The PurpleAir Utility
The PurpleAir Utility is a tool that allows the user to interact with a PurpleAir sensor directly.
This tool enables you to:
- Flash a copy of firmware onto a sensor.
- Erase the firmware on a sensor.
- View the output from a sensor.
- View data from the sensor’s serial port on a graph in real-time.
- Process and view data created on a microSD card from a PurpleAir SD edition sensor.
Before you start, you will need:
- A computer running macOS or Microsoft Windows.
- A micro USB data cable to connect your PurpleAir sensor to the computer.
- A minimum of 120 MB of free space on your computer.
To download and install the PurpleAir Utility:
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Download the PurpleAir Installer for your system:
- Windows: http://update.purpleair.com/desktop/PurpleAir-1.0.6.exe
- Mac: http://update.purpleair.com/desktop/PurpleAir-1.0.6.pkg
If the link does not open, copy and paste it into the address bar in a new tab.
- Windows: http://update.purpleair.com/desktop/PurpleAir-1.0.6.exe
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Run the installer and follow the instructions given (Note: Mac users may need to right-click the downloaded file and select either “run” or “open” to run the installer the first time).
Using the PurpleAir Utility
When the utility is opened, the startup screen provides information on using the application, as well as a link to install USB drivers if necessary.
View Sensor Logs: You can view your sensor’s real-time output with the utility.
- Connect your PurpleAir sensor to your computer with a micro USB cable.
- In the utility under “Select a Serial Port,” select the port for your sensor (it is likely that it will have “usbserial” in the name). If you do not see your sensor’s port, download the USB drivers using the “Install USB Drivers” link.
- If your device has an SD card, remove it temporarily.
- Press “Connect.”
- Allow the utility to run for around ten seconds. After that, the sensor logs should begin to appear.
Flash Firmware: The utility is able to re-flash firmware onto your PurpleAir sensor.
- Connect your sensor to the utility by following the steps to “View Sensor Logs” above.
- Once your sensor has been connected, select the firmware to flash onto your device under “Select a Flash Action” (will most likely be named “SensorFirmware6.02f.bin”).
- Press “Flash.”
- This may cause your sensor to disconnect from the WiFi. If your sensor has disconnected, follow the steps here to reconnect your device.
- Once you have confirmed that your sensor is online and reporting, you can disconnect the device from your computer.
Erase a Sensor’s Flash Memory: With the utility, you can completely erase your sensor’s flash memory.
- Connect your sensor to the utility by following the steps to “View Sensor Logs” above.
- Once your sensor has been connected, select “Erase ALL Memory” under “Select a Flash Action.”
- Press “Flash.”
- This may cause your sensor to disconnect from the WiFi. If your sensor has disconnected, follow the steps here to reconnect your device.
- Re-register your sensor at Register to place your sensor on the map | PurpleAir.
- Once you have confirmed that your sensor is online, registered, and reporting, you can disconnect the device from your computer.
Merge and Clean SD Card Data: You can merge and clean data collected with your sensor’s SD card with the utility.
- Transfer the files from your sensor’s SD card onto your computer.
- In the utility, press “SD Data Tool.” A popup window will appear.
- Change the source to the location where your SD card files are located.
- Change the destination to the location where you want to save your new files.
- Press “Clean & Merge Files.”
Interface Functions
Serial port drop-down
This drop-down contains a list of ports on the computer. If you are unsure of which one the sensor is using, disconnect the sensor and look at the list. Connect the sensor and refresh the list by reopening the drop-down. The sensor will be any new port that appears. Windows users will see a name such as ‘COM2’, while Mac users will see a name containing ‘usb-serial’.
When using the ‘Monitor’ feature, you do not need to select the port before using the Monitor button.
Connect button
After selecting a serial port, the Connect button will attempt to connect to a sensor on that serial port. This allows you to see what the sensor is sending from the port and can be useful for troubleshooting. We may ask you to share that text with us if you are having trouble with your sensor.
Flash selection drop-down
This drop-down allows you to perform actions on the sensor. You can flash a known, reliable firmware, select a firmware file to flash, or use the ‘erase’ feature to completely erase the firmware.
If you use the erase feature, you will need to do two things: 1) Flash a firmware file, and 2) Submit the registration form to reset the sensor’s data keys.
After selecting an option from this list, as well as a port, press the Flash button to perform the action.
Copy button
Use this button to copy all text in the console window. This is the area on the startup screen that displays messages from the sensor as well as the help text. If clicking this button fails to copy the Console text, click five times on the console text. This converts it to a text box that allows you to copy it directly. Pressing Enter will revert back to the formatted view. Please note that new messages will be shown in this text box view.
Clear button
This button clears the console of all messages.
Monitor button
This opens the Monitor interface that is used to view real-time data from connected sensors, data from an SD card, or previously recorded data produced by the Monitor tool.
SD Data Tool button
This button allows you to merge multiple SD card data files produced by an SD edition PurpleAir sensor into a single file. It also “cleans” the data and collects all CSV data that may be present in any files on the SD card.
Special keys
The PurpleAir utility’s startup screen uses no special key functions or shortcuts.
The PurpleAir Utility’s Monitor Screen
The monitor screen is accessed by pressing the Monitor button on the startup screen. It provides the interface for analyzing existing data, as well as collecting real-time data from a sensor or sensors connected to a serial port.
Data tabs
Each data type has its own tab along the top of the monitor screen.
PM1.0 ATM
The mass concentration of particles with an average diameter of 1 micrometer (1μm) or less. This parameter is measured in μg/m3, or micrograms per cubic meter of air. ATM indicates measurements suitable for outdoor or “atmospheric” conditions.
PM2.5 ATM
The mass concentration of particles with an average diameter of 2.5 micrometers (2.5μm) or less. This parameter is measured in μg/m3, or micrograms per cubic meter of air. ATM indicates measurements suitable for outdoor or “atmospheric” conditions.
PM10 ATM
The mass concentration of particles with an average diameter of 10 micrometers (10μm) or less. This parameter is measured in μg/m3, or micrograms per cubic meter of air. ATM indicates measurements suitable for outdoor or “atmospheric” conditions.
AQI ATM
The PM2.5 ATM value converted to the US EPA PM2.5 AQI. ATM indicates measurements suitable for outdoor or “atmospheric” conditions.
PM1.0 CF1
The mass concentration of particles with an average diameter of 1 micrometer (1μm) or less. This parameter is measured in μg/m3, or micrograms per cubic meter of air. CF1 indicates measurements suitable for indoor or “controlled” environments.
PM2.5 CF1
The mass concentration of particles with an average diameter of 2.5 micrometers (2.5μm) or less. This parameter is measured in μg/m3, or micrograms per cubic meter of air. CF1 indicates measurements suitable for indoor or “controlled” environments.
PM10 CF1
The mass concentration of particles with an average diameter of 10 micrometers (10μm) or less. This parameter is measured in μg/m3, or micrograms per cubic meter of air. CF1 indicates measurements suitable for indoor or “controlled” environments.
AQI CF1
The PM2.5 CF1 value converted to the US EPA PM2.5 AQI. CF1 indicates measurements suitable for indoor or “controlled” environments.
0.3μm
The number of particles whose diameter measures 0.3 micrometers or greater. This parameter is measured in μm/dL, or micrometers per deciliter of air.
0.5μm
The number of particles whose diameter measures 0.5 micrometers or greater. This parameter is measured in μm/dL, or micrometers per deciliter of air.
1.0μm
The number of particles whose diameter measures 1.0 micrometer or greater. This parameter is measured in μm/dL, or micrometers per deciliter of air.
2.5μm
Number of particles whose diameter measures 2.5 micrometers or greater. This parameter is measured in μm/dL, or micrometers per deciliter of air.
5.0μm
The number of particles whose diameter measures 5.0 micrometers or greater. This parameter is measured in μm/dL, or micrometers per deciliter of air.
10μm
The number of particles whose diameter measures 10 micrometers or greater. This parameter is measured in μm/dL, or micrometers per deciliter of air.
T
The temperature inside the sensor’s housing - this temperature reading will be approximately 8 degrees higher than ambient conditions due to heat generated by the WiFi module in the sensor’s control board.
H
The humidity inside the sensor’s housing - this humidity reading will be approximately 4% lower than ambient conditions due to heat generated by the WiFi module in the sensor’s control board.
DP
The dew point inside the sensor’s housing in Fahrenheit. This value is calculated using the temperature and humidity, which are affected by the heat generated by the WiFi module.
P
Current pressure in millibars.
ADC
The voltage reading on the analog input of the control board.
Mem
Free HEAP memory on the control board.
RSSI
WiFi signal strength in dBm.
U
This is the Uptime, or the amount of time the sensor’s CPU has been running since it was powered up.
^ or v
This switches all separate graphs to be displayed on one large graph or switches back to the individual graph view.
Keyboard Shortcuts and Special Actions
‘A’: Toggle the graph for Channel A.
‘B’: Toggle the graph for Channel B.
‘R’: Toggle the dots that represent the ‘R^2’ correlation data.
Keys ‘1’ through ‘0’: set the graph to use the last x% of the data present. 1 is 10%, 2 is 20%, etc. 0 is 100%.
‘L’: Toggle ‘live’ data traces. These are the lighter colors of red and blue and represent the real-time or live data coming from the sensor. This is only applicable for sensors currently connected to the serial port(s) or data that was previously recorded.
‘M’: Toggle ‘median’ or averaged data traces. These darker red and blue colors represent data that is present on SD card files as well as the sensors connected to the serial port, or data recorded from sensors that were previously connected to the serial port.
‘SHIFT’: Toggle a vertical line that shows the data values under the cursor for all displayed sensors.
Zooming: Click and drag a box around the data you are interested in seeing close-up. If there are multiple sensors connected, this will zoom all windows to allow a side-by-side comparison. You may zoom in further by clicking and dragging a new box around an area of interest. To reset the zoom, click once on any graph.