HTS 401 Humidity and Temperature Sensor
Accurate and reliable humidity and temperature measurement is critical across a wide range of industrial and regulated environments. From pharmaceutical manufacturing and cleanroom monitoring to food processing, agriculture, and advanced HVAC systems, even small deviations in humidity can compromise product quality, safety, and energy efficiency.
The HTS 401 humidity and temperature sensor from E+E Elektronik has been developed specifically to meet these challenges. Combining high measurement accuracy with exceptional robustness, long term stability, and resistance to harsh environmental conditions, the HTS 401 sets a new benchmark for humidity sensors and humidity transmitters used in demanding process monitoring applications.
Designed for Modern Industrial Process Monitoring
Industrial processes often expose sensors to continuous high humidity, aggressive cleaning agents, chemical vapours, and frequent temperature fluctuations. In such environments, conventional humidity sensors may suffer from drift, corrosion, or failure, leading to inaccurate data and costly downtime.
The HTS 401 addresses these challenges through a carefully engineered protection concept and advanced sensing technology. With a measurement accuracy of up to ±0.95 % RH and ±0.1 °C, and an operating range from −40 °C to +80 °C, it delivers dependable performance in everything from cold storage and outdoor installations to cleanrooms and production facilities.
For OEMs, the HTS 401 offers a flexible, modular platform that integrates easily into new equipment designs. For end users, it provides confidence that critical climate parameters are being monitored accurately and consistently over the long term.
Capacitive Thin Film Sensing Element for Long Term Stability
At the heart of the HTS 401 is a capacitive thin film sensing element, a technology widely recognised for its accuracy and fast response. E+E Elektronik enhances this proven principle with a proprietary protective sensor coating, specifically developed to withstand harsh industrial conditions.
This coating protects the active sensor surface against dust, dirt, oils, and chemically aggressive substances. It also prevents stray impedance caused by deposits, which is a common source of measurement drift in unprotected sensors. The result is exceptional long term stability, even in environments with high levels of pollution or frequent wash-down procedures.
For applications such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, where validated data and long-term reliability are essential, this stability significantly reduces the risk of non-compliance and unplanned recalibration.
High Resistance to Pollutants and Chemical Stress
Many industrial environments expose humidity transmitters to chemical vapours, disinfectants, or cleaning residues. Over time, these pollutants can alter sensor characteristics and compromise accuracy.
The HTS 401 incorporates Automatic Recovery (ARC), an intelligent function that actively counteracts chemical contamination. By periodically heating the sensing element, ARC removes absorbed pollutants and restores sensor performance.
The function can be triggered manually, cyclically, or via the digital interface, allowing it to be precisely adapted to the application.
Combined with fully encapsulated electronics and sealed solder pads, this design ensures high resistance to pollutants and dramatically extends sensor lifetime. This makes the HTS 401 particularly well suited for outdoor installations, agricultural facilities, and industrial processes with chemically intensive cleaning regimes.
Reliable Measurement in Continuous High Humidity
One of the most common causes of sensor failure is condensation. In environments with fluctuating temperatures or high moisture levels, condensation can form on the sensing element, leading to temporary measurement errors or permanent damage.
To address this, the HTS 401 features an integrated Condensation Guard (CG). This active heating function raises the temperature of the sensing element slightly when there is a risk of dew formation, preventing moisture build-up on the sensor surface. Importantly, this protection operates without significantly affecting measurement dynamics or response time.
This capability is invaluable in applications with continuous high humidity, such as food and beverage maturation rooms, swimming halls, agricultural ventilation systems, and cold storage facilities.
Maintenance Without Process Interruption
Downtime during calibration or maintenance can be costly, particularly in continuous production environments. The HTS 401 simplifies this challenge through its rapidX measuring module.
The rapidX module can be replaced on site in approximately 10 minutes, without tools and without interrupting the process. Each module is factory pre-calibrated and supplied with a digital inspection certificate according to DIN EN 10204-3.1, which can be accessed via the E+E certificate service. This eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site calibration and supports documentation-critical processes.
For comparison, traditional sensor recalibration often involves dismantling equipment and sending sensors to a laboratory, resulting in process interruptions that can last weeks. The rapidX approach significantly reduces maintenance effort and total cost of ownership—an important advantage for both end users and OEMs.
Precision That Drives Efficiency
High measurement accuracy does more than ensure compliance—it enables better control. The HTS 401 calculates derived humidity parameters such as dew point, mixing ratio, and enthalpy internally, providing valuable data for advanced climate control strategies.
In HVAC and cleanroom applications, more precise control of humidity and temperature translates directly into energy savings. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, stable environmental conditions support consistent product quality and reduce batch rejection risk.
Ideal for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Cleanrooms
In pharmaceutical manufacturing, humidity control is critical for product stability, operator safety, and regulatory compliance. Cleanroom environments require sensors that are accurate, reliable, and resistant to aggressive cleaning and sterilisation procedures.
The HTS 401 meets these requirements through its robust construction, high accuracy, and traceable calibration documentation. Its resistance to condensation, chemical stress, and pollutants makes it a reliable choice for cleanroom monitoring, while the rapidX module simplifies ongoing maintenance in validated environments.
Easy Integration for OEMs and System Designers
The HTS 401 supports a wide range of analogue and digital interfaces, including RS-485 / Modbus RTU, 0–10 V, and 4–20 mA, ensuring easy integration into existing control systems. Configuration and parameterisation are straightforward using the E+E PCS10 software.
Multiple mechanical variants – wall mount, duct mount, and remote probe – along with an optional display, provide flexibility for different installation scenarios. For OEMs, this versatility allows the HTS 401 to be seamlessly incorporated into custom equipment and packaged solutions.
A Future-Proof Humidity Transmitter for Demanding Applications – HTS 401 Humidity and Temperature Sensor
The HTS 401 from E+E Elektronik combines advanced sensing technology with intelligent protection functions to deliver reliable performance where conventional humidity sensors fall short. With its capacitive thin film sensing element, exceptional long term stability, high resistance to pollutants, and robust operation in continuous high humidity, it is an ideal solution for demanding process monitoring tasks.
Whether used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, food and beverage processing, agriculture, or high-end HVAC systems, the HTS 401 provides the accuracy, reliability, and ease of maintenance that modern industrial applications demand today and into the future.
