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How to Setup my Sensors and Repeaters
How to Setup my Sensors and Repeaters

Sensor Activation and Setup

C
Written by Centaur Tech
Updated over a week ago

Sensor Activation

Centaur Smart Sensors are designed to be 100% gas-proof and safe to be used inside the harsh environments, like Phosphine fumigations*, a highly-corrosive toxic gas. For that reason, the activation of the device is done using an external magnetic ring.

To turn the sensor device on, slide the magnetic activation ring to the position "On" by turning it counter-clockwise (Figure 1). When the sensor is activated the red dot should be under the stop pin, you should hear a characteristic "beep" sound for 1 second and see the device flashing blue. If the magnetic activation ring is too tight you may need to unscrew (turn clockwise) the safety ring under it to let the magnetic ring move freely. 

As soon as the device is On, make sure the activation ring is secured in the "On" position. If needed, turn the safety ring counter-clockwise to secure the activation ring. To stop the operation of the device (turn Off), follow the opposite procedure.

*Refers to PH3 smart sensors.

Figure 1. Centaur wireless sensor enabling by turning the ring clockwise

Sensor Installation Practices

The wireless sensor device is designed in such a way that it can be easily suspended, or tied with a rope inside the storage facility or fixed on the wall using Centaur's wall/silo mounts. The proprietary, industrial-grade, wireless technology used in Centaur hardware supports automatic mesh networking among the devices and self-organizing capabilities in case of a temporary or permanent failure of one or more of the devices in the wireless network. 

Most grain storage facilities made of steel or steel-reinforced concrete surfaces. Given the great effect of metal on electromagnetic waves, at least one device should be placed close to the entrance of the facility or right outside it.

When monitoring a silo, which may have several windows and/or doors, at least one sensor device should be placed close to an opening. In the case of a shipping container, it is advised that you place at least one device close to the door.

In case of fumigation sensors, keep the sensors at least 100 ~ 150cm (3 ~ 5ft.) away from the source of phosphine to avoid long exposure to extremely high concentrations. This will prevent over-saturation of the sensing element and ensure its high sensitivity and responsiveness to concentration changes.

When installed inside metallic structures, the devices should be placed at least 15cm (6 ~ 7")  from the nearest wall, so as to minimize the interference of the metal on the wireless connectivity of the devices.

Figure 2. The Centaur Smart Wireless Sensor

Centaur wireless sensor devices are designed for autonomous operation of several years without a recharge or battery replacement. However, given the finite energy budget of the batteries, it must be noted that this lifespan can be achieved only in normal operation. As normal operation is considered the use of the device at a sampling period no shorter than 3 hours.

Longer sleep intervals will drastically expand the battery lifetime. Sensing cycles of 3 hours are considered more than enough, in terms of granularity and precision, for the type of monitoring and the dynamics of the phenomena the devices are designed to observe. 

Setting sampling/sensing rate to shorter intervals (e.g. 1, 5 or 30') will eventually shorten the lifespan of the devices. Battery replacement should be done in collaboration with Centaur Certified Technicians or representatives. 

Any violation of the device’s packaging and sealing voids its warranty.

NOTE: If the area to be covered is large, the wireless network extenders/repeaters should be used. In that case the extenders must me scattered around the area.

Figure 3. Centaur wireless sensor network repeaters/extenders. Battery repeater (left), USB-powered always-on repeater (right)

Figure 4. Centaur solar repeater (2020 model).

How to Enable the Repeaters/Extenders

You can enable the Battery repeaters/extenders by just inserting the 3 AA (rechargeable or alkaline) batteries as you can see in Figure 3.  For activating solar repeaters, please contact Centaur technical team. 

As soon as the repeater is active, it is ready to be placed somewhere in between the sensors and the gateway in order to bridge their connectivity. Note that the most challenging part is get the signal off the storage facility (silo, warehouse, elevator, etc.) as grain mass along with the steel in the structures affect a lot the wireless signal. Therefore, it is suggested to place the repeaters close to the sensors, right outside the facility.

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