📏 How to Calibrate a Sensor Using Two Data Points

If your sensor isn’t displaying accurate values, you can improve its accuracy by applying a Calibration Factor and Calibration Offset. This article explains how to do that using two known reference points.

🛠️ Where to Find Calibration Settings

To calibrate a sensor navigate to Devices-><Your Device>->manage view, you’ll see the Channels section in the manage window, like this:

Click the Gear icon to get to the modal popup like below:

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🔍 Field Descriptions

Sensor Location Description

A label for the sensor to help you easily identify where or what it’s monitoring.
📝 Example: “Cars Speed” or “Tank Level – East Reservoir”

Sensor Type

Choose the type of data the sensor is collecting (e.g., Count, Voltage, Temperature). This determines how the data is interpreted in the platform.

Calibration Factor

This value scales your sensor’s raw measurements. It’s calculated using two data points where you know both the actual value and what the sensor measured.

Formula:

Calibration Factor =      ( Actual Value 1 - Actual Value 2 )

                                         ------------------------------------------------------------

                                        ( Measured Value 1 - Measured Value 2 )

Calibration Offset

This shifts the calibrated value up or down to correct for any baseline offset.

Formula:

Offset =     Actual Value 1− ( Calibration Factor × Measured Value 1)

 

✅ Example Calibration

Let’s say you observe the following:

 

1. Calibration Factor:

   25−10                    15
   -----------        =        -------       = 5.0
      5 - 2                       3

2. Calibration Offset:

   10 − (5.0 × 2.0) =  0

➡️ Enter:

• Calibration Factor: 5.0

• Calibration Offset: 0

Now the sensor will accurately report values matching your real-world reference

 

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⚙️ Other Options

⬜ Cumulative Values

Enable this if you want to add each new value to a running total (useful for counters or utility meters).

⬜ Hide Channel

This will hide the sensor from dashboards and reports, but data will still be collected in the background.

 

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💡 Tips & Reminders

• Changes are retroactive: All past readings will be recalculated using the new calibration.

• Export first: If you want to preserve raw values, export the data before applying calibration.

• Need help calculating? Just reach out to our support team with two known values (measured + actual), and we’ll help you work out the calibration numbers.

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Still have questions? Contact Support and we’ll walk you through it!