Why Use Hibernation Mode?
Lumo devices rely on sunlight to stay charged. In winter:
Shorter days + cloudy weather → reduced charging
Reduced charging → declining battery levels → inoperable devices
Hibernation Mode reduces energy consumption, helping devices maintain stable battery levels until irrigation resumes in the spring.
How Hibernation Mode Works
Hibernation Mode decreases how often devices in the mesh network “wake up” to communicate. Less frequent communication means less power consumption.
This works similarly to airplane mode on a phone—disabling constant network connection preserves battery.
When to Enable Hibernation Mode
Enable Hibernation Mode if:
Irrigation for the season is fully complete
The irrigation system will not be used until spring
Average device battery levels are 65% or below
If most devices stay above 65% battery, Hibernation Mode is typically unnecessary.
H1 vs. H6: Understanding the Two Hibernation Modes
Lumo provides two Hibernation Modes:
Mode | Awake Time | Sleep Time | Awake Frequency |
H1 | 9 minutes | 51 minutes | Top of each hour |
H6 (default) | 9 minutes | 5 hours 51 minutes | 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, 18:00 UTC |
H6 is recommended because it provides the longest sleep intervals and the greatest battery savings.
In H1 mode, devices awake 9 minutes at the top of each hour, then sleep for 51 minutes on a continuous cycle. In H6 mode, devices awake for 9 minutes at fixed times, then sleep for 5 hours and 51 minutes.
Hibernation Mode and Scheduled Irrigations
You cannot schedule irrigations in the Ops Center while your farm is in Hibernation Mode.
To schedule irrigations:
Switch the farm back to Standard Mode (see How to Disable Hibernation Mode)
Wait for devices to fully wake up before scheduling irrigations:
Up to 6 hours for H6
Up to 1 hour for H1
Only after the farm exits H mode will scheduling be available.
Manual Valve Operation in Hibernation Mode
You can still manually open a valve using the physical button on the dome.
However:
Manual irrigations are not recorded in the Ops Center
Flow and pressure data are not logged in H mode
Does the Base Unit Enter Hibernation Mode?
No. The base unit always remains online to maintain cloud connectivity.
Please ensure it stays powered throughout the winter.
How to Enable Hibernation Mode
Go to Management → Farms
Select your farm
Scroll to System Mode
Choose Hibernation (H6)
Click Apply
How to Disable Hibernation Mode
Disable Hibernation Mode before you run irrigations for the season by setting the system mode to Standard:
Go to Management → Farms
Scroll to System Mode
Select Standard
Click Apply
Devices will return to normal operation after their awake window (up to 1–6 hours depending on H mode).