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AquaCheck ACPROBE-R, Instruction Manual

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AquaCheck ACPROBE-R Instruction Manual Download Page 11

 

 

11 

1  ACPROBE-R Wireless System Components 

 

The ACPROBE-R wireless system consists of the following components: 
 
A.  A continuous logging soil moisture probe 
B.  Hand-held wireless logger unit & CropGraph software 
C.  Accessories: 

a.  Charger & Download cable 
b.  Manual & Installation CD 
c.  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. 
 
The probe head is embedded in a separate sleeve with a screw-on lid allowing 
access to the probe head. The lid can be opened and probe head removed to 
replace the battery pack. 

(For more detail on the subsurface version please visit 

our website at 

www.aquacheck.co.za

 and browse the products section) 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Figure 1: Hand-held wireless logger 

Summary of Contents for ACPROBE-R

Page 1: ...AquaCheck ACPROBE R Instruction Manual Feb 2015 www aquacheck co za ...

Page 2: ...c for any purpose whatsoever without prior written consent of AquaCheck Pty Ltd 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 Version 1 1 FEB 2015 ...

Page 3: ... with the instruction manual may cause interference to other radio communications EMC APPROVALS The ACPROBE R Analogue and MobiCheck versions of the AquaCheck probe have been tested and found to comply with the following EMC guidelines IMMUNITY TESTING IEC 61000 6 1 and IEC 61000 6 2 Electrical Fast Transients EFT IEC 61000 4 4 Electrostatic Discharge ESD IEC 61000 4 2 Surges IEC 61000 4 5 Radiate...

Page 4: ...re of the following measures Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help This device complies with Industry Canada licence exempt RSS standard s Operation is subject to th...

Page 5: ...radioélectrique à l intention des autres utilisateurs il faut choisir le type d antenne et son gain de sorte que la puissance isotrope rayonnée équivalente p i r e ne dépasse pas l intensité nécessaire à l établissement d une communication satisfaisante Le présent émetteur radio identifier le dispositif par son numéro de certification ou son numéro de modèle s il fait partie du matériel de catégor...

Page 6: ...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: ... PRO II 21 8 3 Program the ID s into the Logger 21 8 4 Program the current Time and Date into the Logger 22 8 5 Perform a Profile Log on all Programmed Profiles 23 9 ADDITIONAL FEATURES 24 9 1 Single Log 24 9 2 9 2 Clear All Logs 24 9 2 9 2 Clear All Logs 25 9 3 9 3 View Stats 25 9 3 9 3 View Stats 26 10 Trouble shooting 27 11 Taking a reading 28 11 1 Adding a probe as a profile 28 11 2 Download r...

Page 8: ...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 Setting up groups on the logger 39 16 7 STEP 7 Taking the first reading 39 ...

Page 9: ...1 Figure 9 Wetting the profile 32 Figure 10 Pouring slurry from the augured hole back into the hole 33 Figure 11 Increasing the viscosity of the slurry 33 Figure 12 An installed MobiCheck access tube 34 Figure 13 A typical hand auger bit 34 Figure 14 A typical hand auger T handle bar 34 Figure 15 A typical separate level graph showing a depletion cycle 35 Figure 16 A typical summed graph showing a...

Page 10: ...ations Capacitance sensors measure the dielectric constant of the soil by applying a voltage between two electric plates sensor rings The frequency measured by the rings varies with the dielectric constant and this is used to calculate the soil moisture content of the soil The sensors are typically positioned at various depths on a column 32mm in diameter The current AquaCheck probe range offers s...

Page 11: ...ion 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 The probe head is embedded in a separate sleeve with a screw on lid allowing access to the probe head The lid can be opened and probe head re...

Page 12: ...12 Figure 2 AquaCheck probe ACPROBE R ...

Page 13: ...13 2 Probe construction Figure 2 Probe Construction PROBE COVER PROBE HEAD LONG SHORT CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY BOTTOM STOPPER PROBE SHAFT ...

Page 14: ...s logging probe is available in 6 standard depths or lengths o 200mm length with 2 sensors at 100 and 200mm o 400mm length with 4 sensors at 100 200 300 400mm o 600mm length with 5 sensors at 100 200 300 400 600mm o 800mm length with 6 sensors at 100 200 300 400 600 800mm o 1000mm length with 6 sensors at 100 200 400 600 800 1000mm o 1200mm length with 6 sensors at 200 400 600 800 1000 1200mm o 40...

Page 15: ... Figure 3 RF Utility Software 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: ... all logs clear data from the logger o View Stats view how many logs are on the logger o Set time date change current date time o Continuous logging only applicable for the base station loggers o Profile setup populate the 120 possible profiles with probe ID s o PRO II Firmware update the hand logger can be used to remotely upgrade firmware on the PRO II RTU s o Exit New firmware offering addition...

Page 17: ...city for 15000 logs h A mains charger Car charger and download cable is supplied with the logger 6 2 Menu Functions The AquaCheck Basic II data logger functions are accessed via the 12 pushbutton keypad and the information is displayed on the LCD display See below The Scroll menu and ENT ON OFF pushbuttons have dual functions The ENT pushbutton turns the logger ON and OFF whilst during Setup it fu...

Page 18: ...ed on press the ON OFF key then the display turns on displaying the following information in quick succession Boot Loader Aqua Check SW4920 Ver 1 04 Data Logger 16 45 4 Oct 08 Brand Firmware Version Type Time Date Bootl dr v1 00 ...

Page 19: ...c Then press the MENU key until the Set Time Date screen is displayed The shaded area indicates flashing To change the time to 17 00 now press The display will now show Using the numeric keypad edit the date in the same manner as shown in the time setting example Once completed press the ENT key The display will now show Press the MENU key until Exit is displayed then press Enter Pressing Enter ag...

Page 20: ... time and date with each device and download the unread data 7 COMMISSIONING STEPS IN DETAIL 7 1 Charge the logger s battery Plug the charger into a 220V mains outlet and plug the charger s cable into the 5 way connector After a few seconds the display will read An on board timer is activated to time the charge cycle Once charging is completed the display will read Charge Complete Unplug the charg...

Page 21: ... BASIC II probes and PRO II s installed and recorded in the previous section should be programmed into a profile that upon downloading the logger will automatically download all the latest data from the ID in the profile This is called a Profile Log 2 The Logger has a capacity for up 120 profiles Should one need to download all of the stored logs stored on a the BASIC II probes or PRO II then down...

Page 22: ...To change the time from 16 35 to 17 00 Press Menu Profile Log 16 45 4 Nov 08 Single Log Clear All logs View Stats Set Time Date Cont Logging Profile Setup PRO II Firmware Exit Set Time 16 35 Set Time Date ENT 1 7 0 0 Set Time 7 00 Date 01 01 07 ENT Key in using numeric keypad To change Date from 01 01 08 to 03 12 08 0 3 1 2 0 8 Date 03 12 08 Key in using numeric keypad ENT ...

Page 23: ... Profile Log 16 45 4 Nov 08 Single Log Clear All logs View Stats Set Time Date Cont Logging Profile Setup PRO II Firmware Exit Key in using numeric keypad Remaining logs to download 2 Display shows Scanning profile 002 and a count down timer displaying the remaining scan time before reporting a No Probe message Signal Strength Profile Log ENT Profile 000 0 0 Profile 002 Scanning 39 Profile 002 ENT...

Page 24: ...2 Press Menu Profile Log 16 45 4 Nov O7 Single Log Clear All logs View Stats Set Time Date Cont Logging Profile Setup PRO II Firmware Exit When downloading all of the stored logs the logger starts with the 1st log and coun up Single Log ENT Log ID 0000 5 1 Key in using numeric keypad Log ID 5165 Scanning 40 LogID 5165 ENT ID 50 Loading 23 Load Complete Download Completed Press Enter to continue 6 ...

Page 25: ...bank of the logger should be cleared To clear the databank follow the instructions below 8 3 Clear All Logs ENT Confirm No Confirm Yes ENT Press Menu Profile Log 16 45 4 Nov O7 Single Log Clear All logs View Stats Set Time Date Cont Logging Profile Setup PRO II Firmware Exit ...

Page 26: ... memory This is a useful feature if one wants to know specifically how many logs were downloaded from a profile or ID View the quantity of logs as follows View Stats ENT Total 1095 ENT Press Menu Profile Log 16 45 4 Nov 08 Single Log Clear all logs View Stats Set Time Date Cont Logging Profile Setup PRO II Firmware Exit ...

Page 27: ...device ID During a Profile log Logger finds probe and starts download afterwards displaying No Reply 1 Logger out of range or reception is poor 2 Battery on device is marginal or flat 1 Move closer to the device Keep the logger upright with the antenna pointing upwards to the sky when doing a log 2 Check battery voltage on device Voltage should be more that 3 3 volts Logger Displays Profile Empty ...

Page 28: ...to the CLEAR ALL LOGS menu option and press the enter button To take a normal reading from a probe the probe first needs to be added to the profile list of logger 10 1Adding a probe as a profile How to Go to Profile Setup by scrolling down the menu by pressing the menu button option on the keypad of the logger several times until you reach Profile Setup Press Enter Insert profile i e 001 by using ...

Page 29: ...ger has made a successful connection it will start retrieving all the available data on that specific probe 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 PlantSenseTM To add a rain gauge the default battery pack and probe head needs to be replaced with the appropriate components Please contac...

Page 30: ...ing soil is of critical importance in obtaining accurate and representative soil moisture readings Various techniques to obtain a good fit are used depending on soil type crop type and application A customized installation auger is available on request and can be used for all soil types It must be noted that in extreme sandy soils a customized hollow tube auger usually gives better results 13 1 In...

Page 31: ...31 Figure 5 Collecting sand from the augured hole Figure 6 A good fitting access tube ...

Page 32: ...ing the Slurry Technique The use of the slurry technique is recommended for most soil types In extreme clayey soils and specifically for installations in centre pivots it is however important to consider the impact of the subsequent wetting front when determining the readily available soil water limits The slurry technique for installation in most soils is recommended due to the sensitivity of cap...

Page 33: ...and augured hole wall should not be more than 2 mm Figure 9 Increasing the viscosity of the slurry The excess soil from the hole is poured into a bucket and mixed with the desired amount of water to make a good slurry mix After the hole has been drilled to the desired depth the slurry mix is poured back into the hole Sometime it is also beneficial if the auger is used to enhance the viscosity of t...

Page 34: ...shed 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 Figure 11 A typical hand auger bit Figure 12 A typical hand auger T handle bar ...

Page 35: ...and by monitoring one or several typical wetting drying cycles an upper and lower refill limit is obtained If the service has been requested then this function is usually performed by a contracted agronomist The adjacent graphs are examples of a typical depletion cycle which has been implemented after first having recorded how the farmer was irrigating as a standard practice The first graph shows ...

Page 36: ...mits 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 Determining the upper and lower limits is really the key to successful and accurate irrigation scheduling techniques ...

Page 37: ...battery pack push towards the connector assembly so that the probe fits over the connector assembly Make sure the o ring set is well lubricated only use approved lubrication as may off the shelve lubricants have a corrosive effect on the o rings Turn probe head about 450 until it slots into position with the locator knobs fitting into the locator holes Each probe needs about 2 minutes to initiate ...

Page 38: ...outbox 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 This 20 digit key needs to be filled into the open space next to the Product Key s...

Page 39: ... sure the logger Date Time has been synchronized with your PC The default value is GMT 2 15 6 STEP 6 Setting up groups on the logger Go to page 11 of this manual and follow the recommended steps 15 7 STEP 7 Taking the first reading Line probes up and identify probe serial numbers make sure the probe numbers correspond to the probe numbers used when the blocks were created Position probes in such a...

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