Ambient Range Extender accessory (101693) to achieve up to 4 times the range of a standalone sensor.