DSS Ranos dB 1 User manual

Instruction manual
Ranos dB 1 / Ranos dB 2
For firmware version 3.2.0 or higher

Thank you for choosing Dutch Sensor Systems. Please
read the manual thoroughly before bringing this device
into service. If the device was damaged in transit,
do not install or use it and contact your dealer.
To all residents of the European
Union Important environmental
information about this product
This symbol on the device or the
package indicates that disposal of
the device after its lifecycle could
harm the environment. Do not
dispose of the unit (or batteries) as
unsorted municipal waste; it should
be taken to a specialized company
for recycling. This device should be
returned to your distributor or to a
local recycling service. Respect the
local environmental rules.
If in doubt, contact your local
waste disposal authorities.
Page 2 of 56

Table of contents
4Safety Instructions
5General Guidelines
6Precautions
7About this manual
8Marking
10 Specications
18 General description
21 Parts and functions
22 Description of measurement quantities
23 Power
28 Parts and accessories
30 Optional parts and accessories
34 Mounting options and measurement accuracy
35 Acoustic calibration using sound calibrator
37 Connect App: software installation
and connection via USB
39 Connect App: working principles
41 Connect App: “Ranos settings” page
47 Connect App: “Ranos live” page
53 Connect App: “Ranos info” page
54 Connect App: “Ranos calibration” page
55 Dimensions in mm
Page 3 of 56

This device is not suited for children under
the age of 16, and persons with reduced physical,
sensory or mental capabilities or lack of experience
and knowledge if they have been given supervision
or instruction concerning the use of the device
in a safe way and understand the hazards involved.
Children shall not play with the device. Cleaning
and user maintenance shall not be made by
children without supervision.
Batteries are electrochemically live at all times.
Do not short circuit the battery terminals. Inspect
the battery consignment for signs of transport
damage. Ensure the consignment has all items
listed on the delivery note or invoice, i.e. batteries,
cables, shrouds etc. While unpacking each battery,
take care not to drop anything on the terminals.
Inspect each battery for physical damage such
as cracks or distortion of the case and terminals.
Safety Instructions
!
-+
Page 4 of 56

•
Familiarise yourself with
the functions of the device
before actually using it.
•
Allmodicationsofthe
device are forbidden for safety
reasons. Damage caused by user
modicationstothedeviceisnot
covered by the warranty.
•
Only use the device for its intended
purpose. Using the device in an
unauthorised way will void the
warranty.
•
Damage caused by disregard of
certain guidelines in this manual
is not covered by the warranty and
the dealer will not accept respon-
sibility for any ensuing defects
or problems.
General Guidelines
•
Neither Dutch Sensor Systems
B.V. nor its dealers can be held
responsible for any damage (extra-
ordinary, incidental or indirect) –
ofanynature(nancial,physical...)
arising from the possession,
use or failure of this product.
•
Due to constant product
improvements, the actual product
appearancemightdierfromthe
shown images.
•
Product images are for
illustrative purposes only.
•
Keep this manual for future
reference.
Page 5 of 56

•
Do not use screws of any other type
or length from what is supplied.
•
Install all rubber caps or connectors
during outdoor use. All parts are
rated IP67 or better, but only when
mated to a connector or cap.
•
TurnotheRanosdBbefore
storage.
•
When storing the Ranos dB for a
longer period of time, make sure
the battery is fully charged and
check the battery charge once
every month.
•
When disconnecting cables,
always grasp the plug and
do not pull the cable.
Precautions
•
When transporting the Ranos dB,
especially with the battery
installed, use an appropriate
case or packaging.
•
Do not clean the Ranos dB
using solvents or chemicals.
•
Take care that no electrically
conductive objects are left inside
of the Ranos dB.
•
Dispose of the unit and of batteries
only according to national and local
regulations at the place of use.
Page 6 of 56

•
The instructions in this manual
apply to the Dutch Sensor Systems
Ranos dB 1 and Ranos dB sound
levelmeterswithrmware3.2.0
or higher.
•
The user manual, calibration
manuals and additional
information can be downloaded
from the support section at:
iotsoundsensor.com
About this manual
Page 7 of 56

Marking
Examples of CE Marking - Ranos dB
Model RanosdB1-V3.0.3
Serial no 123456
Applicable standard AccuracyaccordingtoIEC61672-1:2014en,performanceclass1
Power rating 5VDC,60mAmax.
IP rating IP67
Frequency range LoRa863-870MHzGNSS1571-1606MHz
Manufacturer Dutch Sensor Systems B.V. - Antennestraat 66, Almere, NL
Model RanosdB-V3.0.3
Serial no 123456
Applicable standard AccuracyaccordingtoIEC61672-1:2014en,performanceclass2
Power rating 5VDC,60mAmax.
IP rating IP67
Frequency range LoRa863-870MHzGNSS1571-1606MHz
Manufacturer Dutch Sensor Systems B.V. - Antennestraat 66, Almere, NL
Page 8 of 56

Model RanosdB1-V3.0.3
Serial no 123456
Applicable standard AccuracyaccordingtoIEC61672-1:2014en,performanceclass1
Power rating 5VDC,60mAmax.
IP rating IP67
Frequency range LoRa902-928MHzGNSS1571-1606MHz
Manufacturer Dutch Sensor Systems B.V. - Antennestraat 66, Almere, NL
Model RanosdB-V3.0.3
Serial no 123456
Applicable standard AccuracyaccordingtoIEC61672-1:2014en,performanceclass2
Power rating 5VDC,60mAmax.
IP rating IP67
Frequency range LoRa902-928MHzGNSS1571-1606MHz
Manufacturer Dutch Sensor Systems B.V. - Antennestraat 66, Almere, NL
Page 9 of 56

The highlights of the Ranos dB
•
Two models are available, the
RanosdB1andtheRanosdB2.
TheRanosdB1meetsIEC61672-
1:2014Class1specicationsand
theRanosdB2meetsIEC61672-
1:2014Class2specications.
•
Equipped with a solar panel,
has LoRa connectivity and
works100%autonomously.
•
Lightweight housing
waterproof.
•
GPS on board.
•
Easy to operate from
any cloud platform.
•
Data visualization via DSS
Dashboard+ that seamlessly
integrates with the Ranos dB.
•
Dynamicrangeof40-120dB(A)
andaDSPsamplerateof48kHz.
•
Detachable microphone that
can be mounted at any desired
location.
•
LoRa network settings by the
DSS Connect App (Android).
General description
Discover the Ranos dB
Page 10 of 56

Audio performance
The Ranos dB’s accuracy and per-
formance is high, as is necessary to
meetIEC61672-1:2104Class1and
2specications.TheRanosdBhas
adynamicrangeof40-120dB(A)
and a usable frequency range of past
thehumanhearinglimitsof20Hzto
20kHz.Availablefrequencyandtime
weightings are A, C, Fast, Slow and
Leq. The calculations run at the audio
samplerateof48kHz.
Electret condenser microphone
The microphone is of an electret
condenser microphone type. Its key
features are the performance to
cost ratio, its IP67 rating and its
omnidirectionalfree-eldsound
eldcharacteristics.Optionallythe
microphone can be detached from
the housing to be mounted at any
desiredlocation.Additionally,a1.5
meter,3.0meterand5.0meter
microphone extension cable is
available.
IEC 61672-1:2014 standard
The Ranos dB 1 and Ranos dB meet
theclass1andclass2performance
specicationsoftheIEC61672-1:2014
standard.
Sustainable housing
HighlyrigidandusingplasticHIPS,
the housing is lightweight and quite
suitable for years of intensive use.
HIPS(HighImpactPolyStyrene)
hasareretardanteect.Thisis
an absolute requirement because
a lead acid battery is used as a
backup.
Waterproof
All parts are rated IP67 or better.
This makes the Ranos dB immer-
sion-proof. The interior is vented
through special membranes which
only lets through gasses.
Solar powered
The Ranos dB is highly energy
ecient.Thepowerconsumptionis
low and every bit of available solar
energy is harvested and stored in a
batterybymakinguseofanecient
MPPT (Maximum Power Point
Tracking) algorithm. For applications
where solar irradiation is low, power
consumption can be further reduced
by optimizing the settings. The LoRa
transmission interval can be
increased and the GPS can be
turnedo.
Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) battery
Whenever no solar power is availa-
ble,theRanosdBrunsoofaSLA
battery. An SLA type battery is used
for its wide temperature range, cost
eciencyanditisavailableacross
the whole world.
LoRa network
The Ranos dB communicates via
LoRa. We can deliver to all LoRa
(frequency) regions in the world.
The device is suitable for LoRaWAN
Class C networks, allowing the cloud
server to send direct messages to the
Ranos dB. This enables continuous
adjustability of measurement settings,
characteristics and network
congurations.
Page 11 of 56

Uplink and Downlink
As the Ranos dB can send uplinks as
well as receive downlinks, it is quite
easy to operate from any cloud plat-
form. Do you wish to set how often
you receive certain measurements?
No problem!
DSS Connect App
The Connect App is used to intui-
tively link a Ranos dB to an account.
After linking the app can be used for
congurationandtesting.Theappis
available for devices that use Google
Android OS and via the web using
a Google Chrome browser (Windows
only). The connection between the
Ranos dB and the app is made
via USB.
Payload description
We deliver a complete package in-
cluding all information on integrating
the Ranos dB with your dashboard
environment. The package consists
of a parser for code testing and a
sample code in Javascript.
Data visualization
DSS has its own data platform
that integrates seamlessly with
the Ranos dB. This is available for
three months starting from the date
ofpurchase.Inaddition,weoeran
integration with Datacake and we
can assist you in displaying the
data in any desired IoT platform.
Support
We are here to help you! The quickest
way to get you up and running again
is contacting us online or checking
the Support page on the website.
The device's modular structure allows
for easy replacement, which is part
of the service we provide.
Page 12 of 56

Measurement quantity notations
are composed of the following
abbreviations:
LSound pressure level, F
fast) or S (slow) time
weighting
L*eq Equivalent continuous
sound level
L**min Minimum sound level
L**max Maximum sound level
L*peak Peak sound level
Description of measurement quantities
AA frequency weighted
sound (pressure) level
CC frequency weighted
sound (pressure) level
ZZ frequency weighted
sound (pressure) level
FFast time weighting
SSlow time weighting
The * is replaced by a frequency
and/or time weighting
Page 13 of 56

Power
Power source
The Ranos dB 1 and Ranos dB are
powered from a 6VDC rechargeable
sealed lead acid battery. At reference
environmental conditions (most im-
portantlyaround20degreesCelsius),
thebatterycapacityissucientfor
two weeks of continuous operation
from a fully charged state, without
any additional solar charging. This is
to be able to bridge multiple sub-
sequent days of bad weather.
Power on/o
When the switch inside of the re-
cess on the side of the Ranos dB is
pressed in, the Ranos dB is powered
on. Within a few seconds after press-
ing in the switch, the LED ring around
the switch will turn on continuously
once for a few seconds to indicate it
has been powered on.
Charging
The battery is automatically charged
when the solar panel of the Ranos dB
is exposed to sunlight. The Ranos dB
continues charging from solar energy
while it is not powered on, it is
protected from overcharging
and short circuit.
Checking power status
When powered on and when no
LoRa keys have been set, the LED
ring around the power switch will
blinkonandocontinuouslywitha
rateofroughly2blinkspersecond.
If a LoRa key has been set, the LED
ring around the power switch will
blink once at every LoRa up and
down-link, when there are errors
there will be a pattern of blinks
depending on the type of error.
In a situation where a LoRa key
has been set, where no errors are
present, and where a long LoRa
transmission interval has been set,
the Ranos dB might not show any
indications of power status in or
around the Ranos dB for a long pe-
riod of time. In this case it is advised
to press out and in the power switch
toconrmpowerstatusfromthe
initial power on LED indication. Alter-
natively, when the measurement
routine cannot be interrupted, the
power status and battery voltage can
be checked via USB using the DSS
Connect App, refer to the Connect
App section for checking power
status using this method.
Page 14 of 56

Installing or replacing the battery
AYuasaNP12-6sealedleadacid
battery,oroneofadierentmake
and model, but with the same
specicationsisrecommended:
•
SLA type (sealed lead acid)
•
6VDC nominal voltage,
6,825VDCoatchargevoltage
•
12Ahnominalcapacityorlarger
•
6,35x0,8mmmalequick
disconnect tabs
•
Atleast-10to+50degreesCelsius
operating temperature (charge
and discharge).
•
Batterysizeof151x50x94mm
(quick disconnect tab height
excluded), male quick disconnect
tabs positioned on top of the
battery along one of the long sides.
Anempty,atandhorizontalworking
areaofatleast50x50cmisadvised
for performing the following steps.
Lid and battery removal:
(in case of replacing the battery):
1. Remove the housing lid by
removing the six screws on the
side of the housing using a Philips
2screwdiver.
2. Pull the battery out of the housing,
make sure the battery wires are
not caught on anything or pinched
while doing so. Set the battery
down right next to the Ranos dB
once it is completely out of its
compartment to prevent pulling
force from being exerted on the
battery wire harness.
3. Carefully slide the Faston con-
nectoroofthebatteryterminals
by pulling and wiggling on the red
insulation part of the connectors.
Long nose pliers can be used if
more gripping force is needed.
Never pull on the wires, use careful
control of force while pulling on the
connector to prevent yourself from
pulling on the wires when
theconnectorcomeso.
Battery and lid installation:
4. For use cases where the Ranos dB
will be moved or transported with
the battery installed, it is advised
tolltheplaybetweenthebattery
and battery compartment walls.
Stick the supplied foam pieces to
the battery:
-Bottom:45x140x2mm.
-Longside:70x140x2mm.
-Shortside:45x80x12mm.
5. Set the new battery down next
to the Ranos dB, aligned with
the battery compartment. When
looking into the opening of the
housing,thebatteryfastonat
tabs should be to the left in order
for them to clear the internal rein-
forcement bulkheads when sliding
in the battery.
6. Inside of the Ranos dB there is one
unconnected cable harness with
female Faston connectors. Slide
the Faston connector of the black
wire onto the black or - terminal
Page 15 of 56

of the battery, and slide the Faston
terminal of the red wire onto the
red or + terminal of the battery.
7. Slide the battery into the battery
compartment, ensure the wires
do not get caught on anything,
pinched between anything and
make sure no pulling force is
exerted.
8. Position the cover over the open-
ing in such a way that the screw
holes are lined up, and make sure
the cover closes all the way along
the edges without gaps. The hous-
ing edge along the opening should
fall into the grooves machined into
the inside of the cover. It might be
necessary to put some pressure on
the lid before it snaps into place.
Lay the sensor on its side before
doing so.
9. Mount the lid with the six supplied
M4x12screws.Thescrewsmust
be tightened with a force of 1Nm.
Do not overtighten or use screws
longerthan12mmtoprevent
damage to the housing.
Page 16 of 56

Battery replacement interval
In critical applications it is recom-
mended to preventively replace the
battery once a year. This is due to
thediculttopredictcombinationof
environmentaleectsandavarying
average solar irradiance per region
and month. In less critical applica-
tionsonceevery2yearsissucient.
In an ideal situation, where it is con-
stantlyaround20degreesCelsius
and where the battery is always at
95%>charge,thebatterywouldbe
abletolast3to5years.
When the battery charge had been
drained too far, the Ranos dB will
automatically shut down when the
battery voltage is too low, and once
the battery has charged up enough it
will also automatically start up again.
Battery health
To keep the battery health optimal,
the following is advised:
•
The Ranos dB should not be stored
with a discharged battery, charge
toatleast6,2VDCbeforeputting
the Ranos in storage.
•
Check the battery voltage every
month when storing for a longer
period of time.
•
In normal operation, make
sure the battery is as full as
possible, as much of the time as
possible by optimizing placement.
Page 17 of 56

Estimating if solar
irradiation is sucient
We advise to check the energy
production for your region using
an online tool and our energy
specications.
•
Visit the following link:
https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
pvg_tools/en/tools.html
•
Select the “OFF-GRID” tab.
•
Select your location on the map.
•
Fillinthefollowingspecications:
Solar radiation database:
PVGIS-CMSAF
•InstalledpeakPVpower[Wp]: 9,2
•Batterycapacity[Wh]:  72
•Dischargecutolimit[%]: 40%
•Consumptionperday[Wh]: 4,08
•Slope[°]:    35
•Azimuth[°]:   0
•
Click visualizer results
and view the results.
•
The solar panel should be pointed
tothesouth,theeectofanoset
angle relative to the south can be
viewed by varying azimuth.
•
The solar panel is mounted to the
Ranos dB housing at an angle of
35degrees.
•
The light blue bars in the “PV out-
put” graph show the average of the
energy not captured because the
battery became full.
•
Under Simulation outputs
“Percentage days with full battery
[%]:”indicateshowmuchofthe
timethebatterywas100%full.
The higher this percentage, the
longer the battery will last.
Page 18 of 56

Parts and accessories
Microphone
Two microphone models are avail-
able,theMMDB1andMMDB2.The
two models are exactly the same and
bothareselectedforafree-eldfre-
quency response as close as possible
toat.Thedierenceisinthatthe
MMDB1comeswithapre-congured
frequency response correction for
a frequency response within class 1
tolerance.TheMMDB2iswithinclass
2frequencyresponsetolerance.
Installing the microphone
•
Mount the microphone to the
back of the Ranos dB using the
two supplied clamp parts and four
M4x16screws.Beforecompletely
tightening the screws, slide up the
microphone until the microphone
cable gland meets the bottom side
of the bottom microphone clamp.
Foreectiveclamping,theclamp-
ing parts should be roughly
perpendicular to each other.
The screws must be tightened with
a force of 1Nm. Do not overtighten
or use screws longer than 16mm to
prevent damage to the housing.
•
Connect the microphone cable to
the microphone connector locat-
ed below the microphone mount.
Line up the white arrows and press
until a click is heard. To disconnect
the microphone, pull back on the
microphone connector sleeve.
Windscreen
When making measurements in
windy environments, wind noise will
cause measurement errors. Such
eectscanbereducedbyusingthe
windscreen, WS1. WS1 is suitable for
longtermoutdooruse.Theeectof
the windscreen on the microphone
frequency response is negligible.
The windscreen is simply slid over
the microphone.
Dummy microphone
Dummy microphone DM1 can be
connected in place of the micro-
phone to enable injection of electri-
cal signals for testing. Signal can be
input to the dummy microphone via
standard BNC. The input is AC cou-
pled and the output of the dummy
microphone loads the input of the
RanosdBwitha2kOhmresistance.
There is no load inductance or ca-
pacitance. The microphone is inter-
nallybuered,thebuerparasitic
capacitance and inductance is small-
er than that of the connection cables.
No additional termination is needed.
Thedummymicrophoneeecton
the frequency response of the micro-
phone input is negligible.
Page 19 of 56

Switch recess cover
A cover for the connector/switch
recess is supplied as extra protection
and for visual reasons. The cover can
simply be pressed into the recess.
Make sure to press the rubber cap
of the USB connector into the
connector before pressing the
recess cover in.
Rubber feet
To prevent damage to the bottom of
the sensor when standing on top of
a surface, stick on rubber feet are
supplied. Stick the rubber feet to the
4bottomcornersofthesensor.
Pole mount
The Ranos dB can be mounted to a
polewithadiameterof40to120mm.
Installing the pole mount
1. Mount the two brackets to the back
of the Ranos dB using the supplied
M8x16 screws and the M8 rings.
APhilips3screwdriverisneeded.
The screws must be tightened with
aforceof3Nm.Donotovertighten
or use screws longer than 16mm to
prevent damage to the housing.
2. Loosen the pole clamps until they
open up and insert them through
the brackets.
3. Wrap the clamps around the
around the pole and back into
the other ends of the pole clamps.
4. Tighten the pole clamps until
the clamps stop sliding when
lightly pushing/pulling the sensor
housing sideways/up and down.
The clamps can damage the paint
of a pole when mounted directly
to it. To prevent damage use
a tough plastic or rubber mat
between the pole and clamps.
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