We’re excited to announce the launch of our newest innovation: the EC-M12-BC-C6-C-A battery-powered cellular IoT data logger. After two years of development and extensive field testing, we’re bringing to market a remote monitoring solution that truly delivers on the promise of maintenance-free operation.
Why We Built This
The inspiration came from conversations with customers across utilities, agriculture, and industrial sectors. The story was always the same: existing solutions forced impossible compromises.
“Our technicians spend 40% of their time just driving to sites to check tank levels. We need remote monitoring, but solar panels fail in winter, and battery-powered options drain in 6 months requiring replacement visits anyway.”
– Water Utility Operations Manager
“We tried solar-powered monitors on our farm. After the first hailstorm destroyed half the panels and dust covered the rest, we went back to manual checks.”
– Agricultural Operation Owner
“Short battery life means we’re essentially trading site visits for data collection with site visits for battery replacement. The total cost of ownership doesn’t improve.”
– Environmental Monitoring Director
These conversations revealed a clear market need: truly long-life, weatherproof, cellular-connected monitoring that works anywhere without maintenance.
The Engineering Challenge
Achieving 5+ year battery life with full cellular connectivity required solving several technical challenges:
Challenge 1: Power Consumption
Traditional cellular data loggers consume 50-200 mA during transmission and 1-10 mA in sleep mode. At these power levels, even 40,000 mAh batteries drain in under a year with hourly reporting.
Our Solution: Ultra-low-power architecture using STM32L072 MCU (2 µA sleep) and SIM7070 modem with PSM support (5 µA sleep). Total system sleep current under 10 µA enables multi-year operation.
Challenge 2: Cellular Coverage
Remote locations often have marginal coverage or carrier-specific gaps. Devices locked to single network technologies fail when coverage is unavailable.
Our Solution: Multi-network modem supporting 2G, Cat-M1, and NB-IoT with automatic network selection. Global frequency band support ensures compatibility worldwide. External antenna support for challenging locations.
Challenge 3: Environmental Reliability
Outdoor electronics face constant assault from weather: moisture infiltration, temperature extremes, UV degradation, and physical damage.
Our Solution: IP67-rated enclosure with industrial cable gland, UV-stabilized materials, -40°C to +85°C operation rating, and extensive environmental testing validating 5+ year outdoor durability.
Challenge 4: Industrial Sensor Integration
Most IoT platforms use proprietary sensors with limited options. Industrial applications require 4-20 mA current loop compatibility—the standard interface for thousands of sensor types.
Our Solution: Dual 4-20 mA inputs with integrated 12V sensor excitation, precision measurement circuitry, and 12-bit ADC providing 0.5 µA resolution. Direct compatibility with industrial sensors eliminates signal conditioning requirements.
Real-World Validation
We didn’t just build prototypes—we deployed 150+ pre-production units across real customer applications for 12-18 months before commercial launch:
Water Utility Deployment: 47 Remote Tanks
Configuration: Hourly level/pressure sampling, 6-hour upload batches
Duration: 18 months continuous operation
Results:
- 100% operational on original batteries
- Projected remaining life: 4+ years
- 99.8% data transmission success rate
- 87% reduction in site visit costs
- 4 overflow events prevented through early detection
“We’ve finally found a monitoring solution that actually reduces our workload instead of creating new maintenance requirements.”
-Utility Operations Manager
Agricultural Deployment: 120 Soil Moisture Sensors
Configuration: 2-hour sampling, 12-hour upload batches across 2,400 acres
Duration: Full growing season + winter
Results:
- Survived 15°C to +42°C temperature range
- 25% water consumption reduction through irrigation optimization
- 8% yield improvement from optimal moisture management
- Zero failures despite extreme conditions
“The system paid for itself in the first season through water savings alone. The yield improvement was a bonus.”
– Farm Operations Director
Environmental Deployment: 85 Water Quality Sensors
Configuration: 4-hour sampling, 12-hour uploads across remote watershed
Duration: 12 months across all seasons
Results:
- 99.3% data transmission success in challenging coverage areas
- 3 pollution events detected and mitigated early
- Continuous data enabling long-term trend analysis
- Zero maintenance interventions required
“Previous monitoring required monthly site visits to download data. Now we have real-time visibility and historical trends that were impossible before.”
– Environmental Program Manager
Key Features & Benefits
For Operations Teams
- No site visits: 5–7-year operation without maintenance
- Immediate awareness: Real-time alerts for critical conditions
- Historical data: Continuous visibility enabling trend analysis
- Weather-proof reliability: Operates through rain, snow, heat, cold
For Engineering Teams
- Standard interfaces: 4-20 mA inputs compatible with thousands of sensors
- Multi-network connectivity: Cat-M1, NB-IoT, 2G support
- Open integration: MQTT, HTTP, CoAP protocols for any cloud platform
- Local storage: microSD buffering prevents data loss during outages
For Finance Teams
- Fast ROI: Typical payback in 12-18 months through eliminated site visits
- Low TCO: 60-80% lower total cost vs. short-life or solar alternatives
- Predictable costs: No surprise maintenance or replacement expenses
- Volume discounts: Attractive pricing for multi-unit deployments
Technical Specifications
Core Processing
- Microcontroller: STM32L072 (ARM Cortex-M0+, 32 MHz)
- Sleep current: <10 µA total system
- Real-time clock: DS3231 (±2 ppm accuracy)
Cellular Connectivity
- Modem: SIM7070 multi-network
- Networks: 2G / Cat-M1 / NB-IoT
- Bands: Global frequency support
- Antenna: Integrated + external option
Sensor Interface
- Inputs: 2× 4-20 mA analog channels
- Sensor power: 12V @ 50 mA integrated supply
- Resolution: 12-bit ADC, 0.5 µA precision
- Sampling: Configurable 1 second to 24 hours
Power System
- Batteries: 2× ER34615H (38,000 mAh total)
- Chemistry: Lithium thionyl chloride
- Life: 5-7 years (typical configuration)
- Voltage: 3.6V nominal, 2.7-3.6V operating
Environmental
- Rating: IP67 (dust-tight, water-resistant)
- Temperature: -40°C to +85°C operation
- Storage: -55°C to +100°C
- Humidity: 0-100% RH non-condensing
Physical
- Enclosure: UV-stabilized polycarbonate
- Cable entry: Industrial gland included
- Mounting: Wall/pole/DIN rail options
- Storage: microSD expansion slot
Applications Across Industries
Water & Wastewater
- Tank level and pressure monitoring
- Flow measurement and leak detection
- Water quality tracking
- Pump station performance
Agriculture
- Soil moisture optimization
- Irrigation system monitoring
- Tank level management
- Weather station integration
Oil & Gas
- Wellhead performance tracking
- Tank farm inventory
- Pipeline monitoring
- Remote facility status
Environmental
- Water quality measurement
- Air pollution tracking
- Habitat monitoring
- Climate research
Infrastructure
- Bridge structural health
- Equipment performance
- Asset tracking
- Predictive maintenance
Cloud Platform Integration
The EC-M12-BC-C6-C-A works with all major IoT platforms:
Supported Protocols: MQTT, HTTP, CoAP, Modbus TCP
Cloud Platforms: AWS IoT Core, Azure IoT Hub, Google Cloud IoT, ThingSpeak, Ubidots
Security: TLS/SSL encryption, X.509 certificates, secure boot
Management: OTA firmware updates, remote configuration
Getting Started
- Order Your Units
- Visit our online store or contact sales for volume quotes.
- Choose Your Sensors
- We provide sensor selection guides for common applications or work with your existing 4-20 mA sensors.
- Configure & Deploy
- Units come pre-configured or can be customized for your application. Installation typically takes 30-60 minutes per location.
- Monitor & Optimize
- Access data through our cloud platform or your preferred IoT platform. Set up alerts and start optimizing operations.
Pricing & Availability
Individual Units: $94.00
Volume Orders (10+ units): Contact sales for discounted pricing
Evaluation Program: Subsidized units available for qualified pilot projects
Delivery: In stock, ships within 9-12 business days
Support & Resources
Documentation
- Quick start guide
- Installation manual
- Integration guides for major cloud platforms
- API documentation
- Video tutorials
Technical Support
- Email: support@norvi.io
- Phone: +94 77 110 6897
- Response time: <4 hours for critical issues
Have questions about how the EC-M12-BC-C6-C-A could work for your application? Contact our team -we’re here to help you succeed.