-
Knowledge base
-
Didactum Knowledge Base
- Didactum devices
-
Didactum Sensors
- Didactum Water Chain and Connector
- Didactum Water Sensor
- Temperature Sensor
- Humidity Sensor
- AC Sensor
- DC Voltage Sensor
- 4-20 mA Connector
- Vibration Sensor
- Door contact sensor
- Motion Detector
- DIN AC Current Sensor
- Smoke Sensor
- DC Connector and DC Current Transformer
- AC Connector and AC Current Transformer
- Airflow Sensor
- Didactum CAN Devices
- Tutorial
- Didactum Manuals
- Firmware
- FAQ
- Overview Didactum Products
- Didactum Manual
- Monitoring Demo
- Open source licences
- Didactum Whitepaper
- AKCP Knowledge Base
- HW-group
-
Didactum Knowledge Base
Didactum Knowledge Base · Sensors
Connection & Operation
of Didactum Sensors
Monitoring critical environments such as data centers, server rooms, laboratories, or industrial facilities relies heavily on reliable sensors. Here you'll find all Didactum sensors at a glance, along with background information on connection, operation, and integration.
Sensors at a Glance
Select a sensor for the detailed product page with all technical specifications and connection notes.
Water Chain and Connector
Water detection cable and connector detect leaks continuously along the entire cable run.
View detailsWater Sensor
Reliable water sensor for pinpoint detection of leaks and moisture, with instant alerting.
View detailsTemperature Sensor
Precise temperature sensor for monitoring, alerting, and logging, reliable and versatile.
View detailsHumidity Sensor
Professional humidity monitoring for reliable room climate and environmental data tracking.
View detailsAC Sensor
Reliably monitors AC voltage in server rooms and critical areas with early alerting.
View detailsDC Voltage Sensor
Reliably measures and monitors DC voltages up to 75 V in IT, industrial, and power systems.
View details4–20mA Connector
Enables flexible, centralized monitoring and alerting of industrial 4–20mA measurement signals.
View detailsVibration Sensor
Detects shocks and vibrations on racks, doors, or equipment, and reports tampering early.
View detailsDoor Contact Sensor
Provides reliable access control and server room monitoring for sensitive company areas.
View detailsMotion Detector
Microwave motion detector with three range settings for server rooms, offices, and warehouses, easy to install.
View detailsDIN AC Current Sensor
DIN-rail sensor for reliable monitoring of AC voltage in the switch cabinet.
View detailsSmoke Sensor
Photoelectric smoke detector for reliable early fire detection in server rooms and infrastructure.
View detailsDC Connector & Current Transformer
Enables precise DC monitoring in server rooms and critical company areas.
View detailsAC Connector & Current Transformer
Enables centralized, scalable AC monitoring for server rooms and critical infrastructure.
View detailsAirflow Sensor
Precisely measures and monitors airflow in server rooms, industry, laboratories, and building systems.
View detailsWhy the Right Connection Matters
Didactum offers a broad portfolio of sensors that capture and report environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, smoke, water leaks, airflow, vibration, and motion. For such sensors to work effectively and reliably, they must be professionally connected and correctly configured.
Even when selecting a suitable sensor, it's worth considering the connection type – analog or digital via CAN bus, RJ-11/RJ-12 ports, possible cable extension lengths, and daisy-chain connections. This largely determines how the sensor communicates with the monitoring system and how quickly alarms are detected and forwarded.
Overview of Sensor Types and Their Applications
The most important sensor types and what they are typically used for.
Temperature Sensors
Capture room or ambient temperature, important for avoiding overheating in data centers and server rooms.
Humidity Sensors
Prevent corrosion, mold, and static buildup, often combined with temperature measurement.
Smoke Detectors
Early detection of fire or smoke, usually photoelectric.
Water Sensors / Leak Detection
Capacitive sensors detect leaks, flooding, or condensation, ideal near cooling systems and piping.
Motion and Presence Sensors
PIR sensors or microwave motion detectors for access security or automatic control.
Vibration / Shock Sensors
Detect mechanical stress, sabotage, or tampering on racks and doors.
Airflow / Flow Sensor
Monitors cooling and ventilation systems in data centers and industrial facilities.
Combo Sensors / Multi-sensors
Combine multiple measurements – e.g. smoke, temperature, humidity – in a single housing, reducing installation effort.
Connection Types & Portal Integration
For sensors to deliver data, they must be correctly connected and integrated.
Analog Connections (RJ-11 / RJ-12)
Many Didactum systems feature analog ports for temperature, humidity, and water sensors.
- AutoSense: The controller automatically detects connected sensors
- Remote-mountable: Sensors can be placed several meters away via cable
- Expandable: Sensor extension units enable additional ports
Digital Interfaces & CAN Bus
For larger networks or combo devices with multiple measurements, Didactum uses digital interfaces, particularly the CAN bus.
- Daisy-chain wiring of multiple sensors is possible
- Termination at the end of the bus chain is mandatory
- Cable lengths of several hundred meters are possible
Communication & Protocols
Key protocols and interfaces for integration into monitoring environments.
- SNMP (v1/v2c/v3) for polling and traps
- Web interface for AutoSense, thresholds, and reports
- Email, SMS, push, relay for alerting
Examples of Typical Applications
Data Center / Server Room
Temperature and humidity sensors protect against overheating and condensation, water sensors detect leaks under raised floors.
Industrial Facilities
Airflow sensors safeguard process cooling, humidity and dust monitoring protects sensitive machinery.
Building Systems / Smart Buildings
Automatic control of climate and ventilation systems, fire protection through smoke detectors, leak detection to prevent damage.
Archives, Museums, Laboratories
High requirements for temperature and humidity stability – multi-sensors enable seamless documentation.
Installation & Maintenance
- Cable selection: High-quality, shielded cables prevent signal loss over long distances.
- CAN bus termination: Don't forget the terminating resistor at the end of the bus chain.
- Mounting location: Avoid direct sunlight, strong air currents, or fluorescent lamps near PIR sensors.
- Regular inspection: Calibration and functional testing at defined intervals.
- Firmware updates: Keep controllers and sensors up to date for security and functionality.
- Alarm testing: Regularly test escalation paths and notifications.
Sample Technical Parameters of Typical Sensors
Based on typical datasheet values.
| Sensor | Typical Specifications |
|---|---|
| Temperature sensor (analog) | –40 °C to +100 °C, resolution 0.1 °C, accuracy ±0.7 °C, remote-mountable up to approx. 50 m |
| Humidity sensor | 0–95% RH, accuracy 2–3% RH, flexible mounting |
| Smoke detector | Photoelectric, LED status indicators, operating temperature 0 to +70 °C |
| Water sensor | Capacitive electrodes, rugged housing, compatible with analog ports |
| Combo sensor (CAN) | Smoke + temperature + humidity in one device, daisy-chain capable, bus range several hundred meters |
Sensors at a Glance
All sensors summarized once more, compactly – for quick reference.
- Water Chain and Connector Water detection cable and connector provide continuous leak detection along the entire cable run. Especially suited for long stretches along piping or under raised floors in server rooms.
- Water Sensor Reliable water sensor for detecting leaks and moisture at a single monitoring point. Reports water contact instantly and is easy to install on analog ports.
- Temperature Sensor Precise temperature sensor for monitoring, alerting, and logging in industrial and IT settings. Reliable, scalable, and remote-mountable several meters away via analog ports.
- Humidity Sensor Professional humidity monitoring for room climate and environmental data tracking in any environment. Often used together with a temperature sensor for complete climate monitoring.
- AC Sensor Reliably monitors AC voltage in server rooms and critical areas. Reports voltage fluctuations early, before damage occurs to connected hardware.
- DC Voltage Sensor Reliably measures and monitors DC voltages up to 75 V in IT, industrial, and power systems. Especially relevant for battery and backup power supplies.
- 4–20mA Connector Enables flexible, centralized monitoring and alerting of industrial 4–20mA measurement signals. Well suited for connecting existing industrial sensor technology to the Didactum monitoring system.
- Vibration Sensor Reliably detects shocks and vibrations. Ideal for detecting sabotage and tampering on racks, doors, and sensitive equipment.
- Door Contact Sensor Provides reliable access control and server room monitoring for sensitive company areas. Reports unauthorized opening of doors and racks in real time.
- Motion Detector Microwave motion detector with three range settings for server rooms, offices, and warehouses. Easy to install, versatile, and energy-efficient in operation.
- DIN AC Current Sensor DIN-rail variant for reliable monitoring of AC voltage directly in the switch cabinet. Mounts space-efficiently alongside existing DIN-rail equipment.
- Smoke Sensor Photoelectric smoke detector protects server rooms and critical infrastructure through reliable early fire detection. LED status indicators make on-site functional checks easier.
- DC Connector & Current Transformer Enables precise DC monitoring in server rooms and critical company areas. Suitable for monitoring battery and DC power supply lines.
- AC Connector & Current Transformer Enables centralized, scalable power monitoring for server rooms and critical infrastructure. Can be flexibly connected to existing circuits without interrupting them.
- Airflow Sensor Precisely measures and monitors airflow in server rooms, industry, laboratories, and building systems. Helps detect cooling and ventilation system failures early.
Not sure which sensor is right for you?
Our support team in Germany is happy to provide free advice on the right sensor technology for your infrastructure.