OTT PLS 500 - Pressure Level Sensor

The OTT PLS 500 measures water level, depth to water, or pressure by means of an easy to maintain, ceramic pressure cell. This highly accurate sensor includes design features such as four internal compensations, stainless steel housing, and a rugged cable making it ideal for monitoring water level in a variety of applications. Common communication protocols (SDI-12 and Modbus RTU) allow for seamless integration with external data loggers. The accurate temperature measurements and built-in microcontroller compensate for environmental changes in water density. Built-in QA/QC and metadata along with reduced sensor drift allow you to have full confidence in your long-term data.

• Automatic Compensations​: Automatically compensate for changes in atmospheric pressure with the vented probe. Reduce the amount of equipment needed in field by forgoing additional barometric pressure sensors and achieve better accuracy with a single compensated sensor.

• Custom Cable: All PLS 500s are manufactured with cables cut to the users specifications upon order. Please specify the length of cable (meters or feet) that you require with any quoted item 

• Position Sensor: Remotely monitor probe movement in the field with an internal inclinometer, enabling warnings if sensor position has changed due to in-stream events via automatic status flags or direct measurement. 

• Internal Humidity Sensor:​ The integrated internal humidity sensor outputs automatic status flags or direct humidity measurements to help you understand if condensation may have formed, impacting your pressure measurements. 

• Data Processing:​ Internally convert high frequency (4 Hz) measurements to calculations such as computed averages, minimum/maximum levels, and instantaneous values over user defined intervals, enabling greater information reporting and eliminating manual data post-processing/analysis. 

• Discharge Calculations​: Automatically calculate discharge from either a user defined rating table or ISO 1100-2 exponential formula set-up via SDI-12 commands. Minimize the need for data post-processing by directly outputting discharge from a trusted level sensor. 

• Rugged Design: Ceramic pressure cell resistant to physical force and enclosure made of high-quality, saltwater resistant 904L stainless steel for use in coastal environments. The robust ceramic pressure cell offers industry-leading accuracy and does not deform over time like membrane technology, providing long-term measurement stability.

Measuring water level in surface and groundwater, including:
 

• Stations with sloping bottom, e.g. water banks
• Small diameter pipes or holes (from 1" Ø)
• Dams, weirs, irrigation systems
• Waterways that occasionally ice over
• Brackish water, saltwater
• Flood warning
• Waterways that do not contain water throughout the year (e.g. retaining basins)