METER GROUP 5TE User manual

5TE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction.............................................................................................. 1

2. Operation ...................................................................................................2

2.1 Installation ................................................................................................2

2.2 Removing the Sensor .................................................................................4

2.3 Connecting................................................................................................. 4

2.3.1 Connect to METER Data Logger........................................................5

2.3.2 Connect to a Non-METER Data Logger .............................................5

2.4 Communication .........................................................................................6

3. System......................................................................................................... 8

3.1 Specifications............................................................................................8

3.2 About 5TE ................................................................................................ 11

3.3 Theory...................................................................................................... 12

3.3.1 Volumetric Water Content.............................................................. 12

3.3.2 Temperature .................................................................................. 12

3.3.3 Electrical Conductivity .................................................................. 12

3.3.4 Converting Bulk EC to Pore EC ....................................................... 13

3.3.5 Pore Water Versus Solution EC....................................................... 14

4. Service....................................................................................................... 15

4.1 Calibration ............................................................................................... 15

4.1.1 Dielectric Permittivity.................................................................... 15

4.1.2 Mineral Soil Calibration ................................................................. 15

4.1.3 Calibration in Soilless Media ......................................................... 16

4.2 Cleaning and Maintenance....................................................................... 16

4.3 Troubleshooting....................................................................................... 17

13509-10

2.28.2019

5TE

4.4 Customer Support.................................................................................... 18

4.5 Terms and Conditions .............................................................................. 19

References .................................................................................................... 21

Index ................................................................................................................. 22

iii

5TE

1. INTRODUCTION

Thank you for choosing the ECH2O 5TE Volumetric Water Content (VWC), Temperature, and

Electrical Conductivity (EC) sensor from METER Group.

This manual guides the customer through the sensor features and describes how to use the

sensor successfully. METER hopes the contents of this manual are useful in understanding

the instrument and maximizing its benefit.

Prior to use, verify the 5TE arrived in good condition.

OPERATION

2. OPERATION

Please read all instructions before operating the 5TE to ensure it performs to its full

potential.

PRECAUTIONS

METER sensors are built to the highest standards, but misuse, improper protection, or

improper installation may damage the sensor and possibly void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Before integrating 5TE into a system, make sure to follow the recommended installation

instructions and have the proper protections in place to safeguard sensors from damage.

2.1 INSTALLATION

When selecting a site for installation, remember that the soil adjacent to the sensor surface

has the strongest influence on the sensor reading and that the sensor measures the VWC

of the soil. Therefore, any air gaps or excessive soil compaction around the sensor and in

between the sensor prongs can profoundly influence the readings.

• If installing sensors in a lightning-prone area with a grounded data logger, please read

Lightning surge and grounding practices.

• Test the sensors with the data logging device and software before going to the field.

Do not install the sensor adjacent to large metal objects such as metal poles or stakes. This

can attenuate the sensor's electromagnetic field and adversely affect readings. In addition,

the 5TE sensor should not be installed within 5 cm of the soil surface, or the sensing volume

of the electromagnetic field can extend out of the soil and reduce accuracy.

Because the 5TE has gaps between its prongs, it is also important to consider the particle

size of the medium. It is possible to get sticks, bark, roots or other material stuck between

the sensor prongs, which will adversely affect readings. Finally, be careful when inserting the

sensors into dense soil, as the prongs can break if excessive sideways force is used when

pushing them in.

When installing the 5TE, it is imperative to maximize contact between the sensor and soil.

The sensor body needs to be completely covered by soil (Figure1).

5TE

ERROR

TEST

(–)

(+)

(–)

(+)

(–)

(+)

(–)

(+)

(–)

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6

Figure1 Example of 5TE proper installation

For most accurate results, the sensor should be inserted into undisturbed soil. There are two

basic methods to accomplish a high-quality installation.

With either of these methods, the sensor may still be difficult to insert into extremely

compact or dry soil.

NOTE: Never pound the sensor into the soil! If there is difficulty inserting the sensor, loosen or wet the soil.This will

result in inaccurate VWC measurements until the water added during installing redistributes into the surrounding soil

METHOD 1. HORIZONTAL INSTALLATION

1. Excavate a hole or trench a few centimeters deeper than the depth at which the sensor

is to be installed.

2. At the installation depth, shave off some soil from the vertical soil face exposing

undisturbed soil.

3. Insert the sensor into the undisturbed soil face until the entire sensor is inserted. The

tip of each prong has been sharpened to make it easier to push the sensor into the soil.

Be careful with the sharp tips!

4. Backﬁll the trench taking care to pack the soil back to natural bulk density around the

sensor body of the 5TE.

METHOD 2. VERTICAL INSTALLATION

1. Auger a 3-in hole to the depth at which the sensor is to be installed.

2. Insert the sensor into the undisturbed soil at the bottom of the auger hole using a hand

or any other implement that will guide the sensor into the soil at the bottom of the hole.

Many people have used a simple piece of PVC pipe with a notch cut in the end for the

sensor to sit in, with the sensor cable routed inside the pipe.

3. After inserting the sensor, remove the installation device and backﬁll the hole taking

care to pack the soil back to natural bulk density while not damaging the black

overmolding of the sensor and the sensor cable in the process.

OPERATION

View a visual demonstration on proper installation of the sensor in How to install soil

moisture sensors.

The sensor can be oriented in any direction. However, orienting the flat side perpendicular

to the surface of the soil will minimize effects on downward water movement. The sensor

measures the average VWC along its length, so a vertical installation will integrate VWC over

a 10-cm depth while a horizontal orientation will measure VWC at a more discrete depth.

The 5TE sensor makes EC measurements by exciting one screw on the sensor and measuring

the current that moves from that screw to the adjacent grounded screw. The distance

between the screws is an important part of the EC calculation. If 5TE sensors are placed

close together (within 20 cm), it is possible for some of the current that leaves the excited

screw to pass through the nearby sensor ground screw, thus producing an erroneous

sensor reading.

This problem occurs regardless of which logging system is being used if the ground wires

are connected at all times. If sensors must be close together (e.g., column experiments),

consider a multiplexing option that would isolate the ground wires.

If installing sensors vertically at short depth intervals, do not bury them directly over the top

of each other. Although at times the vertical distance may be less than 20 cm, the sensors

can be staggered horizontally so they are not directly above each other, thus meeting the

distance requirement.

2.2 REMOVING THE SENSOR

When removing the sensor from the soil, do not pull it out of the soil by the cable! Doing so

may break internal connections and make the sensor unusable.

2.3 CONNECTING

The 5TE works seamlessly with METER data loggers. The 5TE can also be used with other

data loggers, such as those from Campbell Scientific, Inc. For extensive directions on how to

integrate the sensors into third-party loggers, refer to the 5TE Integrator Guide.

5TE sensors require an excitation voltage in the range of 3.6 to 15 VDC. 5TE can be integrated

using DDI serial or SDI-12 protocol. See the 5TE Integrator Guide for details on interfacing

with data acquisition systems.

The 5TE sensors come with a 3.5-mm stereo plug connector (Figure2) to facilitate easy

connection with METER loggers. 5TE sensors may be ordered with stripped and tinned wires

to facilitate connecting to some third-party loggers (Section2.3.2).

5TE

Ground

Data output

Power

Figure2 3.5-mm stereo plug connector wiring

The 5TE comes standard with a 5-m cable. It may be purchased with custom cable lengths for

an additional fee (on a per-meter basis). METER has successfully tested digital communication

on cable lengths up to 1,000 m (3,200 ft). This option eliminates the need for splicing the cable

(a possible failure point). However, the maximum recommended length is 75 m.

2.3.1 CONNECT TO METER DATA LOGGER

The 5TE sensor works most efficiently with METER ZENTRA series data loggers. Check the

METER download webpage for the most recent data logger firmware. Logger configuration

may be done using either ZENTRA Utility (desktop and mobile application) or ZENTRA Cloud

(web-based application for cell-enabled ZENTRA data loggers).

1. Plug the stereo plug connector into one of the sensor ports on the logger.

2. Use the appropriate software application to conﬁgure the chosen logger port for the 5TE.

3. Set the measurement interval.

METER data loggers measure the 5TE every minute and return the minute-average data

across the chosen measurement interval.

5TE data can be downloaded from METER data loggers using either ZENTRA Utility or

ZENTRA Cloud. Refer to the logger user manual for more information about these programs.

2.3.2 CONNECT TO NONMETER DATA LOGGER

The 5TE sensor can be used with non-METER (third-party) data loggers. Refer to the third-

party logger manual for details on logger communications, power supply, and ground ports.

The 5TE Integrator Guide also provides detailed instructions on connecting sensors to

non-METER loggers.

5TE sensors can be ordered with stripped and tinned (pigtail) wires for use with screw

terminals. Refer to the third-party logger manual for details on wiring.

Connect the 5TE wires to the data logger as illustrated in Figure3 and Figure4, with the

power supply wire (brown) connected to the excitation, the digital out wire (orange) to a

digital input, and the bare ground wire to ground.

OPERATION

Ground (bare)

Data output (orange)

Power (brown)

Figure3 Pigtail wiring

NOTE: Some 5TE sensors may have the older Decagon wiring scheme where the power supply is white, the digital out

is red, and the bare wire is ground.

Excitation Digital

Data Logger

Ground

Data output

(orange)

Ground

(bare)

Power

(brown)

Figure4 Wiring diagram

NOTE: The acceptable range of excitation voltages is from 3 to 15 VDC. To read 5TE sensors with Campbell Scientific

data loggers,power the sensor from a switched 12-V port or a 12-V port if using a multiplexer.

If the 5TE cable has a standard stereo plug connector and needs to be connected to a

non-METER data logger, please use one of the following two options.

Option 1

1. Clip off the stereo plug connector on the sensor cable.

2. Strip and tin the wires.

3. Wire it directly into the data logger.

This option has the advantage of creating a direct connection with no chance of the sensor

becoming unplugged. However, it then cannot be easily used in the future with a METER

readout unit or data logger.

Option 2

Obtain an adapter cable from METER.

The adapter cable has a connector for the stereo plug connector on one end and three wires

(or pigtail adapter) for connection to a data logger on the other end. The stripped and tinned

adapter cable wires have the same termination as in Figure4: the brown wire is excitation,

the orange is output, and the bare wire is ground.

NOTE: Secure the stereo plug connector to the pigtail adapter connections to ensure the sensor does not become

disconnected during use.

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