FAQ on the Transition from Lt Sensors to PowerLab Sensors

Whether you are measuring a quick reflex or a complex cardiovascular cycle, we’ve got you covered. The new PowerLab Sensors (and your existing Lt Sensors) are designed to capture a huge range of physiological data.

Here's a quick breakdown of what you can measure and which tool you'll need:

If you want to measure...Use this Sensor:
Heart Activity (ECG), Muscle Activity (EMG), Eye Movement (EOG), Brain Activity (EEG), or Gut Activity (EGG)Biopotential Sensor
Heart Activity (ECG)12-Lead ECG
Nerve Conduction VelocityPowerLab T1 and Biopotential Sensor
Breathing RateRespiratory Belt or Spirometer
Lung VolumesSpirometer
Heart RateFinger Pulse Sensor or Biopotential Sensor
Pulse AmplitudeFinger Pulse Sensor
Heart Sounds or Korotkoff SoundsCardio Microphone
Analog Output for 3rd Party ConnectionPowerLab T1
Blood Pressure (Systolic/Diastolic)Blood Pressure Transducer
Grip Strength & Muscle FatigueGrip Force Transducer
Reflexes & Reaction TimesTendon Hammer or Push Button Switch
Body TemperatureSkin Temperature Sensor
Joint Angles & MovementGoniometer
General ForceForce Transducer
Galvanic Skin Response (Electrodermal Response)GSR Sensor

Special Note on the PowerLab T1: If you're looking to take your lab to the next level, the PowerLab T1 is your "all-in-one" hub. It handles electrical stimulation, keeps your data perfectly synced, and provides analog outputs—essentially acting as a bridge to convert your signals into high-quality digital data (DAQ).

Think of them as the next generation! We’ve taken everything you love about the Lt Sensor line and given our most popular tools—like the Spirometer V2 and Bio Amp V2—a serious performance boost. We’ve also added brand-new sensor types to help you run even more diverse labs.

Select sensors have been redesigned with enhanced power, reliability, and student-proof durability.

The logo is still orange, but the housing now says PowerLab Sensors, and the USB plug ends show the specific sensor name instead of Lt Sensors, making it much easier to see what is connected at a glance.

Absolutely. There’s no need to toss out your current gear. Because both sensor lines use the same Lt Sampling App to talk to your computer and the same settings files, they play very nicely together. You can have a student using an original Lt Sensor right next to a student using a new PowerLab Sensor without skipping a beat.

To get your data moving from the hardware to the screen, both Lt Sensors and PowerLab Sensors use the Lt Sampling App. Find step-by-step instructions here.

Out of the box, PowerLab Sensors work with Lt and LabStation.

The Future: We know many of you love LabChart, so stay tuned! We are currently working on an update that will allow PowerLab Sensors to work with LabChart as well.

It sure does! Consider this a "thank you" for being an early adopter. Your original Lt Sensors are now fully compatible with Lt LabStation, giving you more flexibility in how you run your lab than ever before. You can find out more about Lt LabStation here.

Both Lt and LabStation are designed to run on standard computers without needing anything too "high-tech." You can find the specific technical requirements for Lt here and LabStation here. A PC or Mac is required for sampling in Lt!