Particle counters are crucial in a wide variety of applications. They measure how many particles of a certain type are within their operational space, and that can be used for all sorts of detection purposes in various industries, maintaining certain levels in different types of rooms, etc.
There are two main types of particle counters for you to choose from, and while they do the same general thing, they do differ slightly. There are handheld and wall-mounted particle counters.
Today, we’re going to go over both of those to help you pick the right one for your needs.
Handheld particle counters are designed to take all the core features of what used to be the standard for particle counters and scale them down into a portable package you can easily take anywhere and use without a hassle.
For the most part, this is great. You can detect the same types of particles, you can rely on the same tool in multiple rooms or at multiple job sites if you’re operating on the go, and it’s simply a lot more convenient.
You even get a bit of financial relief, because handheld units are fairly affordable, now. As the tech has developed, it’s more cost-effective to produce them.
The drawback with a handheld unit is that readings can be slightly inconsistent across a lot of models. It’s not as easy to make a 100% accurate particle counter that is sized down and designed to power itself.
That can cause some issues when you need it for extremely precise purposes. That’s usually not the case, but in applications that require extreme precision, it can be detrimental.
The most common use of a handheld particle counter is in qualitative checks. Slight inconsistencies are typically inconsequential, and the convenience factor as you move from job site to job site, simply checking for quality, far outweighs those minor inconsistencies.
Wall-mounted particle counters are a lot like what we just covered, but they’re mounted to a wall. This makes a much bigger difference than you’d think.
While you lose the convenience factor, these tend to be more accurate on average, and they truly shine when you need continuous monitoring in one location. You mount it, set it up, and it continuously monitors the area. This is great in areas where you can’t afford to let certain particle levels rise or drop too much. It’s even more convenient in persistent monitoring situations since you don’t have to worry about bringing the handheld unit along.
The drawback to using a wall-mounted unit is that, if you do have to monitor multiple places, it’s impractical to mount it, use it, unmount it, and repeat when you need it again.
Whether a handheld particle counter is right for you, or you need a more consistent wall-mounted option, your main focus needs to be on accuracy and reliability.
For the most reliable particle counters available, contact AQ Measurement today.
