In a warehouse, workshop, or high-rise building, gas radiant heaters do not heat the air in the same way as a traditional heating system. They primarily transfer their heat by radiation, directly to surfaces, equipment, and occupants.
In this context, simply measuring the ambient temperature is not always sufficient to properly control the system. A LoRa black-body sensor measures the effective temperature, which is a more accurate indicator of the thermal comfort actually experienced under the gas radiant panels.
Why can a conventional temperature sensor cause the control system to malfunction?
A conventional room sensor measures only the air temperature. However, with radiant heating, the air may remain relatively cool even though the occupants are already benefiting from the heat transmitted by radiation.
If the control system relies solely on the room temperature, the " BMS " may determine that the setpoint has not been reached and keep the radiators running longer than necessary.
This situation can lead to:
- a sensation of overheating in certain areas
- a control system that does not accurately reflect actual comfort levels
- significant differences between the various areas of the building
- unnecessary energy consumption
- difficulty in establishing consistent guidelines.
Using a sensor that measures the resulting temperature provides data that is better suited to the operation of gas radiant heaters.
What is a LoRa black ball sensor?
A black-ball sensor consists of a temperature probe housed inside a matte black sphere. This sphere absorbs the thermal radiation emitted by heat sources, walls, and other surrounding surfaces.
The resulting measurement thus takes two factors into account:
- air temperature
- the influence of ambient thermal radiation.
This resulting temperature more accurately reflects the thermal comfort of the occupants than an air temperature measurement alone.
The Enless Wireless temperature sensor combines a black-bulb PT1000 probe with long-range radio transmission. Data can be transmitted without running a communication cable between the measurement area and the control panel BMS.
How do you use a black-ball sensor to control gas heaters?
The sensor does not directly control the radiators. It transmits the measured temperature to the BMS, which then uses this data to apply the setpoints and control the system.
The process consists of four steps:
- The black-ball sensor measures the effective temperature in the occupied zone.
- The sensor transmits the measurement via LoRa radio.
- A LoRaWAN gateway or a LoRa Easy receiver receives the data.
- BMS retrieves the temperature via Modbus or BACnet and adjusts the operation of the radiant heaters.
The system can then be controlled based on data that more closely reflects actual comfort levels. It can also take into account occupancy schedules, different heating zones, and setpoints defined by the facility operator.
LoRaWAN or LoRa Easy: Which Architecture Should You Choose?
The Enless sensor with a black ball probe can operate in two communication modes.
Use on a LoRaWAN network
In LoRaWAN mode, the sensor can be integrated into a public or private LoRaWAN network. It is compatible with commercially available gateways as well as the Enless LoRaWAN gateway.
The latter natively receives and decodes data from Enless sensors in order to make it available to the BMS in Modbus or BACnet format.
This architecture is particularly well-suited for buildings that already have a LoRaWAN network or for projects that combine multiple families of LoRaWAN sensors.
Use with a LoRa Easy receiver
LoRa Easy mode is based on the proprietary Enless radio protocol. The sensor communicates directly with an Enless Modbus, BACnet, or HTTP receiver.
This solution is particularly well-suited when a system integrator wants to quickly deploy Enless sensors and transmit their data to a BMS without setting up a full LoRaWAN infrastructure.
What are the advantages of the Enless LoRa black ball sensor?
The use of radio technology allows the sensor to be installed in the measurement area without running communication cables. This feature is particularly useful for renovation projects or when retrofitting existing industrial buildings.
The Enless sensor offers:
- a temperature measurement method better suited for radiant heating
- a PT1000 black-ball probe
- LoRaWAN or LoRa Easy communication
- BMS -based integration via Modbus or BACnet, depending on the chosen architecture
- an IP65-rated enclosure
- a replaceable lithium battery
- a configurable transmission interval
- A battery life of up to 15 years, depending on the settings and the operating environment.
The resulting temperature measurement can thus help improve thermal comfort while avoiding the unnecessary heating of certain areas.
Where should a black ball sensor be installed?
The probe's positioning is essential for obtaining a representative measurement.
The black sphere must be suspended within the occupants' comfort zone, in a location exposed to radiation from heating equipment. It must not be mounted directly against a wall or a machine.
During installation, it is recommended that you:
- hang the probe in an open space
- Choose a height that is representative of the occupied area
- Keep a distance of at least 50 cm from walls
- Avoid direct contact with any surface
- minimize movement near drafts
- Avoid touching the black surface with greasy fingers.
The complete procedure is available in the Enless black ball sensor installation guide.
In which types of buildings should a LoRa black-ball sensor be used?
This solution is particularly suitable for buildings where thermal radiation has a significant impact on comfort:
- logistics warehouses
- workshops and industrial buildings
- gyms and sports facilities
- indoor swimming pools
- atriums and buildings with large windows
- spaces heated by gas radiant heaters
- buildings equipped with heated floors.
In large spaces, multiple sensors can be distributed throughout the various zones to identify variations in the resulting temperature and refine the control of each group of radiators.
A more appropriate measure for the BMS
The control of gas radiant heaters should not be based solely on air temperature. By also measuring the influence of thermal radiation, the black-body sensor provides the BMS with data that more accurately reflects the comfort actually experienced.
Thanks to LoRa communication, this measurement system can be deployed without major construction work and then integrated into a Modbus or BACnet monitoring system.
Discover the Enless Wireless temperature sensor or contact our team to determine the right wireless architecture for your installation.
Frequently Asked Questions About LoRa Black-Ball Sensors
What is the difference between a black-ball probe and an ambient sensor?
An ambient sensor primarily measures air temperature. A black-ball sensor also takes into account the influence of thermal radiation from heat sources and surrounding surfaces.
Does the black ball sensor directly control the gas radiators?
No. The sensor transmits the measured temperature to an BMS or a monitoring system. The BMS then applies the control rules and controls the radiant heaters.
Does the Enless sensor work with LoRaWAN?
Yes. It can operate in LoRaWAN mode on a public or private network, but also in LoRa Easy mode with an Enless receiver.
How can the resulting temperature be transmitted to a BMS ?
Data can be integrated into the BMS via Modbus or BACnet using an Enless LoRaWAN gateway or a compatible LoRa Easy receiver.
Where should I place the black ball under gas heaters?
It must be suspended in an area that is representative of the occupants' comfort, at a sufficient distance from the walls, and without direct contact with any surface.
