Background
The Farmbot Monitor is a solar-powered remote monitoring device that integrates with Farmbot’s range of wired and wireless sensors to monitor level, pressure, flow, rainfall and people movements.
All wired sensors draw their power from the Farmbot Monitor, whereas wireless sensors have their own battery source.
By looking at your monitor's battery graph, you can quickly assess your battery's charge
Between 6.6-7.2 volts indicates a charged and healthy battery ✅
Anything below 6.5 volts can indicate a flat battery 👀
A charged Farmbot Monitor battery can last to 3-5 days during cloud cover.
How to check my monitor's battery graph
Click into any sensor attached to the monitor you wish to check
In the top-right hand corner click the three dots menu icon and then 'About'
You will see a "Battery" section showing the latest battery reading
If you wish you look further, click the voltage
This takes you to your battery voltage graph, where you can see the battery charge over time and determine if you have a healthy battery or a battery that is not charging or dying.
Example of a healthy solar battery 🔋
A healthy solar battery will range between 6.6-7.2 V within 24 hours as this reflects its charging cycle during the day.
To see the voltage of the battery, simply run your mouse over the graph or you can open the readings list but clicking the list icon in the right hand corner (see screenshot below).
Example of a battery that isn't charging properly 🔋🪫
You may notice that your battery voltage was flat over the course of a few days which means it has not charged properly on those days. This could be due to few reasons:
Scenarios | Recommended action |
Overcast weather for a few days | You don't need to do anything as a charged Farmbot Monitor battery can last to 3-5 days during cloud cover. |
Freezing temperatures | We recommend turning your monitor off if freezing temperatures are expected to continue for several days |
An obstructed view of the sun e.g. a tree has grown and is casting a shadow over the monitor or the build up of dirt, snow or bird droppings are covering the panel | Remove anything that might be obstructing your monitor's view of the sun and/or clean the solar panel. |
If none of the above cases apply, you may have a failing battery | Keep an eye on your battery over the next couple days to see if it starts charging normally again. If the voltage worsens (see example below), you may need to order a replacement battery. |
Example of a battery that is about to die 🪫
Once your battery is starting to flatline and/or readings are consistently below 6.5 V, your battery is likely going to die. If you see this, please contact Customer Support to order a replacement battery via service@farmbot.com.au or 02 9901 4798.