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General

 

This operation and installation manual provides 
general guidelines and suggestions to assist 
you in using the SensComp, Inc. Cricket-S 
ultra-sonic sensor module in many 
measurement applications.  For additional 
information, please contact SensComp at 

www.senscomp.com

 or 

[email protected]

 .  

 

General Installation Procedures 

1.  Always mount the Cricket-S sensor in a 

suitable dry location.  The Cricket-S is 
designed to be used indoors or in protected 
environments only. Excessive moisture on 
the circuit board (and the sensors 
transducer) will result in damage and 
improper operation, and will void all 
warranties. 

2.  Mount the sensor as vertically as high as 

practical above all horizontal surfaces. The 
sensor detection area is cone shaped at a 
17 degree angle and the further the sensor 
is away from the target the larger the 
diameter the detection area is. This will help 
to avoid false detections. 

3.  Mount the sensor in a location where 

environmental interference sources are 
minimized (examples are EMI sources, air 
nozzles, excessive air turbulence, etc.). 

4.  Mount the sensor using (2) #6-3/4” or longer 

screws. 

5.

 

As shipped from the factory, the sensor has 
been calibrated for maximum and minimum 
range; user will need to set desired ranges 
as needed.

 

6.

 

The (2) NPN open collector digital outputs 

must

 be “pulled up” through a resistive load 

to +5-40 max. VDC external power source.

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

System Wiring 

Brown Wire

 – Power Supply – supplying 30 mA of 

current (2.0 Amperes during the 0.5 ms 
transmit pulse). 

 

+8 to +24 VDC regulated power source.  

 

Blue Wire

 – Power Supply Common (Ground) – 

Common Return for DC power supply. 

 

Black Wire

 – Load1 - Current Sinking Operation 

(NPN open collector 600mA max.) 

 

White Wire

 – Load2 - Current Sinking Operation 

(NPN open collector 600mA max.) 

 
*The NPN open collector outputs turn on and off  
 when a target is detected (ON) or not detected  
 (OFF) as set by the Range 1 or 2 settings. 
 

*NPN Open Collector outputs MUST be pulled up to 
a positive power source in order to operate correctly. 

See Figure 1. 

 
 

Calibration Procedures 

Note:  The Cricket-S Sensor is calibrated before it 
leaves the factory for one of the following settings: 

 

1” - 12” version 

 

 

 

 

6” - 240” version 

 

 

 

 
Apply power to the sensor and let warm up for about 
3 minutes. 

 

1. Set Range-1 

  Place the target at the desired distance.  

Depress and hold the “Range 1” push button 
for about 3 seconds until you here a “chirp” 
sound, then release the push button. This 
indicates the range is set. 

2. Set Range-2 

  Place the target at the desired distance. 

  Depress and hold the “Range 2” push button 

for about 3 seconds until you here a 
“chirp” sound, then release the push 
button. This indicates the range is set. 

  The sensor is now calibrated to your 

desired target distance for zero analog 
voltage output. 

 
 
3. Gain Adjustment 

Note: The “GAIN” potentiometer has been 
preset at the factory to provide the best 
performance for the range of your Cricket-S 
sensor.  In the event that it is changed, the 
steps below will assist you in returning it to 
the proper value 

  To calibrate the “GAIN”, place the target 

at the maximum desired detection 
distance.   

  Rotate “GAIN SET” fully counter clock-

wise (CCW).   

  Slowly rotate “GAIN” clockwise (CW) 

until detection occurs. 

 

 

Rotate “GAIN SET” clockwise (CW) an 
additional 1/16 turn. 

9

   

Note:  Always calibrate “GAIN SET” for 

minimum gain required for reliable 
detection.  Excessive gain may result in 
false target detection.

 

 
 

 

Detect LED’s 

During normal operation, the LED’s will 
illuminate, indicating that a target is 
detected within the Range-1 or Range-2 set 
point. For targets outside this range, the 
LED will be off. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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