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    AN131 - CO2 Sensor Calibration: What You Need To Know: Why Calibrate? ABC Calibration

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    Nehaoua Fares
    This document discusses carbon dioxide sensor calibration methods. It explains that sensors need periodic calibration to account for drift over time. The two main methods are calibrating with a known gas source like nitrogen or using automatic baseline calibration (ABC) which sets the baseline to 400ppm when the sensor detects unoccupied room air. ABC is best for sensors that can detect normal outdoor air levels periodically, while known gas calibration is more accurate but also more expensive. The frequency of calibration varies depending on the sensor application, from weekly or monthly for personal safety to annually or less for indoor air quality if using ABC.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    AN131 - CO2 Sensor Calibration: What You Need To Know: Why Calibrate? ABC Calibration

    Uploaded by

    Nehaoua Fares
    106 views1 page
    This document discusses carbon dioxide sensor calibration methods. It explains that sensors need periodic calibration to account for drift over time. The two main methods are calibrating with a known gas source like nitrogen or using automatic baseline calibration (ABC) which sets the baseline to 400ppm when the sensor detects unoccupied room air. ABC is best for sensors that can detect normal outdoor air levels periodically, while known gas calibration is more accurate but also more expensive. The frequency of calibration varies depending on the sensor application, from weekly or monthly for personal safety to annually or less for indoor air quality if using ABC.

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    AN_SE_0020_Sensor_Calibration_Procedure.pdf

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    This document discusses carbon dioxide sensor calibration methods. It explains that sensors need periodic calibration to account for drift over time. The two main methods are calibrating with a known gas source like nitrogen or using automatic baseline calibration (ABC) which sets the baseline to 400ppm when the sensor detects unoccupied room air. ABC is best for sensors that can detect normal outdoor air levels periodically, while known gas calibration is more accurate but also more expensive. The frequency of calibration varies depending on the sensor application, from weekly or monthly for personal safety to annually or less for indoor air quality if using ABC.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    106 views1 page

    AN131 - CO2 Sensor Calibration: What You Need To Know: Why Calibrate? ABC Calibration

    Uploaded by

    Nehaoua Fares
    This document discusses carbon dioxide sensor calibration methods. It explains that sensors need periodic calibration to account for drift over time. The two main methods are calibrating with a known gas source like nitrogen or using automatic baseline calibration (ABC) which sets the baseline to 400ppm when the sensor detects unoccupied room air. ABC is best for sensors that can detect normal outdoor air levels periodically, while known gas calibration is more accurate but also more expensive. The frequency of calibration varies depending on the sensor application, from weekly or monthly for personal safety to annually or less for indoor air quality if using ABC.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 1

    131 Business Center Drive, A‐3, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 

    TEL: 877.678.4259  | FAX: 866.422.2356 
    EMAIL: [email protected] | www.co2meter.com 

    AN131 – CO2 Sensor Calibration: What You Need to Know


    All carbon dioxide sensors need calibration. Depending on the application, this can be accomplished by calibrating the 
    sensor to a known gas, or using the automatic baseline calibration (ABC) method. Both have pros and cons you should 
    know.  

    Why Calibrate?   ABC Calibration 
    Most of our products use non‐dispersive infrared (NDIR)  Manufacturers of early CO2 sensors used in buildings to 
    carbon dioxide sensors. These rely on an infrared light source  measure occupancy or indoor air quality (IAQ) levels realized  
    and detector to measure the number of CO2 molecules in the 
    sample gas between them. Over many years, both the light  the difficulty of calibrating wall‐mounted units. Removing the 
    source and the detector deteriorate, resulting in slightly  units from the wall to bench calibrate was expensive, 
    lower CO2 molecule counts.   required trained staff, and with budget cuts calibration 
    To combat sensor drift, during calibration a sensor is exposed  schedules were often ignored.  
    to a known gas source, multiple readings are taken, an 
    average is calculated, and the difference between the new  To solve the problem of CO2 sensor calibration for IAQ, 
    reading and the original reading when the sensor was  SenseAir developed Automatic Baseline Calibration (ABC). 
    originally calibrated at the factory is stored in EPROM  The theory behind ABC calibration is that for IAQ use, at some 
    memory. This “offset” value is then automatically added or  point each day a room is unoccupied, and the CO2 level 
    subtracted to any subsequent readings taken by the sensor  should return to 400ppm, the same as outdoor air. By storing 
    during use.  the lowest CO2 readings taken over time (typically several 
    days) in EPROM memory, an offset to 400ppm could be 
    Calibration Using Nitrogen  calculated, then added or subtracted from the actual CO2 
    The most accurate method of CO2 sensor calibration is to  readings. 
    expose it to a known gas (typically 100% nitrogen) in order to 
    duplicate the conditions under which the sensor was  The advantage of ABC is that the CO2 sensor is self‐calibrating 
    originally calibrated at the factory. ISO certification is  over the life of the sensor. The disadvantage is that if the 
    available on our high‐end sensors to verify this process for  sensor never “reads” normal 400ppm air, over time it will 
    medical or scientific purposes. Nitrogen calibration is also  display inaccurate CO2 levels. 
    required if CO2 levels between 0‐400 ppm will be measured. 
    When To Use ABC Calibration 
    The problem with calibrating using nitrogen is the expense. A  ABC calibration is best suited for HVAC or any situation where 
    sealed calibration enclosure, a tank of pure nitrogen, and  fresh air CO2 levels can be recorded by the sensor every few 
    calibration software is required to match the original factory  days. Otherwise, known gas (either nitrogen or fresh air) 
    testing environment. Otherwise, the accuracy of the  calibration should be used. Many of our products have the 
    calibration cannot be ensured.   ability to turn ABC on or off in the software, depending on 
    how the sensor will be used. 
    Calibration Using Fresh Air 
    Where maximum accuracy is less important than cost, a CO2  How Often Should A CO2 Sensor Be Calibrated? 
    sensor can be calibrated in fresh air. Instead of calibrating at  The more accurate CO2 level reading required, the more 
    0ppm CO2 (nitrogen), the sensor is calibrated at 400ppm CO2  often it should be calibrated.  
    (outdoor air is actually 390ppm), then 400 ppm is subtracted   Scientific Experimentation – Before each test
    from the newly calculated offset value.   Personal Safety – Weekly to monthly
     Greenhouse – After each growing season
    Fresh air calibration is best for sensors in manufacturing   Manufacturing – Bi‐Annually to Annually
    settings or greenhouses where the sensor is constantly   Indoor Air Quality – Annually, or not required if ABC
    exposed to different CO2 levels. It should also be used in  is used
    products like the TIM10, if the unit is never exposed to fresh 
    air, and our low‐cost, hand‐held CO2 meters, which can easily  These are general guidelines. Calibration schedules may also 
    be taken outdoors.   be dictated by experimental protocols or by particular 
    industrial standards. Consult your specific sensor 
    requirements for your application.  

    AQ500 ‐ MODBUS Revision 1.1 – March 2013 1 

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