Kaiterra Sensedge is a portable air quality monitor that sports a 7-inch display.
The modular device supports swappable air quality sensors.
The Sensedge’s battery life could be further improved.
Air pollution is one of the most pressing issues that’s plaguing people worldwide. When we think of air pollution, naturally, our brain conjures up an image of factories and rows of cars pumping out black smoke into the air and it is quite an accurate depiction. There are also serious health risks associated with breathing air with high levels of pollution. For example, WHO estimates that about 4.2 million premature deaths occurring globally are linked to ambient air pollution and the main factors are heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections in children.
Polluted air outside our houses is certainly alarming, especially if you live in an area like Delhi or Kanpur, where the overall Air Quality Index recently surpassed the recordable limits. While we all know that air purifiers can be used to counteract the ill-effects of polluted air, one of the prevalent issues right now with various devices is figuring out how good or bad the indoor air quality actually is. This is where an air quality monitor comes in. While naysayers will argue that since a lot of air purifiers come equipped with a display or pair with an app to show current indoor air quality, it should be noted that these values are not always accurate.
Digit extensively tests air purifiers and collects data during the winter season, when the air pollution hits peak levels. This year too, we called in multiple air purifiers in for review and our readers will definitely know that we use an external air quality monitor instead of simply relying on the readings provided by an air purifier. This year, we decided to use the Kaiterra Sensedge air quality monitor to independently test the air purifiers and here’s why it is one of the best air quality monitors you can consider for use at home.
Big display, modular sensors
The Kaiterra SensEdge is notably different from most other sensors we have used so far. The key reason being its 7-inch touch-screen display that enables easier access to various options on the screen. The user interface is also intuitive with a large depiction of particulate values and indoor air quality for a straightforward understanding of what the current indoor air quality is at. While the display is one USP of the device, another bit is how accurate the sensors on it are. The device is tested and certified by the RESET standard for accuracy, and is fully compliant with the WELL v2 building standard for performance.
While air quality monitoring devices come equipped with a standard sensor that counts particulates as per your requirement, there is no flexibility with such devices if you need data for another type of element. SensEdge takes a modular approach to the problem as it features customisable modules that can be swapped to detect different types of particles or gases. Alongside PM2.5, temperature and humidity, the device’s sensors can be customised to detect formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, Ozone, SOx and NOx. Kaiterra is aiming to open up a slew of possibilities with its modular approach to sensors.
Data logging and app connectivity
What good is a sensor if it can't constantly log data for you? The Kaiterra Sensedge can record readings every minute, every hour and for days. There are a myriad of options to export the said data as well. Additionally, there are some notable automation and control options like Open API, BACnet, Modbus and more. However, we simply used the integrated functionality to export the data to an email id. With WiFi as one of the connectivity options, the device offers 8GB of onboard memory and also supports a micro-SD card.
Kaiterra also enables users to connect to Sensedge via the Kaiterra app, which further enables a host of new features. One can view the current indoor pollution directly via the app after pairing with the Sensedge and export the data as well. The app also shows historical air pollution data that can be viewed and categorised as per different particulate levels. You can also set alerts to receive notifications when the pollution levels indoors cross a certain threshold.
Bottomline
Air pollution is a serious threat both indoors and outdoors. While we don’t have much control over external air pollution, the air inside our homes can be cleaned via air purifiers. However, to get an accurate sense of how good or bad the air quality is, it makes sense to get a good sensor as well. The Kaiterra Sensedge is one of the best air quality sensors we have used so far, however, the battery life on it could be slightly improved. Throw in a host of features it comes equipped with and the Sensedge is certainly worth your consideration.
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Shubham Sharma
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