Overview
Leak sensors, detection cables, and turbines with instant alerts.
The Leak Monitoring Solution seamlessly brings advanced water detection to NextCentury installations, making it the simplest and most reliable path to adopting a leak protection solution at your property. With flexible alert notifications, the responsible parties will receive a phone call, text message, and/or email whenever a leak is detected. Residents will also be alerted to the leak with a simple audible chirp.
The complete Leak Monitoring Solution is made up of two parts:
- A Leak Sensor (LS4)
- One of the following leak detection accessories:
- Water Detection Cable (Rope or Targeted)
- Mini Turbine (1/2” or 7/8”)
The accessory you choose will be determined by the needs of your property.
With whatever accessory you select, you’re choosing peace of mind. When a leak is detected, our comprehensive Leak Monitoring Service ensures immediate phone, email, and text notification allowing for immediate and impactful responses.
Components
The LS4 Leak Sensor is our industry-leading wireless Transceiver with advanced detection and flow analysis capabilities. After it processes the data from the attached accessory, it sends the data to a cloud-connected Gateway—communicating real-time status updates and leak alerts to you as soon as they’re detected.
Our durable and fast-drying Rope Cables are quick and easy to install around any drain or supply line. Because they detect water along their whole length, you can set a perimeter around water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances with multiple potential leak points to ensure you’re always protected.
Our Targeted Cables are designed to only detect water at the end of the cable, allowing for precise area monitoring. This level of precision provides property owners peace of mind with a simple and secure installation in leak-prone areas.
Each water detection cable comes in a standard six foot length. If you need additional coverage, you can mix and match water detection cables to best fit your specific application. Up to three water detection cables can be linked together for extended leak monitoring.
Our Inline Leak Detection Mini Turbines are most commonly installed in locations where inline leaks are likely to occur, such as toilets. In this configuration, the NextCentury Toilet Leak Sensor detects running toilets to notify stakeholders of water waste within their properties, promoting conservation and reducing utility costs. The Toilet Leak Sensor uses proven technology to identify issues in real time.
For information about other uses of our mini turbines, such as point-of-use monitoring, please contact sales@nextmeters.com.
Specifications
Connectivity
| Wireless Communication | Two-way NextCentury Connect™ 902-928 MHz wireless (Unlicensed Band) Wireless reads received by Gateway (required) Compatible with all NextCentury Gateways and Repeaters |
|---|---|
| In-Field Configuration | Simple programming and verification using the mobile app Tone and LED confirmation of installation |
Physical and power
| Dimensions | 3.3in x 1.8in x 1.3in (84mm x 46mm x 33mm) |
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| Battery | Preinstalled, field-replaceable CR18505 battery Typical 12-year batter longevity |
| Operation Environment | 36ºF to 140ºF | 2ºC to 60ºC Should be installed in an indoor, dry environment (up to 90% non-condensing humidity) |
Certifications
| Certifications | FCC: 2AB8I-LS4 | IC: 20949-LS4 |
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More details
| Data | 5-month history of device data and status, including leaks, temperature, and total flow information Device readiness: battery, RF signal, and tamper Configurable immediate alerts and notifications Open API access to interval data |
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| Monitoring Service | Simple no-contract monthly subscription Property portal for easy on-site management Phone, text, and email alert notification |
| Warranty | All kit components warrantied against defects in manufacture Term of 3 years from the date of manufacture For full details, see Data Gathering System Warranty |
Physical and power
| Operating Environment | 36ºF to 140ºF | 2ºC to 60ºC Should be installed in an indoor, dry environment (up to 90% non-condensing humidity) |
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More details
| Applications | Near supply lines, under sinks, and around appliances that use water (dishwashers, refrigerators, clothes washers, water heaters, etc.) |
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| Leak Detection | Targeted Cable: Detects water at a single point at the end of 6' cable Rope Cable: Detects water along the full 6' length of cable |
| In-Field Setup | Simple programming and verification using the mobile app Tone and LED confirmation of installation |
| Warranty | All kit components warrantied against defects in manufacture Term of 3 years from the date of manufacture For full details, see Data Gathering System Warranty |
Physical and power
| Flow Detection | Detects leaks as low as 0.2 GPM Maximum 5 GPM |
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| Pressure | Maximum of 150 PSI Pressure drop 0.75 PSI at 2 GPM |
| Operating Environment | 36ºF to 140ºF | 2ºC to 60ºC Should be installed in an indoor, dry environment (up to 90% non-condensing humidity) |
More details
| Applications | MT22: 7/8” toilet connections MT12: 1/2” supply lines (sinks, showers, etc.) NSF/ANSI 61 for potable water use Designed to meet AWWA accuracy standards Water up to 150ºF | 66ºC |
|---|---|
| In-Field Setup | Simple programming and verification using the mobile app Tone and LED confirmation of installation |
| Warranty | All kit components warrantied against defects in manufacture Term of 3 years from the date of manufacture For full details, see Data Gathering System Warranty |
Installation
A - LS4 Leak Sensor
B - Mounting Plate
C - Screws & Sheetrock Anchors
D - Water Detection Cables
Install the Leak Sensor
Mount the Leak Sensor
General Mounting Guidelines
Install the Leak Sensor near the desired detection area in an accessible, dry location above the level of the monitoring area. If using adhesive to mount the device, clean the wall surface first.
If the device is mounted vertically, the Leak Sensor's cable connection point must face the floor when mounted. The device's hinge will face upward.
Remove the mounting plate from the Leak Sensor.
Anchor the mounting plate using the included hardware or adhesive. If using the adhesive, it's recommended to clean the surface where the sensor will be mounted prior to mounting for better adhesion.
Slide the Leak Sensor back onto the mounting plate.
Connect the selected Water Detection Cable
Connect the Water Detection Cable to the Leak Sensor. A tone confirms that the cable is connected correctly.
For the Rope Cable, route and secure the cable. Water will be detected anywhere along the cable.
For the Targeted Cable, secure the probe to a flat surface using the provided hardware. Water will only be detected at the end of the cable at the contact points.
For multi-point detection, connect up to two additional Water Detection Cables to extend the detection area up to 18 feet.
Verify Leak Sensor Configuration
Ensure the Leak Sensor is set to the correct monitoring mode by opening the Leak Sensor's cover and holding the red button for five seconds. This will enter the device's configuration mode.
While in configuration mode, press the button again to toggle between modes until the LED matches the application.
When you've reached the right mode, wait; the device will enter that monitoring mode after a few seconds.
Remote Configuration
The Cloud Configuration option in the NCSS web portal allows you to remotely configure your Leak Sensors. This can be done before or after installation.
One unit, on the Equipment page
- On the Equipment page, select the unit, then Edit Unit.
- In the Leak Sensor's section, select Show More.
- Turn on Cloud Configured and choose the monitoring mode: In-Line for a Mini Turbine, or Out-of-Line for Water Detection Cables. Then select Save Unit.
Many Leak Sensors at once, on the Program page
- Open the Leak Sensors tab and select Start Programming.
- In the Cloud Configured column, choose Yes for each Leak Sensor you want to configure, and set its Leak Mode: In-Line or Out-of-Line. Then select Save Programming.
Cloud Configuration also helps to prevent accidental configuration switches. If the Cloud Configuration option is on and device configuration is changed via the device’s button, the device will quickly return to the correct configuration.
Note: Cloud Configuration is not available for use with GW201s.
Connect Leak Sensor to Gateway
Press the red Test Connect button. The Leak Sensor’s RF LED will blink green when it's able to communicate with the Gateway.
Note
The LS4 Leak Sensor must be programmed in the NextCentury Cloud and its Gateway must be online in order to begin communicating with its Gateway.
If the Leak Sensor is programmed to its Gateway and green blinks are not seen, ensure the Gateway and Repeaters are powered and online, then retry. If green blinks are not seen after retrying, an additional Repeater likely needs to be installed.
Please contact our support team for assistance.
A - LS4 Leak Sensor
B - Mounting Plate
C - Screws & Sheetrock Anchors
D - Mini Turbine (7/8")
E - Mini Turbine Clip
Install the Leak Sensor
Drain toilet and disconnect supply line
Turn the toilet supply live valve off and flush the toilet until the tank is empty.
Disconnect the supply line from the toilet. There may be a small amount of water that comes out of the line upon disconnection.
Install the Mini Turbine
Attach the Mini Turbine to the toilet at the supply line connection point.
Reconnect the supply line to the Mini Turbine. Turn the supply line valve on.
Connect the Mini Turbine to the Leak Sensor
Connect the cable from the Mini Turbine to the Leak Sensor.
Flush the toilet and confirm a blue pulse on the inside of the Leak Sensor. The blue light indicates that water flow is detected.
Verify Leak Sensor Configuration
Ensure the Leak Sensor is set to the correct monitoring mode by opening the Leak Sensor's cover and holding the red button for five seconds. This will enter the device's configuration mode.
While in configuration mode, press the button again to toggle between modes until the LED matches the application.
When you've reached the right mode, wait; the device will enter that monitoring mode after a few seconds.
Mount the Leak Sensor
Slide the included Mini Turbine Clip onto the neck of the Mini Turbine.
Remove the included mounting plate from the back of the Leak Sensor.
Slide the back of the Leak Sensor onto the Mini Turbine Clip.
When mounted, the Leak Sensor's cable connection point must face the floor. The hinge will face upward.
Alternate Mounting Option
If desired, the Leak Sensor can be mounted on a wall instead of using the included Mini Turbine Clip. Mount the Leak Sensor behind the toilet using the mounting plate's built-in adhesive. It is recommended to clean the surface of the wall prior to mounting for better adhesion.
Connect the Leak Sensor to the Gateway
Press the red Test Connect button. The Leak Sensor's RF LED will blink green when it's able to communicate with the Gateway.
Note
The LS4 Leak Sensor must be programmed in the NextCentury Cloud and its Gateway must be online in order to begin communicating with its Gateway.
If the Leak Sensor is programmed to its Gateway and green blinks are not seen, ensure the Gateway and Repeaters are powered and online, then retry. If green blinks are not seen after retrying, an additional Repeater likely needs to be installed.
Please contact our support team for assistance.
FAQ
Leak Sensors should be installed in any location where a leak will cause damage and may go unnoticed. Common locations are in utility closets, under sinks, dishwashers, and refrigerators.
If multiple Water Detection Cables are used, detection can be extended to more than one zone using a single Leak Sensor. Up to 3 Targeted or Rope Sense Cables can be daisy-chained together.
Leak Sensors can be installed in any area where plumbing leaks can occur and cause damage. Sensors are especially important in locations where leaks may go unnoticed. Common locations are in utility closets, under sinks, dishwashers, and refrigerators.
To reduce false alarms, avoid wrapping rope cables around plumbing supply or drain lines that may collect condensation. Instead, secure the rope cable on the floor below these lines.
Leak Sensors can also detect inline leaks when paired with Mini Turbines in the Toilet Leak Sensor application.
A full guide can be found on our Leak Monitoring Installation page.
Your property will need one Gateway which will provide cloud-connectivity to your Leak Sensors. In most apartment building types, one Repeater is needed for every 30-60 apartment units.
If your property is already using NextCentury equipment for tracking utility usage, then the existing Gateway is compatible with the Leak Sensors. Additional Repeaters are only needed if Leak Sensors are installed beyond the existing RF coverage area, or if there was already insufficient RF coverage.
Our Product Support Team can evaluate your property and provide recommendations.
When water is detected, the Leak Sensor will send a message to the cloud which then will trigger any text, phone, or email notifications that have been enabled. An audible chirp will alert you to the location of the leak.
After the problem is resolved, the rope cable may take up to 30 minutes to dry out, at which point the audible chirp will stop. Using a towel to remove any standing water will reduce this time.
When water is detected, an audible chirp will sound.
Additionally, the Leak Sensor will immediately send this alert to the cloud through the Leak Monitoring Service, notifying any property manager or maintenance staff which have been added as contacts.
The Leak Monitoring Service provides property owners and managers a dashboard view of equipment connectivity, health, and alert status for all protected units.
This property leak management solution includes specialized alerting through email, text, and phone to ensure that leaks are caught quickly to reduce the risk of property damage.
The NextCentury Leak Sensors are used with the comprehensive Leak Monitoring Service to provide property owners and managers a dashboard view of equipment health and alert status for all protected units. This property leak management solution includes specialized alerting through email, text, and phone to ensure that leaks are caught quickly to reduce potential property damage.
Stand-alone Leak Sensors can detect leaks and sound an audible alarm. NextCentury network equipment and the Leak Monitoring Service subscription are required for cloud management and notifications.
The Leak Sensor is unable to have a Data Resolution higher than every 6 Hours. This is because a Leak Sensor is designed to check in immediately after it detects a leak. The check-in time is only to check if the device is still able to be read from the Gateway.
If you are looking to test the check-in quality you can put the device in Rapid Check-in Mode by pressing the red button inside the device 5 times quickly.
The device can be put into Rapid Check-in Mode by pressing the red button inside 5 times quickly.
Your Billing Company or Installer can initially add one or more property contacts for access to your property web portal.
If you already have access to the property portal and would like to add additional contacts, select the gear icon to add or remove other contacts.
If you are no longer the correct contact for receiving notifications and managing alerts, click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the latest notification email you have received.
Alternatively you can view the full list of alert contacts for your property and make adjustments at property.nextcenturymeters.com.
The Leak Sensor used with the Rope Cable will detect standing water anywhere along the length of the cable. A leak of any size that creates at least some standing water along the length of the cable will be detected.
The Targeted Cable will detect any standing water that touches its contact points. A leak of any size that creates at least some standing water at this installed point will be detected.
Yes. The Leak Sensor has built-in cable disconnection alerts to inform you when a Water Detection Cable becomes disconnected.
Disclaimer
Disconnection alerts are only generated when the cable attached directly to the Leak Sensor is disconnected. If you have linked multiple cables in sequence to one Leak Sensor, a disconnection between cables will not trigger an alert.
The Leak Sensor detects any standing water present on the Rope Cable or Targeted Cable contacts. If after inspection, water is not found be sure to double check that the Leak Sensor’s serial number matches the unit and location for which the alert was received.
The website alert details will display the specific timing of when water was first detected, at what level, and when and if the location is now dry. These details may be helpful in determining why the alert was triggered.
The Leak Sensor converts the pulse history to a generic usage and sends a 24-hour history of usage to the Gateway in each message. The 6 hours leading up the normal check-in is stored in 5 minute intervals (72 usage records), and the other 18 hours is stored in 30 minute intervals (36 usage records). The Gateway passes these reads up to the NextCentury cloud which then analyzes the usage history to determine whether a toilet is leaking.
The Toilet Leak Sensor Kit includes a 7/8” Mini-Turbine Meter for inline leak detection. The flow sensor can be attached to any 7/8” inline pipe.