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    FM250 Installation Guide

    This installation guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing an FM250 flow monitor.

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    Introduction

    This document serves as a comprehensive guide, detailing the step by step installation and calibration process for the WaterCompass FM250 flow monitor. 

    The FM250 has been crafted to deliver precise flow measurement on a compatible water meter, eliminating the need for water shutdown or pipe alterations. It's installation does not impose any impact on the buildings underlying infrastructure. 

    The FM250 can be calibrated in a single site visit, either using minimal flow or by connecting directly to a dedicated pulse output. 

    Equipment Overview

    Included with the FM250 Installation Kit:

    What you will need:

    • FM250 flow monitor
    • Sensor (12-foot) or Pulse Kit
    • Antenna 
    • Antenna mount
    • Antenna mounting template
    • Six 3/16" x 1-1/4" self-tapping concrete screws
    • Hose clamps
    • “Do Not Remove” Sensor Tag
    • K-Flex Rubber Pipe Insulation Tape
    • 5/16" nut driver
    • 3/16" masonry screw bits for drill
    • Cable ties (long)
    • Cordless hammer drill & impact driver (or equivalent)
    • Flashlight or headlamp
    • Screwdrivers (flathead, Phillips head, precision)
    • Wire cutter or wire snipper
    • Ladder (at least 6-foot)

    Device Legend

    Phase 1: FM250 Installation 

    Step 1: Connect the FM250 to Cellular

    The FM250 flow monitor is dispatched in a preconfigured "ready" state, poised to establish a connection with the cellular network upon physical installation of the hardware at the site.

    Instruction 

    Photo Example

    1. Connect the antenna to the FM250

     

    • Connect the antenna using the SMA connector on the FM250 gateway. 

     

     

    2. Power on the FM250

     

    • Press and hold the green button on the FM250 device for at least 3 seconds. 

     

    Note: If the LED lights fail to illuminate, please refer to the appendix for instructions on resetting the device to shipping mode.

    The LED beneath the blue button will illuminate:

     

    • Yellow blinking: Searching for signal.
    • Green blinking: Establishing connection.
    • Solid green: Connected to the cellular network.

     

     

    3. Wait for 1 minute, allow the FM250 time to complete the initial communication with the server before proceeding.  

    4. Verify connection via Retool App:

     

    • Verify Comm matches today's date and time.
    • Cell Signal: Good, no less than Medium.
    • Battery: Good
    • FW Version: Good

    Note: Contact Pro Services support if the device fails to communicate, has a dead battery, or requires a firmware update. 

    Step 2: Mount the FM250 flow monitor (if applicable)

    The water meter might be situated in diverse environments, including, but not confined to, utility vaults, meter boxes, mechanical rooms, and water closets located either inside or outside of the building.

    Instruction

    Photo Example

    Meter Box Installation:

     

    1. Install the hardware to minimize interference with the meter register, ensuring the device is situated out of the way of valves and shut offs.
    2.  Take care to prevent the entanglement of the FM250 sensor with any existing AMI or AMR cables.

    Utility Vault or Inside the building:

     

    1. Mount the FM250 device on an adjacent wall.
    2.  Position the device as high as possible for the best signal. 

    Step 3: Mount and attach the Antenna

    Instruction 

    Photo Example

    Meter Box Installation:

     

    1. Connect the antenna to the FM250 using the SMA connector on the gateway.
    2. Place the antenna in the best location.
    3. Stake the L-bracket into the ground. 

    Utility Vault or Inside the building:

     

    1. Mount the antenna to the highest point achievable within the meter environment. 
    2. Extend the antenna if necessary. 

     

     

     

    Step 3A: Attach the sensor to the water meter

    Instruction

    Photo Example

    Note: The flat side of the sensor should interface with the meter register to ensure accurate flow monitoring. 

     

     

     

     

    1. Apply Pipe Insulation Tape

     

    • Cut a 24" piece of insulation tape.
    • Apply the tape to the back of the sensor. 

     

    2.Install the sensor on the meter register.

     

    • Attach the sensor to the register.
    • Secure it with pipe insulation tape. 
    • Go around the register 2X with the tape. 

     

    3. Secure the sensor with a hose clamp.

     

    Note: Install the hose clamp as high on the sensor as possible, near the cable union. Avoid the lower half of the sensor when possible, as over tightening of the hose clamp may cause damage to the sensor chip. 

     

    • DO NOT over tighten or torque the hose clamp.
    • Hand tighten the hose clamp ONLY. 

    Best Practice: Install the sensor at the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position on the water meter register unless otherwise instructed. 

     

     

    Neptune T-10: Place sensor at the 4 o'clock position on the meter register approximately ¼" - ½" up the register.

    Step 3B: Connect the pulse dongle to the water meter

    General Pulse Water Meter Connection

    FM250 Pulse Dongle

    Water Meter Pulse Cable Wire*

    White Wire w/ Brown Stripe (GND) Ground (GND)*
    White Wire w/ Green Stripe (PULSE) Sensor/Pulse (PULSE)*
    Brown Wire w/ Heat Shrink (PWR)** Power (PWR)*
    *Research and review the specification sheet for the specific make and model of the pulse water meter you are working with to identify the wire colors for Ground, Pulse, and Power. 
    **Remove the heat shrink from the Brown wire coming off of the FM250 dongle before connecting to the pulse meter (if applicable). 

    2-Wire Pulse Water Meter Connection

    FM250 Pulse Dongle

    Seametrics MJR or MJHR

    White Wire w/ Brown Stripe (GND) Black Wire (GND)
    White Wire w/ Green Stripe (PULSE) Red Wire (PULSE)
    Brown Wire (w/ Heat Shrink)*  
     * Leave the Heat Shrink on the Brown wire coming off of the FM250 dongle to prevent the device from shorting out. 

    3-Wire Pulse Water Meter Connection

    FM250 Pulse Dongle

    Sensus Omni T2/C2/F2

    Seametrics MJR or MJHR

    White Wire w/Brown Stripe (GND)

    Black Wire (GND)

    Black Wire (GND)

    White Wire w/Green Stripe (PULSE)

    Green Wire (PULSE)

    Red Wire (PULSE)

    Brown Wire (w/ Heat Shrink)*

    Red Wire (PWR)*

    Blue Wire (DO NOT USE)**

    * Remove the Heat Shrink from the Brown wire coming off of the FM250 dongle before connecting to the Red Wire on the pulse meter. 
    **Leave the Heat Shrink on the Brown wire when connecting to a Seametrics MJR or MJHR 3 wire pulse cable. 

    Phase 2: FM250 Calibration 

    Calibrating the FM250 is required for accurate data collection and reporting. The FM250 can be calibrated with limited flow, as long as the flow is steady and consistent during the calibration process. 

    Step 1: Pulse Capture Verification 

     

    Locate an exterior hose bib, open a valve on the water meter's back flow preventer, or find a location inside the building such as a restroom where you can run a faucet with consistent flow for at least 3 minutes. 

     

     

    1. Run water for approximately 3 minutes
    2. Confirm that the sensor is registering pulses in its present position on the meter. Proceed to Step 2 if pulses are being detected.

     

    Troubleshoot: If the sensor is not collecting pulses, relocate the sensor by 1 hour" on the meter register. For example, if the sensor is currently at the 3 o'clock position on the register and is not collecting pulses, move the sensor to the 4 o'clock position and try again. 

    Step 2: Base Meter Reading

     

    1. Press and hold the green button on the FM250 for 3 seconds.
    2. Take a photo of Base Meter Reading.
    3. Record the time of the base meter reading. 
    • In this example, the meter reading is 518757.

     

     

     

    Step 3: Run water for 15 minutes

    Locate an exterior hose bib, open a valve on the water meter's back flow preventer, or find a location inside the building such as a restroom where you can run a faucet with consistent flow for at least 15 minutes. Once complete turn off the water and proceed to the Calibration Meter Reading. 

    Step 4: Take Calibration Meter Reading

     

    1. Press and hold the green button on the FM250 for 3 seconds.

    2. Take  a photo of the Calibration Meter Reading.

    3. Record the time of the calibration meter reading. 

     

    • In this example, the meter reading is 518761.

    Step 5: Run water for 15 additional minutes

    Locate an exterior hose bib, open a valve on the water meter's back flow preventer, or find a location inside the building such as a restroom where you can run a faucet with consistent flow for at least 15 minutes. Once complete turn off the water and proceed to the Calibration Meter Reading. 

    Step 6: Take Verification Meter Reading

               1. Press and hold the green button on the FM250 for 3 seconds.

    2. Take a photo of the Verification Meter Reading.

    3. Record the time of the calibration meter reading. 

     

    • In this example, the meter reading is 518766.

    Phase 3: Complete the WCIR

    Please complete the WaterCompass Installation Report before departing the site. 

    Click here to access the WaterCompass Installation Report

     

    Appendix:

    Button Behavior

    When pressed but not held down, both buttons will wake the device. The device will either enter the shipping state or the state the device was in prior to powering it down. 

     

     

    Button Icon Button Color Button Function 
    Play  Green  Press and hold the green play button for ~3 seconds. The device will attempt to enter Meter mode, where it will capture and report usage data. 
    Bluetooth  Blue  Press and hold the blue bluetooth button for ~ seconds. The device will attempt to enter Debug ode, turn on the Bluetooth module, or start advertising the serial number of the device via bluetooth. 

     

    LED Indicators

    LED Color LED Behavior  LED Example
    Solid Yellow (both LEDs) Displays when the device is in Shipping mode.  
    Blink Yellow (both LEDs) Displays when the device is advertising itself for Bluetooth connectivity in debug mode.
    Blink Yellow (bluetooth LED Only) Displays when the device is connecting to LTE cellular. 
    Blink Green  Displays when the device has successfully connected to LTE and is waiting for the cloud servers to respond. 
    Solid Green Displays when the device has successfully connected to the cloud via LTE.  The LED will remain on for ~10 minutes after successfully connecting. 
    Blink Red Displays when the device failed to connect to LTE The LED will remain on for ~5 minutes after trying. 

     

    Solid Red Displays when the unit failed to connect to the cloud via LTE. The LED will remain on for ~ 1 minute. 
    Off Displays when the device is In shipping mode or 10 minutes have passed since a manually triggered cloud connecting in Meter/Setup mode. 

     

     

    Reset FM250 to Shipping Mode

    Step 1: Prepare the Device

    Instruction

    Photo Example

     

    1. Press and hold the Bluetooth button on the device for 3 seconds.
    2. Ensure two yellow LED lights are blinking under the blue and green buttons.

    Note: Blinking yellow LED lights display when the device is advertising itself for Bluetooth connectivity.

     

     

     

    Step 2: Connect to Bluetooth

    Instruction

    Photo Example

    1. In the installer app, tap "Not Connected" at the bottom of the Site Page.
    2. Follow the Bluetooth requirements on the screen and tap "Continue."

           3. Scan for available devices.

           4. Choose your device from the list and tap "Connect."

    Step 3: View Device Information 

    Instruction

    Photo Example

    1. Tap "View Device" at the bottom of the screen.

    Step 4: Reset to Shipping Mode

    Instruction

    Photo Example

    1. Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
    • Note: The Bluetooth connection will disconnect after the reset. You’ll need to reconnect to Bluetooth once the reset is complete.
              2. Select "Reset to Shipping Mode."

    Step 5: Connect to LTE Cellular

    Instruction

    Photo Example

    1. Press the green button on the device to establish a cellular connection.
    2. Confirm that the cellular connection shows "Pass."
    3. Ensure the signal strength is "Medium" or higher.