Bestselling Original New Pressure Sensor With Display IFM PN3160 for Industrial Machinery

IFM PN3160 Pressure Sensor with Display – Product Introduction

The IFM PN3160 is a high-pressure electronic pressure sensor with an integrated display, designed for demanding industrial applications where compact size, clear indication and robust performance are all essential. With a measuring range up to 600 bar, a metallic thin-film measuring cell and IO-Link communication, it serves both as a precise transmitter and as a smart pressure switch for hydraulic and process systems. 

1. Key Technical Data

2. Measuring Range and Performance

The PN3160 is designed for applications where high system pressures are present but precise monitoring and fast control are still required. Its measuring range from 0 to 600 bar covers typical hydraulic systems, high-pressure pumps, clamping circuits, and other equipment that operates at elevated pressure levels. 

Using a metallic thin-film measuring cell, the sensor offers a combination of high overload resistance and very good long-term stability. This technology is well suited for repetitive duty in hydraulic power units or test benches that see millions of pressure cycles over their operating life. The specified switch point accuracy of better than ±0.5% of span and repeatability better than ±0.1% help ensure that once you have set up your pressure limits, they remain consistent over time, even as ambient conditions change within the allowed temperature range. 

The sensor also provides narrow step sizes for setting switching points and reset points in bar, psi or MPa, which means that engineers can tune the control behaviour precisely—for example, to avoid rapid cycling of pumps or to maintain a tight pressure band in closed-loop systems. 

3. Mechanical Design and Process Connection

Mechanically, the PN3160 is built for harsh industrial environments. The process connection is a G 1/4 internal thread with an additional M6 internal port, making it easy to integrate into standard hydraulic manifolds, pipework and adapters used in European and many international systems. 

The housing uses stainless steel for the wetted parts and robust engineering plastics for the electronics section, achieving a high pressure rating of 800 bar and a bursting pressure of at least 2500 bar. This gives the sensor a wide safety margin against short pressure spikes or abnormal load conditions, which are common in fast-switching hydraulic circuits. 

With IP65/IP67 ingress protection, the device is dust-tight and resistant to water jets and temporary immersion. It can be installed in environments where splashing coolant, hydraulic oil mist or cleaning operations are part of daily operation. The upper part of the housing can be rotated by roughly 345°, allowing the display and buttons to be oriented for best visibility even when the sensor is mounted in tight spaces or at awkward angles. 

4. Electrical Design, Outputs and IO-Link

Electrically, the PN3160 operates from a 24 V DC control supply within a range of 18 to 30 V, with current consumption of less than 35 mA. It uses a 4-pin M12 connector with gold-plated contacts for secure, low-resistance connection even in environments where vibration and humidity are present.

The sensor offers:

• One switching output (PNP) that can be configured as normally open or normally closed.

• One analogue output, switchable between 4–20 mA current and 0–10 V voltage, with configurable measuring span.

• IO-Link communication, allowing the same pin to be used as a digital communication channel in IO-Link mode. 

The switching output supports high switching frequencies (up to around 170 Hz), which is useful for dynamic processes. The analogue output can drive typical analogue input modules, with recommended load resistance up to 500 Ω for current and at least 2 kΩ for voltage. Integrated protection features include reverse-polarity protection, short-circuit protection and overvoltage protection, which helps safeguard both the sensor and the connected PLC or controller. 

Via IO-Link, users gain access to detailed process values, device status information and parameter sets. This allows centralised configuration, remote diagnostics and parameter cloning to multiple sensors in a machine, which reduces manual setup time and supports predictive maintenance strategies.

5. Display and User Interaction

The IFM PN3160 is more than a “black box” transmitter. It includes a 4-digit alphanumeric display on the head of the device, capable of showing the measured pressure in bar, psi or MPa. The display can switch between red and green colours, which is typically used to indicate whether the process is inside or outside an acceptable range—for example, green during normal operation and red when a limit is exceeded. 

Additional LEDs indicate the selected unit and the switching status. The pushbuttons below the display provide a structured and menu-driven interface to configure switching modes (hysteresis or window), switching thresholds, damping times, output logic and analogue scaling. This local interface means that commissioning engineers can perform most adjustments directly at the sensor, without requiring a programming device or laptop in straightforward applications.

Even in IO-Link installations, the display remains useful, giving operators an immediate visual indication of pressure and sensor status when walking past the machine.

6. Typical Applications

Because of its high pressure capability and rugged construction, the PN3160 is widely suitable for:

• Hydraulic power units and power packs – Monitoring system pressure, protecting pumps against overload, and controlling accumulator charging cycles.

• Presses and forming machines – Measuring clamping and forming pressures in metal forming, injection moulding and similar equipment.

• Test rigs and proof pressure stations – Providing accurate feedback in pressure test systems for valves, hoses and hydraulic components up to several hundred bar.

• High-pressure pump systems – Supervising outlet pressure in industrial washing, cutting or descaling systems that operate at high pressures.

• General industrial process and factory automation – Any system where robust pressure monitoring with both local display and PLC integration is required.

Since the sensor is suitable for both liquids and gases, it can be used for hydraulic oil, water-based fluids, compressed air and compatible process media within the temperature range of -25 to 80 °C. 

7. Benefits for Machine Builders and End Users

For OEMs and machine designers, the PN3160 offers a standard pressure platform that can cover many different high-pressure applications with a single part number. The combination of a broad measuring range, robust mechanical design, and flexible outputs simplifies the bill of materials and reduces the number of sensor variants that must be managed in design and inventory.

Plant operators and maintenance teams benefit from:

• Clear on-site indication thanks to the red/green display and numeric value.

• Fast troubleshooting, assisted by status LEDs, diagnostics and the option of IO-Link data.

• High reliability, due to high pressure rating, excellent burst pressure margin, wide temperature range and integrated protective functions. 

In summary, the IFM PN3160 pressure sensor with display is a compact yet powerful device that combines high-pressure capability, accurate measurement, flexible integration and smart diagnostics. It is well suited to be used as a universal high-pressure sensor in modern industrial automation systems.