By Vigneshwar Kannan
When it comes to condition monitoring, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Every site, every asset, and every operating environment has its quirks, and monitoring strategy should reflect that.
With MOVUS 2.0, we’ve expanded our offering beyond wireless. Our new FitMachine Wired sensor gives you more options to suit your environment, asset types, and data needs, so you don’t have to compromise.
But how do you know whether wired, wireless, or a combination is right for you? Let’s break it down.
Why condition monitoring matters (still)
Vibration-based condition monitoring has long been a trusted way to track the health of rotating equipment. It is non-intrusive, can give you 24/7 visibility, and offers clear early indicators of developing issues. Strategically placed accelerometers give you ongoing visibility so you can spot faults sooner, plan ahead, and avoid costly downtime.
For most industrial sites, it’s a no-brainer to install sensors where equipment performance matters. But once you’ve got management buy-in, there’s still one big decision to make: Wired or wireless?
The benefits of a wired setup
Our new FitMachine Wired sensor is designed for environments where reliability and high-fidelity data comes first. Here’s where wired sensors shine:
- Minimal Maintenance and Small Footprint
Once installed, you won’t need to worry about battery replacements. Without the battery, the wired sensor is much smaller, fitting into tight spaces where larger sensors won’t provide enough clearance.
- Continuous Data
With constant power, wired sensors can provide real-time, high-resolution vibration data, ideal for low-speed or short-run assets where data gaps aren’t an option.
- High accuracy in harsh environments
Wired sensors typically use piezoelectric accelerometers, which maintain higher precision even under extreme temperatures or high-vibration conditions.
Things to consider with a wired setup:
- Wired installations required upfront planning: cabling infrastructure checks, potential asset downtime during install.
- It takes longer than the quick install of a wireless device, but the long-term reliability pays off, especially for critical, high-value equipment.
The benefits of a wireless setup
Our FitMachine Wireless sensor remains a great choice for many environments. It’s flexible, fast to deploy, and easy to move as your needs change.
Here’s where they’re most valuable:
- Fast deployment
Installation is simple. No need to shut down equipment, run cables, or map out infrastructure, which means you can deploy within minutes.
- Flexible and mobile
Easily relocate sensors when assets change or monitoring priorities shift.
- Reliable snapshots
While you do not get continuous data, our wireless sensors provide regular snapshots, configurable to your use case, and actionable insights to help you keep tabs on asset health
Things to consider with a wireless set up:
- Wireless sensors run on batteries, and will need replacing. The standard lifespan of our standard batteries are approximately 2 years.
- Due to battery limitations, wireless sensors are unable to send continuous vibration data for monitoring purposes. This may not be suitable for some asset types.
So, which is right for you?
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to choose one or the other.
The real power comes from combining wired and wireless sensors to suit different assets across your site. Our integrated platform means you get one view of your asset health, regardless of how you collect the data.
Ready to get started?
If you’re not sure which set up is right for your site, our team is here to help. We’ll work with you to map out the best-fit approach for your environment, operations, and goals.