Digi Connect Sensor+ User manual

Digi Connect Sensor+
User Guide

Revision history—90001491
Revision Date Description
M April 2019 Added LEDinformation.
Added information about the external power source and
battery usage.
N May 2019 Added gasket lubricant information.
P December 2019 Removed HART® protocol information as it is no longer
supported.
R January 2021 Removed gasket lubricant information as it is no longer
needed.
Removed references to the abt/alm datapoint.
Removed information about the CEmark.
S July 2021 Added reset configuration CLIcommand.
Factory button is disabled. Updated Digi Connect Sensor+
ports and buttons.
Updates to battery information and Battery safety.
Updated Get started section.
Updated Warnings: Explosion hazards.
Trademarks and copyright
Digi, Digi International, and the Digi logo are trademarks or registered trademarks in the United
States and other countries worldwide. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the
property of their respective owners.
© 2021 Digi International Inc. All rights reserved.
Disclaimers
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Digi International. Digi provides this document “as is,” without warranty of
any kind, expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of fitness or
merchantability for a particular purpose. Digi may make improvements and/or changes in this manual
or in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this manual at any time.
Warranty
To view product warranty information, go to the following website:
www.digi.com/howtobuy/terms
Send comments
Documentation feedback: To provide feedback on this document, send your comments to
[e-mail].
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 2

Customer support
Digi provides Base Support, Expert Support and Professional Services options. Visit digi.com/support
to learn more or email [e-mail] for technical support.
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 3

Contents
Digi Connect Sensor+
Get started
Step 1: Verify product components 9
Optional accessories 10
Step 2: Activate the SIMcard 11
Step 3: Assemble Digi Connect Sensor+ 11
Step 4: Configure the cellular connection 12
Step 5: Check the cellular connection 14
Step 6: Wire the I/O sensors 15
Step 7: Add a device to Digi Remote Manager 15
Hardware
Digi Connect Sensor+ LEDs 17
Digi Connect Sensor+ ports and buttons 19
Wake Digi Connect Sensor+ 20
Manually wake the device 20
Digi Connect Sensor+ LED start-up sequence 20
CLIcommands and waking Digi Connect Sensor+ 21
Install the magnet mount 21
Battery care and maintenance 22
Battery sleep and wake modes 22
Battery life 22
Battery percentage and external power 23
Battery percentage ranges 23
Battery depletion 23
Battery inspection 23
Battery passivation 24
Replace a battery 24
CSENSE Continuous Monitoring power source 24
Firmware updates
Continuous Monitoring firmware 26
Update the firmware from Remote Manager 26
CSENSE Continuous Monitoring firmware 27
Enable continuous monitoring on digital input 28
Enable continuous monitoring on analog input 29
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 4

Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 5
Configure the buffer time for continuous monitoring 29
Update the firmware using the CLI 30
Configure pins and protocols
Enable and configure analog inputs 32
Enable and configure analog power outputs 33
Enable and configure a digital input 34
Enable and configure a digital pulse counter 35
Enable and configure a digital output 36
Enable and configure a digital power output 37
Enable and configure the Modbus protocol 38
Enable and configure a serial power output 39
Modbus station addresses and locations 40
About analog and digital input options 42
Alarms 42
Hysteresis 43
Custom scaled sensor values 44
Oversampling 47
Configure Digi Connect Sensor+ device settings
Configure cellular options 48
Configure Remote Manager settings 49
Configure battery life percentage alarms 49
Battery life alarm and alarm notification 49
Create a battery life alarm for Digi Connect Sensor+ devices 50
Configure the global battery alarm for a device 54
Configure internal temperature settings 56
Configure local interface settings: CLIand Bluetooth 56
Configure device (report) settings 57
View device information
View device information in Remote Manager 59
View battery life for a device in Remote Manager 60
View device and sensor data streams
Use Remote Manager to view device and sensor data streams 61
About data streams 61
View device data streams 62
Use the mobile app to view sensor data streams 63
Remote Manager option definitions for Digi Connect Sensor+
Analog Current Loop Input and Voltage Input option definitions 65
Analog Power, Digital Power, and Serial Output option definitions 68
Cellular option definitions 69
Device Cloud option definitions 69
Device (report) settings option definitions 70
Digital Input option definitions 72

Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 6
Digital Output option definitions 73
Toggle digital output on alarm 73
Digital Pulse Counter option definitions 75
Global Alarm Settings option definitions 76
Internal Temperature option definitions 77
Local Interface Settings option definitions 78
Modbus Protocol Settings option definitions 78
Data stream definitions
Group definitions for Digi Connect Sensor+ data streams 81
Digi Connect Sensor+ device-specific (ts1 and ui) data stream definitions 82
Analog input (ain and cl) data stream definitions 83
Analog (avout), digital (dvout1),and serial power output data stream definitions 84
Digital input (din1) data stream definitions 85
Digital output (dout1) data stream definitions 86
Digital pulse counter (pcnt1) data stream definitions 87
Temperature sensor (temp1) data stream definitions 87
Modbus (modb1) data stream definitions 88
Data streams for Modbus protocol 90
Use the CLI with Digi Connect Sensor+
Open a terminal program and use CLIcommands 91
Use the CLIto view status information for the device 93
Verify cellular network coverage using the CLI 93
View battery life using the CLI 94
CLI commands
fwupdate 96
reset configuration 96
status 96
set 98
Analog input CLI commands 99
Digital input CLI commands 102
Digital output CLI commands 104
Digital pulse counter CLI commands 105
Analog and digital power output CLI commands 107
Cellular CLI commands 108
Remote Manager CLI commands 110
Internal temperature CLI commands 111
Modbus CLI commands 113
Troubleshooting
Digi Connect Sensor+ LEDs for troubleshooting 114
Device not responding 114
Check the battery 114
Reset the device 115
Device not connected to the cellular network 115
Verify SIM configuration 115
Check cellular antenna 115

Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 7
Verify cellular network coverage 115
Check battery life 116
Device does not connect to Remote Manager 116
Device does not appear in the mobile app 116
Verify Bluetooth connectivity 116
Reset the device 117
Safety information
Assembly safety information 118
Battery safety 118
Safety notices 119
Installation considerations 120
Warnings: Explosion hazards 121
RF exposure statement 122
UL/cUL conformity 122
Special conditions for safe use (ATEX) 122
Technical specifications
Maximum power and frequency bands 124
Digi Connect Sensor+ product specifications 124
Cell modem transmit (TX) output power 125
Regulatory information
FCC certifications and regulatory information 126
Declaration of Conformity (DoC) 126
ATEX marking 127

Digi Connect Sensor+
Digi Connect Sensor+ is a low-power cellular sensor gateway for wireless drop-in networking to
remotely monitor industrial environments and control systems, such as pipeline flow, air pressure, and
light levels. To power Digi Connect Sensor+, use either the internal battery or an external power
source, such as solar panels, for setups with no power or limited power.
Digi Connect Sensor+ includes an external input/output (I/O) interface inside a waterproof enclosure
for connecting third-party sensors. The sensors gather information (sensor readings) from their
environment, and Digi Connect Sensor+ reports that information to Digi Remote Manager® using a
low-bandwidth cellular connection. You can sign in to your Remote Manager account to view the
reports or use the Digi Connect Wizard app on a mobile device and pair it with a nearby Digi Connect
Sensor+ to view real-time sensor and device data in the field.
Note Make sure there is adequate cellular network coverage where you plan to install the gateway
before purchasing cellular service.
This guide shows you how to:
nSet up and maintain Digi Connect Sensor+
nUse Remote Manager to configure external sensors and data reports
nView sensor data and Digi Connect Sensor+ system information
See the Digi Connect Sensor I/O Wiring Guide for details about wiring analog or digital I/O sensors and
power to Digi Connect Sensor+.
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 8

Get started
Use the following sections to get started with Digi Connect Sensor+.
Before you begin, review the Connect Sensor+ Safety information.
Step 1: Verify product components
Step 2: Activate the SIMcard
Step 3: Assemble Digi Connect Sensor+
Step 4: Configure the cellular connection
Step 5: Check the cellular connection
Step 6: Wire the I/O sensors
Step 7: Add a device to Digi Remote Manager
Optional
Install the magnet mount
Step 1: Verify product components
Digi Connect Sensor+ includes the following components.
NEXTSTEP: After reviewing components, proceed to Step 2: Activate the SIMcard
Component Description
Digi Connect Sensor+
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 9

Get started Step 1: Verify product components
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 10
Component Description
Battery
Digi Connect Sensor+ uses a lithium metal battery.
See Battery care and maintenance.
For battery safety information, see Battery safety.
Note The battery is included for all versions except
for the -N versions.
SIMcard
The SIMcard can be activated or replaced by an
activated SIMcard from your cellular service
provider.
Optional accessories
The following accessories are available through Digi International Inc. For more information, visit the
Digi Connect Sensor+ product page.
Component Description
Cellular antenna
Note This antenna is PN 76000926 and is an indoor-
only antenna. Only outdoor-rated antennas should be
used outdoors. For more information about antenna
options, see the Digi Connect Sensor+ product page.
Magnet
Used for manually waking the device.
Magnet mount accessory pack
The pack includes four screws, and four magnets
separated by plastic discs. See Install the magnet
mount for installation instructions.
CAUTION! The magnets are extremely
powerful. Keep magnets separated. If
they touch each other they are difficult
to separate. Use caution when handling
the magnets to avoid injury due to
pinching.

Get started Step 2: Activate the SIMcard
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 11
Step 2: Activate the SIMcard
Digi Connect Sensor+ has a SIM card inserted in the device by default. To use a cellular connection, you
must activate the inserted SIM card. You can skip this step if you have a pre-activated SIM card.
1. Note the Digi Connect Sensor+ IMEI number. The IMEInumber is on the label on the device and
on the box the device was shipped in.
2. Activate the SIMcard.
a. Navigate to store.digi.com for e-commerce-based ordering of data plans.
b. Email the list of Connect Sensor IMEI numbers to [e-mail] to
activate the SIM(s).
NEXTSTEP: After reviewing components, proceed to Step 3: Assemble Digi Connect Sensor+.
Step 3: Assemble Digi Connect Sensor+
This section describes how to assemble Digi Connect Sensor+. Be sure to complete these steps before
wiring sensors to the I/O interface.
CAUTION! This product contains a lithium metal battery. Prior to installation, the
battery should be inspected for any signs of damage. If the battery appears to be
damaged or is dropped during the installation, do not use the battery and be sure to
dispose of it properly. See Battery inspection for more information.
Make sure you have the following equipment available:
nActivated SIMcard: See Activate the SIM card
nBattery
nCellular antenna
Note You must use a passive (non-amplified) antenna with Digi Connect Sensor+.
CAUTION! If you are using a SIM card from your own cellular provider, do not pull
the SIMcard tray up from the left side or use a tool to open the tray. These
actions may damage the SIM detect switch, which is beneath the left side of the
tray.
Follow these steps to assemble Digi Connect Sensor+:
1. Open the Digi Connect Sensor+ enclosure.
2. Connect the cellular antenna.
3. Insert and connect the battery.
4. Close the cover on the device. The cover snaps into place.
5. Optional: Install the magnet mount to the bottom of Digi Connect Sensor+ if you have
purchased this accessory. See Install the magnet mount.

Get started Step 4: Configure the cellular connection
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 12
Note It is recommended that you complete configuration, including verifying cellular and Remote
Manager connectivity, before wiring external sensors to Digi Connect Sensor+. See the Digi Remote
Manager User Guide for information about Remote Manager.
NEXTSTEP: After reviewing components, proceed to Step 4: Configure the cellular connection.
Step 4: Configure the cellular connection
Digi Connect Sensor+ is configured with a default APN that you need to change to register Digi
Connect Sensor+ on the cellular network for your cellular service provider. Use the command line
interface (CLI) to initially configure the cellular connection.
Before you begin, make sure you have the following required equipment and information:
nComputer running a terminal emulator program
nUSB type A to B cable
nAPN from your cellular service provider
To register Digi Connect Sensor+ on a cellular network:
1. Open the enclosure and make sure the battery is connected and the SIM card is installed.
2. Connect a USB type A to B cable from your computer to the USB type B port.
Note Do not use the mini USB port, which is covered by a red X in the graphic below.
You may need to install device drivers or wait for your computer to automatically install them
when connecting Digi Connect Sensor+ to a computer using a USB cable. Digi-recommended

Get started Step 4: Configure the cellular connection
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 13
drivers are available at www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm.
3. Open a terminal program on a computer and connect to Digi Connect Sensor+ using the
following configuration:
nConnection port: Connect to the COM port associated with the USB cable connected to
Digi Connect Sensor+
nBaud rate or bits per second: 115200
nData: 8 bit
nParity: None
nStop: 1 bit
nFlow control: None
4. Press the Wake button on the device.
5. At the command prompt, type set apn=<yourCarrierAPN>where yourCarrierAPN is the string
supplied by your cellular service provider.
6. Press Enter. The terminal program displays the APN configuration setting’s current value and
the pending value.

Get started Step 5: Check the cellular connection
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 14
7. If required, set a user name, password, and PIN for the SIMcard. At the command prompt, type
the following and press Enter after each command:
oset usr=<username>
Where username is the name of your cellular account.
oset pwd=<password>
Where password is the password for your cellular account.
oset pin=<pin>
Where pin is the PIN for your SIMcard.
For details about these commands, see CLI commands.
8. Type activate at the command prompt and press Enter to immediately make the change.
Digi Connect Sensor+ goes to sleep and immediately wakes up to report the change to Remote
Manager. After the change completes, it goes to sleep again.
9. (Optional) Verify the new settings:
a. Press the Wake button.
b. At the command prompt type set commandname where commandname is one of
the settings you updated, such as apn.
NEXTSTEP: After reviewing components, proceed to Step 5: Check the cellular connection.
Step 5: Check the cellular connection
Make sure the cellular network provides an adequate signal where you install Digi Connect Sensor+ to
maintain a consistent cellular connection.
Note Proper network coverage helps reduce power consumption, leading to improved battery life.
To check the cellular network connection at the install location:
1. Wake Digi Connect Sensor+:
nIf the enclosure is open, press the Wake button.
nIf the enclosure is closed, swipe the magnet across the magnet icon on the outside of
the device.
2. The LEDindicators light up in a predetermined sequence when you manually wake the device.
3. If Digi Connect Sensor+ does not connect to the cellular network, see Device not connected to
the cellular network.

Get started Step 6: Wire the I/O sensors
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 15
NEXTSTEP: After reviewing components, proceed to Step 6: Wire the I/O sensors.
Step 6: Wire the I/O sensors
You can wire the analog and digital input/output sensors or power using the I/O interface. For detailed
information, see the Digi Connect Sensor I/O Wiring Guide.
Note All external or field wiring must be in accordance with NFPA 70 Article 501.10(B).
After wiring sensors, use the following sections in this guide to configure additional settings and
remotely manage Digi Connect Sensor+.
nConfigure pins and protocols
nView device and sensor data streams
nConfigure Digi Connect Sensor+ device settings
NEXTSTEP: After reviewing components, proceed to Step 7: Add a device to Digi Remote Manager.
Step 7: Add a device to Digi Remote Manager
To manage Digi Connect Sensor+ and get sensor data, you need to create a Remote Manager account
and add your Digi Connect Sensor+ device to your account.
To add a device to Remote Manager:
1. Sign in to your Remote Manager account:
nIf you need to create an account, go to shop.digi.com/DigiRM to create an account,
setup a free trial and purchases an extended license.
nIf you already have an account, go to Remote Manager at remotemanager.digi.com and
sign in with your user name and password.
2. In the left-hand pane, click Devices. The Devices pane displays.
3. Make sure the Single Devices tab is selected. It is selected by default.
4. Click Add. The Add dialog displays in the right-hand pane.
a. In the Device ID, MACAddress, or IMEI field, enter one of these items, which are
located on the device label. An entry in this field is required. For more detailed
information, see the Device IDs section in the Digi Remote Manager User Guide.
b. In the Device Default Password field, enter the device's default password, which is
on the device label.
c. In the Device Name field, enter a descriptive name for the device.
5. Click Add Device to add the device.
6. Click OK to close the Add Devices dialog. The device appears in the Device Management list.
Note If the device does not display in the Device Management list, you can wake Digi Connect
Sensor+ to force a connection with Remote Manager and update the data. For instructions,
see Update the firmware using the CLI or Update the firmware from Remote Manager.

Get started Step 7: Add a device to Digi Remote Manager
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 16
7. Click Refresh if the device data does not appear on its own after a short period of time.
Device data appears after the first time it communicates with Remote Manager.
NEXTSTEP: After completing initial setup, return to Get started to view optional steps.

Hardware
Note Before you open a Digi Connect Sensor+ be sure to review the Safety information.
Digi Connect Sensor+ LEDs
Digi Connect Sensor+ has four LED indicators to monitor Bluetooth connection, sensor activity, cellular
connection, and battery life. If Digi Connect Sensor+ is powered and all LEDs are off, it is sleeping, or
doing a scheduled wake-up.
Note The LEDindicators only light up when you wake the device by manual intervention: pressing the
Wake button on the device or using a magnet. When the device wakes up to take and push readings,
the LEDs do not light up since no one may be physically present to see the LED start-up sequence. See
Wake Digi Connect Sensor+ for more information about the LEDindicators start-up sequence.
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 17

Hardware Digi Connect Sensor+ LEDs
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 18
Item LED Description
1 Bluetooth Indicator light for Bluetooth communication:
nYellow blinking: Bluetooth is on and Digi Connect Sensor+
is discoverable. The LED blinks for up to 30 seconds.
nYellow solid: A Bluetooth device is attached.
nNot lit: No Bluetooth devices were found or attached.
Note Bluetooth must be enabled on the Digi Connect Sensor+
for the Bluetooth LEDto light up. See Configure local interface
settings: CLIand Bluetooth.
2 Sensor reading Indicator light for the sensor(s):
nGreen blinking: One or more sensors are reading the
environment.
nNot lit: The LED turns off when readings are complete.
3 Cellular Indicator light for the cellular network connection:
nSolid purple: Digi Connect Sensor+ is waking.
nRed blinking: Searching for the cellular network.
nBlue:
lBlinking: Connected to the cellular network and
attempting to communicate with Remote Manager
lSolid light: Successfully sent data to Remote
Manager. LED turns off after a few seconds.
4 Battery Indicator light for battery function:
nSolid purple: Digi Connect Sensor+ is waking
The following patterns are based on the Global Alarm >
Battery Life setting in Remote Manager:
nRed blinking: Indicates battery life is less than or equal to
the Battery Life alarm.
nBlue blinking: Indicates battery life is greater than the
Battery Life alarm.

Hardware Digi Connect Sensor+ ports and buttons
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 19
Digi Connect Sensor+ ports and buttons
The following figure shows the controls for setting up and configuring Digi Connect Sensor+.
Item Name Description
1 Console port Connects Digi Connect Sensor+ to a computer using a
USB type A to B cable for access to the command line
interface (CLI).
2 Battery port Connects the battery wire to power Digi Connect
Sensor+.
3 Wake button Wakes Digi Connect Sensor+. See Wake Digi Connect
Sensor+.
4 Factory button Currently disabled.
5 Reset button Restarts the device when it is not responding to input
(from the CLI or otherwise). Pressing this button does
not remove previous configuration changes.
6 Battery tray Holds the battery in place.
7 SIM card tray Connects the SIMcard to Digi Connect Sensor+. A SIM
card is inserted by default.
8 Cellular antenna port Connects an external cellular antenna to Digi Connect
Sensor+.

Hardware Wake Digi Connect Sensor+
Digi Connect Sensor+ User Guide 20
Item Name Description
9 Input/Output (I/O) interface Wire analog or digital input and output sensors or power
to this interface. For more information, see the Digi
Connect Sensor I/O Wiring Guide.
10 Cable glands Thread sensor cables through these openings into Digi
Connect Sensor+.
Wake Digi Connect Sensor+
If Digi Connect Sensor+ is powered and all LEDs are off, it is in sleep mode. You can wake the device
manually, if needed.
Note The LEDindicators only light up when you wake the device by manual intervention: pressing the
Wake button inside the device or using a magnet. When the device automatically wakes up as
scheduled to take and push readings, the LEDs do not light up since no one may be physically present
to see the LED start-up sequence. See Connect Sensor LED start-up sequence.
Manually wake the device
To wake the device, you can either swipe a magnet across the top of the device, or press the Wake
button inside the device.
When you wake Digi Connect Sensor+, the LED buttons are activated as the device wakes up. The
start-up sequence is described below.
Digi Connect Sensor+ LED start-up sequence
The LEDindicators light up in a predetermined sequence when you manually wake the Digi Connect
Sensor+. For a description of where the LEDs are located on the device, see Digi Connect Sensor+
LEDs.