FLOLWE04 -- Wireless Leak Sensor with Direct Motor Control (LoRa Direct)
Product Description
The FLOLWE04 is a battery-powered wireless leak sensor with two galvanic leak inputs. It detects the presence of water at its sensor surfaces or at the connected sensor pad and sends an alarm via LoRa Direct to the paired Aqua-Scope retrofit motor when triggered. The motor then shuts off the water directly -- without app, without internet, without cloud.
When an alarm is raised, the red LED lights up, the buzzer sounds, and an encrypted radio packet is transmitted. In normal operation the device additionally sends periodic status messages (battery level, temperature, leak status) at a configurable interval (default: 6 hours).
Key features:
- Two independent leak inputs (internal sensor surface + external sensor pad)
- LoRa Direct, 868 MHz (EU868) / 923 MHz (US variant)
- AES-128 encryption on every radio packet
- Direct pairing mode with the Aqua-Scope motor (triple-click)
- Configurable status interval (1 minute to 24 hours)
- Transport mode (quadruple-click) silences all radio traffic for storage and shipping
- Factory reset via button (hold 10 seconds)
- Robust enclosure, approx. 5–10 years of battery life with two standard AA cells
LoRa Direct
LoRa Direct enables direct radio communication between Aqua-Scope devices — no network server, gateway or infrastructure required. Details: LoRa Direct.
This device can therefore only be used for direct communication with other Aqua-Scope devices. The respective devices must be paired with each other, which is done by pressing buttons.
Every radio packet is encrypted with a 128-bit AES key. Before pairing, the sensor uses its factory-default own key; once paired with a motor, the motor-derived "2nd key" is used for all transmissions.
Installation
As-shipped State and First Power-up
The sensor ships with two AA batteries already installed and is ready to use straight out of the box. On first power-up (or after a battery change), both LEDs flash once briefly and the buzzer emits three short tones -- the device is ready for operation.
Replacing the Batteries
The two AA batteries last at least 5 years, typically 8--10 years under normal operating conditions. When a battery change becomes necessary:
- Remove the 5 screws on the bottom of the device and lift off the bottom shell of the enclosure.
- Take out the two depleted AA batteries and replace them with two fresh standard AA cells -- observe correct polarity!
- Replace the bottom shell and tighten the 5 screws evenly.
When the new batteries are inserted, the device performs an automatic short boot sequence (LEDs + buzzer). The sensor retains its motor pairing data even without batteries -- no re-pairing is required after a swap.
Any common AA cells can be used (alkaline, lithium or NiMH rechargeables). Lithium cells deliver the longest run-time and are more tolerant at low temperatures; alkaline is the simplest and cheapest choice.
Placement Options
- Place directly on the floor: The device can be placed on the floor without accessories. The sensor contacts on the bottom of the housing detect water on the surface.
- With optional wall bracket: A bracket with double-sided 3M adhesive or screws is available separately. The external sensor pad plugs into the socket on the bracket via a 3.5 mm jack cable -- only the flat pad sits on the floor while the main device can be mounted higher up. The wall bracket is not included in the package.
Pairing with the Aqua-Scope Retrofit Motor
In the as-shipped state the sensor uses its factory-default own key. For the connected motor to be able to close the valve on a leak, the sensor must be paired with the motor once:
- Press the button on the sensor three times briefly -- both LEDs blink in pairing mode (max. 30 seconds).
- On the motor, press the button twice briefly.
- The sensor adopts the motor key and exits pairing mode -- the LEDs go out.
Once paired, the sensor sends every radio packet encrypted with the motor key and addressed to the motor. Any number of sensors can be paired with the same motor.
A factory reset (hold the button for 10 s, see below) clears the stored motor key. The sensor can then be paired with a different motor.
Operation
Button Functions
| Action | Function |
|---|---|
| 1× short click | Send a status packet immediately (battery + temperature + leak status). Exits transport mode if active. |
| 2× short click | Identical to single click -- immediate status packet, exits transport mode if active. |
| 3× short click | Activate pairing mode for 30 seconds (see above). |
| 4× short click | Activate transport mode (see below). |
| Hold button for 10 s | Factory reset -- stored motor key and address are cleared, the device reboots. |
LED Indication
| LED state | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Both LEDs briefly, then 3× buzzer | Boot sequence (battery inserted) |
| Red/green alternately blinking | Pairing mode active |
| Green LED briefly | Button press detected / status message being sent |
| Red LED steady + buzzer 15× | Active water alarm (leak detected) |
| Brief double flash red + buzzer | Transport mode activated |
| LEDs off | Standby (sleep mode between status messages) |
Periodic Status Messages
In normal operation the sensor periodically sends an encrypted status packet containing:
- Battery level in percent (rounded to 5 %)
- Internal temperature in °C (with factory offset)
- Current leak status (no water / water detected)
Default interval: 6 hours. Configurable from 1 minute to 24 hours via a downlink command from the motor (see "Configuration parameters" below).
Detecting a Leak
The sensor checks both leak inputs at a one-second cadence. Water must be present for at least 1.5 seconds continuously before the alarm is raised (debounce protection against splashes and momentary contacts).
When a leak occurs:
- The red LED lights up steadily, the buzzer sounds repeatedly.
- A radio packet with the valve-close command (
07 00) and the alarm-active flag (0B 01 01) is transmitted to the paired motor. - The motor closes the valve and shuts off the water supply.
When no water is detected anymore (for at least 1.5 s): a second radio packet reports the end of the alarm (0B 00 01). The valve stays closed -- it must be reopened manually or via the app.
During an active alarm the periodic status messages do not contain another valve-close command. Only the transition from "no water" to "water" (rising edge) triggers valve actuation. This prevents the sensor from re-closing an already-closed valve at every heartbeat.
Transport Mode (Quadruple Click)
To prevent any radio traffic during transport and storage (and to avoid spurious alarms from vibration or moisture), the sensor offers a transport mode:
Activate: Press the button 4 times in a row briefly. A short confirmation appears (red LED + buzzer) and the sensor switches to a silent state:
- Radio fully off -- no transmit, no receive
- Periodic status messages suppressed
- Button input remains active -- the sensor still reacts to button presses
- Leak detection remains active -- if water is detected, the sensor exits transport mode automatically
Exit: Transport mode ends automatically as soon as one of the following events occurs:
| Event | Behavior |
|---|---|
| 1× or 2× click | Transport mode off, send a status message immediately |
| Water detected (leak) | Transport mode off, send alarm packet, close valve |
Transport mode is not stored to flash. After a reset (battery removal or factory reset) the device always starts in normal operation.
Factory Reset
Hold the button continuously for 10 seconds:
- The stored motor key and motor address in flash are reset to 0xFF.
- The device performs an automatic restart.
- After the restart the sensor is back in the as-shipped state and encrypts its radio packets with its factory-default own key, until paired again.
No radio packet is sent during the reset.
Configuration Parameters
The motor (or another counterpart) can set parameters in the sensor via downlink command:
04 <param_id> <value_hi> <value_lo>
| Parameter | ID | Value range | Default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wakeup interval | 0x04 | 1--1440 (big-endian, minutes) | 360 (6 hrs) | Time between periodic status messages |
Example: Set status interval to 60 minutes → 04 04 00 3C
The new value is applied immediately, persisted to flash, and survives a reset.
Package Contents
- FLOLWE04 sensor (main device, with two AA batteries already installed)
- 1× external sensor pad with jack cable
- Manual
The wall bracket is available separately and is not included in the package.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | FLOLWE04 |
| Platform | STM32WLE5CCU6 (Cortex-M4 + sub-GHz radio) |
| Radio | LoRa Direct, SF9, coding 4/5, 125 kHz BW |
| Frequency | 868--869 MHz (EU868) / 923 MHz (US variant) |
| TX power | 22 dBm (158 mW) |
| Range | >2 km line-of-sight, multiple ceilings/walls possible |
| Encryption | AES-128-ECB per packet |
| Leak inputs | 2 (internal sensor surface + external pad via 3.5 mm jack) |
| Controls | 1 button, 2 LEDs (red, green), buzzer |
| Battery | 2 × AA (alkaline, lithium or NiMH), pre-installed; min. 5 years, typically 8--10 years |
| Protection rating | IP54 (main device), IP67 (sensor pad) |
| Operating temperature | -20 °C to +60 °C |
| Storage temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| Humidity | 0--90 % RH, non-condensing |
| Dimensions | 65 × 65 × 32 mm |
| Weight | approx. 90 g (without battery) |
Power Consumption and Battery Life
In normal operation the sensor alternates between a deep-sleep state (MCU in STOP mode, radio off) and a wake window for the periodic status message. The radio is only active during the actual transmission (typically approx. 80 ms per packet) and is fully asleep otherwise.
| State | Typical current draw |
|---|---|
| Sleep (between status messages) | < 5 µA |
| Awake, radio in RX | approx. 5 mA |
| Awake, radio in TX (22 dBm) | approx. 130 mA (for ~80 ms) |
| Active alarm (LED + buzzer + TX) | approx. 100 mA (briefly) |
| Transport mode | < 5 µA continuously |
With a status interval of 6 hours and no alarms, the estimated lifetime for two fresh AA alkaline cells is at least 5 years, typically 8--10 years (lithium AA cells reach the upper end of that range). More frequent transmissions or sustained alarms reduce battery life accordingly.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Possible cause / remedy |
|---|---|
| LEDs do not react when batteries are inserted | Check polarity of both AA cells, check voltage per cell (≥ 1.3 V fresh) |
| Pairing mode does not start (3× click) | Sensor is in transport mode -- wake it first with 1× click, then try again |
| Motor does not react to alarm | Check pairing -- if no link: factory-reset the sensor and pair again |
| Buzzer sounds but valve does not close | Check range (radio distance), reduce obstacles between sensor and motor |
| Status messages arrive irregularly | Check wakeup interval (default 6 h), check battery voltage |
| Device stays silent and seems dead | Remove both AA batteries, wait 10 s, re-insert -- factory reset on next boot is possible by holding the button for 10 s |