Industrial IoT Wireless AC Current Monitor Sensor

We take IoT security very seriously, which is why we encrypt every IoT sensor, gateway, modem, and device in the NCD Enterprise product line.  Encryption is much easier to manage than you might expect, as the encryption does not get in the way of using the device.  We include a standard 128-Bit AES Encryption key with every device or we can help you integrate a new encryption key into all of your devices.  All hardware devices must use the same encryption key.  Once the keys are set, the hardware manages the rest for you, 100% in the background. 

NCD long-range wireless IoT sensors use the DigiMesh® protocol from Digi.com.  DigiMesh® was designed by THE industrial leader in secure wireless communications for industrial applications.  DigiMesh® automatically hops data from gateway to gateway until it arrives at the desired destination.  NCD IoT sensors are capable of a 2-Mile line-of-site communication distance with the included antennas and up to 28-mile range when using high-gain antennas.    

Your data belongs to YOU and it’s up to you to decide where you want your IoT sensor data to arrive.  Don’t be bogged down by the limitations of proprietary cloud solutions, post the data where you need it most.  We offer an open communications protocol so you can integrate NCD wireless transmitters into your own software.  This allows integration of NCD IoT sensors into any control system or gateway you could ever imagine.  Send data to a PC, Mac, or Linux computer, or a Raspberry Pi using NCD modems.  Send data to popular cloud platforms such as Microsoft® Azure® IoT, Losant, and MQTT using NCD Micro Gateways.  We can also help get data from NCD wireless IoT sensors to embedded platforms such as Arduino.  We also offer sample code for Microsoft® Visual Studio, Node-RED, LabVIEW®, and Python.  Our documentation fully breaks down the packet structure, so integration into other languages is possible.  We may even be able to help, so please feel free to contact us if you are working with a platform not mentioned here.

IoT Sensor Data Transmission

NCD IoT Sensors send a lot more than just sensor data.  For instance, a unique serial number is sent so you can always identify a particular sensor on the network.  A Node ID is also included, which a single byte of data that you can use for anything, such as the floor of a building or to help identify which group a sensor belongs to.  Also included in the data packet is a firmware version, battery level, and sensor type.  This allows your software to positively identify and manage the health of NCD IoT wireless sensors.  While signal strength data is also available, it is handled in a different way, and is not included in the sensor data packet (but rest assured, signal strength data for each sensor is available).  Please see the Resources tab to see detailed information on the data structure of this device.  

NCD wireless sensors transmit data and require a receiver.  There are many options available for receiving data from NCD IoT devices, please see below for a in-depth description of destinations available for NCD sensors.  We highly recommend using our USB Modem (available during purchase) so you can monitor this device and use our LabVIEW® software for changing device settings.  Some sensors have advanced settings that can help send alerts when problems are detected while other settings can be used to adjust communication interval, which will directly affect battery life.

How Long will the Batteries Really Last?

Most NCD IoT Sensors are rated for 300,000 to 500,000 transmissions until the batteries become so weak they are unreliable.  You could spread these transmissions out over a 10 year period and send 50,000 transmissions per year.  This would allow up to 136 transmissions per day, or about 5 transmissions per hour (for a 500K sensor, or 3 per hour for 300K sensor).  If you only need the batteries to last 3 years, you could send 166,666 transmissions per year, or about 456 transmissions per day (about 19 transmissions per hour for a 500K sensor).  As you can see, battery life is really up to you.  By altering advanced settings in the NCD IoT sensor, you have control over longevity.  Please note the 500,000 transmission rating is for premium alkaline batteries.  NCD ships all sensors with premium Lithium batteries, which include a ultra-wide temperature range that typically lasts in excess of 600,000 transmissions.  These batteries weigh less than half of alkalines, and they work in the freezer!  A word of caution though, putting a sensor in configuration mode will drain the batteries very quickly.  It’s important to configure your sensors and exit configuration mode as soon as possible or use a external power supply during configuration (if supported by the sensor).  The table below indicates how many Transmissions Per Hour (TPH) your can expect from different sensors over a lifespan of up to 10 years.

How Do I Change Settings and Examine Raw Sensor Data?

Using our long-range USB wireless modem, users can expect easy operation over a virtual COM port at 115.2K baud.  Simply open the virtual COM port of the USB modem and watch data stream in.  Optionally, we offer a Wireless receiver that operates over Ethernet.  Data from NCD sensors will appear over TCP/IP on port 2101.  Simply open a TCP/IP socket, port 2101, to the IP address of the Ethernet modem and see your data stream in to your local area network.  Alpha Station was developed to work with our wireless modems.  Of course gateways are also available for sending data to popular cloud platforms such as Azure® and Losant (more information below).  We take software samples seriously, so be sure to to check out the “Resources” tab to see code samples for Raspberry Pi, Visual Studio, LabVIEW®, Arduino, Python, and more.

What Frequency Do I Need 900MHz or 868MHz?

NCD IoT Wireless Sensors are currently available in two different frequencies to maintain compliance with your local laws.  If you are located in North America (Canada, Mexico, and the United States), you will need to order the  900MHz version.  The 900MHz version of this product transmits data at 24dBm, offering a stronger signal than the 868MHz version, which transmits data at 14dBm.  The 900MHz version generally should not be shipped outside North America, but there may be a few exceptions.  Many countries use 900MHz for cellular communications.  This is not a 900MHz cellular product and will not work on cellular networks.  If you are located in Europe, the 868MHz version should be used.  Since the 868MHz version transmits data at 14dBm, a 2-Mile range may not be possible.  We strongly suggest reviewing your local laws to determine if either frequency is legal for use in your area.  Generally speaking, neither version is legal for use in Asian countries.  We are working on a 2.4GHz version to service the worldwide market, but this version will have reduced communication range and penetration through obstacles.  Again, we recommend reviewing your local laws prior to purchase.