Analogue level sensors provide a continuous 4–20 mA or 0–10 V output proportional to liquid or bulk solid level — used across water treatment, chemical storage, oil & gas, food processing, and hydraulic systems. Engineers choose them where real-time level monitoring, PLC integration, and process control are required, rather than simple point-level switching.
Analogue level sensors output a continuous signal — typically 4–20 mA (2-wire loop-powered) or 0–10 V DC — scaled across the full measurement range. This category covers five main technologies:
| Type | Contact with media | Typical range | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrostatic | Yes | 0–100 m | Water, wastewater, open sumps |
| Ultrasonic | No | 0–15 m | Clean liquids, open channels |
| Radar / GWR | No / Probe | 0–40 m | Chemicals, hydrocarbons, bulk solids |
| Capacitance | Yes | 0–10 m | Liquids, slurries, food/pharma |
| Magnetostrictive | Float | 0–5 m | Hydraulic oil, fuel tanks |
Choose radar when the application involves vapour, foam, high temperature or pressure, or low-dielectric media — conditions where ultrasonic signals attenuate or reflect unreliably. Ultrasonic is sufficient for clean liquids in moderate conditions.
Yes — submersible hydrostatic transmitters are designed for this. Specify IP68 rating, a vented cable for atmospheric pressure reference, and sufficient cable length for the installation depth.
The blind zone (typically 100–500 mm below the transducer) cannot be measured. Ensure the maximum fill level of your tank stays below this zone, or select a sensor with a shorter specified dead band.
Not all — HART must be specified explicitly. It is standard on most process-grade transmitters from manufacturers such as Endress+Hauser, VEGA, and Rosemount, but not always included on lower-cost industrial sensors.