VEGA VEGAPULS C 11 80 GHz Radar Level Sensor IP68 4-20 mA

A flood-proof compact radar for water and wastewater

The VEGAPULS C 11 is the lowest-cost member of VEGA’s “C” series of compact radar sensors, built for water and wastewater duty where the instrument may sit in a damp chamber or even be flooded. The housing is made of PVDF with an encapsulated cable gland and a permanently attached PVC-insulated cable, giving IP66/IP68 (3 bar, 24 h) protection. Inside is the same 80 GHz W-band radar technology as the larger sensors, with a two-wire 4…20 mA output and a Bluetooth interface instead of a local display. VEGA recommends it for level measurement in water treatment, pumping stations and rain overflow basins, for flow measurement in open channels and for general level monitoring.

Technical specifications

Choosing between the C 11 and its bigger siblings

In VEGA’s type overview the C 11 is the 10 m model with a 5 mm deviation and 4…20 mA only. The C 21 and C 22 reach 20 m with 2 mm deviation and add HART (C 21, C 22) or the digital SDI-12 and Modbus options, and the C 23 narrows the beam to 4° for 30 m. If the tank is shallower than 10 m, there is no hazardous-area requirement and plain analogue signalling is enough, the C 11 avoids paying for performance the job does not need. The overview table shows no approvals for the C 11 while the others list ATEX/IEC, EAC, NEPSI and others as available or applied for, so check the approval need before selecting.

Installation in sumps, channels and flumes

VEGA’s mounting guidance keeps the sensor at least 200 mm from a wall and shows river and weir arrangements. For a rectangular overfall flume the beam is placed 250 mm or more upstream of the weir plate, and for a Khafagi-Venturi flume the sensor sits upstream by three to four times the maximum head, measured from the constriction. The sensor mounts through a G1, 1 NPT or R1 mounting thread or a ceiling strap with adjustable holder, and the cable is routed to a junction box above flood level since the connection is a fixed cable, not a plug.

Commissioning is wireless: the VEGA app or PACTware with a Bluetooth adapter sets empty and full distances without any process change.

Why 80 GHz matters in a small sensor

Radar frequency determines how tightly the beam can be focused for a given antenna size. At 80 GHz the C 11 achieves an 8° beam angle from a compact housing, which means less energy hits chamber walls, ladders, pipes and benching. In narrow wet wells and manholes that is often the difference between a stable reading and false echoes. Being a non-contact measurement, the sensor is not affected by grease, rags or floating debris that foul floats and submersible pressure probes, and nothing is immersed in sewage that needs regular pulling and cleaning.

Bluetooth set-up and operation

There is no display or keypad on the housing. All configuration, echo curve inspection and diagnostics are performed from a smartphone or tablet with the VEGA Tools app, or from a PC with PACTware and a Bluetooth adapter, within a typical range of 25 m. For a sensor mounted above a deep chamber this avoids climbing or confined-space entry for routine adjustments. Access should be protected with the device’s own Bluetooth access code, which should be documented by the maintenance team.

Typical applications

• Pump control and level alarms in sewage lift stations.
• Level in clear-water and treated-effluent tanks.
• Open-channel flow at the inlet and outlet of treatment plants via flumes and weirs.
• Storm-water and rain overflow basins, where flooding of the instrument is possible.
• Irrigation reservoirs, desalination product-water tanks and simple process vessels without Ex requirements.

Practical notes for Oman and GCC sites

The process and ambient limit of +60 °C should be considered for sensors exposed to direct summer sun on open tanks; a simple sun shield keeps the housing temperature down. The PVDF housing resists the corrosive H₂S atmosphere found in wastewater chambers better than painted metal. Dust deposits on the antenna face are generally tolerated by 80 GHz radar, but heavy build-up or condensation should be checked during routine visits. Because the cable is permanently fixed, specify the required cable length at the time of order.

Wiring and power supply

The C 11 is a loop-powered two-wire device: the same pair carries the 12…35 V DC supply and the 4…20 mA signal. Check the loop voltage available at the sensor after the input resistance of the PLC or controller and any surge protector, particularly on long cable runs to remote pumping stations. A surge arrester at the junction box is good practice on outdoor installations exposed to lightning.

What to include in an RFQ

• Measuring range and medium (water, sewage, sludge surface).
• Process fitting thread type or mounting strap.
• Cable length.
• Confirmation that no hazardous-area approval is required.
• Quantity and delivery site.

Documents and quotation

The official VEGA VEGAPULS C 11 specification sheet (58352-EN, version 241118) is attached to this page for download and covers the technical data, dimensions and wiring summarised above. VEGA’s shared product information for the C and 10/20/30 series (58365) holds the type comparison and flume mounting figures referred to here.

For a quotation, tell us the medium, tank or channel dimensions, output signal, hazardous-area requirement and quantity. Seven Star LLC, an independent supplier in Muscat, will respond with availability and a commercial offer; other level instrumentation is on our site. Always verify the complete order code against VEGA’s configurator before you place an order.