Topics included in this article:
- Overview
- Compatible Devices
- Setup and Registration
- Bluetooth
- Hardware Installation
- Console Walkthrough
- Vape Detection with the E2
- Unregistering
- Troubleshooting
- Helpful Links
- Contact Support or Sales
Overview
The Rhombus E2 creates safer spaces with real-time air quality, smoke, vape, and volatile chemical monitoring. The E2 reveals powerful insights to speed up incident responses with real-time alerts and connects to the nearest BLE-enabled Rhombus device to provide real-time sensor data with synchronized video evidence.
Compatible Devices
Before registering a Rhombus sensor, you will need a Rhombus device that supports the Rhombus Sensor Network. You can confirm by visiting the device specs web page on the Rhombus Systems corporate site and looking for the following icon:
Below is a list of compatible BLE gateway devices:
- R120
- R2
- R170
- R200
- R230
- R600
- A100
- DR40
- E50
Setup and Registration
Power Requirements
No Battery. 5vdc Stand-alone plug-in (wall-wart) power adapter. Connects via Micro USB.
Registration
1. Once connected to power, the LED on top of the E2 will pulse green. This indicates it is ready to register and will stay in this mode for 2 minutes before returning to sleep.
2. Select the E2(s) you want to register. The E2 LED will blink blue to indicate normal operation.
Note: You can confirm the correct device is being registered by ensuring the serial number displayed on the app matches the one on the back of the device.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard used for exchanging data between devices over short distances.
BLE Range
Under ideal circumstances, all Rhombus sensors can communicate via Bluetooth up to 300ft with a compatible Rhombus BLE-enabled device.
BLE range can be affected by different factors, including but not limited to:
- Obstacles: Physical obstacles such as walls, furniture, and other obstructions can weaken Bluetooth signals and reduce range.
- Environmental Conditions: Environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and electromagnetic interference can affect the performance of the device.
- Interference: Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, which is also used by many other wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, cordless phones, and microwaves. Interference from these devices can degrade Bluetooth signals and reduce range.
BLE Signal Strength
BLE signal strength is referenced as RSSI, Received Signal Strength Indicator. A higher RSSI value, like -10 (closer to 0), generally indicates a stronger signal, while a lower RSSI value, such as -85 (further from 0), indicates a weaker signal.
Signal strength can vary depending on factors such as distance, obstacles, interference, and the transmitting power of the Bluetooth devices involved. When evaluating BLE signal strength, it's important to consider these factors and ensure that the signal strength is sufficient for the intended application.
The signal strength in both the web and mobile app tells you how well the communication is between the sensor and paired Rhombus device.
| Web Console | Mobile App |
| Located in the second column of the devices tab sensor view. (Hover over this icon to display the RSSI value). | Located on the right side of the list view. |
Hardware Installation
Mounting Positions
| Wall Mounted | |
| Ceiling Mounted |
Mounting Instructions
|
1. Pass the micro USB cable through the central slot of the mounting plate. Fix the mounting plate to the desired surface using the 4 mounting screws provided. Note: If wall mounting the E2, ensure the mounting plate is facing upright. |
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| 2. Insert the Micro USB cable into the back of the E2. | |
| 3. With the micro USB cable attached, insert the E2 into the mounting plate. | |
| 4. Rotate E2 clockwise about the mounting plate until you hear a click. | |
| 5. Secure the E2 into the mounting plate with the locking screw provided. | |
| Note: There will be a slight bend in the power cable when mounted properly. | |
| Note: If wall-mounting the E2, ensure that the E2 particulate matter sensor intake panel is facing down for better detection (ie. Rhombus logo on the bottom) |
External Temperature Probe
The external temperature probe (ACC-PRB-TEMP) expands the E2’s capability to monitor temperature and can be used in situations where the E2 cannot, such as reading temperature in freezers, fluids, and more.
Please Note: The external temperature probe is not included and must be purchased separately.
Once mounted, the 3.5mm probe jack is inserted into the top of the E2, as shown.
Console Walkthrough
Sensor Device Page
The E2 dashboard provides an in-depth overview of what the E2 is capturing. On this page, you can change the sensor's name, view system measurements, and view historical data.
Change Sensor Name: To change the name of a sensor, click the pencil icon next to the breadcrumb at the top of the screen (below).
System Measurements: You can view all the system measurements in one area. Items listed as "Undetected" will change to "Detected" if detection events occur. A more detailed explanation of what each measurement entails can be found in the Measurements section of this article.
Timeline View: The timeline view allows you to view events that the E2 picks up, similar to the camera timeline. Clicking on an event marker on the timeline will take you to the selected event. If you have a camera linked to the E2, the camera footage will start playing when you click on an event.
Historical Data: You can view graphical data captured by the E2 within this section. From here, you can select the time duration (right side of the below screenshot) of the data to be displayed as well as download this data to your local machine.
By selecting the dropdown on the left side of this view, you can toggle between which type of measurement you want to see the historical chart for (below).
Measurements
Temperature
There are two temperature readings the E2 provides. One is the temperature sensor itself reads, and two is the external probe sensor that you can place in a different location from the E2.
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Temperature: -40 to +125°C (-40 to +275°F) |
Humidity
The E2 humidity sensor measures moisture in the air. Higher humidity readings indicate there is a lot of moisture in the air, while lower humidity readings signify dryer air.
Humidity: 0 - 100% |
Air Quality
This measures the quality of the air around the sensor. Higher values can mean there is a fire or unhealthy air nearby. To learn more about this standard, click here.
IAQ "Bad": 5+ "Poor": 4 - 4.99 "Medium": 3 - 3.99 "Good": 2 - 2.99 |
Ethanol Parts Per Million (ppm)
Ethanol ppm "Detected": 0.4+ "Undetected": 0 - 0.3 |
CO2 Parts Per Million (ppm)
Carbon Dioxide detection is critical, as consuming too much of this gas can be fatal. Parts per million (PPM) is a unit of measurement used to express a very diluted concentration level of pollutants in the air, water, and other fluids.
CO2 ppm "High": 3000+ "Medium": 1800 - 2999.9 "Low": 1000 - 1799.9 "Undetected": 400.0 - 999.9 |
TVOC
TVOC stands for Total Volatile Organic Compounds. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are compounds with high vapor pressure and low water solubility. This means these substances won’t join to themselves (volatile) or are water solvent (organic). Volatile organic compounds are harmful air pollutants that evaporate under household conditions.
TVOC mg/m^3 "High": 9.0+ "Medium": 3.0 - 8.9 "Low": 1.0 - 2.9 "Undetected": 0 - 0.9 |
Particulate Matter (PM)
PM 2.5 refers to particulate matter with a particle diameter of up to 2.5 microns. PM 2.5 particles can travel deep into the human lung and cause a variety of health issues.
PM 2.5 µg/m^3 |
Vape Smoke
Vape smoke is smoke emitted by vaporizers. The E2 can detect vape smoke within a 144 sq ft area.
Vape Smoke |
Alerts
Setting up alerts for the E2 can be done by modifying the policy assigned to it. To learn more about configuring policies visit our article here.
Vape Detection with the E2
Considerations
In many cases, vape smoke can be difficult to detect. There are several variables that must be taken into consideration:
- The variety of available products being used.
- How large of a puff is taken?
- Which direction is the vape blown in?
- What distance is the user or source from the sensor?
- What other vapor-producing products are in the vicinity?
- Is air stagnant or flowing through the room?
- If flowing, is the air moving away or towards the sensor?
- What is the air quality like in the room?
- Are there dirty air ducts or excessive airborne particulate matter?
- Has there been a physical obstruction in the sensor air inlet?
Considering those variables, vape detection can still be accomplished with a high degree of effectiveness. In short, vapor must reach the sensor to some degree in order to be detected. Even the most accurate sensors cannot detect vapes unless a change in microscopic particulate matter is recorded.
Given the variety of environments in which a sensor can be placed, this could present multiple challenges. When installing an E2, one must consider the whole environment and the factors listed above.
Another consideration is the amount of time it might take for slow-moving vapor to reach the sensor. This can take a moment, depending on how far away the vapor source is from the sensor. For instance, a vape cloud 10 ft from a sensor might take 30 seconds or longer to drift over. This all depends on how the airflow pushes the vapor along.
Note: The minimal Particulate Matter (PM) reading required for vape detection is 10 µg/m³. Readings below this amount are not guaranteed to produce a positive vape capture.
Sensor Setup at Rhombus
Vape Detected Test 1
Facing the sensor, 10ft away from the sensor
Below is a GIF of the console corresponding to the above test:
Vape Detected Test 2
Small stall, 9ft away from the sensor.
Vape Detected Test 3
Middle of the bathroom facing the mirror, 5ft away from the sensor.
Vape Not Detected Test 1
Facing the wall, 10ft away from the sensor.
Below is a GIF of the console corresponding to the above test:
Vape Not Detected Test 2
Facing away, 10ft away from the sensor.
Vape Not Detected Test 3
Facing away through the shirt, 10ft away from the sensor.
Note: To prevent false positives, try keeping air fresheners, odor sprays, or perfumes away from the sensor and ensuring nothing is spraying directly toward it.
Mounting
The sensor should ideally be mounted as close to head height as possible to capture vape sources directly without being placed in obvious places to avoid tampering. It's also important to note that the E2 has built-in tamper detection and will alert if tampered with.
Coverage
While this largely depends on the size of the room and airflow, one sensor will cover a zone approximately 12x12 = 144 square feet in size.
Unregistering
You can unregister sensors from the phone app. You must be logged into the organization of the sensor(s) you want to unregister.
Please Note: In order to unregister the sensors, a BLE-compatible device must be connected to the network and within range of the sensor. Sensors must be unregistered before the Rhombus gateway device is unregistered.
1. Navigate to the Rhombus App "Devices" page.
2. Scroll to the bottom and click "Utilities."
3. Click on "Unregister Sensors."
4. Select the sensor(s) you want to unregister and complete the process.
Troubleshooting
LED Indicators
| Blinking Green | E2 waiting to be registered. |
| Blinking Blue | E2 is registered and operating normally. |
| Solid Red | Hardware Error (contact Support) |
Troubleshooting Steps
| The mobile app crashes when attempting to register the sensor. | Update the mobile app or uninstall and reinstall the app. Ensure no other devices are connected to BLE on the phone when attempting to register. |
| When trying to register a BLE sensor via the mobile app, the sensor is not present in the list of found sensors. |
First, confirm that the sensor is powered on and in the registration mode, typically indicated by a slow-blinking LED. If the sensor is powered and awaiting registration but doesn't appear in the list, try closing the mobile app entirely. This process may vary depending on the phone model. Once the app is closed, relaunch it and check if the sensor is now detected. If the issue persists, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the mobile app to ensure proper functionality. |
| E2 vape detection alerts when no vape is present. |
Rhombus’ vape detection sensing relies on several sensors integrated into the E2, one of which is a particulate matter sensor. Particulates can come from many sources, including but not limited to:
Collect data about cleaning schedules, HVAC schedules, and filter cleaning frequency, then contact support to assist.
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| Sensor value (temperature or humidity) differs between another temperature sensor. |
The temperature between 2 locations in the same room may vary by a significant amount due to:
Our sensors report once every 3-4 minutes, and data displayed on the console is an average, not an instantaneous reading. |
| Temperature sensor values are abnormal for the expected environment. |
Ensure the sensor is not placed near a source of heat. Examine spike timing history for time correlations with events in the end user’s environment. Example: Spikes observed around 8 am M-F. This is likely when an HVAC unit is set to turn on for the day. Ensure the sensors are not placed in exceptionally harsh environments (e.g., blast furnaces, cryogenic chambers, etc.). Ensure the firmware is up to date. |
Helpful Links
Contact Support or Sales
Have more questions? Contact Rhombus Support at +1 (877) 746-6797 option 2 or support@rhombus.com.
Interested in learning more? Contact Rhombus Sales at +1 (877) 746-6797 option 1 or sales@rhombus.com.
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