Author: SAIER | Date: 2025.4.2

Product focus: Magnetic/baffle/flick/piston/flip water flow switch

I. Hook

How do you monitor in real time when you need to ensure the safe flow of liquids in an industrial pipeline?

In critical fields such as chemical, fire and medical, abnormal liquid flow can lead to equipment damage, production disruption and even safety incidents. As the core component of real-time monitoring, the importance of flow switch is self-evident.

This article will provide you with a deep analysis of the flow switch from the four dimensions of working principle, type comparison, selection guide, and fault troubleshooting to help you accurately match the needs of industrial scenes

II. Basic cognition of flow switches

Definition:

A water flow switch monitors fluid flow (e.g., water, oil, or gas) and triggers switching signals based on flow state. When the fluid flow reaches or falls below a preset threshold, the flow switch automatically triggers mechanical or electronic signals to control the start, stop or alarm of related equipment for flow monitoring, system protection or automated control.

Core function：

• Equipment protection：The flow switch prevents the pump and heater from running without water (e.g., protecting the water heater from dry burning).
• Flow monitoring：Monitor the flow of circulating water system and trigger alarm when abnormal (such as insufficient chilled water flow of central air conditioning).
• Energy saving control：Start and stop equipment on demand (such as flow trigger control for circulating pumps in solar water heating systems).

Understanding the core functions of flow switches lays the foundation for exploring their technical details. Next, we will analyze their working principles and types.

III. In-depth technical analysis

3.1 Working principle and technical differences

Type	Working principle	Core advantage	limitation	Application scenario	Product model
Magnetic type	The magnetic flow switch detects the fluid’s flow state to control the circuit	Fast response, high sensitivity, low power consumption	High fluid cleanliness requirements and limited flow thresholds	Water treatment, water heater, cooling system, chiller, etc	SEN-CL21W
Baffle type	The mechanical baffle deflects to detect the flow status in the baffle flow switch	Large flow applicability, simple structure, adjustable threshold, resistant to harsh environment	Low flow insensitive, high pressure loss	Water treatment, hot water engineering, heat pump, solar energy, electric boiler, etc	SEN-DB25
Pick type	In the pick-type flow switch, a flexible metal or plastic sheet bends to detect the flow status	Low flow detection, low pressure loss, fast response	Mechanical fatigue, directional sensitivity	Heat pump, Swimming pool	SEN-BP21W
Piston type	Piston water flow switches drive piston movement through fluid pressure, combined with magnetic or mechanical linkage trigger signals	High sensitivity, strong medium adaptation, long life	Slow response speed, installation limitations, maintenance requirements	Water treatment, hot water engineering, heat pump, solar energy, etc	SEN-HS15
Flip-over	The flip plate water flow switch detects the flow status by the mechanical movement of water impacting the flip plate	Low power consumption, anti-fouling, two-way flow detection	Low flow, freezing at low temperature	Wall hanging stove, heater, electric heater, water heater, small kitchen treasure, chiller, etc	SEN-FB21WA

3.2 Select the four Golden Rules

• Flow range: small flow selection plate type, large flow selection baffle type.
• Medium characteristics: particulate matter to avoid the flick type, high viscosity liquid preferred to flip over the flow channel design.
• Environmental requirements: Magnetic type in humid environment, magnetic type or piston type in high temperature and high pressure scenes.
• Installation restrictions: Suitable for the baffle type in the narrow space scenario, and the flip plate type should be selected for visual monitoring.

Even with proper selection and installation, flow switches may encounter issues. The next section provides practical solutions for common problems

V. Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide

4.1 Common problems and solutions

• False trigger: Check the media for impurities (clean the pipe) and confirm the installation direction is correct.
• No signal output: Test the circuit connections and inspect the reed tube or sensor for damage.
• Response delay: The piston switch needs to check whether the buffer cavity is blocked.

4.2 Maintenance suggestion

• Calibrate sensitivity regularly
• In the scenario of highly corrosive media, replace the sealing components every year.

For further clarity, here are answers to frequently asked questions about flow switches

VI.FAQ

1.Q:What is the minimum starting flow of the water flow switch?

1.A:The switches of different principles vary greatly, and you can contact us if you need specific information.

2.Q:Can water containing impurities be used? Which is the most dirt resistant?

2.A:Yes, the flip or wide runner pistons are the most stain-resistant.

3.Q:Why is the flow normal but the switch doesn’t work?

3.A:Ensure the arrow on the switch aligns with the water flow direction during installation.

4.Q:What is the average life span? Which parts are vulnerable?

4.A:>1 million times, mechanical about 500,000 times. The impeller is easy to wear, and the sealing ring needs to be replaced in 3 to 5 years.

5.Q:What should I do if I misreport “no water” but actually have flow?

5.A:① Check whether the electrode/sensor is scaling;

② Check whether the flow rate is lower than the minimum threshold;

③ The electronic type should be calibrated for zero drift

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enario of highly corrosive media, replace the sealing components every year.