Preventive Maintenance
Regular preventive maintenance extends device life and ensures continuous reliable operation.
Maintenance Scheduling
Establish maintenance intervals based on manufacturer recommendations and operating environment. Harsh environments require more frequent inspection. Track maintenance activities in your asset management system. Coordinate maintenance windows to minimize operational impact.
Physical Inspection
Check enclosure integrity and seal condition regularly. Verify mounting hardware remains secure. Clean sensors and lenses from dust, debris, and contamination. Inspect cable connections for corrosion or damage.
Environmental Considerations
Outdoor sensors face weather exposure requiring weatherproofing verification. Industrial environments may require more frequent cleaning. Temperature extremes affect battery performance and sensor accuracy. Protect sensors from direct sunlight where relevant.
Battery Management
Proper battery management is critical for battery-powered IoT devices.
Battery Monitoring
Configure low battery alerts with adequate warning time. Track battery voltage trends to predict replacement needs. Document actual battery life vs. manufacturer specifications. Consider seasonal variations affecting battery performance.
Replacement Procedures
Use only manufacturer-recommended battery types. Replace batteries before complete depletion to prevent data loss. Follow proper disposal procedures for depleted batteries. Update maintenance records with replacement dates.
Power Optimization
Adjust transmission intervals to balance data freshness with battery life. Reduce sampling rate where high frequency is unnecessary. Enable sleep modes during inactive periods. Consider solar or wired power for high-usage locations.
Calibration Procedures
Regular calibration ensures measurement accuracy for reliable analytics and compliance.
Calibration Intervals
Follow manufacturer calibration recommendations (typically annually). Critical measurements may require more frequent calibration. Environmental changes (relocation, process changes) trigger recalibration. Maintain calibration certificates for regulatory compliance.
Field Calibration
Use certified reference instruments for field calibration. Allow sensors to stabilize in measurement environment. Record calibration data including reference values and adjustments. Verify calibration with independent measurements.
Calibration Records
Document all calibrations with date, technician, and results. Track calibration drift to identify aging sensors. Maintain traceability to certified reference standards. Generate calibration compliance reports as required.
Firmware Management
Keeping firmware current addresses security vulnerabilities and provides feature improvements.
Update Assessment
Review release notes for security fixes and feature changes. Assess compatibility with current infrastructure. Test updates in non-production environment first. Plan update rollout to minimize operational disruption.
Update Deployment
Use device management platform for coordinated updates. Schedule updates during maintenance windows. Verify successful updates and proper operation. Maintain rollback capability for problematic updates.
Version Tracking
Maintain inventory of device firmware versions. Track update history for each device. Identify devices running outdated or vulnerable firmware. Report compliance with security update requirements.
Troubleshooting
Systematic troubleshooting quickly resolves issues and minimizes downtime.
Connectivity Issues
Check signal strength and network availability. Verify gateway operation and cloud platform status. Test with known-working device to isolate sensor vs. network issues. Review recent changes that might affect connectivity.
Data Quality Problems
Compare readings against reference measurements. Check for environmental factors affecting sensors. Verify calibration status and recalibrate if needed. Inspect sensors for physical damage or contamination.
Device Failures
Document failure symptoms and conditions. Check warranty status before repair attempts. Contact vendor support for persistent issues. Maintain spare inventory for critical monitoring points.
