I’m after a high quality sensor that can read VOCs + PM in the air.
It needs to be fairly high quality because I’ve got a problem with a nearby business that I suspect is doing some environmentally unfriendly things however they’re simply denying it and without hard data it becomes a he said-she said type situation.
So if I could prove myself with the data then they’d not have a leg to stand on.
My research has turned up the Plantower PMS7003 sensors. Are these any good? Can they be trusted? If yes where can I buy them from (trusted vendor) and not just Ali express where just about everything is a counterfeit item?
Additionally the above sensor doesn’t do VOC detection. I need this as well. Could someone suggest something suitable?
I don’t care how it plugs into home assistant - could be serial or over esp via ESPhome.
PurpleAir doesn’t do VOC but is probably the standard for PM. When you see a map on the news it is more than likely the PurpleAir map. https://map.purpleair.com
The PurpleAir lets you and anyone else see the ‘pollution’ with or without Home Assistant.
There is a good PurpleAir thread here if you want to easily pull it into HA.
I don’t have a recommendation for VOC as I’m still looking myself. I’ve thought about the combination radiation monitor and VOC(I can’t find the link at the moment, but around $400 USD)
Hey @GlennHA curious did you end up getting any of these models? I’m also looking for devices and the model 3A or 4A seem interesting though so expensive. I’m also researching other brands - it’s a whole journey. Seems that many are not independently tested and quite costly.
Been a while since I posted this thread, but I’d just like to mention I got a PMS5003 and hooked that up to a esp32, then integrated that into home assistant via ESPHome.
Still searching for a quality VoC sensor, but those are difficult to come by as there are some concerns around calibration etc. Will update if I figure it out.
They have both an indoor and outdoor model, with PM sensors of various sizes (PM1, PM2.5, & PM10), a TVOC sensor, NOx, and more. If you buy them directly from them (as opposed to the cheaper kit) they provide you with a printout where they tested your specific unit.
Also, on a more general note about this possible polluter. I used to work for a US state environmental agency for a state that is famous for being VERY sympathetic to petrochemical plants. Despite that sympathy, I know that we had personnel who would set up temporary monitoring stations around emissions producers to ensure they were working within their permit or legal limit. And I heard of at least a few times where someone called in and triggered a special monitoring event.
Now I admit I’m not in NZ, but based on my conversations with people from NZ, I have to imagine that your EPA or Regional Council serves the public at least as well as a backwater US state does. As I understand it, your Local Government Act of 2002 requires your Regional Councils to “focus on promoting the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of their communities” in relation to the Resource Management Act of 1991. (Local Government Act 2002 | Quality Planning) So as a former environmental regulatory worker, try reaching out with your concerns, if you haven’t already.