Wireless CO2 air sensor Redy

Quick Answer: The Redy wireless CO2 air sensor measures the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in air, usually in parts per million, and logs it wirelessly over time. A wireless CO2 sensor is used in respiration, photosynthesis and indoor air studies.

Carbon Dioxide as a Measurable Signal

Carbon dioxide absorbs infrared radiation at a characteristic wavelength, and most classroom CO2 gas sensors use that property: an infrared source shines through a small gas chamber, and the loss of light at the detector shows how much CO2 is present. The title does not name the method, and ranges differ widely between sensors intended for room air and those for respiration chambers.

In a sealed jar, the log makes living processes visible. Germinating peas raise CO2 steadily; a leafy plant in light lowers it, then raises it again when the lamp goes off; yeast in sugar solution produces a rise that speeds up in warmer water. Left in a classroom, the same sensor shows CO2 climbing during a lesson and dropping when windows are opened, which gives a practical case for ventilation.

For oxygen in the same chamber, run it alongside the wireless air oximeter sensor, so gas uptake and release are logged together.

Applications

• Respiration rate of germinating seeds or small animals in a closed chamber
• Photosynthesis and respiration of plants in light and darkness
• Yeast fermentation at different temperatures or sugar concentrations
• Monitoring classroom air during lessons and after ventilation

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Keep water and condensation out of the sensor; hang it above wet samples, never in them.
• Give the sensor its warm-up time before recording.
• Check or calibrate it in fresh outdoor air where the software allows.
• Do not breathe directly onto it unless its range covers exhaled air.

Why Choose LabEquip

Biology departments measuring respiration and photosynthesis, and schools looking at the air in their classrooms, are the main buyers. LabEquip sells it as part of its chemistry lab equipment; ask which range suits your chambers via the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an infrared CO2 sensor work?

Carbon dioxide absorbs infrared radiation at a particular wavelength. The sensor passes infrared light through a sample chamber and measures how much is absorbed; more absorption means more carbon dioxide.

Why is the reading much higher in a closed classroom?

Every person breathes out carbon dioxide. In a room with poor ventilation it builds up over a lesson, and it falls quickly once windows or doors are opened.

Can I measure exhaled breath with it?

Exhaled air holds far more carbon dioxide than room air, which may exceed the range of a sensor made for ambient monitoring. Check the upper limit first, and use a bag or chamber rather than breathing onto the sensor.

Why must the sensor be kept dry in fermentation experiments?

Water droplets on the optics or inside the gas chamber scatter infrared light and give false readings, and liquid can damage the electronics. Suspend it in the headspace above the liquid.

How long should a respiration experiment run?

Long enough for a clear trend, usually several minutes. Seal the chamber well, keep its temperature steady and use enough living material for the change to stand out from the starting value.

Can the CO2 sensor show photosynthesis?

Yes. In a sealed chamber with a plant under a lamp, carbon dioxide falls as it is taken up. Covering the chamber stops photosynthesis, and the level rises again as respiration continues.

Last Updated: September 2026