Multitech REVEAL RBS301-VOLT User manual

Reveal™ Wireless Voltage
Sensor
User Guide

REVEAL WIRELESS VOLTAGE SENSOR
2 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Reveal Wireless Voltage Sensor
Model: RBS301-VOLT
Part Number: RB00016 rev. 1.0
Trademarks and Copyright
Copyright
This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the specific and express prior written permission signed by an executive officer of
Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2022 by Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.
Trademarks and Registered Trademarks
MultiTech, the MultiTech logo, DeviceHQ, xDot, and Conduit are registered trademarks and Reveal and mDot are trademarks of Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. All
other products and technologies are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Disclaimers
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Systems, Inc. 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. Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. may make improvements and/or changes in this manual or in the product(s)
and/or the software described in this manual at any time.
Legal Notices
See the Legal Notices section of the website for up-to-date information on MultiTech warranty, returns policy, privacy statement, terms of sale, and terms
of service.
Customer Support
MultiTech offers free technical support for Reveal sensors at:
https://support.radiobridge.com
MultiTech also offers technical support plans and service packages to help our customers get the most out of their MultiTech products.
World Headquarters
Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.
2205 Woodale Drive, Mounds View, MN 55112

CONTENTS
Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide 3
Contents
Chapter 1 – Quick Start............................................................................................................................................ 4
Overview ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Part Numbers ................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Documentation ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Chapter 2 – Preparing Sensor................................................................................................................................... 5
Preparing an RBS301 Sensor......................................................................................................................................... 5
Preparing an RBS306 Sensor......................................................................................................................................... 5
Quick Start..................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Chapter 3 – Hardware Specifications and Information ............................................................................................. 7
Absolute Maximum Ratings .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Battery Life.................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Mechanical Drawings .................................................................................................................................................... 8
Indoor RBSx01 Sensors ............................................................................................................................................... 8
Armored Outdoor/Industrial RBSx06 Sensors ............................................................................................................ 9
Chapter 4 – Common Messages ............................................................................................................................. 10
Common Messages ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
Message Protocol........................................................................................................................................................ 10
Uplink Messages ......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Reset Message 0x00.................................................................................................................................................. 11
Supervisory Message 0x01........................................................................................................................................ 12
Tamper Message 0x02 .............................................................................................................................................. 12
Link Quality Message 0xfb ........................................................................................................................................ 12
Downlink Messages..................................................................................................................................................... 13
General Configuration............................................................................................................................................... 13
Advanced Configuration............................................................................................................................................ 15
Downlink ACK.............................................................................................................................................................. 16
Chapter 5 – Sensor-Specific Messages.................................................................................................................... 17
Uplink Messages ......................................................................................................................................................... 17
Downlink Messages..................................................................................................................................................... 17
Threshold Mode........................................................................................................................................................ 17
Report on Change Mode........................................................................................................................................... 18
Periodic Reports........................................................................................................................................................ 18
Chapter 6 – Regulatory Information....................................................................................................................... 20
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) .............................................................................................................. 20
Harmonized Commodity Description (HS Code)......................................................................................................... 20
Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)............................................................................................................. 20

QUICK START
4 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Chapter 1 – Quick Start
Overview
The Reveal™ voltage sensor uses a 10-bit ADC to measure an analog value between 0-30V and provides 10mV of
resolution. If the measured value rises above or falls below the configured thresholds, an alert is sent over the
wireless network.
Part Numbers
Part Number Rating Wireless Region
RBS306-VM30-US Outdoor/Industrial LoRaWAN North America, South
America
RBS306-VM30-EU Outdoor/Industrial LoRaWAN Europe
Documentation
The following documentation is available at https://www.multitech.com/products/sensors.
Document Description Part Number
User Guide This document provides overview, safety and regulatory
information, design considerations, schematics, and general
hardware information.
RB00016
Connection Guide This document provides instructions and information on how
to connect Reveal LoRaWAN sensors on gateways and
networks.
RB00001

PREPARING SENSOR
Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide 5
Chapter 2 – Preparing Sensor
Preparing an RBS301 Sensor
Sensors ship with batteries installed. There is a plastic tab over the battery, which needs to be removed.
Pull the tab out of the sensor to connect the battery. If the tab does not pull out easily, you may need to
open the case to remove it.
To open the case:
1. Use a pen or similar object to press the button on the opposite side of the case.
2. Remove the battery tab. You may need to remove the battery to remove the tab.
3. Re-insert the battery and close the case.
Preparing an RBS306 Sensor
Sensors ship with batteries installed. There is a plastic tab over the battery, which needs to be removed. To
remove a tab that does not pull out easily:
Loosen screws to remove the battery tab. DO NOT REMOVE THE LID.
Hand-tighten the lid screws to seal the case against moisture. Do not overtighten the screws.
Quick Start
Use your sensor through either the Radio Bridge Console or a third-party network. To use the Radio Bridge
Console, use the following steps. To use a third-party network, refer to the Connecting Radio Bridge LoRaWAN
Sensors on Gateways and Networks (RB00001) , which is available through the sensor page at
https://www.multitech.com/products/sensors
1. Create a Radio Bridge console account at: https://console.radiobridge.com/
2. Click on Devices on the left.
3. Click Add Device.
4. Select the network you want to use.
5. Specify if you want to Register Through Radio Bridge or use an existing account with the network.
6. Make sure Console Only Device is NOT selected.
7. Enter the Device Name,Device ID, and Device Key.

PREPARING SENSOR
6 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Note: For easy Device ID and Key entry, scan the QR code on the device label. Then copy and paste data
into the console. With the QR code, the first line is the Device ID and the rest is the key.
8. Select the model from the Device Type drop down. Model is on the device label.
9. Select the Join EUI and click Continue.
10. Review the summary and click Confirmation.
The console shows complete when the device is successfully added.

HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION
Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide 7
Chapter 3 – Hardware Specifications and Information
Absolute Maximum Ratings
Parameter Rating Units
Operating ambient temperature
(indoor version)
-30 to +70 °C
Operating ambient temperature
(outdoor version)
-40 to +70 °C
Storage ambient temperature -40 to +100 °C
Battery Life
The sensor uses a lithium non-rechargeable battery, capable of an estimated 200,000+ messages.
Note: Refer to the Sensor Battery Estimator.xlsx spreadsheet on the on the sensor's product page for specific
battery life estimates:
https://www.multitech.com/products/sensors
Battery life depends on the number of transmissions per day. Power required for a message transmission is greater
than the “sleep current” for high power radio technologies (e.g, LoRaWAN).
Different battery types deplete over time with different voltage profiles; a lithium battery maintains high voltage
for the life of the battery with a rapid drop near the end of life, and an alkaline battery has gradual reduction in
voltage over time. Radio Bridge devices are shipped with lithium batteries, which are the recommended
replacement type.
Recommended battery: Panasonic CR123/A
Battery life estimates in the online spreadsheet assume room temperature, meaning temperatures near the
maximum and minimum ratings negatively impact battery life. Battery voltage lowers in cold temperatures, and
internal circuitry needs a minimum voltage to operate properly.
Note: Battery life will be reduced in cold environments leading to possible device shut down.
The battery voltage is reported by the supervisory messages and a low battery indicator. See the section on
Message Protocol for details.

HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION
8 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Mechanical Drawings
The mechanical drawings provided in this section are for the main body of the sensor. All dimensions use inches
unless specified.
Indoor RBSx01 Sensors

HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION
Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide 9
Armored Outdoor/Industrial RBSx06 Sensors

COMMON MESSAGES
10 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Chapter 4 – Common Messages
Common Messages
This chapter defines the protocol and message definitions common to all Reveal wireless sensors. Common
messages include basic error messages, tamper, supervisory, link quality, and downlink acknowledgments. Sensor
specific messages are in the Sensor Specific Messages chapter.
Message Protocol
This section defines the protocol and message definitions for the device.
Note: MultiTech provides a web-based console at console.radiobridge.com for configuring and monitoring
devices. We recommend using this console rather than the protocols defined in this section.
If not using the console, use this topic to configure the device through downlink messages and decode the device
data.
Uplink Messages
The uplink messages (sensor to web application) have the following structure.
Item Size Description
Protocol Version 4 bits A constant 1, provides extensibility to the specific format of a message type.
Packet Count 4 bits A sequential number starting at 0 for the first message sent from the sensor to
the cloud. It increments by one for each subsequent message. When it reaches
0xF (15 decimal), it wraps back to 0. Packet count helps identify when a message
is lost. For example, if the packet count goes 2,4 instead of 2,3,4, it indicates a
message has been lost. It can also help identify out-of-order or duplicate
messages.
Message Type 1 byte Byte format is 8 bits, with 256 combinations possible.
Message Payload 0-7 bytes Each message type has between 0 and 8 bytes of payload data specific to the
sensor. Refer to the following table for payload information.
Message Payload Description
0x00 5-byte reset code Device has reset. The reset cause is represented in the 5-byte
reset code payload.
0x01 >3 (9) Daily supervisory message (1-2 per day). The 3-byte payload
contains current sensor status. Refer to Supervisory Message
0x01for payload details.
0x02 1-byte event A tamper event has occurred. Refer to Tamper Message 0x02for
details.
-- Sensor event Sensor events are defined in the Sensor Specific Messages
chapter.

COMMON MESSAGES
Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide 11
Message Payload Description
0xfb Link quality Sent after each downlink configuration (refer to Link Quality
Message) or to periodically ping the network server (refer to
Link Quality Check Period).
0xfe -- Reserved.
0xff 1-byte status Downlink message ACK. Refer to Downlink ACK for more detail.
Reset Message 0x00
Every time a sensor resets it sends a reset message to the cloud.
The reset message payload is defined in the following table.
Bytes Description
0 Sensor type code, a product identifier sent as part of the reset message.
Voltmeter 0x14
1 Hardware version.
2-3 Firmware version.
4-5 Reset code. Used for factory diagnostics.
Firmware Version
The 16-bit firmware version is constructed from reset payload Bytes 2-3, where Byte 2 is the most significant byte.
Beginning with version 2.0, the format is as shown in the following table.
The original format is compatible by redefining the reserved most significant bit (Bit 15).
Byte Description
15 Format (bit == 0)
14:8 Major number (7 bits)
7:0 Minor number (8 bits)
15 Format (bit == 1)
14:10 Major number (5 bits)
9:5 Minor number (5 bits)
4:0 Build number (5 bits)
16-Bit Firmware Version Examples
0x0103 is decoded as Firmware Version 1.3
0x8823 is decoded as Firmware Version 2.1.3

COMMON MESSAGES
12 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Supervisory Message 0x01
Wireless sensors periodically send a supervisory message so the backend system can verify the device is still alive
and report error conditions. The supervisory message payload include current sensor status.
You can also trigger a supervisory message. To do this:
Place a magnet near the triangular notch on the side of the sensor.
The following table shows the supervisory message payload:
Bytes Description
0 Supervisory error codes as follows:
Bits Description
7:5 Not used.
4 Tamper detected since last reset.
3 Current tamper state.
2 Error with last downlink.
1 Battery low (under 2.8v).
0 Radio communication error, communication with the integrated radio failed and the
device was reset.
1 Current sensor state, 1-byte. This is device specific, refer Sensor Specific Messages chapter for details.
For other devices, use the periodic reporting feature.
2 Battery level is a two-digit battery voltage. For example, if the battery voltage is 2.9V, byte 2 would be
0x29.
3-6 Extended sensor state, 4-bytes. Allows sensors with higher precision or multiple values to report
during a supervisory event. For other devices, use the periodic reporting feature.
7-8 Event accumulation count is the number of sensor events since the last supervisory message. To
improve battery life, can be used with the Disable all sensor events setting so only an event total is
reported during a supervisory message, individual events are not reported as they occur. This feature
is available in firmware v2.0 and beyond.
Tamper Message 0x02
A sensor sends a message when the tamper switch has been opened or closed through either an enclosure tamper
or a wall mount tamper. The tamper message contains a 1-byte payload as shown in the following table.
Payload Description
0x00 Tamper switch opened.
0x01 Tamper switch closed.
Link Quality Message 0xfb
The link quality message provides a signal strength and a signal to noise measurement at the device itself. The link
quality message payload is shown in the following table.

COMMON MESSAGES
Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide 13
Bytes Description
0 Current Sub-Band, sub-band currently joined and used for communication to the gateway and
network server. Value ranges from 1-8 for US915. For other regions, value depends on available
channels.
1 RSSI of last DOWNLINK received, signed integer format values in bytes 1 and 2 in two’s complement
format.
2 SNR of last DOWNLINK received, signed integer format values in bytes 1 and 2 in two’s complement
format.
Downlink Messages
Downlink messages are from the cloud to the sensor and are used to configure the sensor. The sensor initiates
downlink messages, since the sensor is typically sleeping with the radio turned off.
For LoRaWAN devices, a downlink can be received after any uplink within the receive window.
The following messages can be sent back to the sensor upon a downlink request.
Command Payload Description
0x00 Not used Not used
0x01 4 bytes General configuration
-- 0-7 bytes Sensor configuration, refer to the Sensor Specific Messages chapter
0xfc 3 bytes Advanced configuration
General Configuration
Use the general configuration command to configure parameters that apply to all sensor types.
Byte Description
0x00 Disable sensor events
0x01 Radio config
0x02 Supervisory period. Default 19 hours.
0x03 Sampling rate
Disable Sensor Events
The following table shows the disable sensor event bit definitions.
Bit Description
7:1 Not used
0 Disable all sensor events

COMMON MESSAGES
14 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Radio Config
The following table shows the radio config byte definition.
Note: Available in firmware version 1.4 or newer.
Bits Description
7 Not used (reserved)
6 Enable duty cycle requirement. LoRaWAN EU868 only. To enforce the EU868 band duty cycle
requirements, enable before production deployment. Default is disabled. Available in firmware
2.2.1 or later.
5:2 Uplink retries. LoRaWAN only. The range for uplink retries is 1-8 for confirmed messages (ACK
required) and does not apply to unconfirmed messages. Default 0 (leave unchanged). Available in
firmware v1.4 and above.
1 Use unconfirmed messages. LoRaWAN only. If set to use the unconfirmed messages bit, the sensor
does not look for an ACK from the network server. Default is 1 (unconfirmed messages, no ACK
required). EU sensors can’t use confirmed messages, setting this bit to 0 on an EU device causes an
error. Available in firmware v1.4 and above.
0 Disable Adaptive Data Rate (ADR). LoRaWAN only. To enable ADR, set to 0. To disable ADR, set to
1. Default is 0 (enabled). Available in firmware v1.3 and above.
Important: The duty cycle bit must be set for production deployments in the EU868 band.
Supervisory Period
The general configuration command’s supervisory period controls the time between supervisory messages as
defined in the following table.
Bit 7 Bits 6:0
0 Period defined in hours (1-127 hours). Available in firmware v1.3 and above.
1 Period defined in minutes (1-127 minutes) Available in firmware v1.3 and above.
For example, to receive a report every 4 hours, set Byte 1 to 0x04. To receive a periodic report every 15 minutes,
set Byte 1 to 0x8f.
Sampling Rate
Sampling rate controls the frequency at which devices wake from low power sleep mode to check the sensor state.
Some sensors require very little power to check the state and need to react quickly. Other sensors can be sampled
at a lower rate, such 30-second or 30-minute intervals. Increasing the time between samples increases battery life.
Refer to the Battery Estimator on the Radio Bridge site for battery life estimates relative to sampling rate:
https://radiobridge.com/documents/Sensor%20Battery%20Estimator.xlsx
A value of 0 in this field leaves the sampling rate at the current value. Use the following table to determine the
sampling rate if the value is not zero.
Note: Sampling period only applies to sensors that take measurements like temperature and tilt, it does not
apply to sensors with binary inputs such as door/window sensors or push buttons.
This feature is available in firmware v2.0 and above.

COMMON MESSAGES
Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide 15
Bit 7:6 Bits 5:0
00 Sampling period defined in increments of 250ms (0.25-15 seconds).
01 Sampling period defined in increments of seconds (1-63 seconds).
10 Sampling period defined in increments of minutes (1-63 minutes).
11 Sampling period defined in increments of hours (1-63 hours).
Advanced Configuration
Use this command for advanced configuration parameters that apply to all sensor types. The advanced
configuration command is defined in the following table.
Byte Description
0x01 Port number (LoRaWAN only)
0x02 Link quality check period (LoRaWAN only)
Port Number
For LoRAWAN devices only. Byte 0x01 of the advanced configuration command changes the uplink port per the
LoRaWAN protocol. The default port is 2, and a value of 0 in this field means to leave it at the default.
This feature is available in firmware v1.4 and above.
Link Quality Check Period
For LoRaWAN devices only. Setting this register causes the device to ping the network server periodically with a
requested ack. Typically used with unconfirmed messages, this feature creates a periodic confirmed message and
looks for the ack to ensure the device is still connected.
The following table shows this byte’s encoded bit definitions.
Available in firmware v2.0 and above.
Bit 7 Bits 6:0
0 Period defined in hours (1-127 hours).
1 Period defined in minutes (60-127
minutes)

COMMON MESSAGES
16 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Downlink ACK
The cloud app uses this downlink ACK message to verify the that sensor received the downlink message received
and it was considered valid.
The sensor replies to the downlink data with a 0xFF message (downlink ACK) with the payload shown in the
following table.
Command Payload
0x00 Not used
0x01 Message was invalid or undefined
0x02 Message was valid

SENSOR-SPECIFIC MESSAGES
Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide 17
Chapter 5 – Sensor-Specific Messages
Uplink Messages
The uplink message (sensor to web application) specific to the sensor is defined in following table. The common
uplink messages are not included in this section (see common messages document).
Bytes Description
0 Voltage Measurement Event Payload (see Voltage
Measurement Event Payload Definitions)
1-2 Voltage measurement in units of 10mV (range 0-3000)
The voltage measurement event is defined in the following table.
Event Description
0x00 Periodic report
0x01 Analog measurement has risen above upper threshold
0x02 Analog measurement has fallen below lower threshold
0x03 Report on change increase
0x04 Report on change decrease
The voltage measurement field in the uplink message is the analog measurement in increments of 10mV with a
range of 0-30V (0-3000).
Downlink Messages
The downlink message (web application to sensor) specific to the sensor configuration is defined in following table.
The common downlink messages are not included in this section (see common messages document).
Byte Description
0 Mode: 0x00 for Threshold, or 0x01 for Report on
Change
1-6 Defined by Mode (See Mode sections)
The mode byte selects one of two modes: threshold-based alerts or report-on-change alerts. The remainder of the
payload (bytes 1-6) are determined by the mode selected and defined in the next two sections.
Threshold Mode
Threshold mode is set when byte 0 of the payload is set to 0x00. The remainder of the payload is defined in the
following table.
Byte Description
0 0x00 (Threshold mode)

SENSOR-SPECIFIC MESSAGES
18 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Byte Description
1 Periodic reporting in 1 minute or 1 hour intervals.
Default is 0 (disabled)
2 Restoral margin. Default is 100mV.
3-4 Lower analog measurement threshold. Default 10V.
5-6 Upper analog measurement threshold. Default 12V.
The upper and lower thresholds are unsigned values with units of 10mV. Note that if the configuration settings
exceed the maximum ratings on the sensor, the sensor may not report an event.
The Restoral Margin is used for the upper and lower thresholds and requires the measurement value to cross back
over the threshold a certain amount before a new event is reported. This prevents excessive event messages if the
measurement is at or near the threshold.
For example, consider an upper threshold set at 15V and the restoral margin set at 1V. If the measurement initially
exceeds 15V then an event is generated and a message is sent to the network. The measurement must now drop
to 14V and then exceed 15V before another event is reported.
The restoral margins are unsigned values with units of 10mV (range is 2.55V). If a restoral margin is set to 0, it is
disabled.
Periodic reporting is described in the section Periodic Reports.
Report on Change Mode
Report on Change mode is set when byte 0 of the payload is set to 0x01. The remainder of the payload is defined
in the following table.
Byte Description
0 0x01 (Report on Change mode)
1 Periodic reporting in 1 minute or 1 hour intervals.
Default is 0 (disabled)
2 Not used
3-4 Analog measurement increase
5-6 Analog measurement decrease
If the increase or decrease values are non-zero, then the sensor will send an alert any time the analog
measurement changes by the specified amount. For example, if the measurement increase and decrease are set to
5V, then an alert is sent every time the measurement changes 5V from the last report. The increase and decrease
are unsigned values with units of 10mV.
Periodic reporting is described in the section Periodic Reports.
Periodic Reports
The voltage measurement sensor can also send periodic updates, and this is defined in byte 1 of both modes. A
setting of 0 will disable periodic reporting. The period is defined in 1 hour increments when the most significant bit
is 0, and it is defined in 1 minute increments when the most significant bit is 1 as shown in the following table.

SENSOR-SPECIFIC MESSAGES
Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide 19
Bit 7 Bits 6:0
0 Period defined in hours (1-127 hours)
1 Period defined in minutes (1-127 minutes)
For example, to receive a report every 4 hours, byte 1 would be set to 0x04. To receive a periodic report every 15
minutes, byte 1 would be set to 0x8f.
Note: Periodic reporting is not recommended as it will increase data service fees and significantly reduce
battery life. Wherever possible, use thresholds or report-on-change only.

REGULATORY INFORMATION
20 Reveal™ Wireless Voltage Sensor User Guide
Chapter 6 – Regulatory Information
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Per FCC 15.19(a)(3) and (a)(4) This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Per FCC 15.21, Changes or modifications not expressly approved by MultiTech could void authority to operate the
devices.
LoRaWAN RBS301, RBS304, and RBS305 sensors FCC ID: 2APNUCMABZ
LoRaWAN RBS306 sensors: This device contains FCC IAU792U13A16858
This device contains equipment certified under IC: 125A-0055
Harmonized Commodity Description (HS Code)
The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System generally referred to as “Harmonized System” or
simply “HS” is a multipurpose international product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization
(WCO).
HS Code: 8531.90.9001
Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)
ECCNs are five character alpha-numeric designations used on the Commerce Control List (CCL) to identify dual-use
items for export control purposes. An ECCN categorizes items based on the nature of the product, i.e. type of
commodity, software, or technology and its respective technical parameters.
ECCN: 5a992.c