Battery Replacement
The batteries of RMS devices typically last 3 years under the optimal conditions:
•Log interval = 60s.
•Temperature = 20°C±5°C.
•Wireless signal strength >-60 dBm.
•Limited “read out data” events in the audit trail.
Important: The battery life depends on the ambient temperature. Low or high temperatures can lead to a shorter battery life. |
The system will automatically alert the users when the battery needs to be replaced:
•The device LED flashes red.
•Within the RMS audit trail a message/reminder event will occur: "Measurement time not valid". If this event occurs frequently, it means that the battery capacity is not sufficient to power the device.
•Within the RMS audit trail a reminder event will occur: "Low Battery".
Please follow the below guidance for battery replacement on RMS loggers:
1.If the logger is still active wait for the logger to log (indicated by an LED flash on the logger). This will reduce the chance of a data gap (by changing batteries between readings).
2.Remove the old batteries and dispose of responsibly!
3.Press the button on the logger for 5 seconds. This discharges any energy in the logger and resets the battery level to 100%.
4.Fit new batteries. Ensure that RMS-BAT batteries are used and note that batteries do have a shelf life!
5.DO NOT PRESS ANY BUTTONS and be careful with mini loggers to replace the cap without inadvertently holding the button down!
6.The logger will naturally reconnect to the RMS system typically within 5 - 10 measurement intervals. Battery status will update soon after but may require a browser refresh.
NOTE! You may not see live data initially. If you view the audit, trail > Messages and include finished events you may see Measurement time not valid events for this logger after the battery was replaced as RMS synchronises the clock following the batteries being removed. This is normal. Once synchronised the live data will return but you can expect a data gap to be created during this time.
Ensure devices have the latest compatible firmware. The latest firmware improves battery management and battery status.
The time setting of the data logger is synchronized automatically after the battery replacement.
Important:
The RMS wireless devices have either an 868 or a 915 wireless communication module.
RMS wireless devices can be powered either with 24V and battery (LOG devices) or battery only (MLOG devices): •3.6 V lithium thionyl chloride AA battery. •24 VDC via terminals (V+ / V-).
In the case that the wireless device is only powered with batteries, with the latest firmware, the battery level is monitored and all battery events are visible within the RMS software: •Reminder Event: Low Battery.
Recommendation: Please change the batteries as soon as this event appears within the audit trail. If the battery is not changed, it can lead to the same complications as when the devices do not have the latest firmware version.
Should the device not have the latest firmware, then the Low Battery event may not appear in the audit trail. However, the following events will occur in the audit trail: •Information Event: Measuring Time Not Valid. •Reminder Event: Data Gap. •Error Event: Devices Timeout.
A repeated Measuring Time Not Valid event indicates a possibly low battery which in turn means that the battery cannot supply the real time clock (RTC) and this is lagging. The RTC is set to the server time, however due to the low battery, it may be that the server time cannot be written.
Recommendation: Please replace the wireless device’s batteries if the user sees the repeated measuring time not valid events.
The Data Gap event means that data has not been downloaded from the logger. In the case of a Measuring Time Not Valid event, then a Read Out Data event will show No Data, meaning that no data is available.
The Devices Timeout event means that the battery cannot supply the module and it is offline. As the battery power is not sufficient, the device cannot reconnect to RMS and the probability of the device logging data is very low.
Should these events occur and the RMS wireless device is offline, then critical environmental monitoring data will be lost. Rotronic recommend changing the batteries in a regular interval.
If the RMS wireless device is offline for a longer period of time, then this may cause for the wireless module to be sent into failure mode. This happens when a very low power supply is supplied to the device. Once the wireless module is in failure mode, it cannot be resuscitated. Once the wireless module has failed, the device's LED will blink differently to any way that is described in the manual.
Recommendation: Please remove the batteries if the user anticipates keeping a wireless device disconnected for a longer period of time. |