LSI LASTEM Sphensor PRMPA0401 User manual

Environmental monitoring solutions
User manual

Sphensor –User manual
LSI LASTEM SRL
INSTUM_04291
Pag. 2 / 32
Document Sphensor –User manual
Pages 32
Revisions list
Issue
Date
Author
Description of changes
Origin
10/11/2020
Reschiotto - Astori

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Notes on this manual
The information included in this manual may be modified without notice. No part of this manual may be
reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, for any use, without LSI LASTEM’s written
permission.
LSI LASTEM reserves the right to intervene on the product, without the obligation to promptly update this
document.
Copyright 2020-2021 LSI LASTEM. All rights reserved.

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Table of contents
1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................... 6
1.1 Models............................................................................................................................................... 8
1.2 Operating limitations......................................................................................................................... 8
2 Safety requirements.................................................................................................................................. 9
2.1 General requirements ....................................................................................................................... 9
3 Configuration and identification ............................................................................................................. 10
3.1 Installing the Sphensor Manager software ..................................................................................... 10
3.2 Sensor configuration ....................................................................................................................... 10
3.3 Repeater configuration.................................................................................................................... 16
3.4 Sphensor Gateway configuration.................................................................................................... 17
3.5 Verification of pre-installation operation........................................................................................ 18
4 Installation of Sphensor equipment........................................................................................................ 19
4.1 Guidelines for placement ................................................................................................................ 19
4.2 Installation....................................................................................................................................... 19
4.3 Sensors installation.......................................................................................................................... 20
4.3.1 Via screw stud.......................................................................................................................... 20
4.3.2 On electric plate ...................................................................................................................... 20
4.3.3 Hung......................................................................................................................................... 21
4.3.4 Via stainless steel base............................................................................................................ 21
4.3.5 Via easel................................................................................................................................... 21
5 Deepening................................................................................................................................................ 23
5.1 Time synchronization ...................................................................................................................... 23
6 Diagnostics............................................................................................................................................... 23
6.1 Functional status LEDs..................................................................................................................... 23
7 Technical specifications........................................................................................................................... 25
7.1 PRMPA0401. PRMPA0402, PRMPA0403, PRMPA0404, PRMPA0405 sensors................................ 25
7.2 PRMPA0423 sensors........................................................................................................................ 27
8 Maintenance............................................................................................................................................ 28
8.1 Battery replacement........................................................................................................................ 28
9 Application protocol................................................................................................................................ 29
9.1 Instanteous data snapshots............................................................................................................. 29
9.2 Diagnostics snapshots ..................................................................................................................... 30
9.3 Status snapshots.............................................................................................................................. 31

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10 Disposal.................................................................................................................................................... 32
11 Contacting LSI LASTEM............................................................................................................................ 32

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1Introduction
Sphensor is the line of sensors produced by LSI LASTEM for monitoring environmental parameters and air
quality control in indoor environments.
The sensors, either battery operated or powered by a USB socket, have low power consumption, transmit
the measurements via radio to one or more devices called Sphensor Gateway.
Sphensor Gateway sends the received values to LSI LASTEM Cloud Service or to an MQTT broker, either within
the company network or reachable from outside via the Internet. Sphensor Gateway communicates over the
network via LAN network connection (Ethernet) or via Wi-Fi radio or 3G/4G mobile phone.
The Sphensor line is completed by repeaters, to be used where the sensor radio signal does not reach Sphen-
sor Gateway due to obstacles or long distances between the devices.
In Errore. L'origine riferimento non è stata trovata. a typical example of a Sphensor sensor network.
Fig. 1 –Sphensor network generic scheme.
The peculiar characteristics that characterize and distinguish Sphensor from other similar solutions are:
•Quality of measurements to the highest market standards.
•An entire family of multi-parameter sensors with an innovative design for the best placement in
the environment.
•Integration of different sizes within a single body of reduced size.
•Thread protocol: allows the creation of an interconnected network of sensors with high extension
and flexibility of geometry.
•Extension of radio range through the use of signal repeaters.
•Flexible installation thanks to a wide variety of mechanical supports.
•Measured data displayed directly on cloud software.

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•Local diagnostics via multicolored led crown.
•High battery operating autonomy. Additional power supply via standard micro USB socket.
•Three levels of data recording: locally to the sensor, in the Sphensor Gateway and in the server
with "store and forward" function.
•Additional inputs available for connection to external sensors.
•Automatic calculation of derived quantities.
Sphensor Gateway is equipped with the following innovative features:
•Possibility of connection via Ethernet LAN and, via accessory, 3G/4G modem or Wi-Fi.
•Possibility of local and autonomous alarm generation based on the measured values, with 4 inde-
pendent outputs activated.
•Power supply via standard mini USB socket and integrated back up battery.
•Programming functions via software on PC.
•Open architecture for easy integration into third-party systems, through data transmission in mar-
ket format and standard protocols (MQTT, JSON).
•Additional Sphensor Gateways with back-up functions can be installed.

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1.1 Models
In Errore. L'origine riferimento non è stata trovata. are listed the available sizes in the various sensor mo-
dels of the Sphensor line.
Sensor code
Air
temp.
Rel.
Hu-
mid.
Atm.
press.
Illum.
UV-A
Ou-
tside
temp.
Ou-
tside
ana-
logsig.
Air
speed
Parti-
culate
mat-
ter
VOC
CO2
CO
PRMPA0401
√
√
√
PRMPA0402
√
√
√
√(x5)
PRMPA0403
√
√
√
√(x5)
√
PRMPA0404
√
√
√
√(x2)
PRMPA0405
√
√
√
√(x2)
PRMPA0421
√
PRMPA0422
√
√
PRMPA0423
√
√
√
PRMPA0424
√
√
PRMPA0441
√
√
√
PRMPA0442
√
√
√
√
Tab. 1 –Available sizes per sensor model.
The type of power supply is indicated in Errore. L'origine riferimento non è stata trovata..
Sensor code
Rechargeable battery
Non-rechargeable battery
( low power sensor)
External power supply
PRMPA0401
√
PRMPA0402
√
PRMPA0403
√
PRMPA0404
√
PRMPA0405
√
PRMPA0421
√
√
PRMPA0422
√
√
PRMPA0423
√
√
PRMPA0424
√
√
PRMPA0441
√
√
PRMPA0442
√
√
Tab. 2 –Power supply available for sensor model.
Other devices of the Sphensor line are the repeaters and Sphensor Gateways as per Errore. L'origine riferi-
mento non è stata trovata..
Code
Description
TXMRA1100
Indoor radio Thread repeater with External Power
TXRGA1001
Sphensor Gateway for Thread network
Tab. 3 –Repeaters and Sphensor Gateway.
1.2 Operating limitations
In the realization of the Sphensor sensor network it is necessary to keep in mind some limitations regar-
ding sensors of the "low power" type (indicated in Errore. L'origine riferimento non è stata trovata.). In
this case:

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-Sphensor Gateway is able to accept direct connection up to 32 sensors. If there are multiple sen-
sors, repeaters or sensors with a repetition function shall be used.
-The Repeater can accept up to 10 sensors. If there are multiple sensors, other repeaters or sensors
with a repetition function shall be used.
2Safety requirements
Read the following general safety rules to avoid personal injury and prevent damage to the product or any
other products related to it. To avoid possible damage, use this product only in the way it is specified.
2.1 General requirements
Only qualified service staff shall be authorized to carry out installation and maintenance procedures.
Install the tool in a clean, dry and safe place. Humidity, dust and extreme temperatures tend to deteriorate
or damage the instrument. In such environments it’s recommended to install inside suitable containers.
Power the instrument appropriately. Respect the supply voltages indicated for the instrument model
owned.
Make the connections appropriately. Carefully follow the connection schemes provided with the instrumen-
tation.
Do not use the product if you suspect the presence of malfunctions. If a malfunction is suspected, do not
power the instrument and ask for the intervention of qualified service staff.
Before any operation on electrical connections, power, sensors and communication equipment:
•Turn off the power.
•Discharge the accumulated electrostatic charges by touching a conductor or a grounded system.
Do not operate the product in presence of water or moisture.
Do not operate the product in an explosive atmosphere.
Lithium-ion battery inside. Replacing the battery with an incorrect type can cause risk of explosion.

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3Configuration and identification
At the factory exit, all Sphensor line devices use a default configuration: they communicate on the same
radio network (Channel = 17, PanId = 0xDEFA, Key = 0x751751. NetworkId = 0xDEFA0170) and the sensors
transmit the measurement data to Sphensor Gateway every 3 minutes. Typically, in basic installations, where
the system consists of a single Sphensor Gateway and some sensors, the default configurations are suitable
for the proper functioning of the system. In more complex installations, consisting of multiple Sphensor Ga-
teways and different sensors and repeaters, it is necessary to change the configurations.
Sphensor Manager is the software for configuring Sphensor equipment and verifying data reception.
Before proceeding to the modification of the configurations it is desirable to have in mind already how to
realize the network of sensors Sphensor. To facilitate the implementation and to increase the reliability of
the connections it is recommended to subdivide the network into sub-networks (Errore. L'origine riferimento
non è stata trovata. shows an example), where each sub-network has the following characteristics:
➢A Sphensor Gateway
➢Sensors located near the Sphensor Gateway
➢Auxiliary repeaters or sensors, if any, with repetition function
➢Same radio network for Sphensor Gateway, sensors and any repeaters and/or sensors with repetition
function
Once the configuration of each individual apparatus has been completed, it is recommended to identify it so
that it can be easily found. For this purpose it is supplied with a writable cable tie-cord.
You can, however, identify a sensor or repeater via software, via the Find me function of the Utilities menu
of Sphensor Manager.
3.1 Installing the Sphensor Manager software
The Sphensor Manager software is located on the MW6501 USB flash drive - LSI LASTEM products. Alterna-
tively it can be downloaded from the website www.lsi-lastem.com. Run the Setup program for installation.
To start the program, from the Windows Start menu choose LSI-Lastem, then SphensorManager.
3.2 Sensor configuration
The sensors are configured via the Sphensor Manager software, accessing the sensor via Sphensor Gateway.
Proceed as follows:
1. Start Sphensor Manager.
2. Turn on Sphensor Gateway and wait for the program to recognize it (in the example are shown the
information related to the recognized Sphensor Gateway).

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3. After double clicking on the line with the serial number of the Sphensor Gateway, enter in HUB PAS-
SWORD the relative password indicated on the label placed on the bottom of the device.
4. If you want to save the Sphensor Gateway information related to your IP address, serial number and
password, so that you do not have to enter it at each access and do not wait for the program to
detect the device, press [+]. This will be added to the LIST HUB with the option Saved to Yes.
To remove a saved device from the list, press [-].
5. Then press [OPEN]. You will have access to the main window of Sphensor Manager. The window
shows the list of sensors that Sphensor Gateway receives via radio in real time. Initially there is no
sensor in its list.

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6. Turn on the sensor that needs to be configured and wait for the program to recognize it.
Once identified, it is displayed with the following information:
-Serial: is the serial number of the sensor.
-Hub: is the serial number of the Sphensor Gateway to which it is "hooked".
-Name: is the sensor name. By default it corresponds to the serial number. You can edit this
text using the Set alias command of the Utilities menu in order to give the sensor a more
representative indication (for example its progressive numbering or its location in the envi-
ronment).
-Endpoint: the sensor’s IPv6 address.
-Timestamp: is the date/time of the last message received from Sphensor Gateway.
-Model: is the model of the sensor.
-Stack: defines the type of sensor operation (ftd: the sensor can also act as a radio repeater;
mtd: the sensor does not have a radio signal repetition function but, for this reason, it can
operate at low power consumption).
-Version: is the firmware version of the sensor.
-Last Message type: is the type of message received.
-RSSI: is the radio signal strength of the last message received. The indicated value moves
within a scale from -100 to 0 (-100 = signal absent; 0 signal at maximum power). Normally
the value is around -60...-70.
-RLOC: the pair of RLOC belonging to the sensor and to its parent; through these pairs it is
possble to reconstruct the hierarchical structure of the devices connected to the PAN.
7. Select the line of the sensor to edit, then choose Sensor Configuration.

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8. Choose Read to receive the default sensor configuration. This will be received as soon as the sensor
communicates with Sphensor Gateway (see PARENT POLLING RATE sensor parameter).
9. Select the received configuration line and choose Clone to create your own configuration from a copy
of the factory configuration. Sphensor Manager will automatically open the sensor configuration dia-
log, logically divided by topic.
The INFO tab displays information about the new configuration.
In detail:
➢CONFIG ID: is an identifier, unmodifiable, automatically assigned. In case of use of a new
configuration, the identifier is set completely with characters "0"; in case of use of derived
configuration, the identifier is set with the corresponding value of the configuration from
which it was cloned.
➢CONFIG DATE/TIME: is the configuration creation date/time.
CONFIG VERSION: is the version of the configuration.
10. The DATA LOGGER tab contains the parameters related to the measurement acquisition.

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In particular:
➢INST. VALUES TRANSMISSION RATE: is the rate of transmission (acquisition) of the measure-
ments.
➢INST. VALUES TRANSMISSION OFFSET: is the time to be added to INST. VALUES TRANSMIS-
SION RATE for the transmission (acquisition) of the measurements.
It can be useful if there are sensors that need more time than expressed by INST. VALUES
TRANSMISSION RATE to acquire all the measurements. For example, if the INST. VALUES
TRANSMISSION RATE is set to 10 seconds and we have a sensor that needs 10 seconds to
acquire all the measurements, to avoid risks and get measurements in error, set the INST.
VALUES TRANSMISSION OFFSET parameter to a value greater than 0. for example 2 seconds,
to postpone the transmission of INST. VALUES TRANSMISSION OFFSET, giving the sensor the
time it needs to acquire all the measurements.
11. The DIAGNOSTIC tab contains the diagnostic parameters.
You can set:
➢LED RATE: the ignition rate of the LEDs. Set 00:00:00 to avoid ignition.
➢LIFE SIGNAL RATE: the active sensor radio signaling rate. 00:00:00 disables this signal.
➢DIAGNOSTIC RATE: the diagnostic data sedning rate. Set 00:00:00 to disable sending.
➢CONNECTION TIMEOUT: connection timeout, if this time is exceeded in case of no connec-
tion, the sensor will automatically restart. With 00:00:00. in case of no connection, the re-
start is disabled.
12. The NETWORK tab contains the specific parameters of the radio network.

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All displayed parameters identify the network. In case of transmission disturbance it is possible to
modify the frequency channel by modifying the CHANNEL parameter (values allowed from 11 to 26).
13. The RADIO tab specifies the radio operating parameters.
In particular:
➢PARENT POLLING RATE: is the data transmission rate. In battery-powered sensors this para-
meter is set by default to 3 minutes. The sensor’s radio is switched on only for the time it
takes to transmit the data, then it turns off and the sensor switches to low power mode. In
this mode the sensor is not accessible from Sphensor Gateway.
If the sensor is externally powered by USB, it is recommended to set this parameter to
00:00:00.
➢TX POWER: specifies the power of the radio signal. It is advisable to leave this parameter
unchanged.
14. The MEASURES tab displays the list of measurements generated by the sensor.
For each measure is displayed:
-Name: is the name of the measure.
-In Use: specifies whether or not the measurement is acquired by the sensor (Yes = acquired;
No = not acquired).
-Rate: is the acquisition rate of the measure.

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-Smoothing: specifies if a sliding average has been set (if set: number of values used to com-
pute the running average).
-User Calibration, Forced range, Validity range, Remap: these parameters are currently reser-
ved for use by LSI LASTEM technicians.
To access the window with the measurement parameters, double-click on the measurement.
The displayed parameters are the following:
➢SAMPLING RATE: is the update rate of the measure.
➢SMOOTHING: is the number of samples constituting the measure. If it is 0 or 1. the transmit-
ted value corresponds to the acquired value. If greater than 1. the transmitted value corre-
sponds to the average of the latest SMOOTHING acquisitions. For example, if SAMPLING
RATE is equal to 5 and SMOOTHING is equal to 12, the sensor will transmit the value, every
5 seconds, corresponding to the (sliding) average of the last minute.
15. Press [SAVE] to save the configuration. The sensor configuration dialog updates with the new confi-
guration.
16. Select the new configuration and choose Send to send it to the sensor. This will be sent as soon as
the sensor communicates with Sphensor Gateway (see PARENT POLLING RATE sensor parameter).
17. Wait for the sensor reboot light to verify the success of the operation, then turn off the sensor and
proceed with the next one.
3.3 Repeater configuration
The configuration of the repeaters is done in the same way as the sensors:
➢Device start-up and wait for the recognition by Sphensor Manager.
➢Double-click the device and configuration reading.
➢Cloning of the configuration.
➢Changes in radio network parameters, the only ones that can be modified.
➢Configuration saving and transmission to the device.
➢Device shut down.

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Being equipped with only the radio communication part, the setting of the repeaters operation is done by
modifying a subset of the parameters available for the sensor configuration.
3.4 Sphensor Gateway configuration
Once the sensors and any repeaters have been configured, proceed to the configuration of Sphensor Ga-
teway.
From the Sphensor Manager main window:
1. Choose Config from the Hub menu to open the Sphensor Gateway configuration dialog.
2. Select the current configuration (IsCurrent = True) and choose Clone.
3. In the GENERAL tab you can assign a description to the configuration.
4. The ENDPOINTS tab displays the MQTT servers configured in the device. In the figure are represented
two servers, one local (localhost) and one called LSI Lastem, both configured to receive the data
unencrypted and to have control of Sphensor Gateway.
For each server you can configure:
➢EnableControl: if checked, enables Sphensor Gateway control and then its reconfiguration by
the software on PC. If the option is not enabled, you cannot send reconfiguration commands
to Sphensor Gateway via the specified broker.

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➢EnableData: if checked, enable the sending to the MQTT broker of the sensors data (measu-
rements, diagnostics, etc.) in JSON format as well as binary.
5. The NETWORK tab contains the specific parameters of the radio network.
The parameters have the same meanings as those set in sensors and repeaters. The communication
between all the apparatuses happens only if these parameters have been configured with the same
values.
6. Press [SAVE] to save the configuration. The command causes a restart of Sphensor Gateway.
3.5 Verification of pre-installation operation
Before installing all Sphensor equipment, it is recommended to check its correct functioning. If the network
has been subdivided into sub-areas, it is advisable to proceed by sub-area.
➢Place the Sphensor apparatuses on a table.
➢Turn on Sphensor Gateway. Consider what is indicated at §Errore. L'origine riferimento non è stata
trovata..
➢Turn on, one by one, any sensors with repetition function verifying the ignition of the blue LED.
➢Turn on, one by one, any repeaters available, verifying the lighting of the blue LED.
➢Turn on, one by one, the sensors verifying that after a few moments the blue LED is switched on,
testifying that the sensor is properly connected to the network composed by Sphensor Gateway.
➢Through the Sphensor Manager software, verify the reception of data from all sensors, taking into
account the scheduled transmission rate.

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4Installation of Sphensor equipment
4.1 Guidelines for placement
The Sphensor line devices communicate with each other via radio. Before proceeding to their placement and
installation consider the following:
➢Radio devices are subject to possible interference. Sphensor devices operate on the 2.4 Ghz fre-
quency, the same used by common equipment such as Wi-Fi networks on PCs, Bluetooth, cordless
phones, presence and alarm detection systems, video surveillance systems.
➢The presence of special materials blocks the diffusion of the signal, absorbing or reflecting radio wa-
ves. Elements in metal, cement, plaster and bulletproof glass, for example, represent highly absor-
bing obstacles.
➢The location of Sphensor devices that require the use of an external power supply is constrained by
the availability in the immediate vicinity of a socket.
➢The location of Sphensor Gateway is constrained by the current socket and RJ45 socket for LAN con-
nection.
Install the Sphensor Gateway in a central location relative to the sensors, in sufficiently large rooms and free
of major barriers and obstacles. The antenna shall be positioned perpendicular to the plane of support of the
device.
Install the sensors in the most representative location of the area and environmental parameter to be moni-
tored. The models with battery operation offer a high flexibility of placement, not needing cables for power
supply.
Install Sphensor repeaters if the distance between sensors and Sphensor Gateway is excessive or in the pre-
sence of obstacles that are difficult to overcome by radio transmissions and, above all, to allow the Thread
communication network to operate with multiple communication paths; this increases the overall reliability
of the communication system.
If the area to be monitored is composed of several environments, where important obstacles are present, it
may be useful to subdivide the entire area into sub-areas (see Errore. L'origine riferimento non è stata tro-
vata.).
4.2 Installation
If the Sphensor sensor network has been subdivided into sub-areas, we recommend proceeding by sub-area.
➢Place the Sphensor Gateway in the predetermined location. Connect the power and network cables.
Connect the antenna and place it perpendicularly to Sphensor Gateway. Turn on the device and check
the power of LED USB pwr and On.
➢Place the remaining devices in the predetermined place by connecting them to the external power
supply, if the model allows it, and turn them on by pressing the switch accessible from the hole on
the upper hemisphere. Before any wall mounting, check the correct data transmission.
➢Disconnections and signal instability are generally attributable to the sensors' excessive distance to
Sphensor Gateway or the presence of obstacles. In this case, use one or more Sphensor repeaters.
Also consider that low-power sensors need to refer, in their immediate vicinity (radio range), to a

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repeating apparatus or directly to Sphensor Gateway. Please note that Sphensor Gateway can serve
as a reference for up to 32 low-power sensors at its immediate radio range, while repeaters can serve
as a reference for up to 10 low-power sensors. In the event of temporary radio communication
losses, which can be verified by the unjustified absence of measured data in the system, carefully
evaluate this characteristic of operation of the radio communication network. If necessary, proceed
with the introduction of additional repeating devices (including sensors with this function) to further
improve the reliability of the radio communication system.
The Sphensor Manager software verifies the reception of data from all sensors, taking into account the pro-
grammed transmission rate.
4.3 Sensors installation
Sphensor line sensors offer different types of installation: resting on a shelf, fixed to the wall, hung by wire.
The following chapters illustrate the various possibilities.
4.3.1 Via screw stud
The MC8111 shank is equipped with an M4 stud screw that allows it to be mounted on a rod/plate with a
threaded hole or to a wall by means of the previous positioning of a dowel with a brass metric thread or a
self-piercing dowel (in case of plasterboard wall).
4.3.2 On electric plate
A method similar to wall fixing via dowel is fixing on a false pole in the electrical outlet. It must be drilled to
allow the passage of the M4 stud and at the rear it is fixed in position by means of an M4 nut. In case the
sensor requires external power, the remaining plate positions can be used to provide power to the wall po-
wer supply.