When you reach the end of your three years or you receive a replacement sensor, you must swap your current sensors with your new ones.
Option 1: Full Swap
When your new sensors arrive, they appear in Conserv Cloud in a holding area of the Sensors tab. If they do not appear, submit a support ticket with the sensors’ missing serial numbers.
Set Up a Hierarchy
You can reorganize the sensors when they are added to your account. The holding area space disappears when all of the new sensors are moved into their correct spaces.
Assign Sensor Names
Assign names that correspond to the new sensors for easier merging. Conserv recommends that you create a spreadsheet with the new sensor serial numbers and their corresponding pair. You can also label each sensor with removable tape for quick identification.
Tip
Before merging sensors, add the word OLD to the old sensor so you don't mistake it. Adding NEW to the new sensor may also help.
Copy Over Old Sensor Data
The merge process takes the environmental data from the old sensor and adds it to the new sensor. The old sensor gets placed in the Inactive sensors after the merge.
Caution
The merge process does not copy over any names, descriptions, locations, or images associated to the OLD sensor.
The NEW sensor will need this information added to it manually. Conserv recommends that you copy over the details before merging.
Inactive sensors cannot be opened to show their data and will need to be made Active temporarily if you wish to access this information.
Activate the New Sensors
Activate each new sensor by pulling the tab, ensuring that you are close to a working gateway for smooth initial connection. Avoid pulling too many tabs in quick succession to prevent connectivity issues. You can activate sensors in place or at your desk, depending on your workflow preference. You may prefer to compare the sensors for calibration, checking acceptable ranges for new sensors based on their specifications.
You may want to activate and merge the sensors in batches based on the number of sensors you are handling. Conserv recommends that you work with 10 or fewer sensors at a time to ensure smooth processing.
After you pull the tab on each sensor, allow a moment for it to connect to the gateway. You can verify the connection through the sensor card in Conserv Cloud.
Important
Confirm that the new sensor is online and reporting data before proceeding to the next step. Merging an offline sensor may confuse the software.
If the connection is not established after a few minutes, give the sensor a gentle shake to prompt communication with the gateway.
If you still cannot connect, follow the reset instructions.
Update the Firmware
It is good practice to get your sensors on the latest firmware as soon as you activate them. The update will help with range connectivity and battery longevity (amongst some other new features!). You will need to do this with a mobile device. We have instructions on how to update the firmware here.
Merge Sensors
After the sensor is connected and labeled as needed, you can merge the old sensor with the new one.
Watch the following video closely. The old sensor must be on the left, and the new sensor on the right when merging. Merging the sensors in reverse will break the process, and only Conserv's engineers can resolve this from the back end. If this happens, submit a support ticket with the serial numbers of the affected sensors, specifying which is new and which is old.
Signs of a Broken Merge
- The new sensor's graph continues to report data, but the signal connectivity indicator shows that it is offline.
- The new sensor displays a continuous yellow or orange blinking light.
- The old sensor appears in the "Inactive sensors" view, but it is still reporting data into the new sensor's graph.
Replace the Sensor
After the sensors are merged, remove the old sensor from its location and replace it with the new sensor.
Note: After merging, remove the batteries from the old sensors. This prevents them from staying connected and sending duplicate data to the same sensor card on your dashboard. If you notice your graph fluctuating after switching to the new sensors, you may be seeing data from both the old and new sensors. Removing the old sensor's batteries will stop this duplicate reporting.
Return the Old Sensors
Important
When returning the old sensors, remove the batteries and recycle them according to your local regulations. Do not include the batteries in the return package, as Lithium Thionyl Chloride batteries are considered hazardous goods and cannot be shipped loose.
A prepaid shipping label is sent to you after you send Conserv the approximate weight and dimensions of the return box. Conserv recommends reusing the packaging from your new equipment to pack the old sensors. Affix the prepaid label to the box, and include the packing slip inside. Note: The prepaid shipping label must be used within 30 calendar days from the issue date, or it will expire, requiring re-issuance at extra cost.
Option 2: Activate and Merge Sensors In Situ
If you are concerned about data overlap or collecting data outside of the intended location or environment, it may be best to activate and merge the sensors in situ. This ensures data continuity with minimal disruption because the new sensor immediately begins collecting data in the same location.
If this is not a concern, and you are comfortable with a brief period of data collection happening in a different environment, you can activate the sensors anywhere. This approach provides more flexibility during the swap.
If your focus is data continuity, and you are aware of slight variances during the activation and installation process, you can add an observation to the sensor’s timeline to explain any irregularities—though this is optional.
We also recommend updating the firmware on your new sensor as soon as it's activated. You can find instructions on firmware updates here.