{"id":2651,"date":"2024-03-07T15:35:13","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T14:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/encyclopedia\/level-switch\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T10:54:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T08:54:35","slug":"level-switch","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.bf-hydraulik.com\/en\/level-switch\/","title":{"rendered":"Level Switch"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Level Switches – Always Keep an Eye on Your Oil Tank<\/h1>

Hydraulic system<\/a>s must always store sufficient oil. Therefore, permanent monitoring of the oil level is essential. If a hydraulic pump<\/a> runs dry, it can be damaged. The failure of a hydraulic system<\/a> can cause significant damage to the entire plant. To prevent this, level switch<\/a>es and level sensors are installed to monitor the oil level in the hydraulic tank<\/a>. <\/p>

Level Switches Help with Leaking Hydraulic Oil<\/h2>

Hydraulic system<\/a>s operate under very high pressure. Several hundred bar are quite normal for power transmission through liquids. While this is usually not an issue for steel pipes and hydraulic cylinders, it can lead to problems with connection pieces sooner or later. Especially seals, which become brittle and harden over time, may eventually no longer withstand the internal pressure of the hydraulic system<\/a>. <\/p>

However, the leakage of hydraulic oil is not always immediately noticed. Leaks can be deeply hidden within the system’s components. Therefore, the hydraulic oil<\/a> level is ideally monitored directly at the tank. The level switch<\/a> is a suitable tool for this purpose. <\/p>

Three Ways to Monitor Fill Levels Using Level Switches<\/h3>

A level switch<\/a> in a hydraulic tank<\/a> usually consists of a float and an electrical assembly. In the simplest case, the float triggers a circuit breaker contact as soon as the hydraulic oil in the tank falls below its minimum level. <\/p>

Float switches with an attached potentiometer are technically more complex. These units continuously transmit an actual value signal regarding the fill level, which is either monitored by a control unit or visualized on a display. <\/p>

If only visual monitoring of the fill level is required, simple sight glasses or manual fittings are sufficient in many cases – especially in hydraulic applications.<\/p>

However, a level switch<\/a> is usually more than just a simple indicator: a switch closes or opens an electrical circuit. This signal change can be used for many applications. <\/p>

Level Switches: Sensors, Switches, and Indicators<\/h3>

Several components are required to monitor a hydraulic oil tank. A typical minimum setup includes: <\/p>