What is a purple air sensor?

PurpleAir sensors are an “Internet of things” (IOT) air quality sensor or particulate sensor consisting of a network of elements. Laser Particle Counter: PurpleAir uses PMS5003 and PMS1003 laser particle counters. These sensors count suspended particles in sizes of 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10um.

Why would I buy a PurpleAir sensor?

PurpleAir sensors are used to detect and measure air pollution in nearby areas, namely fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), smoke, and dust in the air.

How does a PurpleAir sensor work?

How do PurpleAir sensors work? PurpleAir sensors use PMSX003 laser counters to measure particulate matter in real time, with each laser counter alternating 5-second readings averaged over 120 seconds. Each laser counter uses a fan to draw a sample of air past a laser beam.

What do PurpleAir numbers mean?

Purple means air quality is very unhealthy.

What is the difference between air now and PurpleAir?

Broadly put, PurpleAir provides more localized, more current and less accurate readings than AirNow. … PurpleAir readings and those from government sensors like the ones maintained by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District differ in several key ways: speed, accuracy and placement.

How reliable is PurpleAir?

For the national data set of sensors collocated with regulatory-grade monitors, results show that PurpleAir sensors, when corrected, accurately report NowCast AQI categories 90% of the time as opposed to uncorrected PurpleAir data, which are accurate only 75% of the time.

How many PurpleAir sensors are there?

Purple Air has two sensors, which are both graphed on the timeseries. If the sensors are reading differently, very low, or very high, then one or both may be broken. You can see current air quality data on our website.

What sensors does PurpleAir use?

PurpleAir uses PMS5003 and PMS1003 laser particle counters. These sensors count suspended particles in sizes of 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10um. These particle counts are processed by the sensor using a complex algorithm to calculate the PM1.

How do you mount PurpleAir?

Registering your sensor on the PurpleAir map
  1. Go to www.purpleair.com/register.
  2. Enter the sensor’s Device-ID exactly as printed on the sensor’s label.
  3. Enter the associated email address, which is usually the email that was used to purchase the sensor. …
  4. Complete the rest of the registration form.

Do PurpleAir sensors measure temperature?

The PurpleAir counts the numbers of particles in several size classes and converts them to estimates of mass concentration. In addition to PM2.5 and PM10, the PurpleAir reports the concentration of particles less than 1.0 µm in diameter, called PM1.0. The PurpleAir also measures temperature and relative humidity.

What do the AQI colors mean?

AQI colors


For example, the color orange means that conditions are “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” while red means that conditions may be “unhealthy for everyone,” and so on.

What AQI is unhealthy?

An AQI over 150 is considered unhealthy for the general population. AQI over 101 can be unhealthy for sensitive groups and some workers with asthma and other conditions may feel unhealthy when the AQI is below 150.

What is Lrapa on purple air?

LRAPA has deployed a network of low-cost air quality Purple Air sensors throughout Lane County. The Purple Air sensors provide particulate matter (PM) data in communities without regulatory monitors.

Does PurpleAir have a forecast?

The Chronicle’s Air Quality Map shows readings down to the neighborhood, and is powered by PurpleAir data. It also features functions to show the smoke forecast and wind conditions.

Which air quality Site is most accurate?

Airnow.gov is the gold standard when it comes to knowing the precise measurement of pm 2.5.

Why are AQI readings so different?

Update frequency: It is possible that different sources update at different times. This can cause different locations to show different data – some current, some outdated. Update time is listed under the air quality reading on the AirVisual app – and can also be found on the US EPA (AirNow) website.