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AquaCheck ACPROBE-R Instruction Manual

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AquaCheck ACPROBE-R
Instruction Manual
Feb 2015
www.aquacheck.co.za

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Summary of Contents for AquaCheck ACPROBE-R

  • Page 1 AquaCheck ACPROBE-R Instruction Manual Feb 2015 www.aquacheck.co.za...
  • Page 2 This publication is intended only to assist the reader in the use of the product. AquaCheck (Pty) Ltd shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of any information contained in this publication, or any error or omission in such information, or any incorrect use of the product.
  • Page 3 STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCY ELECTRO-MAGNETIC COMPLIANCE The ACPROBE-R wireless probe has been tested and found to comply with the limits for this Class digital device, pursuant to the requirements of the CE rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
  • Page 4 NOTICE: Changes or modifications made to this equipment not expressly approved by AquaCheck (Pty) Ltd. could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. Use only AquaCheck (Pty) Ltd approved accessories. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following...
  • Page 5 Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence. L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes : (1) l'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et (2) l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement.
  • Page 6 “...then anyone who leaves behind him a written manual, and likewise anyone who receives it, in the belief that such writing will be clear and certain, must be exceedingly simple-minded...” Plato (423-347 BC).

  • Page 7: Table Of Contents

    CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES .........................9 Introduction ........................10 ACPROBE-R Wireless System Components ..............11 Probe construction ......................13 General Statistics ......................14 Sensor Configuration .....................14 Probe Settings .........................14 Hand-held wireless logger .....................15 Introduction ......................15 Menu Functions .......................17 THE STEPS OF COMMISSIONING ..............20 COMMISSIONING STEPS IN DETAIL ..............20 Charge the logger’s battery.
  • Page 8 16 Getting Started .......................37 16.1 STEP 1 – Setup logger .....................37 16.2 STEP 2 - Activate probe (s) ..................37 16.3 STEP 3 – Installing the Software ................37 16.4 STEP 4 – Setting up blocks ..................39 16.5 STEP 5 – Connecting the logger to the CropGraph software ........39 16.6 STEP 6 –...

  • Page 9: List Of Figures

    LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Hand-held wireless logger ................... 11 Figure 3: AquaCheck probe ....................12 Figure 4: Probe Construction ..................... 13 Figure 5: RF Utility Software....................15 Figure 6: Drilling a hole with the hand-held auger ............30 Figure 7: Collecting sand from the augured hole ............31 Figure 8: A good fitting access tube ..................

  • Page 10: Introduction

    The sensors are typically positioned at various depths on a column 32mm in diameter. The current AquaCheck probe range offers six standard length options varying from 200mm to 1200mm. The 400mm typically has 4 sensors and the 1200mm offers 6 sensor depths (see page 10 –...

  • Page 11: Acprobe-R Wireless System Components

    RF Utility Module d. Installation Kit The AquaCheck Basic II wireless probe is also offered in a sub-surface configuration for turf and pasture applications. For this application the probe head and shaft are separate units joined by a 0.5m cable. The shaft is equipped with a hardened top cap, which if viewed from the top, looks like a standard popup sprinkler head once installed.
  • Page 12 Figure 2: AquaCheck probe ACPROBE-R...

  • Page 13: Probe Construction

    2 Probe construction PROBE COVER PROBE HEAD LONG/SHORT CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY PROBE SHAFT BOTTOM STOPPER Figure 2: Probe Construction...

  • Page 14: General Statistics

    Soil temperature on each depth. 5 Probe Settings Various settings on the AquaCheck ACPROBE-R probe can be changed such as ID number, date/time, logging interval, etc. A special utility tool is available from your distributor which will enable you to change these settings. For more information...

  • Page 15: Hand-Held Wireless Logger

    6 Hand-held wireless logger 6.1 Introduction The AquaCheck Basic II data logger is a component of the AquaCheck soil moisture management system. A typical soil moisture system consists of soil moisture probes and a Data logger. The probe data (soil moisture and temperature) are relayed to...
  • Page 16 New firmware offering additional features on the loggers are released from time to time or as needed. There is a software utility available to upgrade your logger. Please visit the AquaCheck website to verify the latest logger firmware version for your logger at www.aquacheck.co.za...

  • Page 17: Menu Functions

    AquaCheck Basic II data logger. The AquaCheck Basic II data logger as shown above is fitted with the following: Omni-directional internal antenna 2 x 16 character Back light LCD Dot matrix display 5 pin socket for charger and downloading data to a P.C.
  • Page 18 Once the logger is turned on(press the ON/OFF key) then the display turns on, displaying the following information in quick succession: Brand Firmware Version Type Time & Date Boot Loader Bootl.dr SW4920 Data 16:45 Aqua v1.00 Ver 1.04 Logger 4 Oct 08 Check...
  • Page 19 Once the time and date is displayed, press the Menu key to gain access to the logger functions. The functions can be scrolled and the menu is circular as displayed below: 16:45 4 Nov ‘08 Each item on the screen flashes. Pressing the /Scroll key at this time selects the next menu item.

  • Page 20: The Steps Of Commissioning

    6.3 THE STEPS OF COMMISSIONING Charge the logger’s battery. Once the probes and PRO II’s are installed, record the unique ID of each one. Program each ID’s into a profile on the logger. Set the current Time and Date on the Logger Perform a profile log on all of the probes/PRO II’s.

  • Page 21: Record The Unique Id Of Each Basic Ii Probe Pro Ii

    7.2 Record the unique ID of each Basic II probe PRO II. Although the ID’s/serial numbers are all 5 digits long, the 1 digit is always set to ‘5’. When programming the Logger, always programme the ID’s of the RF STUBS/PRO’s omitting the first digit(5).

  • Page 22: Program The Current Time And Date Into The Logger

    7.4 Program the current Time and Date into the Logger Turn on the Logger and then press the Menu/ key. 16:45 4 Nov 08 Press the Menu/ key until the ‘Set Time & Date’ menu is displayed Press Menu Example: To change the time from 16:35 to 17:00 ...

  • Page 23: Perform A Profile Log On All Programmed Profiles

    7.5 Perform a Profile Log on all Programmed Profiles Profile logging allows one to collect the data from BASIC II probes and PRO II’s in close proximity of 16:45 4 Nov 08 the point of logging and only the unread data is retrieved.

  • Page 24: Additional Features

    ADDITIONAL FEATURES 8.1 Single Log 16:45 4 Nov O7 One can access all of the stored logs on a probe by means of a single log. Please note that due to the amount of data involved; it can take a couple of minutes to download the data. Press Menu Follow the steps below to retrieve the data: ...

  • Page 25: Clear All Logs

    Clear All Logs Once all of the data is downloaded to a PC, the databank of the logger should be cleared. To clear the databank follow the instructions below: 16:45 4 Nov O7 Press Menu  Profile Log Clear All Logs Single Log ...

  • Page 26: View Stats

    View Stats In order to keep track of the logging of data, one can view the quantity of stored logs in the logger’s 16:45 4 Nov 08 memory. This is a useful feature if one wants to know specifically how many logs were downloaded from a profile or ID.

  • Page 27: Trouble Shooting

    Trouble shooting Symptom Possible Cause Solution Display Dim Battery depleted Charge battery After a group log, the 1. Logger out of range 1. Move closer to the logger displays ‘No 2. Probe ID incorrect device. Keep the logger Probes’ upright with the antenna pointing upwards to the sky when doing a log.

  • Page 28: Taking A Reading

    10 Taking a reading  Please note: All probes are shipped with the battery pack disconnected. To activate the probe, the probe head needs to be removed by turning it through 45 first and then by pulling it upwards. Make sure the battery board is properly seated and then connect the battery pack.

  • Page 29: Single Log

    All the available data from this probe will be downloaded. 11 Add-on’s The AquaCheck probe offers plug & play options for a rain gauge and or a dendrometer (PlantSense ). To add a rain gauge, the default battery pack and probe head needs to be replaced with the appropriate components.

  • Page 30: Installation Of The Probe

    13 INSTALLATION OF THE PROBE Make sure that the time & date is set on the probe before installing it. It is also recommended to remove obsolete data from the probe first. This can be done by using the RF Utility toolkit or by using the logger. As a general rule it is strongly advisable to test the probe for integrity before installation.
  • Page 31 Figure 5: Collecting sand from the augured hole Figure 6: A good fitting access tube...

  • Page 32: Using The "Slurry Technique

    Figure 7: Wetting the profile If the profile has been wetted sufficiently, the wall of the hole should remain in tacked and allow for easy access. With some installations and after the probe has been lowered into the hole, there might be a thin cavity between the probe shaft and hole wall.
  • Page 33 Figure 8: Pouring slurry from the augured hole back into the hole A slightly oversized hole is drilled to the desired depth using the supplied auger. It is important to keep the auger as straight as possible. Try not to “ream” the access hole.
  • Page 34 Figure 10: An installed MobiCheck access tube The probe is inserted into the hole and as the probe is pushed down to the correct depth, the excess slurry will be forced upward and eventually be pushed out. Remove the excess slurry from the service as it may influence penetration of irrigation and rain water directly next to the probe.

  • Page 35: Refill Limits

    14 REFILL LIMITS It is important to distinguish between the default calibration of the sensors and the setting of upper and lower readily available water limits for each probe after installation. (This will be covered in detail in the agronomy principles section). Once the probe is installed, you need to calibrate the readings obtained from the probe against relative soil moisture content.
  • Page 36 Figure 14: A typical summed graph showing a depletion cycle On the second graph an upper refill limit and lower refill limit can be seen. These are the limits within which the grower should under normal circumstances manage his soil moisture regime. Once installation of the probe has been completed and the profile has stabilized, the next step is to determine the upper and lower refill limits.

  • Page 37: Getting Started

    15.3 STEP 3 – Installing the Software  Insert the supplied AquaCheck labeled mini-cd into your cd/dvd drive  Run the SETUP file  The CropGraph program will guide you through several installation steps ...
  • Page 38  If you are using any other email program, please use the provided Export (txt) button and save the registration file in your preferred location. Send an email to info@aquacheck.co.za with the attached file for registration.  Your email will be returned within 48 hours (excluding weekends) with your product unlock key.

  • Page 39: Step 4 – Setting Up Blocks

    15.4 STEP 4 – Setting up blocks  Go to the CropGraph manual page 11 for instructions 15.5 STEP 5 – Connecting the logger to the CropGraph software  Make sure the logger is fully charged – the LCD on the logger should display the following flashing message while still connected to main power supply: “CHARGE COMPLETE”...

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