How to interconnect your pressure sensor to DRIVE+

How to interconnect your pressure sensor to DRIVE+

Before integrating your air compressor’s pressure sensor with the DRIVE+, you need to confirm two critical parameters:
  1. Signal Type: Is the sensor a current (mA) or voltage (V) output?
  2. Pressure Range: What pressure values correspond to the minimum and maximum signal levels?
These must be correctly identified to ensure proper wiring, commissioning, and performance within the DRIVE+ system.

Identify the Sensor Signal Type

Check the Sensor Label or Nameplate
Most pressure sensors have a label that indicates:

Label ExampleSignal Type
4–20 mACurrent sensor
0–10 V, 0.5–4.5 V, 0–5 V, 1–5 VVoltage sensor

Also look for:
  1. Supply voltage (e.g., "Supply: 24 VDC")
  2. Part number — useful for searching manufacturer documentation

Review the Compressor Manual or Wiring Diagram
Check for signal type and wiring info in:
  1. Electrical schematics
  2. Sensor/component parts list
  3. Controller I/O configuration section

Trace the Wiring Back to the Controller
Follow the sensor’s cable to the compressor controller. Inspect terminal labels:
  1. Examples: AI1, AIN, V_IN
  2. The I/O specification or label often indicates supported input types (e.g., "Analog Input 1: 4–20 mA")

Use a Multimeter to Measure the Signal
Alert
Only perform live measurements if you’re trained and qualified to do so.
To test for current (mA):
  1. Set the multimeter to DC current (mA)
  2. Connect in series with the sensor’s signal wire
  3. Expect readings between 4 and 20 mA under normal operating conditions

To test for voltage (V):
  1. Set to DC voltage
  2. Measure across the signal and ground wires
  3. Expected values: within the specified range (e.g., 0–10 V or 0.5–4.5 V)

Determine the Sensor’s Pressure Range

You’ll need this for proper DRIVE+ scaling and commissioning.

Check the Sensor Label
Look for information like:
  1. Range: 0–16 bar → 4–20 mA
  2. This means:
    1. 4 mA = 0 bar
    2. 20 mA = 16 bar
Use similar logic for voltage sensors. Example:
  1. Range: 0–16 bar → 0.5 = 0 bar and 4.5 V = 16 bar

Look Up the Sensor by Part Number
Search online or consult manufacturer documentation using the part number. You should find:
  1. Signal type
  2. Pressure range
  3. Accuracy
  4. Electrical specs
  5. Thread type

Check the Controller Interface
On some compressors you can access sensor data through the User Interface of the controller:
  1. Analog input configuration menus
  2. Calibration or scaling sections
  3. Live sensor readings with defined ranges

Wiring the Sensor to DRIVE+

Once you've identified the pressure sensor’s signal type and range, you're ready to begin wiring it into the DRIVE+. You’ll need the range values during the commissioning process, so make sure to record them for future reference.

The Role of the USFS (UltraSync Fast Switch)
Every DRIVE+ comes with a USFS — the UltraSync Fast Switch — designed to simplify installation and ensure operational safety.

Why the USFS matters:
  1. Fail-safe operation: If the DRIVE+ is powered off, the USFS automatically bypasses it, ensuring your air compressor continues to receive the pressure signal and operates in local control mode.
  2. Simplified wiring: The pressure sensor connects to the USFS, not directly to the DRIVE+. The USFS then routes the signal to the DRIVE+ when it is powered on.
This means that when we talk about connecting a pressure sensor to DRIVE+, you’re actually wiring it into the USFS.

Interconnection Examples
If your compressor uses a Current (4–20 mA) pressure sensor:
Follow Example 1 or Example 2 from our Example connections.



If your compressor uses a Voltage (e.g., 0–10 V) pressure sensor:
Follow Example 3 for proper voltage input installation.



You can view the example wiring diagrams by clicking the link below:
View DRIVE+ Pressure Sensor Wiring Examples

Setting of the USFS
After you've wired in your pressure sensor, you need to make sure that the Mode of the USFS is in the correct setting.
By default and just after powering up the USFS, the Mode of the USFS will be Current Mode. You can verify this by looking at which LED of the USFS is illuminating.

If you have a Current sensor installed on your compressor, you don't need to change the mode of the USFS. The LED of Current Mode will be illuminating.

However, if your compressor has a Voltage pressure sensor you need to change the Mode of the USFS by pressing and holding the 'Mode Sel.' button for 3 seconds.
After this, the LED of Voltage Mode will be illuminating.

If you want to switch back to Current Mode, press and hold the 'Mode Sel.' button for 3 seconds and the LED of Current Mode will be illuminating again.