FAQ: General (Standalone)
Q111What is the warranty period for Ackcio products?
- Hardware warranty: 1 year (limited)
- Software support: Up to 5 years from date of purchase
Q114What case studies are available?
- Success stories: Please visit the Ackcio official website
Q115What is the battery connector part number for out-of-warranty node self-repair?
Clients may procure the following part at their own risk:
- Keystone Electronics Battery Connector: Digi-Key part no. 2175
Q117How do I interpret spikes on some TM nodes and zero readings on others?
Spikes: Typically caused by brief external disturbances. The system emits an error code: not a zero, when a conversion failure occurs. These are stored in the error folder.
Zero readings: Inspect sensor wiring and connectivity. If persistent, contact Ackcio support at support@ackcio.com.
Error values are always stored separately from valid data to prevent contamination.
Q121Can I connect 8 sensors to an ANS4 node?
- Yes, but only if total power usage is within the limit. ANS4 supports up to 8 analogue channels = 8 sensors max
- All ports share one power supply (not per port)
- Power limit based on excitation voltage:
- 5V = Max Total Current 100mA
- 12V = Max Total Current 90mA
- 24V = Max Total Current 40 mA
- Example: 8 sensors x 10mA = 80 mA OK (5V) while 8 sensors x 20mA = 160mA Not OK (5V)
Q126What does the EXT/BAT switch on the BEAM-DG node do?
The EXT/BAT switch controls which power source is used to power the connected sensor:
- BAT selected: the sensor is powered by the internal D-Cell battery.
- EXT selected: the sensor is powered directly by the external power supply.
There is no automatic fallback between the two. If the selected power source is absent or interrupted, the sensor will not power up, even if the other source is available.
Q129How long can the HPC sustain a node which is turned ON if there is no D-Cell battery fitted?
The HPC can sustain the node for approximately one week without a D-Cell battery installed. After this point, the HPC will begin to deep discharge.
Never deploy or turn ON a node without a D-Cell fitted. Running on HPC alone causes rapid deep discharge and risks permanent damage to the capacitor.
Q132Why is Sweep Mode selection important when commissioning a VW sensor (VWS1/VWS8), and how should I choose it?
Sweep Mode selection is mandatory and must be based on the sensor’s datasheet, never left on a default or guessed value.
- Check the sensor datasheet for its rated operating frequency (Hz) range.
- Select the narrowest Sweep Mode that fully covers that range, do not default to a wide/universal sweep unless the range is unknown.
- Example: A strain gauge with an operating range of 700 to 900 Hz should use Sweep H (400 to 1200 Hz), not Sweep E (400 to 5000 Hz).
Using a broader sweep than necessary increases harmonics interference and unnecessarily raises battery consumption, since the node scans a wider frequency spectrum on every read. It also introduces spikes in the sensor metric when plotted, caused by these harmonics being picked up during the scan.
Q133When should I set the Wheatstone Bridge adaptor switch to HIGH or LOW?
The setting depends on your sensor’s output, shown on the sensor datasheet as mV/V (listed as “sensitivity” or “rated output”).
- LOW: Sensors up to 5 mV/V. Most load cells fall here (1 to 3 mV/V).
- HIGH: Sensors from 5 to 50 mV/V, such as some pressure transducers.
- Above 50 mV/V: Not supported. Please contact Ackcio.
Why it matters:
The sensor’s signal is very small, so the adaptor boosts it before the node reads it.
- LOW: Strong boost, for sensors with a small signal.
- HIGH: Lighter boost, for sensors with a bigger signal.
If set incorrectly:
- Small-signal sensor on HIGH: Still works, but readings are less precise.
- Big-signal sensor on LOW: The signal is boosted too much and the reading gets stuck at its maximum.
Not sure? Start on LOW. If the reading gets stuck at maximum under load, switch to HIGH. For confirmation, send the sensor datasheet to Ackcio support at support@ackcio.com.