User's Manual

Maintaining and servicing the RTU

Radio Activity Sensor Sampling

(samples/15 min)

Average

Consumption (mA)

Estimated

Operation (days)

No No sensors 0.85 132

Low No sensors 2.8 40

Heavy No sensors 5 22

Low 3 4.2 26

Low 15 6.3 17

Heavy 15 9 12

Table 1: A73x Device Operation Time

Note: Low radio activity means that one base station and between one and three

A730MDs/A73xs or A730SDs are active on the same operating frequency as the

A73x remote station under test. Heavy radio activity means that approximately 30

devices are on the same channel. However, no routing is used. The table above

does not apply to the A733GSM RTU.

However, if for some reason (wear-out or accident) the battery loses its capacity

(noted in the software with repeated “Battery low” messages), it must be replaced.

Make sure, though, that the problem is really due to the battery and not to a

defective or dirty solar panel.

Adcon highly recommends that you check the solar panels’ state and clean them

often. The rain droplets can splash thin layers of soil on the panels, thus reducing

their power output. The surrounding vegetation can also lower the panels’

efficiency.

2.7.2 Changing the battery

If you have verified that the battery needs to be replaced, follow these steps to do

so:

1. Open the lid by unscrewing the four screws in the corners of the A73x RTU,

then remove the lid as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 6: Removing the A73x Lid

2. The battery pack is connected to the electronics board by means of a PCB

connector. Remove the battery pack’s plug from the PCB connector, as shown

in Fig. 7.