I am beginning to work on a prototype project for a client utilizing the client’s Electron device and SIM card. The client has a Particle account, but has not yet claimed the device or SIM.
I would like to develop using my own Particle account instead of utilizing the client’s Particle credentials (this seems irresponsible/inappropriate anyway), so I’ll need to setup the Electron on my account. However, the client intends to use the Particle SIM card in this prototype after I deliver it, and all cellular billing in this project is the client’s responsibility. The client is not willing to add their payment method to my account for activating the SIM card and cellular billing (nor do I want that), so I don’t see how I can claim the Electron and get started with the cellular features. I’m confused about how to proceed.
How can the client activate the Particle SIM to their own account, while I temporarily claim the Electron to my account during development? The client will later claim the device after development is complete.
The Electron and SIM are not tied to each other and it’s common for them to be claimed to different accounts. In corporations, for example, the SIMs might be claimed by purchasing or someone with a corporate credit card, and Electrons would be claimed by individual developers.
The client should activate the SIM only at https://setup.particle.io using the activate SIM only option.
Then, you should install the Particle CLI on your computer if you have not done so already. The command line utilities are useful not only for solving this problem but will be valuable later on, as well.
https://docs.particle.io/guide/tools-and-features/cli
If you are using Windows, be sure to use the link to Windows CLI Installer that will automatically install all of the components instead of the more complicated manual install.
Put the Electron into Listening mode (blinking blue) by holding down SETUP until it blinks blue. Then issue the CLI command:
particle serial identify
Save the Device ID; you’ll need it next.
Reset the Electron and wait for it to breathe cyan. The next step won’t succeed until it’s breathing cyan. The SIM must be activated for this to work.
Then issue the command:
particle device add YOUR_DEVICE_ID
When development is done, you unclaim the device from your account and the client will claim back to their account.
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Thanks for responding. So what you’re saying is that it’s impossible to claim the Electron using the web interface in this scenario? I must use the cli device add command?
Method 2
If you don’t want to install the CLI now, you can use one of the techniques in this document for finding your device ID:
https://docs.particle.io/faq/particle-devices/finding-device-id/electron/
Once you know it, you can go to https://build.particle.io. Select the Devices icon (circle with 4 lines) and use the Add Device link to add the device. The Electron must be in breathing cyan mode and then use the Device ID you obtained earlier and enter it into the box.
Thanks for this info. I’m going to see if I can make this work with the client and I’ll report back for the record.
It worked via over USB, but I used particle identify (without serial) to get the device ID. Thanks!