iSensor Controller
Data Centre Environmental Monitoring Solution
Protect your environment instantly with the dual-powered 1U iSensor Controller. This scalable hub monitors temperature and humidity across 24 sensor ports, utilising standard Ethernet cable (up to 100m range). Data is accessible globally via its internal webserver or seamlessly pushed to your management platform (DCIM/BMS) using SNMP.
Expand your monitoring capabilities with optional sensors for air particles, carbon dioxide and dry contacts.
Learn more about Environmental Monitoring by reading our Essential Guide to Environmental Monitoring in Data Centres. Alternatively, watch our short video on iSensor.
Product Overview
About the iSensor Environmental Monitoring Controller
The iSensor Controller safeguards your critical infrastructure. It monitors temperature and humidity with precise, real-time data from up to 24 sensor points. This system maintains optimal operating conditions, acting as an essential early warning against potential hardware failure and downtime.
We engineered the iSensor for maximum resilience: it features dual-power redundancy and supports long-distance sensing. The unit integrates effortlessly into your existing network using industry-standard SNMP for compatibility with any DCIM, BMS, or management solution.
Why Environmental Monitoring Matters
In today’s densely packed IT environments, significant heat generation is a constant challenge. Therefore, robust monitoring is crucial for a multitude of reasons, including:
- Safeguarding Equipment: Proactively preventing damaging hotspots and premature hardware failure.
- Optimising Thermal Performance: Ensuring efficient cooling systems and balanced airflow distribution.
- Adhering to Optimal Conditions: Maintaining the environmental parameters recommended by ASHRAE standards.
- Conserving Resources: Minimising energy waste and avoiding over-cooling.
- Ensuring Operational Integrity: Meeting stringent compliance and audit requirements.
The iSensor Controller provides a scalable, centralised, and dependable solution for overseeing these vital environmental conditions throughout your entire rack or room infrastructure.
iSensor Key Advantages
High-Accuracy Temperature & Humidity Monitoring
The system uses up to 24 iSensor temperature and humidity probes, delivering precise environmental data across racks, aisles, and critical infrastructure. Probes connect via standard CAT5/6 cabling, allowing flexible placement up to 100 meters from the controller.
Dual Power Redundancy
Designed for unwavering reliability, the unit uses dual, independent 240V IEC C13 power inputs. Should one power feed be lost, monitoring seamlessly continues without interruption.
Intelligent Alerting & Thresholds
Take proactive control of your environment. Set custom high/low temperature and humidity thresholds for each sensor. Instant SNMP or email alerts notify you immediately, enabling swift action before issues escalate.
Web Interface & SNMP Integration
Like the iAccess Controller the integrated web interface simplifies configuration. For broader integration, SNMP connectivity links smoothly with key infrastructure, including BMS, DCIM, NMS, and remote monitoring tools.
Optional Environmental Inputs
Enhance monitoring capabilities by integrating the following advanced sensors:
- Particle Sensor: For precise measurement of airborne dust particles (PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10).
- CO2 & Climate Sensor: To track levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, and relative humidity.
- VFC Interface Sensor: For seamless integration with door switches, alarm panels, and other dry-contact security systems.
Why Choose iSensor?
The iSensor Controller proactively protects your data centre infrastructure from overheating and sudden humidity changes. Its scalable design adapts as your system expands.
When thresholds are breached, iSensor instantly alerts you, preventing costly downtime. Gain clear environmental insight to optimise cooling performance and simplify compliance audits. Installation is simple, using standard Ethernet cabling, making iSensor ideal for remote monitoring and multi-site deployment.
Features & Benefits
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 24 iSensor Ports for T&H Sensors | Each controller supports up to 24 Temperature & Humidity sensors, deployable across the data centre using standard CAT5/6 cabling (up to 100m distance per sensor). |
| Customisable T&H Alarms | Set individual high and low alarm thresholds for both temperature and humidity on each connected sensor, enabling precise environmental monitoring. |
| Flexible Monitoring & Configuration | Monitor and configure the iSensor Controller remotely over an Ethernet network via an internal web server or through standard SNMP registers. |
| Event Notifications (Email & SNMP) | Receive immediate alerts through email or SNMP traps when environmental thresholds are breached or contact statuses change, ensuring prompt awareness. |
| Optional Particle Sensors | Enhance air quality monitoring with optional sensors that detect and report dust particles in the data center environment. |
| Optional Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Sensors | Expand environmental insights by adding optional sensors to detect CO2 levels, in addition to temperature and humidity. |
| Optional Volt-Free Contact Sensors | Connect optional volt-free contact sensors to monitor and receive alerts for status changes from various external devices or systems. |
Specification
- 24 x iSensor Temperature/Humidity sensor ports.
- Optional sensors – Air Particle, Carbon Dioxide and VFC.
- Network 10/100Mbps (Auto).
- Configuration/monitoring options – Internal website and SNMP.
- Power – Dual 240V IEC C13 (Max 0.5A).
- LED – Power supply (A & B), Ethernet, iSensor Sensor status.
- Dimensions – 1RU x 155mm depth.
- Weight – 1.2Kg
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the iSensor Controller?
The iSensor Controller is a rack-mounted environmental monitoring device designed to track conditions such as temperature and humidity across data centre environments. It connects to multiple sensors and provides real-time visibility via a web interface or SNMP network protocols.
How many sensors can the iSensor Controller support?
The system can typically support up to 24 external sensors, allowing comprehensive coverage across racks, rooms, or zones.
What parameters can be monitored?
The iSensor Controller supports monitoring of:
- Temperature & Humidity
- Optional sensors such as dust particle, carbon dioxide, or volt-free contacts
This allows operators to detect environmental risks before they impact equipment.
How are alerts generated?
Users can set high and low thresholds for each sensor. If conditions exceed these thresholds, the system can trigger:
- Email notifications
- SNMP traps
- Alarm indicators
These alerts enable rapid response to potential issues.
How do I access monitoring data?
The controller includes a built-in web server, allowing users to monitor environmental data via a web browser over an Ethernet network. It also supports SNMP integration for use with DCIM or network management tools.
Can the iSensor Controller integrate with DCIM platforms?
Yes. It can integrate with DCIM systems, such as Sensorium DCIM, enabling visual dashboards, alarm management, and infrastructure mapping for improved operational insight.
What are the installation requirements?
The unit is typically a 1U rack-mounted device and can be installed within standard server racks. Sensors are plug-and-play, making deployment quick and scalable.
Why is environmental monitoring important?
Maintaining proper environmental conditions helps:
- Prevent hardware failure
- Reduce downtime
- Improve energy efficiency
- Extend equipment lifespan
Real-time monitoring enables early detection of risks before they become critical issues.
What environmental factors should be monitored in a data centre?
Key factors include:
- Temperature & Humidity
- Airflow
- Differential pressure
- Water leaks
- Dust and air quality
Modern systems can monitor all of these in real time to maintain optimal conditions.
What happens if temperature or humidity is not controlled?
- High temperatures can lead to overheating and hardware failure
- Low humidity increases the risk of static discharge
- High humidity can cause condensation and corrosion
All of these can result in costly downtime.
What is condition-based monitoring?
Condition-based monitoring uses sensors to continuously track environmental and equipment conditions, allowing maintenance to be performed only when needed rather than on a fixed schedule.
How does environmental monitoring improve uptime?
By providing real-time alerts and historical trends, monitoring systems allow teams to act quickly, preventing small issues from escalating into outages.
Can environmental monitoring systems be scaled?
Yes, most systems are modular and scalable, allowing additional sensors to be added as infrastructure grows.