Most connectivity issues follow one of three patterns. Start with the one that matches what you’re seeing in Ops Center dashboard.
Whole farm offline (base unit offline)
If every device on the farm is offline at the same time, the base unit is almost always the culprit.
The map in the Ops Center dashboard will indicate if the base unit is offline with a red connectivity warning icon.
If the base unit shows as offline in the Ops Center, check that the external LED on the base unit is lit, indicating it’s receiving power.
If the LED is lit, power cycle the base unit by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then plug it back in, and wait 5-10 minutes.
If the LED is not lit, the base unit is not receiving power, so check the GFCI or breaker for the outlet in case it needs to be reset.
One or a few valves offline
If the Ops Center dashboard indicates a single valve or a few valves are offline, first check that the valves have power.
Start in the Ops Center - hover over the valve’s icon on the map to see the most recent battery level. If the battery level is at or near 0%, proceed to step 2.
Get eyes on the physical valve. If multiple valves are offline, start with the one closest to the base unit, as that can be the weak link that caused the others to go offline.
You should see the connectivity status LED lit blue or green on the valve. If the LED is not lit, the battery likely died. Make sure that the solar panel’s twist-lock connector is plugged in at the valve. Then, check the solar panel cable and solar panel for damage (if damaged, they will require repair or replacement).
If you find no damage, check the panel’s exposure - is it facing the sun, south-southwest? Is the glass clean? A panel that’s rotated away from the sun or covered in dust can drop charging significantly. Clean it off and give it a few hours to charge up again..
After you let it charge for a few hours, you may need to power cycle the valve. Disconnect the solar panel cable, then remove the dome from the wetware, and press the power button once. Wait 15 seconds, then press it again to turn the dome on (you will see LEDs light if it turns on successfully). Reinstall the dome on the wetware, and reconnect the solar panel cable.
If the valve is powered on but not communicating — check the antenna cable and antenna
A valve that has power but has gone offline usually points to the antenna or antenna cable rather than the solar panel.
Make sure the antenna (attached to the solar panel) is fully intact, vertically upright, and above the canopy, with line of sight to at least one other Lumo device. If the antenna is bent or damaged, replace it. A spare antenna is included in your Lumo Field Kit.
Inspect the antenna cable — it runs separately from the solar cable and can be damaged by an implement or animal, or pulled loose at the connector. Contact Lumo Support for replacement cables.
If you’ve run through these steps and something is still not making sense, please reach out to Lumo Support at [email protected] or 1-888-586-6828. We can pull the device data and help pinpoint the issue.