Contact us
Questions, wishes, ideas?
We are happy to be there for you personally.
Please don't lay it on too thick - what to look out for when installing PDC sensors
06/18/2024
Even though many vehicles now have a parking distance control sensor (PDC sensor) fitted as standard, according to TÜV Nord, one in five German drivers has been involved in a parking collision.
How can this happen so regularly despite the very loud warning sounds?
The reason: poor quality in terms of design and workmanship, which leads to considerable differences in terms of the distance measured and the angular field.
The result: the sensor does not always respond.
So let's take a look today at how PDC sensors are constructed, where differences in quality can occur and what to look out for when installing this small but important part.
Structure
PDC sensors usually consist of a decoupling ring, ultrasonic transmitter/sensor, encapsulation or water protection, sensor housing, control board and transformer. So far, so good.
What makes a significant difference here, however, is the position of the individual components: Where the water protection/encapsulation is usually glued to the sensor housing, MEYLE has decided to use a sealing ring at these points and place the water protection in front of the ultrasonic transducer/sensor.
The advantage: water cannot penetrate the PDC sensor so quickly and it is therefore less susceptible to failure.
The use of a fixed value transformer as opposed to a variable transformer also has some advantages: variable transformers are usually variably adjustable. While this may have some advantages, it also makes them more susceptible to destructive interference. In contrast, fixed-value transformers - as the name suggests - have a fixed value with which they operate. This makes them less susceptible to interference and energy loss and allows them to transmit signal waves with virtually no interference.
Processing and quality
There are also different quality levels on the market with regard to the components and their processing. As a rule, a so-called soft soldering process is used, in which a reflow oven is used to solder printed circuit boards.
A laser soldering process, on the other hand, ensures that all components are soldered fully automatically, guaranteeing precise connections and a secure electrical connection.
A high-quality process is particularly important for transformers, as manual soldering processes can lead to contact problems.
Processing and quality naturally also include painting. PDC sensors from MEYLE are therefore only primed and can then be painted to match the color of the car.
However, special care must be taken here! If the paint thickness exceeds 120 micrometers, even a brand new sensor will only work to a limited extent or not at all.
Our tip: When using a steam jet, a minimum distance of 0.5 meters must be maintained. This minimizes the risk of damaging the sensor.
In summary, it can be said that not only the external values of a PDC sensor are decisive, but also what is inside it.
