A Pyxis Labs ultrasonic level sensor for chemical tanks, with Bluetooth.
¶ What it measures
Distance to the liquid surface, used as a tank level — see Ultrasonic Level.
The LS-200 (P/N 54011) measures the distance from its face to the liquid. With the tank volume, installation height and maximum level height entered in the uPyxis app, it also reports level, volume remaining and volume consumed.
| Range | 0.1–2.7 m (4–106 in) from the sensor face |
| Dead zone | 10 cm (4 in) below the sensor face |
| Accuracy | ±0.15% of range |
| Resolution | 0.5 mm (0.02 in) |
| Measurement interval | Continuous (5 readings per second) or a configurable interval |
| Compensation | Automatic temperature and electromagnetic-noise compensation |
¶ Electrical interface
| Output | 4–20 mA and RS-485 Modbus RTU |
| 4–20 mA scaling | 4 mA = tank empty (distance = installation height); 20 mA = tank full (distance = installation height − maximum level height) |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 5.0, built in; about 10 m (32 ft) line of sight |
| Supply | 24 VDC, 2.0 W max; size a separate supply for 22–26 VDC at 65 mA |
| Connector and cable | 7-pin waterproof quick connector; 3 m (10 ft) flying-lead cable supplied (MA-L10); 25, 50 and 100 ft extensions available |
| Materials | PVDF transducer, polycarbonate enclosure |
| Process connection | 1 in male NPT, into a 1 in bulkhead fitting on the tank top |
| Pressure and temperature limits | 0.1–0.2 MPa (14–30 psi); −10–50 °C (14–122 °F) operating, −20–70 °C (−4–158 °F) storage |
| Ingress rating | IP67 |
Wire colors:
| Wire | Function |
|---|---|
| Red | 24 V + |
| Black | 24 V power ground |
| White | 4–20 mA + |
| Green | 4–20 mA − (internally connected to power ground) |
| Blue | RS-485 A |
| Yellow | RS-485 B |
| Clear | Shield, earth ground |
The green LED on top shows power; the blue LED shows a Bluetooth connection and comes on within 30 seconds of power-up. Pyxis does not publish the LS-200’s Modbus register map or serial settings; contact service@pyxis-lab.com for them. The registers the InteliHive uses are listed on the Modbus Register Map.
The older LS-200 user manual (rev. 1.02) gives a range of 4–86 in (2.2 m) and slightly different temperature limits. The figures above are from Pyxis’s current data sheet.
¶ Maintenance
- Cleaning — keep the ultrasonic face clean with a soft cloth or towel.
- Mounting — keep the sensor perpendicular to the liquid surface (use a self-aligning bulkhead fitting if the tank top is not flat), clear of the tank wall and anything that blocks the beam. Do not install it in a vacuum.
- Dead zone — the liquid must stay at least 10 cm (4 in) below the sensor face. In uPyxis, the maximum level height must be at least 4 in less than the installation height.
- Setup — connect with the uPyxis mobile app over Bluetooth, or the desktop app with an MA-NEB USB Bluetooth adapter. On the Settings screen enter the tank volume, installation height and maximum level height, then Apply Settings. For horizontal or other non-uniform tanks, contact Pyxis support.
The sound pressure in the beam can reach 165 dB, above the 110 dB safe limit. Never point the sensor at anyone’s eyes.
¶ Using it with a controller
Wiring and configuration live with each controller:
- InteliHive (upcoming firmware) — over Modbus RTU, default address 66. The controller writes the tank’s size into the probe itself, so you do not need uPyxis for setup; it shows level and volume, and uses the low and low-low levels as interlocks. See Modbus Probes — LS-200 and LS-202.
- MicroVision EX — no dedicated setup. The optional 4–20 mA input card (UGK-MILIN) accepts the LS-200’s 4–20 mA output as a generic input. See MicroVision EX.
¶ Sources
- Pyxis Lab: LS-200 data sheet (PDF)
- Pyxis Lab: LS-200 user manual, rev. 1.02 (PDF)
- Pyxis Lab: LS-200 product page
- Pulsafeeder: MicroVision EX installation and operation manual, rev. G (PDF)