Hawk - Configure Sensirion SPS30 Particulate Matter Sensor
Written by Cameron Everett
Updated at May 18th, 2026
Table of Contents
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Please ensure to also read the below for full details on configuring Tasks and I²C Sensors for the Hawk
This Sensiron sensor is an I2C air quality sensor integrated with the Hawk.
3rd Party Sensor
As this is a 3rd Party sensor - the advice given below is general. Always check the product datasheet direct from the manufacturer. Specific guidance on installation and usage should be obtained directly from the manufacturer. The instructions below are based on a sensor tested at the time of article writing - things may change.
IO Card
Ensure a plug-in IO card with an I²C interface is fitted to the Hawk.
| Sensor | Agtech1 | Bluetooth+ |
| VCC | Hawk IO 5 | Hawk IO 7 |
| SCL | Hawk IO 6 | Hawk IO 5 |
| SDA | Hawk IO 4 | Hawk IO 6 |
| GND | Hawk GND | Hawk GND |
Firmware
The AgTech1 card firmware should be set to 1.18+, and the Bluetooth card should be set to v1.9+ (coming soon).
Parameters
Please see the I2C Action tab in Device Manager:
Parameter |
Description |
Default |
Min |
Max |
Param1 |
Start-up time (s); 0 = dynamic |
Dynamic |
8* |
60 |
Param2 |
Sampling time (s) |
15 |
1 |
120 |
Param3 |
Fan clean period (# measurements) |
100 |
1 |
10080 |
* Excludes 0, which is used for dynamic start-up
Default values are assumed when parameters are set to 0.
The Process
- Measurement is triggered
- Execute the 10-second fan cleaning operation if the configured number of samples between fan cleans (Param3) has been exceeded
- Wait for the configured start-up time (Param1) to allow readings to stabilise and the fan to reach operational speed.
- Record data for the configured sampling time (Param2).
- Log data to the device.
Configuration Recommendations
A start-up period of up to 30 seconds is recommended to allow readings to stabilise and the fan to reach operational speed. A shorter start-up may be sufficient when particulate concentrations are high.
For low-power operation, Sensirion proposes a dynamic start-up process. This dynamic start-up can be enabled by setting parameter 2 to equal 0. It involves measuring the PM2.5 number concentration after start-up has lasted 14s and adapting the delay as follows:
- If PM2.5 concentration > 300 #/cm³ → immediately begin processing
- If PM2.5 concentration ≤ 300 #/cm³ → wait an additional 14 seconds
While 30 seconds of sampling is recommended for accuracy, this can be reduced to save energy.
The time between fan cleans should be no longer than a week. When deciding the number of measurements between fan cleanings, consider that the time taken for each measurement is as follows:
