Related Manuals for Pessl Instruments Metos iMETOS SoilGuard
Summary of Contents for Pessl Instruments Metos iMETOS SoilGuard
- Page 1 iMETOS SoilGuard Portable Soil Moisture Meter PRODUCT MANUAL VERSION 1.0, 07-2021...
- Page 2 General overview Specifications Product dimensions Meter Care Button functions Meter operation Display screens Setting Date/Time GNSS (location) Settings GNSS Location: Features, Use and Optimization Data Logs Data Upload Using the SoilGuard uploader Using the web platform Data visualization Web Portal data visualization Mobile app data visualization Maintenance Volumetric Water Content (VWC)
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Page 3: General Overview
General overview Thank you for purchasing the iMETOS SoilGuard soil moisture meter. This manual describes the meter’s general features and operation. The iMETOS SoilGuard solution is the perfect mobile tool for measuring soil moisture, electrical conductivity (EC) and soil surface temperature. Its handling facility allows users - from agricultural to greenkeeping activities - to take multiple in-field measurements within one day. -
Page 4: Specifications
Specifications Measurement Units Percent volumetric water content (VWC) Period (raw sensor reading) Resolution, Accuracy and Range VWC: 0.1% increment ±3.0% @ < 2 mS/cm 0% to Saturation (Saturation is typically around 50% volumetric water) EC: 0.01 increment ; ± 0.1 mS/cm; 0 - 5 range Temperature: 0.2 ˚F (0.1 ˚C) increment ;... -
Page 5: Product Dimensions
Product dimensions... -
Page 6: Meter Care
Meter Care The SoilGuard meter will function properly under normal conditions experienced in field use. The sensor block is sealed and will not be damaged by immersion in water. The display is not waterproof so it should not be used during heavy rainfall or left exposed during irrigation events. If the display does get wet, it should be dried out immediately. -
Page 7: Button Functions
Button functions ON/OFF | BACK button • Press briefly to power on. • Press and hold to power on and stay on the startup screen. • Press for 2 seconds to power off. • Press briefly within a menu to return to the prior screen. MENU | SELECT button •... -
Page 8: Meter Operation
Meter operation Setting up the meter 1. Pull the clear battery transport tab out of the display unit. 2. If desired, extend the collapsible shaft by removing the thumb screw (shown above) from the side, grip and extend the lower shaft to its new position, re-insert the thumb screw, and hand tighten. 3. -
Page 9: Display Screens
Display screens The iMETOS SoilGuard has 3 main display screens: • Startup • Reading (shown below) • Settings Menu Startup Information screen Initially displayed after first powered on. • Displays model, serial number and firmware version. • Press and hold ON/OFF|BACK button to remain on this screen. Reading screen Displays the last measurement, EC in milliSiemens per centimeter, temperature, selected rod type, selected soil type, and a reading count with running average. - Page 10 Clear Logs*: Erases data logs from internal memory. Save to USB*: Transfers data logs to a USB flash drive if attached. Backlight: Sets the LCD backlight: ON, OFF, AUTO. In AUTO mode, the backlight will shut off 5 seconds after a button press GNSS Location, GNSS Power Save, GNSS Use QZSS: Enable or disable features related to geo-location capability (see p.
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Page 11: Setting Date/Time
Setting Date/Time By default, the iMETOS SoilGuard gets the date and time from the satellite signal. These values are displayed in the Settings Menu. The date and time can also be set manually. When the time and date are set manually, they will override the default value. - Page 12 GNSS Location: Features, Use and Optimization When enabled, the GNSS Location feature provides active location referencing information to aid in measurement mapping. HDoP: Actively transitions from a high to low value as the level of precision improves. It may increase in value if conditions degrade.
- Page 13 Initial Use: During the first three days of use, the meter’s GNSS receiver will build an internal satellite record used for tracking and accuracy. Accuracy during this time may appear low, will depend upon the accuracy of available satellite systems, and can vary to within 10 meters. After the third use, the satellite record will be complete;...
- Page 14 Data Logs Before downloading data to the USB, the USB-OTG adapter offered by Pessl Instruments has to be formatted before using it the first time for downloading data from your SoilGuard device. • Simply connect it to your computer, go to the corresponding drive and format it. In Windows 10: right- click on the drive, click format.
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Page 15: Data Upload
Data Upload There are 2 ways to import the data: either using SoilGuard uploader (mobile app) or TurfClimate (web platform). Using the SoilGuard uploader • For the data upload, a user account is required. You can register an account for free here: https://turfclimate.com/ or https://ng.fieldclimate.com/auth/login. -
Page 16: Data Visualization
Data visualization A prerequisite for sample data visualization on the TurfClimate App is the definition of a crop zone covering your samples using the web portal https://turfclimate.com/. To create a crop zone please follow the instructions on the tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGb5z6Ldu-g. After data upload to the server, data can be visualized on the mobile app or the TurfClimate web portal. - Page 17 Mobile app data visualization For the mobile app, SoilGuard data or other devices such as Dualex and MobiLab can be visualized in-field or remotely. Features are listed below: • Color-coded data based on healthy conditions for each parameter • Date and device filters •...
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Page 18: Maintenance
Maintenance Separating the Display and Sensor: 1. Remove the probe rods from the sensor base. 2. Flip the display so the backing plate is facing up. 3. Remove the 4 screws on the base using a Philips screwdriver. 4. Gently separate the display from the base plate. Note: The sensor cable connected in the center has limited cable length. - Page 19 Sensor Block Removal / Replacement: 1. Follow steps for Display Removal to access the cable connections. 2. Remove the thumb screw lock bolt that joins the lower probe base to the upper shaft. 3. Separate the probe base from the shaft (fig. 2). 4. Feed the cable from the replacement probe base through the upper shaft.
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Page 20: Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Conductivity The SoilGuard uses EC readings obtained from the same probes used to measure VWC. To improve the VWC measurement accuracy, EC is factored out of the VWC reading. This is a key advantage over its predecessor. The value measured is an average for the entire depth sampled. EC is expressed in units of mS/cm. The EC measured by an electrode is defined as the bulk EC. -
Page 21: Appendix 1: Soil-Specific Reading Correlation
Appendix 1: Soil-Specific Reading Correlation To improve accuracy, correlate TDR period readings with a soil-specific sample set. VWC data can be correlated by measuring the weight of a known volume of saturated soil as it is gradually dried, by gradually wetting a known volume soil with measured increments of water, or by using a neutron probe. -
Page 22: Appendix 2: Troubleshooting
Appendix 2: Troubleshooting Sensor Function Verification: Test readings can be taken in three standard environments; air, distilled water, and sand saturated with distilled water. It is important that any troubleshooting be done with distilled water. Readings taken in tap water can differ greatly from the expected results observed in distilled water. Test readings are made in a container of distilled water or saturated sand. -
Page 23: Appendix 3: Updating Device Firmware
The new firmware will now be displayed below the Pessl Instruments logo. 7. The display will alert the user if further updates are to be made and show a message when completed. -
Page 24: Appendix 4: Calibration
Appendix 4: Calibration The SoilGuard is fully calibrated at the factory. Further calibration is not required nor recommended. The meter has internal calibrations for standard, sand, and high-clay soil types which will work for many soils. Each meter will have a small difference in how it responds to identical soil conditions. This can be due to air being introduced while measuring, bent probes, loose probes, sensor drift or component tolerances. - Page 25 Glossary EC: Electrical Conductivity. A measure of how well the soil solution conducts electricity. The EC is influenced by the amount of salt and water in the soil. EGNOS: European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service. Pan-European satellite navigation system. It augments the US GPS satellite navigation system and makes it suitable for safety critical applications. GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System.
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Page 26: Warranty
Instruments product. Before returning a failed unit, you must obtain a Returned Materials Authorization (RMA) from Pessl Instruments. Pessl Instruments is not responsible for any package that is returned without a valid RMA number or for the loss of the package by any shipping company.