How to buy good quality sensors
Automotive sensors have many of the same characteristics as other types of sensors - they are designed to detect a signal, respond to chemical or physical changes such as distance or temperature. These signals are then converted into electrical signals that are used to make a decision or change the state of the moving parts.
Vehicles use a variety of sensors to help the driver make decisions. There are sensors whose main duty is to help the driver park his car, while MAP sensors help control fuel consumption and are located in the internal combustion engine management system. Extreme driving conditions mean that automotive sensors must be exceptionally rugged to keep performance within acceptable parameters. Automotive sensors usually depend on the type of vehicle you are driving, so make sure you buy sensors that will work on your vehicle.
Here are the precautions to consider when purchasing sensors:
Parking sensors Parking sensors were created in the 1990s to help drivers park their cars in tight spaces. Ultrasonic sensors are installed at the rear of the vehicle and generate a signal that measures the distance between an obstacle and the rear of the vehicle. Warning sounds are heard when a vehicle gets too close - louder the closer the obstacle gets.
MAP sensors: MAP sensors or intake manifold absolute pressure sensors are used to provide information in a vehicle with a fuel injected engine about the difference between the earth's atmosphere and the engine's air mass flow. The information coming from the sensor provides enough information for the control unit to make decisions about what the air/fuel mixture should be on an ongoing basis.
Automotive oxygen sensors: Automotive oxygen sensors are used in internal combustion engines to determine the correct air/fuel mixture, and a faulty sensor can cause the mixture to be either too lean or too rich. A rich mixture causes some of the fuel to remain unburned while a lean mixture has too much oxygen, which can lead to reduced throughput and additional nitrogen-oxygen pollutants. These sensors are not designed to directly measure air and fuel before they enter the system, but are part of a continuous feedback loop back to the car's computers.
Tire pressure monitoring sensorsA: Tire pressure monitoring sensors do exactly what they sound like. They constantly monitor the car's actual tire pressure to provide you with vital information to help keep you safe. When you know in advance that you have a flat tire, it can remind you to drive a little slower until you get to a service station to find out what's wrong.
The wide range of different automotive sensors available are important to vehicles in many ways.
