AirGradient Forum

AirGradient Open Air Max ETA

Hardware extensions
#1

Hello All,
So I read in the new year email about the AirGradient Open Air Max.
Since I was planning to order an Open Air, anyone knows if the new device is near a release?

Thanks.

#2

The new model is at least 4-5 month away from release.

1 Like
#3

Are there any imminent plans for a new indoor model?

#4

No plans right now. Is there anything you like to see improved?

#5

A radon sensor would be nice for the indoor version which is optional.

1 Like
#6

I’m also about to buy an Air Things for radon monitoring

1 Like
#7

I think having additional sensors for things like CO or O3 or any specific compounds that could be a larger concern from wildfire or other fire-related smoke would be great if these sensors exist and are cost-accessible. Recently in the US in the last 6 months we’ve had wildfire smoke (many places but especially LA), a chlorine products factory fire (Atlanta, GA), and a lithium battery fire (Bay Area, CA).

Other than that, maybe a somewhat larger screen for more to be shown, and maybe a front/side accessible button (or tap sensor?) for functions like toggling info on the display or such. Would also be nice to be able to unplug from power and have maybe 10-60 seconds to plug it into another power source, like if we’re moving it or connecting to battery.

#8

Radon, Radon and Radon!!!

2 Likes
#9

Could you make Open Air Max model modular for users can swap modules and decide what pollutants are important for specifically this user?

Here is the WHO list of the most significant outdoor pollutants that affect human health:

  • PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5)
  • CO (carbon monoxide)
  • O3 (ozone at ground level)
  • NO2 (nitrogen dioxide)
  • SO2 (sulfur dioxide)

Radon monitoring also can be useful for people who live at the ground floor.
Can we expect that kind of modularity to swap/change sensors like it already implemented with current Open Air monitor model (we can use CO2 + PM2.5 or PM2.5 + PM2.5 now)?

#10

Yes, the idea is to offer different configuration possibilities like mentioned above.

1 Like
#11

In addition to Radon, as discussed in other threads and here. I would happily pay a premium for a radon sensor. I understand things cost money. A radon sensor can be as simple as a tin can with some wire Quick Radon Detector for the Student… Surely something exists. Saf Aranet and Airthings have dedicated products for this.

I would love to see a larger screen on an upgraded “pro” or “max” model of the indoor unit that shows a bit more information. Maybe E-ink to keep power consumption low? Having current readings plus a 15 minute rolling average would be nice to see at a glance, as an example. Especially if you are wall-mounting. There’s plenty of empty surface area on the front of the existing housing :).

There’s also information not shown on the current screen. As an example, wifi signal strength and the IP address would be useful if printed on the screen. So would firmware version. Having more pixels means you can display much more information.

Existing unit costs ~$200 assembled. Add a $100/$150 retail, get a bigger screen and a radon sesnor? You should still have some margin so you could also eat. :slight_smile:

Also @Achim_AirGradient What is the planned MSRP for an assembled Air Max unit?

1 Like
#12

Just sensors cost 400 USD (by retail prices) without work and additional modules.
Hope Airgradient can get it with more affordable price because of a large batch at a time.

#13

I think you may be overestimating the scale of AirGradient. Its an opensource project, not the Amazon Air Quality monitor.

#14

We just launched a landing page for the Open Air Max (including some price estimations).

The First Professional-Grade, Affordable Air Quality Monitor

Let me know if any questions.

1 Like
#15

I just signed up to be notified.

Quick question. Could a 3rd configuration be potentially available later? I don’t reallty think I need the solar panel/battery combo, but I am interested in the additional sensors. USB-C power is easy enough to provide for me.

#16

Yes. Most likely we will offer this.

1 Like
#18

Can’t sleep so channeling my dwindling brain power into this.
@Achim_AirGradient
In the listing:

Particle Sensor Module x2 Plantower PMS5003 (laser scattering principle).
Accuracy: PM2.5 ±10% @ 100–500 µg/m3, ±10 µg/m3 @ 0–100 µg/m3 (PM1 and PM10 are also measured, but PM2.5 has the highest accuracy).

How exactly does/will this work? Are the two sensors individually reporting their values or are they somehow averaged/combined? Whats the use case?

Painting in broad brush strokes here based on prior experience with other non-air quality things…
Having two of something like this may counterintuitively make readings less accurate.

If we have 1 “good” sensor and 1 “bad” sensor, the values that will get returned may end up ping-ponging between them resulting in a jittery mess. Even two known “good” ones would have this problem, it would just be less pronounced.
Similar analogy:

S1: I’m right!
S2: No, I’m right!
S1: No! I’m right!
S2: No, I’m right!
S1: No! I’m right!

etc, etc for infinity.

You would really need 3 sensors to see a benefit, so that a quarum could be established.

S1: I’m right!
S2: No, I’m right!
S3: No! S1 is actually right!

You could simulate this probably easily in your lab. If you stacked 3 AirGradient ONEs one on top of the other, but each rotated 90* (or maybe 45*) from the one below it. This way you get different angles of air currents. I bet you would get really good results for less money than a reference monitor, even in edge cases where the Plantower sensor doesn’t normally do as well (PM2.5 200+).

If you do the same with 2, especially when you are dealing with edge cases, like very high PM2.5, I would bet dollars to donuts your results will be worse than with just a single unit.

You would have to sample all of the sensors many times very quickly.

Also, the Plantower sensor is pretty big at 50mmĂ—38mmĂ—21mm. Thats alot of used space for something that may not actually improve the product.