I am thinking to follow the DIY instructions on sensor.community to install a SDS011 “station”. This is mostly to “give back” to the community, and also to compare my data to the same sensor installed across the street. I realize these are cheap, and know it may fail in a year, so I do not mind buying a new one when needed (or but 2-3 of them in advance).
May I ask if you regularly clean the laser/photodiode chamber (can it even be done?), and if cleaning results in a change of readings?
My understanding is that the sensor uses 0.3 micron particle size for interpolation of counts. Therefore, should I install a filter, e.g. a G4, at the intake of the tube, to remove coarsest particles and the amount of dust?
Finally – is the built-in blower strong enough to work against the pressure drop in the standard tube ID recommended in the build, or should I rather install a larger OD tube?
I also have a Dylos and a professional Extech counter which I use to measure the performance of my HEPA and carbon filters indoors, i.e. they are not “always on”. The SDS011 unit, on the other hand, would be always on and exposed to the elements – hence my questions.
Thank you all in advance!