Knowledge Base

General guideline:

1. In conditions of limited sunlight exposure and no sleep mode activated (animal continuously moving), the Sodaq GPS tags will need to be charged approximately every 4 days.
2. Since battery lifetime can be extended by solar charging and sleep mode activation, it is recommended to periodically check battery charge level in the TrackLab interface (Recording module). This way the customer can learn what the battery discharge characteristics are in their application setting, and base a charge schedule on it. The charge level should be kept above 40%.

More details on battery lifetime extension:

• The greater the sunlight exposure, the more the battery will be charged through the solar panel. This feature will pay off more in countries and regions closer to the equator and/or clear skies.

• The less the animals move about, the more often the 'sleep mode' will kick in. If the animal does not move, this will be detected by an accelerometer sensor, which will put the GPS receiver in sleep mode, thus saving energy. The GPS receiver will switch on again if the accelerometer sensor detects movement. 

Mimimum charge level:

• For the Sodaq tag to operate correctly, a minimum charge level of 40% must be maintained. From 35% down, tag operation cannot be guaranteed anymore (the tag may stop receiving data and storing to SD).