Fludia FM232 Series User manual

FM232 and F-Link –User Guide
LoRa IoT sensors and micro-bridge for remote monitoring
Document Ref FLD10053 version 1.0.2
Product references:
FM232e: electricity meter optical reading
Ref: FM232e_nc_1mn, FM232e_nc_10mn, FM232e_nc_15mn
FM232ir: electricity infrared meter optical reading (SML protocol)
Ref: FM232ir_nc_1mn, FM232ir_nc_15mn
FM232g: gas meter optical reading (ATEX)
Ref: FM232g_nc_10mn, FM232g_nc_15mn
FM232p-a: pulse reading (ATEX)
Ref: FM232p-a_nc_1mn, FM232p-a_nc_10mn, FM232p-a_nc_15mn
FM232p-n: pulse reading (non-ATEX)
Ref: FM232p-n_nc_1mn, FM232p-n_nc_10mn, FM232p-n_nc_15mn
FM232t: temperature measurement
Ref: FM232t_1mn, FM232t_10mn, FM232t_15mn
F-Link: micro-bridge forwarding LoRa radio messages through Internet
Ref: F-Link_dc

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Firmware versions
FM232e
Optical head: FM210em_v5.4 (FM232e_nc_1mn), FM210em_v4.6 (FM232e_nc_10mn,
FM232e_nc_15mn)
Radio/battery box: BPR07_V3.1.7
FM232ir
Optical head: FM210ir_v1.7 (FM232ir_nc_1mn), FM210ir_v1.2 (FM232ir_nc_15mn)
Radio/battery box: BPR07_V3.1.7
FM232g
Optical head: FM210g_v3.2
Radio/battery box: BPR07_v3.1.8
FM232p
Radio/battery box: BPR07_v3.1.9 (FM232p-a_nc_1mn), BPR07_v3.1.7 (FM232p-a_nc_10mn,
FM232p-a_nc_15mn)
F-Link
F_Link_v1.1.7
Revision history
Version
Notes
Date
1.0.1
New doc replacing ref FLD9491 (IMC User Guide EN_v1.0.5)
2022-05-17
1.0.2
Minor corrections
2022-05-17

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Table of Contents
1. Overview...............................................................................................................4
2. Setting up the F-Link..............................................................................................5
2.1 Powering up...........................................................................................................................5
2.2 Connecting to Internet ..........................................................................................................5
3. Pairing a sensor with the F-Link.............................................................................6
3.1 Open the pairing time window on the F-Link........................................................................6
3.2 Initiate the pairing on the sensor side ..................................................................................6
4. Installing the sensors.............................................................................................7
4.1 Installing the FM232e (optical reading of electricity meters)...............................................7
4.2 Installing the FM232ir (optical reading of electricity meters in Germany)...........................8
4.3 Installing the FM232g (optical reading of gas meters)........................................................10
4.4 Installing the FM232p (detecting meter pulse outputs: gas, water, elec, heat…)...............11
4.5 Installing the FM232t (measuring temperature).................................................................11
5. Replacing batteries in a sensor............................................................................ 12
6. Accessing the dashboard to check communication and data .............................. 12
7. Retrieving data from the server with the API ...................................................... 14
7.1 Device list request ...............................................................................................................14
7.2 Interval data request ...........................................................................................................15
7.3 Index data............................................................................................................................16
7.4 Message list.........................................................................................................................17
8. Contact................................................................................................................18
9. Annex A: product references and what they mean ............................................. 19

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1. Overview
The basic principle of this remote monitoring solution is to install IoT sensors (FM232x on the graph) using
LoRa long range radio to transfer measurement messages to a micro-bridge (F-Link on the graph).
The F-Link forwards these messages to a server through Internet.
The different types of sensors available are:
- FM232e: optical reading of electricity meters (detecting rotating disk, or blinking light)
- FM232ir: optical reading of electricity meters in Germany (detecting rotating disk, or infrared port
with SML protocol)
- FM232g: optical reading of gas meters (detecting digit rotation)
- FM232p: detecting pulse outputs of some meters (gas, water, electricity, heat…)
- FM232t: measuring temperature
The installation process consists of three main steps:
1. Configuring the F-Link: providing the F-Link with your Wifi password (not necessary if you are using
an Ethernet cable)
2. Pairing the sensors with the F-Link: pressing twice the button on the F-Link side, then starting one of
the sensors, then doing the same for the next sensor (pressing twice the F-Link button, then starting
a sensor), and so on.
3. Installing the sensors: sticking the optical sensor to the existing meter, or connecting the wires, or
just positioning the box, depending on the type of sensor.
Retrieving the data can be done in one of two ways:
- Connecting to the server’s API https://fm430-api.fludia.com/v1/API/
- Selecting data and downloading related files from the dashboard

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2. Setting up the F-Link
2.1 Powering up
Use the provided power adapter to power the F-Link up.
2.2 Connecting to Internet
Option 1: use the provided Ethernet cable
This option is the fastest: just connect the Ethernet cable between the F-Link and your existing
modem/router (connected to Internet). The F-Link LED on the left will turn green to confirm that it is
connected to Internet.
Warning: only works if your local network configuration is “DHCP” (most Internet modems in residential or
SOHO).
Option 2: use the Wi-Fi connectivity
This option relies on a pre-existing Wi-Fi connected to Internet. In this case, you need to provide the F-Link
with the Wi-Fi password.
This can be done in two ways:
- If you have an android smart phone, the easiest is to download the F-Link android App from Google
Play and follow the instructions.
- If you don’t have an android smart phone, the way to proceed is to connect to the F-Link embedded
Web server.
With the android App:
1. Press long (4 seconds) on the F-Link button to open its Wi-Fi access point. The blue LED should
blink.
2. Start the F-Link Android App on your phone or tablet.
3. Follow the instructions.
Without the android App:
1. Press long (4 seconds) on the F-Link button to open its own Wi-Fi access point. The blue LED
should blink.
2. On your phone, tablet, or PC, connect to the F-Link Wi-Fi access point, which names looks like “F-
Link-70B3D54Axxxxxxxx”. This will disconnect you temporarily from Internet.
3. Open a web browser (chrome for example)
4. In the web browser, type the following URL: 192.168.1.1/flink (it is a configuration page build by the
F-Link itself)

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5. The configuration page appears. You must click on the Wi-Fi icon and select the Wi-Fi you use for
Internet connection (usually your Internet box or router). Enter the corresponding Wi-Fi password
and click on “OK”. The F-Link green LED turns steady ON once it has managed to connect to the
Internet.
3. Pairing a sensor with the F-Link
3.1 Open the pairing time window on the F-Link
Press twice shortly on the F-Link button. The yellow LED should start blinking, indicating the activation of the
pairing time window. This pairing time window closes after 5 minutes.
3.2 Initiate the pairing on the sensor side
FM232e: connect the cable between the optical head and the radio/battery box.
FM232ir: connect the cable between the optical head and the radio/battery box.
FM232g: connect the cable between the optical head and the radio/battery box
FM232p: connect the cable on both sides (radio/battery box side and meter side) and make sure the meter
generates at least one pulse during the pairing time window of 5 minutes.
FM232t: take out the battery and put it back on.
Once the pairing has been initiated, the LEDs on the radio/battery FM232
box will show the progress:
- Red and Green LED blinking together (pairing in progress)
- Green LED blinking alone (pairing successful)
- Red LED blinking alone (pairing failed)
If the LEDs on the radio/battery side blink green twice, red once, green twice, red once
and so on, it means that the device has been previously paired to an F-Link (but not
necessarily this one). If you want to make sure, remove the batteries, wait for 10 seconds,
and put them back on. It resets the pairing so that you can pair from a fresh start.
On the F-Link side, the yellow LED blinking stops when the pairing has been performed.
If another sensor needs to be paired, go through the process again (open the pairing time window on the F-
Link, then initiate the pairing on the sensor side)

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4. Installing the sensors
4.1 Installing the FM232e (optical reading of electricity meters)
First identify the type of meter you want to measure. It could be either an electronic electricity meter (with a
blinking light) or an electromechanical electricity meter (with a rotating disk).
In case the white cable is plugged in the radio/battery box, it is recommended to unplug it (and leave only
the optical side connected) before proceeding with the installation.
If it is an electronic meter, you must position the optical head switch on B,
and if it is an electromechanical meter, you must position the switch on A:
If it is an electronic meter, stick the adhesive plastic mount on the
meter in front of the meter blinking light (aim through the hole)
Then, position the optical head on top of the
plastic mount and tight the black screw.
If it is an electromechanical meter, make sure the optical head
is properly attached to the adhesive plastic mount with the help of the black screw:
Stick the system on the meter glass panel, making sure the two arrows are perfectly aligned with the meter
disk (face the meter and keep your eyes at disc level for better result):
If the arrows are not completely lined up with the disc, loosen the screw, adjust
position, and tighten the screw
Connect the white cable between the optical head and the FM232e battery/radio box.
In the case of an electromechanical meter, make sure the optical head is still perfectly aligned with the disk.

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The FM232e starts measuring automatically.
The optical head LEDs (lights) should blink this way:
1. Calibration: red LED blinks for 20 seconds.
2. Validation: green LED blinks every time the meter light blinks (electronic meter) or every time the
disk mark (black or red) comes in front of the sensor (electromechanical meter).
3. After 3 minutes, the green light stops completely to avoid wasting battery load.
On the FM232e battery/radio box, LEDs (lights) should blink Green-Green-Red. (it only means that this
sensor has already been paired to an F-Link). The blinking stops after 30 seconds.
4.2 Installing the FM232ir (optical reading of electricity meters in Germany)
First identify the type of meter you want to measure. It could be either an mME electricity meter (with an
infrared port supporting SML protocol) or an electromechanical electricity meter (with a rotating disk).
In case the white cable is plugged in the radio/battery box, it is recommended to unplug it (and leave only
the optical side connected) before proceeding with the installation.
If it is an mME meter, you must position the optical head switch on B, and if
it is an electromechanical meter, you must position the switch on A:
If it is an mME meter, stick the adhesive plastic mount on the meter in front
of the meter infrared receiving LED (aim through the hole)

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Then, fasten the optical head to the plastic mount.
Use the black screw to tighten the optical head to the mount.
If it is an electromechanical meter, make sure the optical head
is properly attached to the adhesive plastic mount with the help of the black screw:
Stick the system on the meter glass panel, making sure the two arrows are perfectly aligned with the meter
disk (face the meter and keep your eyes at disc level for better result):
If the arrows are not completely lined up with the disc, loosen the screw, adjust
position, and tighten the screw
Connect the white cable between the optical head and the FM232ir battery/radio box.
In the case of an electromechanical meter, make sure the optical head is still perfectly aligned with the disk.
The FM232ir starts measuring automatically.
The optical head LEDs (lights) should blink this way:
1. Calibration: red LED blinks for 20 seconds.
2. Validation: green LED each time the disk mark (black or red) comes in front of the sensor
(electromechanical meter) or each time a correct infrared signal is detected (mME meter).
3. The green light stops completely to avoid wasting battery load (after 3 minutes for electromechanical,
after 1 minute for mME).
On the FM232ir battery/radio box, LEDs (lights) should blink Green-Green-Red. (it only means that this
sensor has already been paired to an F-Link). The blinking stops after 30 seconds.

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4.3 Installing the FM232g (optical reading of gas meters)
In case the white cable is plugged in the radio/battery box, it is recommended to unplug it (and leave only
the optical side connected) before proceeding with the installation.
Clean the meter window.
Paste the holder on the glass of the meter, in front of the prior-to-
last digit of the index, using the provided adhesive (already fixed on
the holder).
>> Make sure the arrows of the holder are perfectly at mid-height of the
frame.
>> In some cases, the digit can be higher or lower than normal. Position
the arrows at mid-height of the frame, not at mid-height of the digit.
Clip the optical sensor to the holder.

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Connect the white cable between the optical head and the
FM232e battery/radio box.
On the FM232g battery/radio box, LEDs (lights) should blink
Green-Green-Red. (it only means that this sensor has already
been paired to an F-Link). The blinking stops after 30 seconds.
4.4 Installing the FM232p (detecting meter pulse outputs: gas, water, elec, heat…)
The FM232p comes with a cable that needs to be connected to the meter pulse interface.
By default, the end of the cable shows two wires: red wire (pulse), black wire (ground).
If the meter output shows a polarity, make sure to connect the cable accordingly.
If the cable is equipped with a “binder” connector, just connect it to the pulse output interface. The “binder”
plug can be wired either in 3-5 configuration (default) or in 4- configuration (then, there is a colored ring
around the cable).
4.5 Installing the FM232t (measuring temperature)
Just position the FM232t box wherever you want to measure temperature. For measuring in-house
temperature, it is recommended to position the FM232t box around 1 meter above the floor and, if possible,
not too close to a wall (especially outside walls).
Warning: the FM232t box is not “rain-proof”. So, to measure outside temperatures, it is recommended either
to position it in a place protected from the rain, or inside a “rain-proof” additional box (a full waterproof box
should be avoided because of the risk of water vapor infiltration and condensation).

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5. Replacing batteries in a sensor
Batteries used in FM232x products are special Lithium 3.6V batteries (Lithium thionyl chloride or Li-SoCl2).
You should only replace them by similar batteries, of good quality, form renown manufacturers, and make
sure that they are positioned the right way (+ side and –side are indicated both on each battery and at the
bottom of the battery compartment).
The usual format of the batteries is A, but AA works also (though the energy is lower).
It is possible to use only one battery instead of two, but the expected lifetime will be of course accordingly
reduced.
In case of an ATEX certified product such as the FM232g, when operating in an ATEX zone you should only
use certified batteries provided by Fludia, so that the product is still considered certified.
Once batteries have been removed, the product loses pairing parameters. Therefore, there is a need for
pairing after the batteries have been changed.
6. Accessing the dashboard to check communication and data
In a Web browser, type the following URL: https://fm400-api.fludia.com/console
The login and password have been provided by email at the moment of purchase.
The dashboard displays the list of sensors and some indicators (Version number, time-step, elapsed time
since last connection…).
By clicking on the + sign, you can unstack two graphs, one showing measurement data and the other
message counts.
By clicking on the ID number, you can access a more detailed page, where you can graphically navigate the
measurement data and download corresponding data files, and have a look at the raw messages.
The top part of this page shows a graph with the measurement data. By default, the displayed period is two
days, but a different period can be selected in the calendar.
It is possible to go back and forward in time, one day at a time, by clicking on the “Previous day” or “Next day”
button.

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The type of data on display can be chosen and be either curve data (interval data, can refer to electric power
or gas volume for example) or index data (cumulative quantity, can refer to cumulated energy or cumulated
volume for example).
There are two options for curve data: “fill missing data” or “show missing data”. The “fill missing data” option
creates values by spreading the energy evenly over the missing points. The “show missing value” does not
create new values and the mssing periods appear clearly as blanks on the graph.
Index data is always provided without filling missing values.
By clicking on the “download” button a csv file is being created and downloaded containing the measurement
data on display, with the selected option. Once opened in a spreadsheet, measurement data looks like the
example below.

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7. Retrieving data from the server with the API
The access is done through HTTPS with the following URL:
https://fm430-api.fludia.com/v1/API/
Each query to the API needs authentication using the Basic Auth access. The login and password are
provided separately by email (they are the same as the ones used to access the dashboard).
If needed as a first step before implementation, there are several ways to explore the API:
a. CURL command line: curl -u "login:password" "https://fm430-api.fludia.com/v1/API/..."
b. Postman tool
c. swagger.fludia.com (list of requests and test capability)
7.1 Device list request
GET https://fm430-api.fludia.com/v1/API/FM400
returns the list of devices (Last 8 characters of the device ID), the timestamp of the last received message for
each device and some additional attributes.
Result example:
[
{
"Nom": "",
"SerialNumber": "a000596c",
"Type": "FM430",
"Type_decodage": "V2",
"Type_capteur": "Electronique",
"Version_firmware": "21",
"DerniereReceptionOK_TS": "1649066589",
"Pas": "10 minutes",
"Actif": "actif",
"Pile_faible": "0",
"Ratio": "1"
},
{
"Nom": "",
"SerialNumber": "a000596d",
"Type": "FM430",
"Type_decodage": "V2",
"Type_capteur": "Electromécanique",
"Version_firmware": "21",
"DerniereReceptionOK_TS": "1649067662",
"Pas": "10 minutes",
"Actif": "actif",
"Pile_faible": "0",
"Ratio": "1"
}
]
Attributes :
SerialNumber: last 8 characters of the device ID (device ID is found on the device front panel label, not to be
confused with SN number… a bit confusing, but it comes from older ways to deal with device identification).
Type: FM430 refers to all LoRa devices (FM232x and FM432x).
Type_decodage: version of message decoding performed by the server (no use for normal API usage).
Type_capteur: Electronique (electronic electricity meter), Electromécanique (electromechanical electricity

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meter), IR (infrared SML german electricity meter), gaz (gas meter), pulse (pulse detection), Température
(temperature).
Version_firmware: firmware version
DerniereReceptionOK_TS: timestamp of the last received message
Pas: measurement time step (1 minute, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour)
Actif: “actif” signifies that the device has sent at least 1 message in the last three days (otherwise, it is
“inactif”).
Pile faible: low battery indicator. Equals 1 when the battery voltage is under a threshold, 0 otherwise
(indicator available only for some of the sensors… if not available, the value is NULL)
Ratio: indicates the value of the constant that might be used to multiply the data (taken into account only in a
specific request not presented in this document). This constant can be set through the API (for example to
take into account the constant of an electromechanical meter in Wh per disk turn). Default value is 1.
7.2 Interval data request
GET
https://fm430-api.fludia.com/v1/API/pxm/SerialNumber[?limit=n[&tsDeb=x&tsFin=x]&show_missing=true]
Input data
SerialNumber
limit
Maximum number of messages to be collected
&tsDeb=
First Timestamp
&tsFin=
Last Timestamp
show_missing
Option to process missing data
Returns the list of interval data, with related UTC timestamps.
&tsDeb= et &tsFin= are timestamps (in seconds) to filter data from tsDeb to tsFin (not mandatory).
&limit=n to limit to n last values.
show_missing chooses the way to process data. It is "false" by default.
Query « pxm »
show_missing=false (default)
show_missing=true
Missing radio message
Missing data are filled-up by averaged values
Missing data are not filled-up
Result example (first value is the TimeStamp, second value is the measurement value, without taking any
ratio into account):
[
[
1628860800,
57.2
],
[
1628861400,
52.8
]
]

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Depending on the sensor type (Type_capteur), the measurement values have different meaning:
- Electronique (optical reading of electronic electricity meter): the value is an average power (in Watt,
to be multiplied by a constant if the meter comes with such a constant)
- Electromécanique (optical reading of electromechanical electricity meter): the value is an average
power (in Watt, to be multiplied by a constant if the meter comes with such a constant)
- IR (optical reading of infrared SML german electricity meter): the value is an average power (in Watt)
- gaz (optical reading of gas meter): the value is a volume (in tens of dm3, if the sensor has been
correctly positioned on the digit left to the dm3 digit)
- pulse (pulse detection): the value is the number of pulses detected over the time step
- Température (temperature): the value is the average temperature over the time step
7.3 Index data
GET https://fm430-api.fludia.com/v1/API/index_brut/SerialNumber[?limit=n[&tsDeb=x&tsFin=x]]
Input data
SerialNumber
limit
Maximum number of messages to be collected
tsDeb
First Timestamp
tsFin
Last Timestamp
&tsDeb= et &tsFin= for timestamps (in seconds) to filter data from tsDeb to tsFin (not mandatory).
&limit=n to limit to n last values.
Result example (first value is the TimeStamp, second value is the index value): [
[
1628860800,
578956
],
[
1628861400,
578958
]
]
Depending on the sensor type (Type_capteur), the index values have different meaning:
- Electronique (optical reading of electronic electricity meter): the value is the cumulative energy since
installation (in Watt.hour, to be multiplied by a constant if the meter comes with such a constant)
- Electromécanique (optical reading of electromechanical electricity meter): the value is the cumulative

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energy since installation (in Watt.hour, to be multiplied by a constant if the meter comes with such a
constant)
- IR (optical reading of infrared SML german electricity meter): the value is the cumulative energy
provided by the meter (in Watt.hour)
- gaz (optical reading of gas meter): the value is the cumulative volume since installation (in tens of
dm3, if the sensor has been correctly positioned on the digit left to the dm3 digit)
- pulse (pulse detection): the value is the cumulative number of pulses since installation
- Température (temperature): the value is the average temperature over the time step
7.4 Message list
GET https://fm430-api.fludia.com/v1/API/trames?SerialNumber=SerialNumber[&limit=n&offset=m]
Input data
SerialNumber
limit
Maximum number of messages to be collected
offset
Number of last messages to avoid
&limit=n to limit to n last messages. &offset=m to avoid the last m messages.
returns the last n messages received from the device:
[
{
"SerialNumber": "000017c5",
"TsReception": 1649080309,
"Valide": true,
"Data":
"5b000615330fe30b120b030b660af7107e142a1600163015e40b870b1f0ec90be2067509df0daa0fca131016
1e",
"Variables": {},
"Rssi": -77,
"Snr": 11
},
{
"SerialNumber": "000017c5",
"TsReception": 1649079109,
"Valide": true,
"Data":
"5b00061037095b04bf06d504bf04a307760a880c6a0c5a0c74074406800f870f7a151d18171a461be6191c14
14",
"Variables": {},
"Rssi": -77,
"Snr": 8
}
]

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8. Contact
For further information or advice please contact us:
Fludia
[email protected]
01 83 64 13 94
4 ter rue Honoré d’Estienne d’Orves
92150 Suresnes, France

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9. Annex A: product references and what they mean
FM232e: electricity meter optical reading
•Ref: FM232e_nc_1mn => no compression, average power measured over 1 minute; message sent
every 20 minutes including 20 values
•Ref: FM232e_nc_10mn => no compression, average power measured over 10 minutes; message
sent every 80 minutes including 8 values
•Ref: FM232e_nc_15mn => no compression, average power measured over 15 minutes; message
sent every 120 minutes including 8 values
FM232ir: electricity infrared meter optical reading (SML protocol)
•Ref: FM232ir_nc_1mn => no compression, average power measured over 1 minute, message sent
every 15 minutes including 15 values.
•Ref: FM232ir_nc_15mn => no compression, average power measured over 15 minutes, message
sent every 120 minutes including 8 values
FM232g: gas meter optical reading (ATEX)
•Ref: FM232g_nc_10mn => no compression, volume measured over 10 minutes, message sent
every 80 minutes including 8 values.
•Ref: FM232g_nc_15mn => no compression, volume measured over 15 minutes, message sent
every 120 minutes including 8 values.
FM232p-a: pulse reading (ATEX)
•Ref: FM232p-a_nc_1mn => no compression, volume measured over 1 minute, message sent every
20 minutes including 20 values.
•Ref: FM232p-a_nc_10mn => no compression, volume measured over 10 minutes, message sent
every 80 minutes including 8 values.
•Ref: FM232p-a_nc_15mn => no compression, volume measured over 15 minutes, message sent
every 120 minutes including 8 values.
FM232p-n: pulse reading (non-ATEX)
•Ref: FM232p-n_nc_1mn => no compression, volume measured over 1 minute, message sent every
20 minutes including 20 values.
•Ref: FM232p-n_nc_10mn => no compression, volume measured over 10 minutes, message sent
every 80 minutes including 8 values.
•Ref: FM232p-n_nc_15mn => no compression, volume measured over 15 minutes, message sent
every 120 minutes including 8 values.
FM232t: temperature measurement
•Ref: FM232t_1mn => average temperature measured over 1 minute; message sent every 20
minutes including 20 values
•Ref: FM232t_10mn => average temperature measured over 10 minutes; message sent every 80
minutes including 8 values
•Ref: FM232t_15mn => average temperature measured over 15 minutes; message sent every 120
minutes including 8 values
F-Link: micro-bridge forwarding LoRa radio messages through Internet
•Ref: F-Link_dc