HOBO Advanced Frost Alarm System

The HOBO Frost Alarm System includes the RX3000 and MicroRX. These are ideal platform for growers looking to reduce irrigation cost, and automate irrigation during frost events. Research has shown that automated irrigation for frost events can significantly reduce water use.

The HOBO MicroRX systems takes advantage of the latest web-enabled technology to remotely monitor sites and to notify growers of important events such as frost conditions. HOBOlink Software provides the remote access to data from any web browser, as well as the ability to remotely change system settings.

This system has a built-in 4G cellular communications. 4G cellular has the widest coverage combined with wired connections. It also has wireless connectivity whenever it is needed.

An advantage of the Hobo Frost Alarm System is the ability to plug and play additional sensors like rain and soil moisture. The optional relay output module with our Advanced Wireless Kit gives the added ability to automatically turn on pumps, fans or sprinkler systems.

The HOBO RX3000, Onsets most flexible remote data logging station, provides instant access to site-specific environmental data anywhere, anytime via the internet. The station combines the versatility and sensor quality of more expensive systems, an onboard LCD display, and the convenience of plug-and-play operation. The RX3000 is a configurable system.

The basic configuration for frost alarms consists of the HOBO RX3000 station, a temperature sensor, and a user-supplied autostart controller. The autostart controller is needed to control the irrigation pumps during start-up, allowing the pumps time to prime which protects them from damage. A relay in the HOBO RX3000 is configured to activate the autostart controller when a frost condition occurs, and to deactivate it when the frost danger has passed.

Typically the RX3000 is configured to activate irrigation at one temperature and turn it off at a higher temperature, to avoid short-cycling the irrigation system. For example, the RX3000 can be configured to turn on irrigation when the temperature drops below 1 C, and turn off irrigation at 2 C.

Notifications can also be sent by email or SMS to one or more cell phones when the irrigation system is turned on or off, so growers can know immediately when a frost event is happening.

- 1 x RX3000 cellular data logger with 10 inputs
- 1 x HOBOnet Wireless Manager
- 1 x HOBOnet Wireless Temperature Sensor (option to choose additional sensors if required*)
- 1 x Solar Radiation Shield
- 1 x Solar Panel 5W
- 1 x SIM Plan for 12 Months
- Web Portal to manage your system remotely
- SMS and Email Messages on alarm

- Soil monitoring: Soil moisture sensors can be deployed to automate irrigation based on soil moisture, or to allow growers to monitor soil moisture and optimize irrigation schedules. Better irrigation management not only saves water, but also reduces associated pumping costs such as fuel and maintenance. Using less water also reduces storm water runoff, which reduces the chances of negative impacts on the environment.
- Rainfall Monitoring: For irrigation management, it is often important to know how much rain fell at each site, since rainfall can vary widely over an area. When rainfall data is desired, a rain sensor can be added. The rain sensor can also be used to verify irrigation amounts if it is deployed in the irrigated area (assuming a sprinkler-based system.)
- Monitoring for Clogged Filters: In some cases, the filters in irrigation system lines can become clogged with debris, and need to be cleaned in order to maintain the proper pressure in the lines to the sprinkler heads. By adding a second pressure sensor to the RX3000 system, it is easy to remotely monitor the filters, and see when filters need to be cleaned. This is done by connecting a pressure sensor to the lines on either side of a filter. When there is a large pressure drop across the filter, that means it needs to be cleaned.