Batteries for Wireless Sensors Deserve Some Thought

Wireless sensors are no longer a novelty, but they haven't found widespread use in most fluid-power applications, either. Most wireless sensors are used primarily for applications where they are difficult to access. Another big advantage of wireless devices is potentially higher reliability, because wired connectors cannot corrode, break, or work themselves loose if there are none.

Alan Hitchcox Blog

Nov. 19, 2015

2 min read

Wireless sensors are no longer a novelty, but they haven't found widespread use in most fluid-power applications, either. Most wireless sensors are used primarily for applications where they are difficult to access — either because of their remote location or because the sensor is buried deep within equipment. Another big advantage of wireless devices is potentially higher reliability, because wired connectors cannot corrode, break, or work themselves loose if there are none.

Hydraulicspneumatics Com Sites Hydraulicspneumatics com Files Uploads 2015 02 Battery 1

Generally, industrial grade Li-ion batteries make sense where the expense of battery replacement far exceeds the cost of the battery itself.

We recently published an article on such an application, where a pressure control valve with integral pressure transmitter had to be located in the cramped engine room of a dredging boat. Wireless communication was accomplished using a mobile phone and mobile app. Click here to read the article.

But regardless of whether the device is a sensor, transmitter, or two-way radio remote control, wireless components need batteries. Batteries are usually viewed as commodity items, so not much thought is given to their selection. But you might be surprised at the impact the choice of a battery can have. Picking the wrong one can jeopardize the reliability of the entire machine. After all, if a machine malfunctions because a short-lived battery has failed, users ultimately attribute the downtime and repair cost to the machine itself.

Our sister publication, Machine Design, recently published an article on considerations for specifying batteries for a wide variety of applications. It's a quick read, and you may surprised to learn how much you didn't know about batteries. Click here to read it.

About the Author

Alan Hitchcox Blog

Editor in Chief

Alan joined Hydraulics & Pneumatics in 1987 with experience as a technical magazine editor and in industrial sales. He graduated with a BS in engineering technology from Franklin University and has also worked as a mechanic and service coordinator. He has taken technical courses in fluid power and electronic and digital control at the Milwaukee School of Engineering and the University of Wisconsin and has served on numerous industry committees.