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Wireless Soil Moisture/ Temperature Station

• With coarse, shallow or layered soils, root systems may be limited in 

depth. 

• Guidelines on proper depths for specific crops and conditions can be 

obtained from your local farm advisor.

Installation Procedure

1. Soak the soil moisture sensors overnight in water. 

• Always “plant” a wet soil moisture sensor. 

• If time permits, wet the soil moisture sensor for 30 minutes in the morn-

ing and let dry until evening, wet for 30 minutes and let dry overnight, 
wet again for 30 minutes the next morning and let dry again until 
evening. Soak over the next night and install wet. This will improve sen-
sor response during the first few irrigations or waterings.

2. Make sensor access holes to the depth required with a 7/8” diameter rod.

• Make a hole for the soil moisture sensor and a separate adjacent hole for 

the temperature probe.

• For very coarse or gravely soils, an oversize hole of 1” to 1 1/4” may be 

needed to prevent abrasion damage to the soil moisture sensor mem-
brane. In this case, you will need to “grout in” the sensor with a slurry 
made from the sample soil to get a snug fit in the soil.

3. Always install sensors in the active root system of the crop with a snug fit in 

the soil.

CAUTION:

In gravelly soils and with deeper sensors, carefully install the sensor to prevent dam-

aging the membrane. 

Sensor depth
dependent on:

• crop rooting 

depth

• soil texture 

and depth

Co-locate

temperature probes 

and 

moisture sensors

Some crops need

measurement at

more than one depth

Sensors must be located in the effective root system of the crop

Summary of Contents for Soil Moisture/Temperature Station

Page 1: ...in a Soil Moisture Station Note The Soil Moisture Station requires Vantage Pro console firmware dated Oct 25 2001 or later Press and hold the DONE key then press the UP arrow key to display the consol...

Page 2: ...the Soil Moisture Station page 8 Installing soil moisture sensors page 10 Using soil moisture readings page 15 Troubleshooting soil moisture sensors page 15 Preparing the Soil Moisture Station The fol...

Page 3: ...oisture probe to the SOIL 1 terminal block connector Use a pen or small screwdriver to open the connector jaws as shown in the illustration While the jaws are open insert the temperature probe leads t...

Page 4: ...eans the DIP switches are in the OFF position when each transmitting station leaves the factory This is true for all of Davis wireless equipment 1 Verify the DavisTalk channel used by your ISS as well...

Page 5: ...the UP or DOWN arrow keys to activate reception of that ID code Make sure the screen shows ON 4 Press the GRAPH key until the word SOIL appears 5 To exit Setup Mode press and hold the DONE key Note S...

Page 6: ...ich should be every 10 seconds If the LED flashes only once and then remains dark there is a problem with the transmitter See Contacting Davis Technical Support on page 15 If the LED flashes repeatedl...

Page 7: ...fy or by some obstacle that you can t work around If necessary consider using Wireless Repeater 7624 or 7625 to strengthen the signal or increase the distance between the transmitter and the console r...

Page 8: ...ter 5 Put a flat washer a lock washer and a hex nut on each bolt end and tighten the hex nuts Mounting on a Vertical Surface 1 With a 3 16 5 mm drill bit drill two holes approximately 2 50 mm apart Us...

Page 9: ...rature probe is not used the soil moisture reading can be off as much as 1 for every 1 F 0 5 C error in the soil temperature Note If no soil temperature probe is used the console will use a default te...

Page 10: ...e of this process over time and develop an irrigation scheduling pattern to meet your crop s need for water This minimizes the guesswork resulting in water savings lower pumping costs and the eliminat...

Page 11: ...sor area With center pivots place sensors at 4 locations down the length of the pivot just in front of the start point Place sensors at hot spots or good production areas being sure to stay in active...

Page 12: ...terings 2 Make sensor access holes to the depth required with a 7 8 diameter rod Make a hole for the soil moisture sensor and a separate adjacent hole for the temperature probe For very coarse or grav...

Page 13: ...its snugly over the sensor collar and can be used to push the sensor A good snug fit in the soil is important Carefully backfill the access hole with soil to eliminate any air pockets 5 You can solven...

Page 14: ...until the reading is in the 25 40 area at the recommended 3 5 depth Removing the Sensors 1 When removing sensors prior to harvest in annual crops it s a good idea to do this just after the last irriga...

Page 15: ...acting Davis Technical Support If you have questions about your Soil Moisture Station or encounter problems installing or operating the station please contact Davis Technical Support Note Please do no...

Page 16: ...will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on the user is e...

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