With a standard metering interval of 24 hours and a good mobile or WiFi connection, the average battery life of our FoxHardware devices is approx. 5 years for Gen 3 sensors and approx. 10 years for Gen 4 sensors.

This article explains which causes can shorten this battery life, how to identify them and which solutions are available.

With every measurement, the sensor is activated, measures the fill level and transmits the data to the FoxCloud. The more frequently measurements are taken, the higher the battery consumption and the shorter the battery life. A metering interval with several measurements per day therefore shortens the battery life accordingly.

A weak connection to the mobile network or WiFi also leads to increased battery consumption, even if the metering interval remains unchanged. With poor reception, the sensor needs more time to establish a connection. If the transmission does not succeed on the first attempt, the sensor tries several times to send the measurement. As a result, the sensor stays active for longer and consumes significantly more energy per measurement than with good reception.

Typical installation situations with weak network coverage are:

Obstacles such as closed steel doors, tank lids or parked equipment that are located between the sensor and the mobile network or WiFi router, either permanently or at the time of measurement, can also weaken the signal.

When replacing the batteries, only use the battery type intended for the respective device. You can find out which batteries are required for which device in the article FoxHardware - Battery replacement. For the FoxHall, only the battery type specified in the article FoxHall: Battery replacement may be used.

The quality of the batteries used can also have a significant impact on battery life.

If, after thorough checks, you can rule out

as the causes of an unexpectedly fast drop in the battery level of a specific device, please get in touch with the FoxInsights support team so that we can check the device for possible defects.

First check whether a weak signal could be the cause of the increased battery consumption. You have the following options:

Check whether the set metering interval is necessary for the use case. A longer metering interval extends the battery life. You can find out how to change the metering interval in the article FoxPortal - Adjusting metering interval & time of FoxHardware.

If individual measurements are missing for a device with a weak signal, a shorter metering interval (e.g. every 12 hours) can ensure that at least one measurement per day is transmitted. Please note that this further shortens the battery life. In the long term, it makes more sense to improve the connection.

Even small changes can improve the signal strength:

In areas with limited or no mobile network coverage, WiFi is an alternative, provided that a suitable WiFi router is available at the location. Conversely, if the WiFi network is permanently unavailable, the setting should be checked and switched to mobile network if necessary.

With "Device & measurement check", you can switch between mobile network and WiFi for each device. If you choose WiFi, please first make sure that all requirements of the respective WiFi router are met.

For underground tanks and tanks in deep basements, the connection directly at the tank is often weak. For these installation situations, we therefore recommend the FoxPressure, regardless of whether Gen 3 or Gen 4.

With the FoxPressure, a pressure probe measures the fill level in the tank. The pressure probe is connected to the transmitter unit by a cable. Thanks to the long cable, the transmitter unit does not have to be mounted directly on the tank but can be placed at a location with better reception, for example near a window or above an underground tank.

More information: FoxPressure (Gen 4) and FoxPressure 2022 (Gen 3).

An external antenna is available for FoxRadar Gen 4 and FoxPressure Gen 4. The antenna is connected via a cable and placed at a location with good mobile network reception. It is intended for installation situations such as underground tanks, tanks in metal enclosures and tanks in basement rooms. The external antenna is installed at the factory and must be ordered together with the device. Retrofitting is not possible.

If a power connection is available at the location, the sensor can be operated via an external power supply. The external power supply replaces battery operation. No battery replacement is required, and short metering intervals are possible on a permanent basis. This extension is also installed at the factory and cannot be retrofitted.

Both extensions can be combined on the same device. You can find details in the article FoxHardware - Product extensions for Gen 4.

If the batteries are empty, replace them as described in the article FoxHardware - Battery replacement. When opening the housing, check whether moisture or corrosion is visible. If a new set of batteries also discharges unusually quickly, even though the metering interval and signal strength are normal, please get in touch with the FoxInsights support team directly.