ArgusKAI app guide

1 The app at a glance

With the ArgusKAI app you set up your ArgusKAI and check what it is guarding. The app talks to the device directly over Bluetooth. There is no account and no registration.

• Requirements: an Android phone with Android 12 or later or an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, Bluetooth switched on, and an ArgusKAI within range; a few metres are enough.
• Languages: German, English, French, Spanish and Italian. The app follows your phone's language; you can change it under Settings.
• Does the app have to stay open? No. ArgusKAI guards by itself. You only need the app to check on things and make changes.

How to set up the device and what it can do by itself is explained in the User manual.

2 Installation and permissions

1. Install: the “ArgusKAI” app from the App Store or Google Play; you will find the links at www.arguskai.com/app. Participants in the beta programme get the app ahead of time directly from us.
2. Allow Bluetooth: The first time it starts, the app asks for permission to use Bluetooth; on Android it is called “Nearby devices”. Please allow it; without it, the app cannot find any ArgusKAI.

If the permission was denied, the app reports Bluetooth permission missing – please allow it in the app settings. You can then grant it in your phone's settings, under the ArgusKAI app. If Bluetooth is off, the app shows Bluetooth is switched off – please turn it on.

3 Start screen: finding and connecting to ArgusKAI

While not connected, the app shows the start screen Find ArgusKAI. It immediately searches for ArgusKAI devices nearby and lists them with their name and signal strength.

1. Tap your ArgusKAI. You will find its name on the label: ArgusKAI-XXXXXX.
2. The first time, your phone asks for a code, see section 4 “Pairing on first connection”.
3. Once the connection is established, the overview opens.

The app remembers the last connected ArgusKAI and, the next time it starts, connects to it by itself as soon as it is within range. If it cannot be found, the app shows Last connected ArgusKAI-XXXXXX is not in range. Is it powered on and nearby?

Also on the start screen: Check nearby devices (see section 14 “Check mode: checking nearby devices”), About ArgusKAI, Privacy and Legal notice.

4 Pairing on first connection

So that only you can get into your ArgusKAI, each phone pairs with it once. For this, the phone shows its own window with an input field.

1. Enter the six-digit pairing code from the label and confirm. You have 30 seconds to do this.
2. Done. From now on, this phone connects without a code.

If it does not work

5 The overview

The overview is the main screen once the app is connected.

Header

• the name of your ArgusKAI and the connection status: connected, connecting … or disconnected
• Guard active or, during a release, Release active
• two icons on the right: the clock opens Events, the gear Settings

Device cards

Each guarded device has a card with:

• name and status: guarded, disconnected – searching…, paused · 10 min left or paused · permanently
• a type badge if ArgusKAI knows the device type, such as BMS
• Key ✓ and PIN ✓ if a key or PIN is saved
• Bluetooth address and signal strength
• the most important readings, for batteries for example Voltage, Current, Level, Charge and Discharge, for solar chargers PV power, State and Yield today
• the pause buttons, see section 9 “Release and pause”

The readings refresh every few seconds while the app is open. Tapping a card opens the device details, see section 7 “Device details”.

Alarm, release, update

• If discharging is switched off on a battery, a red bar appears: ⚠ Discharge is switched off! What to do then is explained in the User manual, section 7 “Alarm: discharge switched off”.
• The Release (all devices) card releases all devices for ten minutes, see section 9 “Release and pause”.
• When new firmware is available, the app shows Firmware update x.y.z available. Tapping it takes you to the update, see section 13 “Firmware update”.
• Add device adds a device, see section 6 “Adding a device”.

6 Adding a device

1. In the overview, tap Add device.
2. Tap Scan for devices. ArgusKAI searches for about five seconds and lists the Bluetooth devices nearby that have not been saved yet. Each entry shows whether ArgusKAI can display its readings (readings are shown) or only guards it (guard only, no readings).
3. Tap your device. The app asks Connect to this device? and reminds you to add only your own devices.
4. Enter a name, such as “House battery”, and tap Connect.

The app then reports the result:

7 Device details

Tapping a device card opens the details: name and status at the top, the readings in large print below.

Readings

Depending on the device type, the Readings section shows, for example:

• Batteries: Voltage, Current, Power, Level, Cell voltages, Temperatures, Charge cycles, Remaining capacity, Design capacity and the BMS protection status in plain language, such as Cell undervoltage or Discharge over-temperature
• Solar chargers: PV power, Voltage, State, Yield today
• Battery monitors: Voltage, Current, Level, Consumed, Time to go

If ArgusKAI does not know a device's data format, the card says Guarded · readings not yet available for this device type.

Controls

• Pause 10 min, Pause permanently and Resume: see section 9 “Release and pause”
• Key/PIN: key for devices that broadcast encrypted readings, and a PIN note, see User manual, section 8 “Devices and readings”
• Rename: new name with 1 to 32 characters. Key, PIN and pause are kept.
• Remove: After a confirmation prompt, the device is deleted and no longer guarded.

8 Switching charging and discharging

For batteries that support it, the device details show the Switches section with Charge and Discharge.

• Switching on takes a single tap.
• Before switching off, the app asks for confirmation: Really switch charging off?
• For discharging, it asks twice. First comes the notice Warning: switching discharge OFF can cut all power. If ArgusKAI is powered by this battery, the app connection dies too – it can only be re-enabled on site. and then Really switch discharging off now?

If the BMS does not accept the command, the app reports Switch command rejected by the BMS. The manufacturer's limits and settings deliberately cannot be changed via ArgusKAI.

9 Release and pause

Release for all devices

The Release (all devices) card in the overview temporarily releases all devices, for example for the app from your battery or solar charger manufacturer.

• Release for 10 minutes: ArgusKAI drops all connections. The card shows Release active and the time remaining, for example 8 min left.
• End release: ArgusKAI takes over again immediately.
• After ten minutes, ArgusKAI takes over by itself.

Pause for a single device

On the device card and in the device details:

• Pause 10 min: Only this device is released for ten minutes; the others stay guarded.
• Pause permanently: The device stays released until you tap Resume, even after a restart.
• Resume: The device is guarded again immediately.

10 Events

The clock in the header opens the event log: the last 30 events, newest at the top, in your language. For example:

• House battery connected – now guarded.
• Connection to House battery lost – searching…
• WARNING House battery: discharge was SWITCHED OFF!
• Release active – apps can connect.
• Update successful: 3.6.40 → 3.6.41.

ArgusKAI counts the time since it started; from this, the app works out the date and time using your phone's clock. After a restart or power failure, the log starts afresh.

11 Settings

The gear in the header opens the settings.

12 Home Wi-Fi

Over your home Wi-Fi the ArgusKAI fetches firmware updates by itself. Later it will also use it for remote monitoring (data to a server, alarm notifications). The Bluetooth protection itself needs no Wi-Fi.

1. Under Settings, in the Home Wi-Fi section, tap Set up Wi-Fi.
2. ArgusKAI searches for the Wi-Fi networks around it. Under Choose Wi-Fi, tap your network.
3. Enter the Wi-Fi password and tap Save. For an open network, leave the field empty.

The section then shows Connected or Disconnected. The Home Wi-Fi active switch turns the home Wi-Fi off and on again without deleting the access details; Remove home Wi-Fi deletes them.

13 Firmware update

1. Requirement: The home Wi-Fi is set up and connected, see section 12 “Home Wi-Fi”.
2. When a new version is available, the app shows Firmware update x.y.z available. Tap it or open Settings, then tap Update now.
3. The app asks for confirmation: Download and install firmware x.y.z now? Guarding pauses during the update, the device restarts – the app reconnects automatically. Confirm.
4. The Firmware update screen appears with Update in progress – the ArgusKAI will restart shortly. ArgusKAI switches off Bluetooth, downloads the firmware and restarts. Stay nearby and keep the device connected to power.
5. After the restart, the app reconnects by itself and shows the result. Done takes you back.

The message No home Wi-Fi connected – update not possible. means that no home Wi-Fi is connected.

14 Check mode: checking nearby devices

Check mode shows how open the Bluetooth devices around you are. It also works without an ArgusKAI: on the start screen under Check nearby devices.

The app only listens to what nearby Bluetooth devices broadcast on their own and rates how open their interface is. Nothing is changed; a test connection is started only on request.

Tapping a device shows details and a recommendation. For unknown devices, Test connection starts a brief connection that neither reads nor changes anything. Only start a test connection with your own devices. Report device type opens an e-mail to us so that we can add the device type.

15 Several ArgusKAI

One ArgusKAI for each place, for example in the camper and on the boat. The app is connected to one of them at a time.

1. Open Settings and tap Connect a different ArgusKAI.
2. On the start screen, tap the ArgusKAI you want. Each one needs its own pairing code the first time.

The app remembers the last one connected and reconnects to it the next time it starts.

16 Privacy

No account, no registration, no advertising, no analysis of your behaviour.

The app’s only internet access: it fetches a small version file from arguskai.com so it can show you a firmware update. No identifier, no location, no device data. Everything else runs over Bluetooth between your phone and your ArgusKAI.

Full details in the CamperStation privacy policy.

17 Messages and what they mean