You're not alone if you've ever heard from your techs, or thought to yourself:

"We installed sensors, but this data isn't helping. It doesn't seem accurate."

SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems are built on the promise of visibility. With the right sensor network in each remote location, you should get early warnings about problems, prevent outages, and manage your remote infrastructure with confidence.

But the truth is sensor placement matters more than having a massive sensor count.

In many cases, teams spend thousands on sensors, RTUs, and SCADA software... only to get:

• Delayed alarms that come in after the failure
• False positives that waste staff time
• Gaps in visibility that let critical problems go undetected

Let's fix that.

Here, we'll explore the top 7 SCADA sensor placement best practices to maximize visibility, avoid data overload, and build a smarter, leaner monitoring system. Along the way, we'll show how DPS Telecom - a company that's been engineering monitoring gear for about 40 years - can help you do it right the first time.

1. Don't Just Install Sensors - Install the Right Sensors in the Right Places

Let's start with the obvious. Not all sensors are created equal - and where you install them matters just as much as what type they are.

Many SCADA projects go off the rails because of "checkbox thinking." Someone installs:

• A temperature sensor near an HVAC unit that always stays cool
• A battery voltage sensor, but on only one string
• A smoke detector placed too low in an area where smoke stratification prevents early detection

As a result, the data looks fine - until it's too late.

DPS Best Practice:

Our field engineers guide you to place sensors at actual points of failure, not just "where it's easy." Think:

• Temperature sensors near your most sensitive gear - not in an isolated ceiling corner
• Voltage sensors on individual battery cells - not just the total bank
• Door sensors on all access points - not just the front gate

DPS also offers a wide range of sensor types, including:

• Analog (like temperature & humidity)
• Discrete contact closures (door open, generator on/off)
• MODBUS-based smart sensors
• Smoke, motion, vibration, and flood sensors

Everything plugs directly into NetGuardian RTUs, which interpret and filter sensor data before sending it upstream. This way, you get accurate alarms with minimal noise.

2. Skip the "Overkill vs. Underkill" Mistake

We see this all the time.

Approach 1: Overkill
Install sensors everywhere "just in case." This gives you data overload and increases false alarms. Your NOC ends up ignoring alerts - or worse, disabling them.

Approach 2: Underkill
Install the bare minimum: "Just monitor the batteries and HVAC. That's enough." That works until you have a fuel spill, a rodent intrusion, or an unauthorized access event that slips past your tiny sensor footprint.

What You Actually Want:

Smart coverage with high signal, low noise is the smartest path. That means:

• Monitoring the right failure points
• Avoiding redundancy and overlap
• Tuning thresholds to eliminate nuisance alarms

DPS SCADA Consultation Services provide free site reviews to help you strike this balance. We'll work with you to produce a custom site diagram that shows:

• Sensor placement
• RTU wiring
• Alarm flow to your SCADA master

You get comprehensive monitoring without turning your data stream into a firehose.

3. Use RTUs That Accept Multiple Sensor Types

You may already have a few sensors in place. Maybe some are analog, others are dry contacts, and now you want to integrate smart devices over MODBUS or SNMP.

The challenge is that many RTUs support only one or two input types.

You shouldn't need a patchwork of converters and interface boxes to get full visibility. That's not scalable.

DPS Solution:

Our flagship NetGuardian 832A and other RTUs support:

• Analog inputs (temperature, voltage, current)
• Discrete contact closures (intrusion, AC fail, fire)
• Serial data (RS232/RS485 for MODBUS devices)
• SNMP traps from smart gear
• Control relays for responding to alarms (restart gear, turn on lights, etc.)

Everything is centralized in one RTU, which sends alarms to your T/Mon master station or any SNMP manager.

This makes expansion easy. You can integrate legacy gear with new sensors - all under one umbrella.

4. Interpret Sensor Data with Smart Logic (Not Just Raw Input)

Most low-end RTUs simply pass sensor inputs upstream:

"Input 3 is high!"
"Input 7 changed state!"

That's not actionable. That's just noise.

A modern RTU should analyze, filter, and prioritize alarms before passing them on. This saves you time and prevents alert fatigue.

DPS Advantage:

Our RTUs come with built-in logic features that act like a first layer of AI for your SCADA:

• Thresholds - Define high/low limits for analog sensors
• Hysteresis - Prevent ping-ponging alarms due to fluctuating readings
• Alarm Escalation - Route critical alarms to different staff or devices
• Alarm Qualification Timers - Filter out momentary "blips" in sensor data

This kind of built-in intelligence is why clients maintain and expand deployments of DPS gear. You don't just get "sensor status." You get real alarms tied to real risks - with built-in context.

5. Unify All Data to One Master Station (And Eliminate Blind Spots)

Once your sensors are placed and wired, you need a central place to see everything.

Without this, you're jumping between:

• Multiple RTU web interfaces
• A separate SCADA software package
• Vendor-specific dashboards

This fragmented setup increases the chance that something gets missed.

Consolidate with a DPS Master Station:

The T/Mon LNX Master Station gives you:

• One web interface for all sites
• SNMP, MODBUS, and DNP3 compatibility
• A real-time alarm view with filters, escalation, and notification rules
• Historical reporting and trend graphs
• User permissions and secure access

T/Mon understands multiple protocols, so even if you're mixing DPS RTUs with other vendor gear, it acts as the central hub for all your alarm data.

This means no more bouncing between systems, and no more moments of missed alerts.

6. Design for Scalability (Without Breaking Your Budget Later)

Your network will grow, and your sites will change. Your monitoring setup should be built to evolve.

During consultation visits and meetings, we've seen far too many SCADA deployments where:

• RTUs run out of ports
• Sensor types change and require new hardware
• Protocol mismatches force forklift upgrades

Don't build a SCADA system that works today but fails tomorrow.

DPS Offers Hardware Scalability:

With DPS, you're building on a modular platform:

• NetGuardian DX Expansion Shelves: Add more inputs/outputs as needed
• Hot-swappable modules: No service interruption during upgrades
• Standard protocols: SNMP, MODBUS, DNP3 - future-proof and flexible
• DIN, rackmount, and wall-mount options for any environment

And since DPS devices are rugged and designed for 20+ year service lifespans, you won't find yourself replacing hardware every 5 years due to obsolescence.

Your investment gets results for much longer. We're sometimes frustrated that we can sell an upgrade after 10+ years, but that's hardly a problem for you to worry about!

7. Get Help From Real Experts (Not Just Salespeople)

SCADA systems are complex. You're dealing with sensors, RTUs, protocols, master stations, thresholds, notifications, and more.

It's a lot to juggle - especially if monitoring is just one part of your job.

That's why expert guidance is critical.

DPS Consultation (Free & Zero Pressure):

We offer free SCADA consultations that include:

• A full site assessment
• Sensor placement recommendations
• RTU selection guidance
• A custom proposal with wiring diagrams and specs

And unlike many vendors, we don't push one-size-fits-all boxes. Every deployment is tailored to your exact environment and priorities.

Build a SCADA System That Works for You

Here's a quick checklist to follow as you plan or upgrade your sensor placement strategy:

Best Practice	What It Means	How DPS Helps
Right sensors, right places	Monitor failure points, not just easy targets	Free site survey + full sensor library
Avoid overkill/underkill	Balance coverage and signal clarity	Custom sensor maps from field experts
Use multi-input RTUs	Handle analog, discrete, serial, and SNMP	NetGuardian RTUs support all major input types
Add smart logic	Stop false alarms and filter noise	Built-in thresholding, hysteresis, escalation
Centralize monitoring	One dashboard for all sites	T/Mon master station with protocol mediation
Plan for growth	Don't outgrow your system in 2 years	Modular RTUs, expansion ports, and rugged design
Get expert help	Avoid expensive mistakes	Free, no-pressure consultation from DPS engineers

What's Next?

If your current SCADA setup feels unreliable, noisy, or incomplete, you're not alone.

Whether you're rolling out a new site, upgrading legacy gear, or just trying to improve alarm quality, the next step is easy:

Schedule Your Free SCADA Consultation Today

Talk directly with a DPS engineer. We'll help:

• Review your current sensor layout
• Recommend optimized placement
• Suggest matching RTUs and master stations
• Eliminate alarm noise and boost reliability

There's no fluff or pressure, just clear answers from people who've been building monitoring gear for 30+ years.

Call us: 559-454-1600
Email: sales@dpstele.com

When it comes to SCADA, visibility isn't optional - it's your first line of defense. Let's make sure your sensors are working for you and not against you.