Airflow Sensor

Precise Airflow Monitoring for Server Rooms and Industry

The Didactum Airflow Sensor is a key component for professional airflow monitoring in server rooms, data centers, and other critical business areas. In modern IT and industrial environments, reliable airflow monitoring is essential to ensure operational safety, energy efficiency, and the service life of technical equipment.

Server rooms and data centers form the backbone of a company's digital infrastructure. They house high-performance servers, network switches, storage systems, and other critical devices that generate significant heat during operation. Constant and effective cooling is therefore essential to prevent overheating, failures, and data loss. Airflow monitoring with the Didactum Airflow Sensor ensures that air conditioning systems, HVAC systems, and fans always operate optimally and that airflow is sufficient at all relevant points.

Even small disturbances in airflow—such as blocked ventilation grilles, defective fans, or incorrectly adjusted air conditioning systems—can lead to dangerous temperature increases. The Didactum Airflow Sensor detects such problems at an early stage by measuring airflow speed precisely in the range of 0 to 3 m/s. If a critical value is undershot, the Didactum Monitoring System can automatically trigger an alarm, increase the air conditioning output, or notify IT staff.

Airflow Sensor Design

The sensor is intentionally designed in two parts to allow optimal placement directly in the airflow.

The actual measuring head is located at the end of a slim arm approximately 60 cm long (overall dimensions approx. 600 × 18 × 18 mm, approx. 106 g) and is connected via an RJ9 connector (4P4C) to a small 3-pin JST connection unit. This connection unit is in turn connected to an analog sensor port (A1…A8) of the Didactum Monitoring System via a 2-meter RJ11/RJ12 cable (6P4C, standard telephone cable). This two-part design allows the measuring head itself to be placed flexibly and precisely in the airflow, while the connection unit can be conveniently mounted outside the airflow—for example, in a rack or control cabinet. The scope of delivery also includes a bendable mounting bracket made of 0.8 mm steel sheet, which can be individually adapted to the respective rack or cabinet geometry using pliers or side cutters.

How the Sensor Measures Airflow

The Didactum Airflow Sensor continuously measures airflow speed in the range of 0 to 3 m/s and delivers reliable measured values in near real time with a response time of only 0.1 seconds. Sensitivity is preset at the factory, so no manual calibration is required. The sensor is connected via the supplied cable to any analog port (A1…A8) of the Didactum Monitoring Unit. Thanks to plug-and-play functionality, the sensor is automatically detected and appears immediately in the “System Tree” of the web interface.

Installation and Placement

Installing the Didactum Airflow Sensor is particularly easy and flexible thanks to its well-designed two-part construction.

1. Connect the measuring head to the 3-pin JST connection unit via the RJ9 connector (4P4C).
2. Connect one end of the supplied RJ11/RJ12 cable to the connection unit and the other end to a free analog port (A1…A8) of the monitoring system.
3. If necessary, bend the supplied mounting bracket with pliers or side cutters to match the rack or cabinet geometry.
4. Position the measuring head as close as possible to the airflow source (e.g., air conditioner, fan) — the optimal installation distance is best determined by trial and error, as hardly any airflow can be measured at too great a distance.
5. The sensor is automatically detected in the web interface and can be configured there with custom threshold values and alarm rules.

Scalability for Larger Installations

For larger monitoring systems or extensive facilities, the number of Airflow Sensors and the total cable length can be expanded using a Didactum Sensor Extension Unit. This also makes it possible to centrally monitor complex climate zones, large server rooms, or multiple floors. Configuration is conveniently carried out via the web-based Didactum Monitoring Interface, where individual threshold values, alarms (e.g., email, SMS, SNMP trap), and automatic control actions can be defined.

Monitoring Critical Business Areas

Airflow monitoring is important not only in server rooms, but also in many other sensitive areas.

Practical Application Examples

• HVAC monitoring: continuous measurement at server racks, air outlets, or air conditioning systems with automatic corrective action in the event of deviations.
• Production and industrial facilities: sufficient cooling of machines, control cabinets, and production lines to prevent overheating.
• Laboratories and clean rooms: compliance with required airflow values including automatic alarm notifications in the event of deviations.
• Comfort management: early detection and correction of drafts, hot spots, or cold zones in office and residential buildings.
• System performance optimization: rapid identification of maintenance needs or inefficient HVAC settings.
• Energy efficiency: demand-based control of ventilation and air conditioning systems, increasing ventilation only when actually needed.

What Is Included

Please check the scope of delivery for completeness upon receipt and report any missing or damaged parts to your supplier immediately.

• Didactum Airflow Sensor (measuring head + connection unit)1 piece
• RJ11/RJ12 connection cable, 2 m1 piece
• Mounting bracket for rack/cabinet installationincluded

Why the Airflow Sensor Is the Right Choice

Frequently Asked Questions