Readings - How Often is Enough?

How frequently should I take readings from my sensors?

This question comes up a lot, since we know that how often a reading is taken and (especially) transmitted is the single biggest factor when calculating battery life.  Different loggers behave differently.  Some take a reading every 5 minutes, average that across 6 readings, and record a reading every 30 minutes.  Others take a point in time reading and transmit it.  Both approaches have benefits and drawbacks.  If you need a fast response to changing conditions, then a more frequent reading interval may be appropriate.  If the sensor is installed in a very stable space and your goals are more focused on long term trends, a longer reading interval may be fine.  By default, Conserv sensors send a message every 10 minutes, with the option to lengthen this if required.  In general, an interval between 10 and 30 minutes is recommended for collections environments regardless of the type of logger you use.