The Andivi Outdoor Temperature Sensor with Sun Protection PT100 / PT1000 takes a familiar engineering problem—radiant heat affecting accuracy—and solves it with elegant simplicity. Our sensor diverting radiant heat, deliver on a simple promise: accurate outdoor temperature measurement without distortion from sunlight.
Radiant Heat: The Hidden Enemy of Outdoor Accuracy
Radiant heat—the energy the sun emits in the form of infrared radiation—can significantly distort temperature readings. When sunlight hits a sensor directly, part of that radiant energy transfers into the sensor body, artificially raising its internal temperature. The result? A reading that reflects sun exposure rather than air temperature.
Even a deviation of a few degrees can throw off weather compensation in HVAC systems, mislead energy calculations, and trigger inefficient control responses. This is like measuring the warmth of a campfire not by the air, but by the glow on your face—accurate in one frame, but misleading in the bigger picture.
That’s why diverting radiant heat is critical. By shielding the measurement element, one ensures that only convective air temperature (the actual ambient condition) drives the reading, not direct radiant influence.
The Integrated Feeler Tube: Simplicity Meets Science
The key difference in Andivi’s outdoor temperature sensors is the integrated feeler tube—a precisely engineered sleeve that keeps sunlight from directly heating the sensor. This design redirects radiant energy, acting like a canopy for the sensing element.
From a physics standpoint, the protection sleeve reduces radiative flux on the sensing surface. Because the sensor is instead exposed primarily to the passing air currents, it reaches thermal equilibrium with the ambient air faster and more reliably. The outcome is reduced measurement error—especially under fluctuating weather conditions.
The improvement may seem modest in appearance, but the effect is significant: readings become consistently stable, eliminating the daily highs caused by radiant influence.
Why the Sun Protection Sleeve Is Worth Every Cent
The sun protection sleeve adds only a minor cost increase to the sensor’s total price but yields outsized benefits in measurement precision. Especially in outdoor installations—like on rooftops, southern façades, or weather station poles—direct insolation can easily skew readings by several degrees without protective design.
From an engineer’s perspective, that small investment prevents misreadings that could cost much more in system inefficiency. When multiplied across HVAC zones or large-scale BMS systems, the sleeve pays for itself many times over through stable and accurate data.
3-Wire and 4-Wire Configurations: Accuracy by Design
The 3-Wire Configuration
In a 3-wire RTD configuration, one extra wire is used to compensate for resistance in the lead wires, mitigating the error introduced by long cable runs. It’s a practical compromise between simplicity and precision, widely used in building automation, industrial control systems, and energy regulation projects where cable length varies but ultra-high accuracy isn’t critical.
Real-world examples:
Office buildings and commercial spaces, where sensors connect to nearby HVAC controllers.
Public infrastructure installations (metro stations, tunnels, logistics hubs) where wire runs are moderate.
Renewable energy fields, where multiple sensors feedback into a centralized energy computation.
The 4-Wire Configuration
The 4-wire configuration represents the most accurate approach. With two dedicated current-carrying wires and two voltage-sensing wires, it eliminates nearly all lead resistance errors, even over long distances. For precision applications like research laboratories, district heating networks, or data centers, the 4-wire configuration ensures uncompromised accuracy.
Real-world examples:
High-end HVAC and chilled-water systems demanding precise weather compensation.
Industrial processing lines where calibration reliability is mandatory.
Large smart building infrastructures integrating analog sensors into digital BMS architectures.
Regardless of wiring type, Andivi’s outdoor sensors accommodate custom wiring configurations and connector standards upon request.
Customizing Sensors for Every Need
Andivi’s strength lies not only in manufacturing but in customization.We can craft passive, active, or Modbus sensor versions according to client specifications—adjusting sensor types (PT100, PT1000, Ni1000, NTC), cable lengths, mounting designs, or output formats. Want a shorter sleeve? A custom color? Special housing material resistant to aggressive urban conditions? All possible.
Andivi’s OEM program even supports branding and industry-specific configurations, allowing HVAC manufacturers to integrate these sensors seamlessly into their own systems.
In short, whether you’re integrating data over Modbus RTU, calibrating temperature offsets in an industrial plant, or maintaining reliability in remote weather stations—the customization options ensure that precision fits perfectly into your application.
Variations
The sensor is available in three distinct versions: the Passive 4-wire sensor with sun protection, the Active temperature sensor with Sun protection, and the Modbus Sun protected sensor . Each version shares a common design DNA: a robust outdoor housing paired with an integrated feeler tube that protects the sensor element from direct sunlight exposure.
The Passive version, discussed in this post, acts as a direct resistance temperature device (RTD)—ideal for analog control systems and precision applications where long-term stability matters. The Active version provides a standardized 0–10 V or 4–20 mA output, perfect for direct integration with DDC or PLC controllers, while the Modbus version offers digital communication via RS485, making it well-suited for modern BMS (Building Management Systems) and IoT-ready environments.
A Professional Invitation
If your next project requires PT100 or PT1000 sensors that measure outdoor temperatures with confidence—unaffected by the sun’s radiant influence—Andivi’s temperature sensors are ready to deliver. Available in passive, active, or Modbus formats, and customizable as 2-wire, 3-wire, or 4-wire versions—they bring the perfect balance of physics, precision, and practical engineering.
Andivi warmly invites you to discuss your requirements, from bespoke development to large-scale OEM collaboration. After all, in the world of outdoor sensing, precision isn’t just built—it’s shielded.
