Operation

Overview

Thingsee AIR operates continuously once installed, automatically measuring and reporting air quality parameters. This guide covers monitoring, data interpretation, and operational best practices.

Automatic Operation

Normal Operation

Once powered on and connected to the Wirepas mesh network, Thingsee AIR:

1. Continuously measures all environmental parameters
2. Reports changes when thresholds are exceeded
3. Sends periodic updates every hour regardless of change
4. Manages power automatically for optimal battery life
5. Self-heals network connections if temporary loss occurs

No User Intervention Required

The sensor is designed for autonomous operation:

• No manual measurement initiation needed
• Automatic network reconnection after disruptions
• Self-adjusting CO₂ baseline calibration
• Event-driven efficient reporting

Measurement Parameters

CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide)

Range: 400 - 5,000 ppm
Accuracy: ±30 ppm or 3% of reading
Event Threshold: 10 ppm (default)

Interpretation

CO₂ Baseline Calibration

The sensor automatically calibrates CO₂ baseline:

• Calibration cycle: 8 days
• Target baseline: 410 ppm (outdoor air)
• Requirement: Regular “free of people” periods with fresh air exchange

Best performance in:

• Offices (unoccupied nights)
• Schools (evenings, weekends)
• Retail (closed hours)

Limited accuracy in:

• 24/7 occupied spaces
• Poorly ventilated areas
• Continuously high-occupancy zones

TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds)

Range: 0 - 18,000 ppb
Event Threshold: 30 ppb (default)

Interpretation

TVOC Baseline Calibration

• Calibration period: 48 hours
• Requirement: Continuous operation
• Result: Valid TVOC readings after initial 48h

Common TVOC Sources:

• Cleaning products
• Paint and solvents
• Office equipment (printers, copiers)
• Building materials (new furniture, carpets)
• Personal care products
• Food and cooking

Temperature

Operational Range: +5°C to +50°C
Accuracy: ±0.2°C
Event Threshold: 0.5°C absolute change (default)

Typical Indoor Comfort

• Summer: 23-26°C
• Winter: 20-24°C
• General comfort: 21-23°C

Applications:

• HVAC system verification
• Temperature zone monitoring
• Energy optimization
• Comfort level assessment

Humidity

Measurement Range: 0 - 100% RH
Recommended Range: Below 85% RH
Accuracy: ±2% RH
Event Threshold: 2% RH absolute change (default)

Interpretation

Health and Building Impacts:

• < 30% RH: Dry skin, respiratory discomfort, static electricity
• 30-60% RH: Optimal range for health and building materials
• > 60% RH: Mold growth risk, structural damage potential

Barometric Pressure

Range: 300 - 1,200 hPa
Accuracy: ±0.002 hPa precision
Event Threshold: 20 hPa absolute change (default)

Applications

• Weather pattern monitoring
• HVAC pressure differential tracking
• Altitude/floor detection
• Building pressure verification

Typical sea-level pressure: 1013 hPa
Pressure decreases approximately 12 hPa per 100m altitude increase

Reporting Behavior

Event-Based Reporting

The sensor reports immediately when measurements exceed configured thresholds:

Reporting logic:

1. Sensor measures all parameters continuously
2. If any parameter exceeds threshold → immediate report
3. Report includes all current values (not just changed parameter)
4. Minimum 5-minute interval between event reports (prevents flooding)

Time-Based Reporting

• Hourly update: All measurement values every 60 minutes
• Battery status: Every 6 hours
• Purpose: Ensure continuous data flow even in stable conditions

Data Transmission

• Protocol: Wirepas Mesh over 2.4 GHz
• Encoding: CBOR (Compact Binary Object Representation)
• Delivery: Through gateway to Haltian IoT Studio
• Latency: Typically < 30 seconds from measurement to cloud

Monitoring in Haltian IoT Studio

Real-Time Dashboard

Access current and historical data:

1. Log into IoT Studio: https://iot.haltian.com
2. Navigate to Devices: Select your Thingsee AIR sensor
3. View Dashboard: Real-time and historical graphs

Key Dashboard Features

• Current values: Latest reported measurements
• Historical trends: Time-series graphs (hourly, daily, weekly)
• Threshold indicators: Visual alerts for limit exceedances
• Battery level: Remaining battery percentage
• Network status: Signal strength (RSSI), last seen time
• Data export: Download historical data (CSV format)

Alert Configuration

Set up automated alerts for:

• CO₂ levels exceeding comfort thresholds
• TVOC spikes indicating air quality events
• Temperature outside comfort range
• Humidity levels risking mold growth

Alert delivery:

• Email notifications
• SMS alerts (if configured)
• Webhook integrations to third-party systems

Operational Best Practices

Regular Monitoring Activities

Daily

• Review dashboard for anomalies
• Check alert notifications
• Verify sensor online status

Weekly

• Analyze air quality trends
• Compare to previous weeks
• Identify recurring patterns (e.g., Monday morning CO₂ spikes)

Monthly

• Review battery levels
• Verify all sensors reporting
• Analyze long-term trends
• Optimize HVAC schedules based on data

Data Interpretation Tips

Understanding CO₂ Patterns

Normal office day pattern:

1. Morning (8-9am): Low levels after overnight fresh air
2. Mid-day (12-2pm): Peak levels with full occupancy
3. Afternoon (2-5pm): Sustained elevated levels
4. Evening (6pm+): Declining as people leave
5. Night: Return to baseline (410 ppm)

Red flags:

• CO₂ not returning to baseline overnight → poor ventilation
• Rapid spikes > 1500 ppm → overcrowding or HVAC failure
• Consistently high levels → inadequate fresh air supply

Understanding TVOC Patterns

Normal patterns:

• Morning cleaning: Temporary spike from cleaning products
• New furniture: Elevated for days/weeks, then declining
• Gradual increase: Accumulation from multiple sources

Red flags:

• Sudden spike > 2200 ppb → identify immediate source
• Consistently high levels → poor ventilation or ongoing source
• Weekend increase → off-gassing from building materials when unoccupied

Optimizing HVAC Based on Data

Ventilation Optimization

Use CO₂ data to:

1. Verify HVAC performance: Ensure CO₂ stays below 1000 ppm during occupancy
2. Schedule fresh air intake: Increase during high-occupancy periods
3. Night purge: Reduce CO₂ baseline overnight
4. Demand-controlled ventilation: Adjust based on real-time CO₂ levels

Energy Savings

• Reduce over-ventilation: When CO₂ levels are consistently low (< 600 ppm)
• Optimize pre-occupancy: Start HVAC closer to actual occupancy based on historical data
• Weekend scheduling: Reduce ventilation rates when CO₂ data shows no occupancy

Battery Management

Battery Life Expectations

Factors affecting battery life:

• Mesh network density (more hops = more power)
• Signal strength (poor signal = retransmissions)
• Operating temperature (cold reduces capacity)
• Battery quality (use recommended Varta Industrial Pro)

Battery Monitoring

Dashboard indicators:

• Battery percentage displayed
• Low battery warnings at 20%
• Critical battery alerts at 10%

Replacement planning:

• Schedule replacements at 20% remaining
• Replace all batteries in zone simultaneously
• Keep replacement batteries in inventory

Battery Replacement Procedure

See Installation Guide - Battery Replacement for detailed steps.

Key points:

• Use Varta Industrial Pro 1.5V AA LR06 (recommended)
• Observe correct polarity
• Device will rejoin network automatically after replacement
• New baseline calibration recommended after battery change

Network Health Monitoring

Signal Strength (RSSI)

Monitor signal quality in IoT Studio:

Network Troubleshooting

Sensor not reporting:

1. Check battery level
2. Verify gateway operational
3. Check signal strength (RSSI)
4. Review last seen timestamp
5. Add intermediate router if signal poor

Intermittent connectivity:

• Check for RF interference sources
• Verify mesh network density (< 20m between nodes)
• Monitor gateway uptime
• Review signal strength trends

Seasonal Considerations

Summer Operation

• Higher humidity levels expected
• Increased TVAC from AC systems
• Monitor for over-cooling (temperature too low)

Winter Operation

• Lower humidity levels (heating dries air)
• Higher CO₂ (buildings sealed for heating)
• Monitor for under-ventilation

Battery Performance in Cold

• Battery capacity reduces below +10°C
• Install sensors in climate-controlled areas when possible
• Replace batteries more frequently in cold zones

Support and Troubleshooting

For operational questions:

• Email: support@haltian.com
• Troubleshooting Guide: See Troubleshooting section
• How-To Guides: General operational guidance

Related Documentation

• Installation Guide - Physical installation and setup
• Configuration Guide - Parameter adjustment and customization
• Specifications - Technical details and certifications
• Troubleshooting - Common issues and solutions