Particle IoT

Introduction

The Particle Boron and Argon are powerful development boards designed for rapid IoT prototyping and deployment, making them ideal choices for use as data loggers in the 3D-PAWS (3D-Printed Automatic Weather Station) system. The Boron offers cellular connectivity, while the Argon connects via Wi-Fi, allowing flexible deployment in a variety of environments. With built-in battery charging, a range of GPIO options, and seamless integration with the Particle Device Cloud, these devices can reliably collect and transmit environmental data for research and monitoring applications.

Sensors Supported

• Light sensor

• Rain Gauge

• Anemometer

• Wind Vane

• Radiation Shield (Temperature, Pressure, & Relative Humidity)

• Globe Temperature

• Air Quality (PM 1.0, 2.5, & 10)

• Distance Gauge (Stream, Storm Surge, & Snow Height)

• Soil Moisture and Temperature

• Leaf Wetness

Download the 3D-PAWS firmware

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• Click the green Code button near the top of the repository page.

• Select Download ZIP from the dropdown menu to download the entire repository as a ZIP file.

Learn about Particle basics with these essential resources:

• Setup your Particle device: https://setup.particle.io/

• Troubleshoot with Status LED patterns and device modes

• Getting to know the Particle Console: Introduction to the Console

• Manage your 3D-PAWS fleet with Particle Products: Introduction to Products

Integrate Particle Cloud data with the CHORDS data portal

Particle / CHORDS Integrations

Use a 3rd Party SIM with the Boron

Follow this document to use an external SIM with your particle data logger: 3rd Party SIM Particle Setup

Firmware Variants for Different Product Applications

We offer specialized firmware for different 3D-PAWS products to ensure optimal performance for a range of environmental monitoring applications. Please refer to our Github for the most recent firmware releases: https://github.com/3d-paws. All products for these boards begin with 3D-PAWS-PARTICLE-XXXXXXX.

• Storm Surge and Wind Product: This product uses a measurement interval and data processing approach that aligns with NOAA’s National Ocean Service Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) specifications. In accordance with CO-OPS standards, the firmware is configured to acquire and store water level measurements every six minutes, using an average of discrete samples centered about each six-minute mark. This interval and methodology ensure compatibility with national data networks and support high-quality, standardized data collection for coastal and oceanographic monitoring.

• Ultra Low Power Stream and Snow Gauge Product: Designed for remote locations where power efficiency is critical, this firmware minimizes energy consumption while reliably logging stream or snow depth data. The ultra low power mode is ideal for battery- or solar-powered deployments in difficult-to-access areas.

• Regular Power Distance (Stream and Snow) Product: For sites where power is less constrained, this firmware supports more frequent measurements and additional radiation shield sensors, making it suitable for continuous monitoring of stream or snow depth in less remote locations.

Feather LoRa Remote Units for Soil, Rain, and Distance Sensors

We also support remote sensor units built with Adafruit Feather boards equipped with LoRa radios. These remote units are designed for low-power operation in the field and can be used with soil moisture, rain, and distance (stream or snow) sensors. Each remote unit transmits its sensor data wirelessly over LoRa to a central “Full Station.” The Full Station, typically a Particle Boron, acts as a gateway: it receives LoRa data from multiple remote units and then relays that data to the Particle Cloud using its cellular connection. This architecture enables reliable data collection from widely distributed sensors, even in remote locations without Wi-Fi or direct cellular coverage at each sensor site.

Particle System Power Budget

The following budget shows all available sensors that can be integrated into the particle data logger.

Component	Function	Supply Voltage	Avg. Current (mA)	Peak Current (mA)	Notes
Particle Boron	Cellular microcontroller	3.3–4.2 V	19.7	184	LTE transmit every 15 min
FeatherWing SD + RTC	Data logging & real-time clock	3.3 V	5.3	100	SD write every minute
Adafruit SHT31-D	Temp & humidity sensor	3.3 V	0.5	0.5	Always on
Adafruit BMP390	Pressure & altimeter sensor	3.3 V	0.8	0.8	Always on
Adafruit MCP9808	High-accuracy temp sensor	3.3 V	0.2	0.2	Always on
AS5600	Rotational position sensor for wind vane	3.3 V	4.5	4.5	Always on
2 × SS451A Hall Effect	Magnetic switch sensors for rain gauge & anemometer	3.3 V	9.0	9.0	Always on
SI1145	UV/IR/Visible light sensor	3.3 V	0.4	0.4	Always on
Adafruit PMSA003I	Air quality (PM2.5/PM10) sensor	3.3-5 V	100	100	Always on
MB7363 MaxSonar	Ultrasonic distance sensor	3.3 V	3.4	3.4	Always on
Tinovi SOIL-MULTI-5-I2C	5 level soil moisture & temp sensor	3.3 V	10	10	Always on
Tinovi PM-WCS-3-I2C	Soil moisture & temp sensor	3.3 V	10	10	Always on
Adafruit RFM95W LoRa	LoRa radio transceiver (RX only)	3.3 V	10	10	Receive mode only
Total System	—	—	174.3	422.8	All sensors powered continuously

System Power Profile:

• Average Power Consumption: ~0.87 W (174.3 mA @ 5 V)

• Peak Power Consumption: ~2.11 W (422.8 mA @ 5 V, during LTE transmit + SD write)

• Battery Runtime (Voltaic V50, 13,400 mAh): ~2.3 days (no solar)

• Solar Panel Needed: 5 W panel provides indefinite operation with ~4 hours of full sun per day

Notes:

• Peak values reflect brief transmission and SD write events; average values represent typical continuous operation.

• LoRa radio is always in receive mode (no transmit spikes).

• All I2C sensors are compatible with 3.3–5 V logic and can be daisy-chained via STEMMA QT/Qwiic connectors.

3D-PAWS Particle Wiring Diagram