Balluff SmartLevel Capacitive Sensors – A Game-Changer in Liquid Level Detection

✅ Overcoming the Limitations of Standard Capacitive Sensors

Traditional capacitive sensors often struggle with accurate level detection in complex liquid environments—particularly when dealing with viscous, foaming, or filming liquids like soups, detergents, beer, or industrial waste.

The problem becomes even more challenging when these liquids are stored in containers with thick plastic or glass walls. Standard sensors often require tedious manual adjustments and are prone to false readings due to material accumulation or condensation.

Balluff has now addressed these issues with their new SmartLevel capacitive sensors, offering a revolutionary, self-adjusting solution that outperforms conventional technologies in both direct and indirect level sensing applications.

🧠 What Makes Balluff SmartLevel Sensors Unique?

Balluff’s SmartLevel capacitive sensors are designed to automatically compensate for variations in tank materials, wall thickness, foam, film buildup, and changing liquid properties—no manual recalibration required.

✨ Key Advantages:

• Self-adjusting signal processing

• Accurate detection through non-metallic tank walls up to 12 mm thick

• No false triggers from foam, residue, or buildup

• Fit-and-forget installation—no maintenance calibration needed

• Suitable for both direct contact and non-contact (indirect) sensing

🔍 Direct vs Indirect Level Sensing – Explained

🧪 Direct Sensing

In direct mode, the capacitive sensor is in contact with the liquid, and it detects when the liquid rises above or drops below the sensor’s location.

💡 Indirect Sensing

More commonly used, indirect sensing involves mounting the sensor flush against the outer wall of a tank to detect the liquid through the container. This approach:

• Requires no drilling

• Eliminates risk of leaks

• Simplifies installation and compliance

• Reduces installation costs

However, standard capacitive sensors often require careful manual tuning via trim potentiometers to ignore the wall material, leading to:

• Tedious setup

• Inaccurate results with foam, residues, or changing tank compositions

• Increased downtime due to sensor recalibration

🚀 Balluff SmartLevel Solves These Problems

The SmartLevel technology from Balluff eliminates all the headaches of standard capacitive sensors.

✅ How It Works:

• Automatically filters out tank walls (plastic, glass, etc.)

• Ignores foam, condensation, and buildup

• Continuously adjusts sensitivity based on liquid type and wall material

• Works seamlessly even with highly conductive or aqueous liquids

This makes them ideal for:

• Food & beverage (e.g., soups, dairy, beer)

• Chemical processing

• Pharmaceutical and biotech sectors

• Wastewater and environmental applications

• Detergents, acids, and organic substances

🔧 Easy Installation and Maintenance-Free Operation

Installing a Balluff SmartLevel sensor is as easy as:

1. Mount it flush to the outside of the container.

2. Connect power and signal lines.

3. Done—no manual tuning, no leak-proofing, no sensor access holes.

Once installed, these sensors offer long-term reliability without performance loss—even in the presence of foam, sludge, or harsh cleaning agents.

You’ll also benefit from:

• Reduced downtime

• Lower maintenance costs

• Improved process reliability

• Enhanced productivity and safety

🌐 Versatile Applications and Configurations

Balluff SmartLevel sensors are available in various form factors to suit a range of industrial environments. Whether you're building automated filling systems, mixing stations, or conducting real-time fluid monitoring, there’s a SmartLevel configuration to match your needs.

Applications include:

• Industrial mixing tanks

• Clean-in-place (CIP) systems

• Brewery and dairy automation

• Pharmaceutical process vessels

• Chemical dosing systems

📞 Need Help Choosing the Right SmartLevel Sensor?

Electroquip’s expert engineers are on hand to help you find the perfect Balluff SmartLevel capacitive sensor for your application.

In-stock availability
Fast UK delivery
Technical support from automation specialists
Competitive pricing and volume discounts

📍 Contact Us Today

Speak to one of our engineers for expert advice and live availability of Balluff SmartLevel capacitive sensors.

📞 Call us now
📧 Or use our online enquiry form