STIHL Smart Connector 2 A

The Smart Connector 2 A is only compatible with STIHL cordless products that have been specially designed to be ready for use with it.
Currently the following cordless power tools from the AP modular system are compatible:
FSA 135, HLA 135, HTA 135, KMA 135 and HSA 94 (serial number 443309622 and up. Older power tools can be converted by your STIHL servicing dealer). Additional power tools will follow in the near future.

No, the Smart Connector 2 A is only compatible with STIHL cordless power tools that are designed to be ready for use with it, and cannot be operated with other STIHL power tools or power tools from other manufacturers.

The Smart Connector is basically the right choice for all STIHL power tools (except those STIHL power tools which are ready to use with the Smart Connector 2 A) as well as for products from other manufacturers. The Smart Connector 2 A, on the other hand, can only be used with STIHL cordless power tools that have been designed to be ready to use with it.

Smart Connector:

• Universally usable with all STIHL power tools (except STIHL power tools supplied ready to use with the Smart Connector 2 A) and products from other manufacturers.
• Attached to the outside of the power tool.
• Has no connection to the engine's battery communication.
• Runtime is measured using the magnetic field sensor integrated in the Smart Connector.
• Only records operational time, and regularly transmits this for display and use in the STIHL connected App and the STIHL connected Portal.
• User interaction directly on the Smart Connector is not possible.

Smart Connector 2 A:

• Only compatible with suitably designed STIHL cordless power tools.
• Can be inserted into the housing of suitably designed STIHL cordless power tools.
• Cable connection for battery communication with the engine.
• Runtime data is read directly from the engine's control unit. This enables the display of runtime history and a daily updated runtime.
• Records operational hours and speed, ambient temperature and faults, including time and date stamp.
• User interaction directly on the Smart Connector 2 A possible by means of a button and an LED.

The total power tool runtime measured by the Smart Connector 2 A can be transmitted. Complete data transfer (e.g. maintenance messages, error messages, runtime history or speed history) is currently only possible using the STIHL connected App. We are working on also being able to promptly read these data using the STIHL connected Hub.

The instructions in the operating manual for the connected power tool and the Smart Connector 2 A must be followed. The cover may only be removed for installing and removing the Smart Connector 2 A, and must be kept for the entire service life of the Smart Connector 2 A. The power tool supplied ready for use with it can only be used with the cover or a Smart Connector 2 A installed.

No. Products designed for use with the Smart Connector 2 A absolutely must be connected to the Smart Connector 2 A to facilitate the full functional scope of STIHL connected.

• The Smart Connector 2 A can only be set up using the STIHL connected App.
• The first step is to download the STIHL connected App from the app store on your mobile device.
• Create a new account or log into STIHL connected with your existing user data.
• Click the "+" on the power tool overview and then select "STIHL product with Smart Connector 2 A".
• Follow the steps in the STIHL connected App and create the STIHL product you would like to connect the Smart Connector 2 A to in the STIHL connected app.

When the Smart Connector 2 A is initially paired, a key exchange must take place between the STIHL connected App and the Smart Connector 2 A for security reasons. This means it is currently only possible to set up the product using the STIHL connected App. The Smart Connector 2 A has made the product setup process in the app much easier. This is because all machine data, such as the serial number, are automatically communicated to the app via Bluetooth during the setup process, so there's now no need to scan those data in.

A 3-volt CR2450 button cell battery is required for operation of the Smart Connector 2 A.

The runtime per button cell is approximately 1.5 years, depending on the intensity of use and individual use behavior.

For initial pairing of a Smart Connector 2 A, a key exchange needs to take place between the STIHL connected App and the Smart Connector 2 A. The STIHL connected App is essential for this. Unfortunately there is not yet a servicing dealer app linked with STIHL connected; therefore, it is also not yet possible for specialist dealers to set up the Smart Connector 2 A for their customers via the specialist dealer account. However, we are working on solutions to enable servicing dealers to also pair the Smart Connector 2 A as usual in future.

• Power tool status check using a button directly on the Smart Connector 2 A itself.
  This means you can check the power tool status at any time.
• Recognition of active faults, including extended description for the STIHL servicing dealer.
  This results in complete transparency within your entire operation and with your trusted STIHL servicing dealer.
• Manual marking of the power tool via button operation on the Smart Connector 2 A.
  This ensures that your colleagues in the workshop know exactly what needs to be done on a power tool if they notice something wrong while they are working on it, even before it returns to the warehouse in the evening.
• Power tool identification by activating the LED of the Smart Connector 2 A via the STIHL connected app.
  The means power tools don't get mixed up and less time is spent looking for them.
• Speed histogram and new product history with supplementary information in the STIHL connected Portal.
  This gives you insights into the use of your power tools over their entire service life.
• Power tool runtime updated on a daily basis, as well as runtime history.
  This provides you with a comprehensive analysis of your power tool usage over time.

• When inserting the button cell:
  The LED lights up green continuously for several seconds. The Smart Connector 2 A is ready for pairing.
• When accessing the power tool status by briefly pressing the button:
  Green: There are no active messages on the Smart Connector 2 A.
  Yellow: There are active messages on the Smart Connector 2 A. The messages can be viewed using the STIHL connected App or the STIHL connected Portal. Examples include "maintenance due" messages and manually set marks.
  Red: A permanent fault has been detected. Information on an existing fault can be viewed using the STIHL connected App or STIHL connected Portal. The power tool is only ready for operation again when the fault has been eliminated.
• When identifying the power tool using the STIHL connected App:
  The LED of the respective Smart Connector 2 A lights up in the color indicating the current status.

The Smart Connector 2 A receives the information needed for setting the status directly from the engine's control unit. This means it is not possible to change the product status manually.

The runtime is transmitted from the control unit directly to the Smart Connector 2 A, via a cable connection.

•  Press the Smart Connector 2 A button and hold it for longer than 3 seconds to "mark" the power tool.
• Once manual marking is complete, the LED of the Smart Connector 2 A will light up in yellow.
• The STIHL connected App will then display a message that the power tool has been marked.
• Enter details in the "Reason for mark".
• Synchronization with the backend only takes place once the entry has been made in the STIHL connected App.

Manually marking a power tool is similar to adding a Post-It note to a machine when maintenance is needed, so that the workshop employee knows exactly what needs to be done – but here it's in a digital format.

So that, for example, your colleagues in the workshop can immediately understand why a manual mark has been added. This makes it easier to schedule service work, as you already know what needs to be serviced or repaired before the power tool returns to the workshop in the evening.

Briefly pressing the button on the Smart Connector 2 A accesses the status.

Green: There are no active messages on the Smart Connector 2 A.
Yellow: There are active messages on the Smart Connector 2A. The messages can be viewed using the STIHL connected App or the STIHL connected Portal. Examples include "maintenance due" messages and manually set marks.
Red: A permanent fault has been detected. Information on an existing fault can be viewed using the STIHL connected App or STIHL connected Portal. The power tool is only ready for operation again once the fault has been eliminated.

Further details on existing messages or faults can be found in the STIHL connected App or in the STIHL connected Portal.

In the event of active faults, the power tool automatically switches off, and the LED lights up red when the button is pressed. Faults present on the power tool are detected by the control unit and stored there. The cable connection between the control unit and Smart Connector 2 A means that any faults present are transmitted to the STIHL connected App, and as such to the cloud, via the Smart Connector 2 A.

Faults that are detected via the power tool control unit are reported. Among others, this includes faults in the electronic module, faults in the electric motor, faults in the sensor cable and faults in the product switch.
Only electronic faults can be displayed on STIHL connected. Mechanical faults cannot be detected. The red LED is therefore not a definite indicator that your product is ready for use.

Following reactivation of the maintenance messages, the maintenance intervals are recalculated in the STIHL connected Portal. Maintenance that would have become due during the period of deactivation will not be subsequently displayed.

The servicing concept is very important at STIHL. As such, even though some options can be deactivated, the "General maintenance work" category cannot be deactivated; this is in order to ensure a minimum standard of service is maintained.

The STIHL connected App and the STIHL connected Portal provide you with a constant overview of the current battery status of the button cells in each Smart Connector 2 A. You will also receive an early notification in the App and Portal as soon as the button cell needs to be replaced. In addition, there is a defined voltage threshold in the sense of a final escalation level. When voltage levels fall below this threshold, the yellow LED on the Smart Connector 2 A is also activated.

Yes. As long as the battery is in place and the power tool is active and in operation, the Smart Connector 2 A is powered by the power tool battery. This also means that the button cell is not discharged by use during this time.

The Smart Connector 2 A can be reset to factory settings using a hard reset. To perform a hard reset, proceed as follows:

• Before starting the hard reset, remove the power tool battery from the power tool.
• Remove the button cell from the Smart Connector 2 A.
• Press and hold the button on the Smart Connector 2 A continuously throughout the next steps.
• Reinsert the button cell.
• The LED will then light up continuously in green. Please wait until the LED starts flashing green.
• Now release the button, press the button again within a maximum of 3 seconds, and continue to hold it down.
• The LED will briefly switch off completely and will then be reactivated after a few seconds and light up in green.

The hard reset has been performed successfully.

The required steps are explained in the STIHL connected App.

The STIHL connected App will display a notification that the Smart Connector 2 A is currently in a power tool other than the one it was originally connected to, so that you can put it back in the correct power tool.

If a Smart Connector 2 A is replaced with another one, the runtime recorded up to that point for the connected power tool is not lost. After successful pairing, the current operational hours status is transferred from the control unit to the new Smart Connector 2 A again via the STIHL connected App.

The LED status is always reset only once the new information has been synchronized between the STIHL connected App / STIHL connected Hub and Smart Connector 2 A. This requires an available Bluetooth connection, i.e. the Smart Connector 2 A must be within Bluetooth range of the smartphone or connected Hub (approx. +/- 10 m).

The data required for display needs to be manually synchronized from the STIHL connected App to the backend so that they can also be displayed in the STIHL connected Portal. This can be done on the product detail page for the corresponding product under the "Smart Connector" and "Synchronize data" point.

Because of its direct connection to the battery communication, the Smart Connector 2 A can read significantly more data from the power tool than the Smart Connector is able to. In addition, unlike the Smart Connector, the Smart Connector 2 A contains an integrated real-time clock. This means that runtime data collected with the Smart Connector 2 A can be displayed and evaluated in even more detail on the product detail page.

It may be that your Smart Connector 2 A still lights up in red/yellow even after it has been maintained/repaired by your servicing dealer. This could happen for the following reasons:

Yellow LED: Although completed maintenance tasks have already been documented in the Portal, the new status has not yet been synchronized to the Smart Connector 2 A, e.g. because synchronization with the STIHL connected App or a STIHL connected Hub has not yet taken place, or there are still further manual marks or maintenance messages open.

Red LED: Although completed repair tasks have already been documented in the Portal, the new status has not yet been synchronized to the Smart Connector 2 A, e.g. because synchronization with the STIHL connected App or a STIHL connected Hub has not yet taken place. Or: The fault was not eliminated properly and is still active on the power tool's control unit; in this case, the LED will still light up in red despite confirmation of the repair in the STIHL connected Portal.