The device should be capable of accepting supply voltages from 4.5VDC to 15.4VDC or 8VDC to 30VDC and are said to have built-in protection against over-voltage, reverse polarity and the presence of voltage transients or electrostatic discharge strikes.
SST says its device delivers an output current of up to 1A and can be used to directly activate alarm beacons, relays, pumps and motors within the system. The liquid level switches are apparently able to deal with pressure levels up to 20bar.
Industrial operating temperature ranges should be supported with standard models covering -25 to 80°C and extended versions spanning from -40 to 125°C.
SST says the devices have compact dimensions, measuring from 33.8mm in length and come in a choice of M12, ½”-20 UNFand 1/4” NPT thread options. They are supplied in two different chemically-resistant, anti-corrosive housing options.
The proprietary Optomax liquid level sensing circuit developed by SST comprises an IR LED and a phototransistor, accompanied by a microcontroller unit.
The strength of the IR signal passing between the LED and the phototransistor alters when liquid comes into contact with the sensor tip. This should offer a quick and precise method to determine the presence of liquid or its or absence.
The switches’ output signals can apparently be set ‘high’ in order to correspond either to a wet or a dry state. SST claims that the Optomax devices are not subject to mechanical wear and tear, nor are susceptible to jamming issues.
