54 Access Sensor Technologies UPAS User Guide
5 Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Ensuring Adequate Battery Endurance
The UPAS needs to be configured such that it has enough battery endurance to
sustain it through the desired preset sampling duration. Put another way, the
maximum sampling duration / battery endurance must be longer than the preset
sampling duration so that the battery is not depleted to the point of shutdown
during the sampling run. Gaining experience using the UPAS helps you determine
this. Additionally, visit www.accsensors.com
for a UPAS battery energy
management calculator.
The log file that the UPAS writes on each sample run lists both the battery charge
(%) and voltage at both the beginning and the end of the sample run. This is very
useful information.
Generally speaking, the following parameters make a significant impact on UPAS
power requirements (and therefore battery endurance):
– Battery Charge (%) at the beginning of the sample period: Make certain
the battery is fully charged (100%) before each use (see status indicator
light codes and Battery Charge reported by the App when connected to a
UPAS)
– Flow rate: Required pumping power for a 2.0 L/min flow rate is higher than
for 1.5 L/min, which is higher than 1.0 L/min flow rate.
Access Sensor Technologies presently offers only a PM2.5 1 L/min cyclone
inlet, however Access Sensor Technologies expects to release additional inlets
and flows in the future.
– Sampling filter type / media choice: Note the relative resistance of filter
presented in “Recommended UPAS Filter Membranes” on page 6.
– Particulate matter loading of the sampling filter: This can add resistance
and thus pumping power requirement. The more PM loading of the filter
the shorter the maximum run time / battery endurance. As PM concentra-
tion (and therefore power requirements) are not known before sampling
is conducted, it may make sense to be conservative in estimating maxi-
mum run time.
– GPS function: GPS requires substantial electrical power, especially when
the UPAS is used indoors (where it cannot easily receive GPS satellite
signals). Disabling UPAS GPS tracking can extend battery life substan-
tially. When off, the GPS data is not available to be logged.
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