Aeroqual’s PM10 / PM2.5 sensor head (Code: SH PM) offers precision active sampling, fast T90 response time, humidity compensation and K-factor adjustment.
The PM10 / PM2.5 sensor head specifications can be found here.
Sensor Compatibility
This PM sensor head is compatible with the following handheld monitors only:
- S200: V5.3 or higher
- S300: V6.3 or higher
- S500: V6.4 or higher
NOTE: This PM sensor is not compatible with the Aeroqual Ranger.
Application
The PM sensor head is suitable for a wide range of applications, from indoor air quality monitoring, construction dust monitoring, monitoring transport emissions, smog monitoring, community exposure studies and air quality model validation. The PM sensor head isn’t designed for long-term outdoor use and care must be taken to avoid damage via weather conditions, vibration and impact.
USA EPA air quality index values
| PM10, 24 hr (mg/m³) | PM2.5, 24 hr (mg/m³) | AQI | EPA Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 0.054 | 0 – 0.012 | 0-50 | Good |
| 0.055 – 0.154 | 0.0121 – 0.0354 | 51-100 | Moderate |
| 0.155 – 0.254 | 0.0355 – 0.0554 | 101-150 | Unhealthy for sensitive groups |
| 0.254 – 0.354 | 0.0555 – 0.1504 | 151-200 | Unhealthy |
| 0.355 – 0.424 | 0.1505 – 0.2504 | 201-300 | Very Unhealthy |
| 0.421 – 0.600 | 0.2505 – 0.5004 | 300-500 | Hazardous |
Source: Revised Air Quality Standards For Particle Pollution And Updates To The Air Quality Index (AQI).
Operation
The PM sensor head uses a laser and optical sensor to measure light scattered from particles passing through the laser beam. The sensor head also compensates for humidity by way of an on-board humidity sensor. In humid conditions, light scattering sensors are likely to read high because moisture surrounds particles, causing them to appear ‘bigger’. The humidity compensation feature reduces this effect on the measurement. In the case of the Series 300 and 500 base monitors, a gain (or K factor) can be applied to the sensor output. This allows users to adjust the readings relative to a trusted source such as EPA-approved reference monitor.
Operating life
The laser diode within the PM sensor head has an operating life of up to 8000 hours. This provides an expected life span of 2 years for typical handheld monitor applications. The sensor head is recommended to be Hot-Swapped around one year after the purchase. More information about the Hot-Swap service can be found here.
Data logging (Series 500)
The PM sensor head measures 2 simultaneous readings: PM10 and PM2.5. The Series 500 handheld monitor can store a limited number of data points (8188). This means the length of time that data can be logged depends on the frequency and number of data points recorded. Once capacity is reached, new data begins to overwrite the oldest logged data.
| Data points | 1 min | 5 min | 10 min | 30 min | 1 hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 66 hrs | 330 hrs | 660 hrs | 1980 hrs | 3960 hrs |
| 4 (PM2.5, PM10, T, RH) | 33 hrs | 165 hrs | 330 hrs | 990 hrs | 1980 hrs |
Note: You need Version 6.5 or higher of the Aeroqual software for the Series 500 in order to download logged data from the monitor to a PC.