Water Sensor
€69.00
Available, delivery time: 1-2 weeks
Precise leak detection for critical areas
The Didactum Water Sensor detects leaking liquids precisely at the exact location where it is installed – ideal for areas where a leak typically announces itself at a known location, such as under air conditioning units, at pipe connections, under raised floors, or next to household appliances. Unlike a water detection cable that monitors an entire length, the Water Sensor measures the change in electrical capacitance between two metal poles directly at the installation site.
The sensor is simply connected to an analog port (A1–A8) of a Didactum Monitoring System and is ready for immediate use. Thanks to the low applied voltage and the non-contact, non-corrosive measurement principle, the sensor is long-term resistant to corrosion and is therefore particularly suitable for permanent use in environments at risk of moisture.
Two-component system: Sensor and detector
The Didactum Water Sensor consists of two separate but integrally connected components.
Evaluation unit (sensor)
Compact plastic housing (60 × 18 × 18 mm, approx. 60 g) that measures and evaluates the capacitance change. Connected via a 2 m long RJ11/RJ12 cable (6P4C) to an analog port of the monitoring system.
Leak detector (measuring probe)
Small probe (30 × 20 × 8 mm, approx. 21 g incl. cable) with two poles made of stainless steel (AISI 316 / V4A), connected via a 1 m long cable with RJ4P2C connector. Placed directly at the location to be monitored.
The two stainless steel poles of the detector must not touch each other in normal condition and must not rest permanently on a conductive surface – only when a conductive liquid wets both poles simultaneously does the measured capacitance increase and the sensor trigger an alarm. Due to the separate design, the compact detector can be placed inconspicuously in hard-to-reach locations, while the evaluation unit is mounted in an easily accessible location for wiring.
How the sensor detects a leak
The Water Sensor operates on a capacitive measurement principle: As soon as a conductive liquid wets the two stainless steel poles of the detector simultaneously, the measurable capacitance between the poles increases. The evaluation unit registers this change within a few seconds and reports the "Alarm" state to the monitoring system. When the contact point dries again, the sensor automatically returns to the "Normal" state.
Practical example: The detector is placed directly under an air conditioning unit in the server room. If condensate or coolant leaks, the liquid immediately wets both poles of the detector – the evaluation unit reports an alarm to the monitoring system within a few seconds, allowing technicians to intervene before major damage occurs.
Which liquids are detected
Since the sensor responds to the electrical conductivity of a liquid, a wide range of potentially harmful liquids is reliably detected.
- Clean, contaminated, and distilled water
- Acids and alkalis
- Alcohols and other electrically conductive liquids
- Chlorine and salt water – corrosion-resistant thanks to stainless steel poles (AISI 316 / V4A)
Connection to the monitoring system
The evaluation unit is connected directly to one of the analog ports (A1 to A8) of a Didactum Monitoring System via a standard RJ11/RJ12 sensor cable (6P4C to 6P4C) and is automatically detected there via plug-and-play. The leak detector is connected to the evaluation unit via its 2-core cable (black/red, polarity arbitrary) with the RJ4P2C connector.
Installation options for sensor and detector
Both the evaluation unit and the leak detector can be flexibly adapted to the respective installation location.
Mounting the evaluation unit
Attachment by screw or included adhesive strip. For installation in IT racks, the small ridge on the bottom of the housing can be cut off if necessary.
Detector on non-conductive surfaces
Standard mounting on floors, raised floors, or drip trays made of non-conductive material – the two poles are free and do not touch each other.
Detector on conductive surfaces
For metal substrates, a special mounting variant is available to prevent permanent contact and thus permanent false alarms.
Fill level and level monitoring
Mounting for detecting whether a liquid has reached a certain height, e.g., in a drip tray, as well as a variant for mounting on vertical surfaces for level monitoring.
The detector has a central hole for screw mounting and can alternatively be attached with the included adhesive strip.
More sensors and greater range
For larger installations with multiple monitoring points, the number of connectable water sensors can be increased via a Didactum sensor expansion unit (8× analog, connected to the monitoring system via CAN bus). Connected sensors appear automatically in the system without having to replace the central unit. Both directly on the monitoring system and on a sensor expansion unit, the maximum cable distance of the sensor is up to 100 meters.
Application areas of the water sensor
- Data centers: precise leak detection under raised floors or near critical IT infrastructure
- Industrial plants: monitoring of areas around machines, boilers, or piping systems
- Commercial and residential spaces: leak detection in kitchens, bathrooms, and next to washing machines and boilers
- Fill level monitoring: detection of whether a liquid has reached a certain height, e.g., in a drip tray
- Technical and switch rooms: protection of UPS systems and distribution cabinets from water damage
- Basement and lower floor rooms: early warning of penetrating groundwater or rainwater
Common problems and solutions
If the sensor does not appear in the web interface of the monitoring system, first check the RJ11/RJ12 connection cable for proper seating. Also ensure that the cable is plugged into an analog port of the monitoring system – connection to a CAN or digital port will not work.
Performance data at a glance
What is included in the scope of delivery
Please check the scope of delivery for completeness upon receipt and report any missing or damaged parts to your supplier immediately.
- Water sensor (evaluation unit)1 piece
- RJ11 sensor cable, 6P4C, 2 m1 piece
- Leak detector with 1 m connection cable1 piece
- Mounting screws (sensor & detector)1 piece each
- Adhesive strips for mounting (sensor & detector)1 piece each
Why this water sensor is the right choice
Precise detection
Ideal for known risk locations such as air conditioning units, pipe connections, or drip trays.
Corrosion-resistant
Stainless steel poles (AISI 316) permanently resist chlorine and salt water.
Versatile
Detects water, acids, alkalis, alcohols, and other conductive liquids.
Flexible installation
Four mounting variants for different substrates and applications.
Plug-and-play
Simple connection to any analog port of the monitoring system.
Long range
Up to 100 m distance to the monitoring or expansion unit.
Scalable
Expandable via additional sensor expansion units for large systems.
Made in EU
Developed and manufactured in the European Union.
More about analog sensors
Tutorial: Analog Sensors Part 2
In-depth instructions for connection, configuration, and operation of analog sensors on Didactum Monitoring Systems.
To the tutorial →Frequently asked questions
How does the water sensor differ from a water detection cable?
The water sensor detects leaks precisely at the location where the small detector is installed – it is therefore particularly suitable for known risk locations. A water detection cable, on the other hand, monitors an entire length along its installation and is more suitable for area-wide protection of larger areas.
What components does the water sensor consist of?
The water sensor consists of two components: an evaluation unit, which is connected to an analog port of the monitoring system via an RJ11/RJ12 cable, and a small leak detector with two stainless steel poles, which is connected to the evaluation unit via a 1 m long cable and placed directly at the location to be monitored.
Which liquids does the sensor detect?
The sensor detects clean, contaminated, and distilled water as well as acids, alkalis, alcohols, and other electrically conductive liquids. Thanks to the stainless steel poles (AISI 316 / V4A), the detector is also resistant to chlorine and salt water.
Can the leak detector be used without the evaluation unit?
In principle, yes – the detector can also be connected to the alarm inputs of a third-party system. However, whether this works reliably depends on the electrical properties of the respective alarm inputs. A direct connection to a dry-contact input of a Didactum Monitoring System is not supported, as the resistance is too high for reliable operation.
How is the sensor installed?
The evaluation unit can be attached by screw or adhesive strip; for installation in IT racks, a small ridge on the housing can be cut off. The detector offers four mounting variants – for non-conductive and conductive surfaces as well as for horizontal and vertical fill level monitoring – and is also attached by screw or adhesive strip.
The sensor does not appear in the web interface – what can I do?
Check the RJ11/RJ12 connection cable for proper seating and ensure that it is plugged into an analog port of the monitoring system. A connection to a CAN or digital port will not be detected.
How many water sensors can be connected to a monitoring system?
The number depends on the available analog ports of the monitoring system. If more connections are needed, the number can be increased via a Didactum sensor expansion unit with additional analog ports without having to replace the central unit.
Questions about the water sensor?
Our support team in Germany will advise you free of charge on selection, installation, and configuration.
Didactum Water Sensor
Function
- Analog spot leak sensor for point detection of water
- Detection is carried out capacitively between two measurement points
- Corrosion-resistant due to low voltages and non-metallic measurement method
- Plug-and-play connection to analog ports of Didactum monitoring systems
- Expandable via Sensor Extension Units
Measurement Principle
- Capacitive measurement for detecting moisture between two poles
Connections
- Input: 2-wire
- Output: RJ11 / RJ12 (6P4C)
- Two RJ connectors:
- RJ 6P4C: connection to the monitoring unit
- RJ 4P2C: connection to the sensor element
Electrical Data
- Power consumption: 60 mW
- Maximum distance: 100 m to the monitoring or extension unit
Environmental Conditions
- Operating temperature: -10 °C to +80 °C
- Humidity: 5% to 95% (non-condensing)
Mechanical Data
- Dimensions: 60 × 18 × 18 mm
- Weight: 60 g
- Mounting: bracket included
General
- Sensor type: Analog
- Response time: approx. 15 seconds
- Recovery time: depends on drying time
- Origin: EU
- HS Code: 9025 80 400
Can be used with:
Can also be used with:
Manufacturer information:
Didactum® Security GmbH
Im Mühlenfeld 4
48163 Münster
Deutschland
Fon:
(+49) 250 19 71 63 54 / (+49) 171 33 11 577
Email: info@didactum-security.de
