netvox R718VA Wireless Capacitive Proximity Sensor User Manual
- June 6, 2024
- netvox
Table of Contents
Model: R718VA
Wireless Capacitive Proximity Sensor
R718VA
User Manual
Introduction
R718VA is a device to detect the status of toilet water, hand sanitizer level,
presence or absence of tissue.
This device is connected with a non-contact capacitive sensor that can be
mounted to the exterior of the container, without direct contact with the
object to be detected, which may detect the current water level of positions
mounted or the presence or absence of liquid soap or tissue; the detected data
is transmitted to other devices through the wireless network. It uses the
SX1276 wireless communication module.
LoRa Wireless Technology:
Lora is a wireless communication technology dedicated to long-distance and low
power consumption. Compared with other communication methods, the LoRa spread
spectrum modulation method greatly increases to expand the communication
distance. Widely used in long-distance, low-data wireless communications. For
example, automatic meter reading, building automation equipment, wireless
security systems, industrial monitoring. Main features include small size, low
power consumption, transmission distance, anti-interference ability, and so
on.
LoRaWAN:
LoRaWAN uses LoRa technology to define end-to-end standard specifications to
ensure interoperability between devices and gateways from different
manufacturers.
Appearance
Main Features
- Adopt SX1276 wireless communication module
- 2 ER14505 battery AA SIZE (3.6V / section) parallel power supply
- Non-contact capacitive sensor
- Equipment body protection grade IP65/IP67 (optional), and the sensor probe part protection grade is IP67
- The base is attached with a magnet that can be attached to a ferromagnetic material object
- Compatible with L o Ra WAN TM Class A
- Frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology
- Configuration parameters can be configured via a third-party software platform, data can be read and alerts can be sent via SMS text and email (optional)
- Applicable to third-party platforms: Actility / ThingPark / TTN / MyDevices / Cayenne
- Low power consumption and long battery life
*Note:**
Battery life is determined by the sensor reporting frequency and other
variables.
Please refer to http://www.netvox.com.tw/electric/electric_calc.html On this
website, users can find various types of battery life in different
configurations.
Application
- The water level of the toilet tank
- The level of hand sanitizer
- Presence or absence of tissue
Set up Instruction
On/Off
| Power off | Insert batteries. (users may need a screwdriver to open) |
|---|---|
| I urn on | Press and hold the function key for 3 seconds till the green |
indicator flashes once.
Turn off (Restore to factory setting)| Press and hold the function key for 5
seconds till the green indicator flashes 20 times.
Power off| Remove Batteries.
NOTE:| 1. Remove and insert the battery; the device is at off state by
default. Please turn on the device to use again.
2. On/off interval is suggested to be about 10 seconds to avoid the
interference of capacitor inductance and other energy storage components.
3. At 1st to 5th second after power on, the device will be in engineering
test mode.
Network Joining
Never joined the network| Turn on the device to search the network to join.
The green indicator stays on for 5 seconds: success The green indicator
remains off: fail
---|---
Had joined the network
(Not yet restored to factory setting)| Turn on the device to search the
previous network to join.
The green indicator stays on for 5 seconds: success The green indicator
remains off: fail
Fail to join the network
(when the device is on)| Suggest checking the device verification information
on the gateway or consulting your platform service provider.
Function Key
Press and hold for 5 seconds| Restore to factory setting / Turn off The green
indicator flashes 20 times: success The green indicator remains off: fail
---|---
Press once| The device is in the network: the green indicator flashes once and
sends a report The device is not in the network: the green indicator remains
off
Sleeping Mode
The device is on and in the network| Sleeping period: Min Interval.
When the report change exceeds the setting value or the state changes: send a
data report according to Min Interval.
---|---
Low Voltage Warning
| Low Voltage | 3.2V |
|---|
Data Report
The device will immediately send a version packet report along with an uplink
packet including liquid level status, battery voltage.
The device sends data in the default configuration before any configuration is
done.
Default Setting:
Maximum time: 15min
Minimum time: 15min (Detect the current-voltage value and liquid level status
by default setting)
BatteryVoltageChange: 0x01 (0.1V)
R718VA detection status:
The distance between the liquid level and sensor reaches the threshold will
report, and the threshold can adjust sensitivity The device will detect the
status regularly at the MinTime interval.
When the device detects liquid level, status = 1
When the device does not detect liquid level, status = 0
There are two conditions in which the device will report the status of the
detected liquid and the battery voltage at MinTime interval:
a. When the liquid level changes from where the device can detect to where the
device cannot detect. (1→0 )
b. When the liquid level changes from where the device cannot detect to where
the device can detect. (0 →1)
If none of the above conditions is met, the device will report at the Maxime
interval.
For the analysis of the data command reported by the device, refer to the
Netvox LoRaWAN Application Command document and
http://www.netvox.com.cn:8888/page/index.
Note:
The device sends data cycle depending on real programming configuration
according to the customer’s inquiry.
The interval between two reports must be the minimum time.
Example for Report Configuration:
Fort：0x07
| Description | Device | Cind ID | DeviceType | NetvoxPayLoadData |
|---|
ConfigReportReq
| R718VA| OXO 1|
Ox9F
| MinTime
(2bytes Unit:s)| MaxTime
(2bytes Unit:s)| BatteryChange
(]byte Unit:0.1v)| Reserved
(4Bytes,Fixed Ox00)
ConfigReportRsp
| OX81|
Status
(0x00 success)
|
Reserved
(8Bytes,Fixed Ox00)
ReadConfigReportReq| OX02|
Reserved
(9Bytes,Fixed Ox00)
ReadConfigReportRsp
| 0x82|
MinTime
(2bytes Unit:s)
|
MaxTime
(2bytes Unit:s)
| BatteryChange
(Ibyte Unit:0.1v)|
Reserved
(4Bytes,Fixed Ox00)
-
Configure the device report parameters MinTime = 1min, MaxTime = 1min, BatteryChange = 0.1v
Downlink: 019F003C003C0100000000
The device returns:
819F000000000000000000 (The configuration succeeded)
819F010000000000000000 (The configuration failed) -
Read the device configuration parameters
Downlink: 029F000000000000000000
The device returns:
829F003C003C0100000000 (current configuration parameters)
Example for MinTime/MaxTime logic:
Example#1 based on MinTime = 1 Hour, MaxTime= 1 Hour, Reportable Change i.e. BatteryVoltageChange=0.1V Note : MaxTime=MinTime. Data will only be report according to MaxTime (MinTime) duration regardless BatteryVoltageChange value.
Example#2 based on MinTime = 15 Minutes, MaxTime= 1 Hour, Reportable
Change i.e. BatteryVoltageChange= 0.1V.
Example#3 based on MinTime = 15 Minutes, MaxTime= 1 Hour, Reportable
Change i.e. BatteryVoltageChange= 0.1V.
Note:
- The device only wakes up and performs data sampling according to MinTime Interval. When it is sleeping, it does not collect data.
- The data collected is compared with the last data reported. If the data variation is greater than the ReportableChange value, the device reports according to MinTime interval. If the data variation is not greater than the last data reported, the device reports according to Maxime interval.
- We do not recommend setting the MinTime Interval value too low. If the MinTime Interval is too low, the device wakes up frequently and the battery will be drained soon.
- Whenever the device sends a report, no matter resulting from data variation, button pushed, or Maxime interval, another cycle of MinTime/Maxime calculation is started.
Application Scenario
When the use case is for detecting the water level of the toilet tank, please
install the device at a desired level of the toilet tank.
Turn on the device after it is fixed to the toilet tank and powered.
The device will detect the status regularly at the MinTime interval.
There are two conditions in which the device will report the status of the
detected liquid and the battery voltage at MinTime interval:
a. When the liquid level changes from where the device can detect to where the
device cannot detect
b. When the liquid level changes from where the device cannot detect to where
the device can detect
If none of the above conditions is met, the device will report at the Maxime
interval.
Installation
Wireless Capacitive Proximity Sensor (R718VA) has two magnets on the back.
When using it, the back of it can be adsorbed a ferromagnetic material object,
or the two ends can be fixed to the wall with screws (should be purchased)
Note:
Do not install the device in a metal shielded box or other electrical
equipment around it to avoid affecting the wireless transmission of the
device.
Measured liquid medium viscosity
8.1.1 Dynamic viscosity:
A. Less Than 10mPa·s when the normal measurement.
B. 10mPa < Dynamic viscosity < 30mPa·s would affect the detection
C. Greater than 30mPa·s due to a large amount of liquid attached to the
container wall, cannot be measured.
Note:
As the temperature rises viscosity decreases, most of the high viscosity of
the liquid by the temperature is more obvious, so when measuring the viscosity
of the liquid when the liquid temperature attention.
8.1.2 Dynamic (absolute) viscosity Explanation:
Dynamic (absolute) viscosity is the tangential force per unit area required to
move one horizontal plane with respect to another plane – at a unit velocity –
when maintaining a unit distance apart in the fluid.
8.1.3 Common substances
| Substance | Viscosity (mPa·s) | Temperature (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| Benzene | 0.604 | 25 |
| Water | 1.0016 | 20 |
| Mercury | 1.526 | 25 |
| Whole milk | 2.12 | 20 |
| Olive oil | 56.2 | 26 |
Reference source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity
Requirements of container and Installation Instruction
The tested container is divided into 3 categories: insulation materials, metal, water-absorbing non-metallic
- Could either glue the probe or use support to fix the probe on the outside of the container.
- Avoid metal materials at the probe mounting site so as not to affect the detection.
- The place where the probe is installed should avoid the liquid and the flow path of the liquid.
- There should be no silt or other debris inside the container where the low-level probe is directly facing, so as not to affect the detection.
8.2.1 The first usage: Insulation Materials container
Containers made of non-metallic materials with a flat surface, uniform
thickness, tight material, and good insulation performance; such as glass,
plastic, non-absorbent ceramic, acrylic, rubber, and other materials or their
composite materials.
Install method:
- If the wall of the container where the measuring probe is installed is a multi-layer material, the layers should be in close contact without bubbles or gas inter-layers. The inside and outside surfaces of the container should be flat.
- The thickness of container: 0 －20mm
- Tank type: spherical tank, horizontal tank, vertical tank, etc.
- The container of this kind of material is as follows Picture 1
Picture 1 Example of the installation method of the sensor with the non- metallic container
8.2.2 The second usage: Metal container
Containers made of metal or other conductive materials; such as stainless
steel iron, copper, aluminum alloy, or materials with an electroplated metal
layer on the surface. Because the capacitive sensor is sensitive to all
conductive objects, such containers cannot be directly glued on the outside of
the container. Therefore, for containers of this type of material, it is
needed to drill holes on the container, and the installation method is as
follows.
Install method:
- Prepare 2 rubber plugs and the needed tools for drilling holes.
- Open one hole in the high position and one in the low position, the hole diameter has to match the size of the rubber plug.
- Put the rubber plug into the holes and check if there is water leakage. Add glue to seal the holes if necessary.
- Glue the sensor on the rubber plug with glue and fix it with support. Make sure the glue has solidified before removing the support. An example of the installation method of the sensor with the metallic container is as follows in Picture 2.
Picture 2 Example of the installation method of the sensor with the
metallic container
8.2.3 The third usage: Water absorption container
Containers made of ceramics, tiles, bricks, tiles, cement, wooden boards, and
other materials are insulators or weakly conductive. This type of container
without water or dry, may not be detected when the water level sensor is
approached, but when the water is filled in the container, the wall will
absorb water thus causing the container wall to become a conductor. In this
case, even if the water is out of the container, the sensor will still detect
when the sensor approaches the wall of the container. If you want to use the
sensor on a container of this kind of material, the installation method should
follow the “Installation method of the metal container”. For the installation
method, see 8.2.2 and Picture 2, or install the sensor by external piping.
See Picture 3 and Picture 4 for example.
Picture 3 The installation example of the sensor installed on the branch tee outlet
Picture 4 The installation example of the sensor glue on the outside of the
external pipeline
Picture 5 The installation example of the sensor installed on the branch
tee outlet of metal water pipes
Picture 6 The sensor is directly attached to the rubber tube
Adjust sensitivity
Open the back cover of the sensor head, adjust the sensitivity knob with a small screwdriver, rotate counterclockwise to increase the sensitivity, and rotate clockwise to decrease the sensitivity (sensitivity from high to low 12 cycles in total.).
8.4
Information about Battery Passivation
Many Netvox devices are powered by 3.6V ER14505 Li-SOCl2 (lithium-thionyl
chloride) batteries that offer many advantages including low self-discharge
rate and high energy density.
However, primary lithium batteries like Li-SOCl2 batteries will form a
passivation layer as a reaction between the lithium anode and thionyl chloride
if they are in storage for a long time or if the storage temperature is too
high. This lithium chloride layer prevents rapid self-discharge caused by a
continuous reaction between lithium and thionyl chloride, but battery
passivation may also lead to voltage delay when the batteries are put into
operation, and our devices may not work correctly in this situation.
As a result, please make sure to source batteries from reliable vendors, and
the batteries should be produced within the last three months.
If encountering the situation of battery passivation, users can activate the
battery to eliminate the battery hysteresis.
*To determine whether a battery requires activation*
Connect a new ER14505 battery to a 68ohm resistor in parallel and check the
voltage of the circuit.
If the voltage is below 3.3V, it means the battery requires activation.
How to activate the battery**
- Connect a battery to a 68ohm resistor in parallel
- Keep the connection for 6~8 minutes
- The voltage of the circuit should be ≧3.3V
Important Maintenance Instruction
Kindly pay attention to the following in order to achieve the best maintenance of the product:
- Keep the device dry. Rain, moisture, or any liquid might contain minerals and thus corrode electronic circuits. If the device gets wet, please dry it completely.
- Do not use or store the device in a dusty or dirty environment. It might damage its detachable parts and electronic components.
- Do not store the device under excessive heat conditions. High temperature can shorten the life of electronic devices, destroy batteries, and deform or melt some plastic parts.
- Do not store the device in places that are too cold. Otherwise, when the temperature rises to normal temperature, moisture will form inside, which will destroy the board.
- Do not throw, knock or shake the device. Rough handling of equipment can destroy internal circuit boards and delicate structures.
- Do not clean the device with strong chemicals, detergents, or strong detergents.
- Do not apply the device with paint. Smudges might block the device and affect the operation.
- Do not throw the battery into the fire, or the battery will explode. Damaged batteries may also explode.
All of the above applies to your device, battery, and accessories. If any device is not working properly, please take it to the nearest authorized service facility for repair.