Integrated Soil Moisture Monitoring Station - IC-SNiP-TER0-A

The SNiP-TER0 is a 'Sensor Node Integrated Package' for LoRa, LoRaWAN or FSK communication of real-time soil moisture measurement for continuous soil monitoring.

The base SNiP-TER0 integrates 1x AD-NODE and 1x METER Group TEROS-10 soil moisture sensor to a site's unique network, communication and power requirements.

The METER Group TEROS-10 measures the dielectric permittivity of a surrounding medium using capacitance technology. The sensor uses a 70 MHz frequency, which minimises salinity and textural effects, making it an ideal sensor in agricultural and standard scientific projects.

AD-NODE

The AD-NODE is designed for those requiring precision in their analogue and digital measurements. With a 24-bit ADC, the AD-NODE supports two RTDs, a 0 to 10V with compressing range and a 4 to 20mA input. Each of the four dry-contact digital inputs is capable of simultaneously sampling at 1 kHz, with periodic reporting. Settings on the device can be altered remotely via LoRaWAN or locally via USB.

Features:

- LoRaWAN low-power long-range connectivity
- 2x 24-bit RTD
- 1x 24-bit Voltage input (0-10 V with compressing range)
- 1x 24-bit 4-20 mA
- 4x 32-bit dry-contact counting digital inputs, 2 x digital outputs
- 400 Hz 3-Axis Accelerometer
- 3 x AA Lithium Energizer battery
- Fully reconfigurable via LoRaWAN downlinks

TEROS 10

The TEROS 10 is a ruggedized version of METER Group's basic, no-frills soil moisture sensor. Its 70-MHz frequency minimizes salinity and textural effects, making it accurate in most soil or soilless media. With a tough, epoxy body, the TEROS 10 is designed to withstand some of the harshest field conditions, which means problem-free measurements over the longevity of your research. The TEROS 10 sensor lets you characterise your site with sensors at multiple depths and locations, even on a tight budget.

Features:

- Low-cost, ruggedized soil moisture sensor
- Ideal for large sensor networks
- Sharpened stainless steel needles are securely fastened and reduce breakage
- Compatible with TEROS Borehole Installation Tool ensuring fast, error-free installation with little site disturbance
- Measure VWC in a harsh environment
- Robust epoxy body means it lasts for 10+ years in the field
- 430 mL volume of influence
- Plug and play with METER data loggers
- Ferrite core eliminates cable noise
- Easy integration with third-party systems

Volumetric water content (VWC) specifications

Ranges:

- Mineral soil calibration: 0.00 to 0.64 m3/m3
- Soilless media calibration: 0.0 to 0.7 m3/m3
- Apparent dielectric permittivity (?a): 1 (air) to 80 (water)
- Resolution: 0.001 m3/m3
- Dielectric measurement frequency: 70 MHz

Accuracy:

- Generic calibration: +/- 0.03 m3/m3 (+/- 3.00% VWC) typical in mineral soils that have solution EC less than 8 dS/m
- Medium specific calibration: +/- 0.01 to 0.02 m3/m3 (+/- 1 to 2% VWC) in any porous medium
- Apparent dielectric permittivity (ea): 1 to 40 (soil range) , +/- 1 ea (unitless) 40 to 80, 15% of measurement

NOTE: The VWC range is dependent on the media the sensor is calibrated to. A custom calibration will accommodate the necessary ranges for most substrates.

Communication specifications:

- Output: 1,000 to 2,500 mV
- Temperature: Operating range: ?40 to 60 C
- Data logger compatibility: METER data loggers (ZL6, EM50/60 series) or any data acquisition systems capable of switched 3.0 to 15 VDC excitation and single-ended voltage measurement at greater than or equal to 12-bit resolution.

Physical specifications:

- Dimensions (LxWxH): 5.1 cm (2.02 in) x 2.4 cm (0.95 in) x 7.5 cm (2.95 in)
- Needle/Probe length: 5.4 cm (2.11 in)
- Cable length: 5 m (standard) 40 m (maximum custom cable length)

NOTE: Contact Customer Support if a non-standard cable length is needed

Electrical and Timing Characteristics

Supply voltage (VIN to GND):

- Minimum: 3.0 VDC
- Typical: NA
- Maximum: 15.0 VDC

Operating temperature range:

- Minimum: +40 C
- Maximum: 60 C

NOTE: Sensors may be used at higher temperatures under certain conditions; Contact Customer Support for assistance

Measurement duration:

- Maximum: 25ms
- Typical: 50ms
- Minimum: 10 ms