Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting guide for diagnosing and resolving common issues with the 3D-PAWS and Particle data logger.
3D-PAWS stations are designed for reliable field operation, but issues can occasionally arise due to environmental conditions, power interruptions, communications problems, or sensor faults.
The 3D-PAWS Troubleshooting Guide provides a detailed reference for diagnosing and resolving operational issues with deployed stations.
The guide focuses on troubleshooting systems using the Particle-based data logger, but many of the diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting principles apply to other supported data loggers as well.
What the Troubleshooting Guide Covers
The troubleshooting guide provides step-by-step diagnostic procedures for identifying and resolving issues related to:
Power system failures
Cellular communication problems
Firmware behavior and device state
Configuration issues
Individual sensor performance
The guide also includes detailed procedures for:
Remote troubleshooting using the Particle Console
Interpreting system health indicators
Using the serial monitor and diagnostic tools
Running DoAction commands
Troubleshooting individual sensors
When to Use This Guide
The troubleshooting guide is intended for situations where a station is:
Not reporting data
Reporting intermittently
Producing unrealistic sensor values
Experiencing repeated resets or communication failures
Whenever possible, remote diagnostics should be performed before visiting the station, as many issues can be identified without physical access to the system.
Remote Troubleshooting
Many common failures can be diagnosed remotely using the Particle Console and system diagnostic messages.
Key diagnostic tools include:
Particle Console device status
INFO event stream
System health bits (hth)
Firmware version and configuration checks
Webhook and CHORDS data verification
These tools help determine whether the issue is related to:
power availability
cellular connectivity
firmware configuration
sensor initialization
Field Troubleshooting
If remote diagnostics cannot resolve the issue, the guide also includes procedures for field-based troubleshooting.
Field diagnostics focus on:
power system verification
wiring inspection
serial monitor diagnostics
sensor verification and testing
Because power instability is the most common cause of system failures, troubleshooting procedures begin with power system checks before examining sensors or communications systems.
Sensors Covered
The troubleshooting guide includes diagnostic guidance for the primary sensors used in 3D-PAWS stations:
Rain gauge
Wind vane
Anemometer
Radiation shield sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure)
Air quality sensors
Black globe temperature sensor
Distance sensors (snow, stream, storm surge gauges)
Soil moisture and soil temperature sensors
Light sensor
Access the Full Troubleshooting Guide
The complete troubleshooting guide is available below:
→ 3D-PAWS Particle Data Logger Troubleshooting Guide
This document includes detailed diagnostic procedures, troubleshooting tables, and sensor-specific guidance for diagnosing operational issues in deployed stations.
Related Resources
Additional documentation that may assist with troubleshooting includes:
Particle FullStation firmware repository https://github.com/3d-paws/3D-PAWS-Particle-FullStation
These resources provide additional technical information about sensors, firmware behavior, and system integration.
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