Global Water WE100 Barometric Pressure Transmitter

Overview

The Global Water WE100 Barometric Pressure Transmitter is a high-stability, industrial-grade atmospheric pressure sensor engineered for continuous, unattended operation in demanding environmental monitoring applications. It operates on the principle of piezoresistive silicon sensing technology, delivering reliable absolute barometric pressure measurements across the meteorologically critical range of 800–1100 mbar — encompassing sea-level standard pressure (1013.25 mbar) and typical regional extremes observed in agricultural, coastal, and alpine deployments. The sensor features built-in temperature compensation over its full operating range (−40 to +55 °C), ensuring consistent output linearity and minimizing thermal drift without external calibration intervention. Its 4–20 mA two-wire current loop output provides inherent noise immunity and long-distance signal integrity—ideal for integration into SCADA systems, data loggers, and telemetry networks commonly deployed in remote weather stations, marine buoys, and hydrological monitoring infrastructure.

Key Features

• Piezoresistive silicon sensing element with factory-calibrated temperature compensation
• IP68-rated fully sealed electronics housing; compatible with outdoor, marine, and humid environments
• Marine-grade, tinned-copper shielded cable (standard 7.5 m; extendable up to 150 m via WQEXC accessory)
• Low power consumption (≤1.2 W at 24 VDC) and wide supply voltage range (10–36 VDC)
• Rapid stabilization: full operational readiness within 3 seconds of power application
• Compact form factor (76 × 51 × 25 mm) and lightweight design (59 g) for space-constrained installations
• Compliant with IEC 61000-4 electromagnetic compatibility standards for industrial instrumentation

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The WE100 is designed for direct atmospheric exposure and does not require protective enclosures or desiccant housings under normal deployment conditions. Its stainless steel pressure port and epoxy-sealed transducer assembly resist corrosion from salt spray, ozone, and ambient pollutants. While not certified to ATEX or IECEx for hazardous locations, it meets general-purpose environmental requirements per UL 61010-1 and CE marking directives for measurement equipment. For regulatory-compliant meteorological networks, the WE100 supports traceable calibration documentation upon request and aligns with WMO (World Meteorological Organization) guidance for barometric sensor siting and mounting practices. When integrated with GL500 data loggers or PC300 controllers, the system supports audit-ready timestamped records compliant with GLP/GMP data integrity principles.

Software & Data Management

The WE100 operates as a standalone analog sensor and requires no embedded firmware or driver installation. Its 4–20 mA output is directly compatible with industry-standard data acquisition systems—including Campbell Scientific CR series, Onset HOBO UX120, Delta-T DL2e, and Siemens Desigo CC platforms. When paired with optional accessories, expanded functionality becomes available: the EZ100 display transmitter provides local digital readout (0.1 mbar resolution) and isolated analog retransmission; the PC300 controller adds programmable high/low alarm thresholds and relay outputs for automated response; and the GL500 logger enables internal storage of up to 1 million pressure readings with UTC-synchronized timestamps, exportable via USB to CSV or XML formats. All accessory units support user-configurable linearization and unit conversion (mbar, hPa, kPa, inHg, mmHg) in accordance with NIST-traceable metrology conventions.

Applications

• Agricultural weather stations for evapotranspiration modeling and frost warning systems
• Coastal and offshore buoy networks supporting storm surge forecasting and wave height correction
• Aviation ground support systems for altimeter calibration reference and airport surface pressure reporting
• Hydrological monitoring: used in conjunction with vented water level sensors to compensate for barometric effects on submerged pressure transducers
• Environmental compliance monitoring for EPA-regulated air quality stations requiring concurrent pressure normalization of gas concentration data
• Research-grade microclimate studies in ecological reserves, glacial zones, and urban heat island assessments

FAQ

Is the WE100 suitable for underwater deployment?
No—the WE100 measures atmospheric (absolute) pressure only and must be mounted in a ventilated, weather-protected location with free air access to the sensing port. Submersion will damage the unit.

Can the output be converted to digital protocols like Modbus or SDI-12?
Not natively—but third-party signal converters (e.g., Phoenix Contact MINI MCR-SL-U-I-UI-UP) can translate its 4–20 mA output to RS-485 Modbus RTU or SDI-12 with appropriate configuration.

What is the recommended recalibration interval?
Global Water recommends annual verification against a NIST-traceable reference standard for applications requiring metrological assurance; field drift is typically <±0.3% FS/year under stable environmental conditions.

Does the sensor include lightning protection?
The WE100 itself does not integrate surge suppression; however, its low-voltage DC input and current-loop output inherently limit transient energy. External 24 VDC surge protectors (e.g., Littelfuse AZ101-01) are advised for exposed cable runs in high-lightning-risk regions.