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User Manual

Soil Moisture 

Logger

Type DL6

DL6-UM-1.3

Delta-T Devices Ltd

Summary of Contents for DL6

Page 1: ...User Manual Soil Moisture Logger Type DL6 DL6 UM 1 3 Delta T Devices Ltd ...

Page 2: ...s Delta T Devices Ltd reserves the right to change the designs and specifications of its products at any time without prior notice CE conformity See page 35 Author Nick Webb Versions User Manual Version 1 3 Nov 04 It is intended for use with the following Windows PC DL6 Control Panel software version 1 50 Pocket DeltaLINK software version 1 50 DL6 logger serial numbers DL6 03 06 or later These lat...

Page 3: ...Contents INTRODUCTION 4 HARDWARE INSTALLATION 5 SOFTWARE 11 SPECIFICATIONS 28 MAINTENANCE TROUBLESHOOTING STORAGE 30 WARRANTY AND SERVICE 33 INDEX 36 DL6 User Manual v 1 3 Contents z 3 ...

Page 4: ...isture over a few hours days or months It can signal low or high soil moisture or temperature via an alarm output It can be used to monitor the effectiveness of irrigation or rainfall A fast logging mode is provided to capture soil moisture changes and soil wetting fronts following rainfall events Advantages Easy to use PC and Pocket PC software Cost effective optimised to work with Delta T soil m...

Page 5: ...nector to 9 pin D connector Length 2m Your consignment may also have some or all of the following Mounting Kit DL6 MKT1 1m stainless steel post mounting plate bolts nuts screws cable ties Spares Kit DL6 SP Includes fuse desiccant battery holder cable glands bungs and O rings Spare alkaline batteries DL6 BAT 6 x AA alkaline cells Spare Lithium batteries BL6 ELB 6 x AA lithium cells see Batteries on...

Page 6: ...g Error Sequence Meaning No No The logger is not logging There is no error Yes No The logger is logging There is no error No Yes The logger is not logging There is an error Yes Yes The logger is logging There is an error Note The logger also flashes when it resets See Reset the Logger on page 32 6 z Hardware Installation DL6 User Manual v 1 3 ...

Page 7: ...DL6 User Manual v 1 3 DL6 User Manual v 1 3 Hardware Installationz 7 Hardware Installationz 7 Layout ...

Page 8: ...onnect to channel 1 PROFILE and POWER terminals according to the colours printed beside the terminals Do not connect any other soil moisture or voltage sensors to channels 1 to 6 Profile Probe PR1 4 Connect to channel 1 PROFILE and POWER terminals according to the colours printed beside the terminals Connect additional soil moisture or voltage sensors to channels 5 and 6 if required Do not connect...

Page 9: ...d to channel 1 Other voltage sensors Connect to channels 1 to 6 and POWER terminals as follows IN Signal HI IN Signal LO see note Braid or screen if required V Power V if required 0V Power 0V if required Note To avoid ground loops connect Signal LO to if and only if the sensor output is electrically isolated from both and OV DL6 User Manual v 1 3 Hardware Installationz 9 ...

Page 10: ...Rain gauge e g RG2 Connect to channel 8 IN and IN terminals Connect any braid or screen to the terminal channel 7 if required Pulse output sensor Connect to channel 8 IN and IN Connect any braid or screen to the terminal channel 7 if required Alarm output Connect to channel 9 HI and LO Note The alarm output switches only when the logger reads an analogue sensor e g soil moisture or temperature 10 ...

Page 11: ...DL6 RS232 7 DL6 SW1 software distribution disk Installing DL6 Software Insert the distribution disk in your CD ROM drive If Autorun is enabled on your PC your CD will automatically start to lead you through the installation process If Autorun is not enabled you will need to start the install program as follows 1 From the Start menu select Settings Control Panel 2 In Control Panel select Add Remove...

Page 12: ...pulating the Logger tab with information about the logger If you see something like this you have successfully established communication with the logger Note the following Start used to start and stop logging Set Clock used to synchronise the logger clock with the PC Dataset Full By estimates the date and time when the logger will be full Refresh contacts the logger and refreshes the information o...

Page 13: ...R1 4 is selected If using 2 ThetaProbes be sure to name each with a different label in the program 5 Enter a Program Name 6 Enter a Recording Rate 7 Double click on each sensor channel to inspect and edit sensor parameters See also Channel Properties on p 18 Upload Program to Logger Select Apply to send the program to the logger Save Program From the Program tab select the File Save command to sav...

Page 14: ...Enter a useful label Controlled by Select one sensor from the drop down box Condition options are Less than or Greater than Threshold Enter a numerical value Select OK The alarm condition parameters should appear in the Program tab Note once the condition is met it stays in that state until the next logging interval when it is re assessed For instance if you are logging once per hour the relay wil...

Page 15: ...ime beyond the last reading above the rate of rainfall threshold e g in mm hr 2 And also wait until the rate of change of all soil moisture sensor readings fall below a given rate in the selected moisture units e g in m 3 m 3 hr When rainfall rate rises above Enter the rate of rainfall above which the faster rate of recording should start e g 2 mm hr For your guidance A low rate 0 1 mm hour will a...

Page 16: ... for any of the soil moisture sensors Fast logging will continue until all soil moisture sensors fall below this rate provided that the time delay in not still in effect For your guidance 0 05 m3 m 3 hour is a very high rate of change 0 005 m3 m 3 hour is a medium rate of change 0 0005 m3 m 3 hour is slow You must enter a rate in the box If you enter 0 fast recording will never stop If you do not ...

Page 17: ...4 6 8 14 16 18 20 22 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 Time hours mm 1 When rainfall rate rises above 2 mm hr 3 Continue for at least 3 hours 0 05 0 005 0 0005 4 And unitil all soil moisture changes fall below 0 05 m3 m 3 hr The slope exceeded this for just 1 hrs here 2 Start recording every 10 minutes 100 mm 200 mm 300 mm 400 mm DL6 User Manual v 1 3 Softwarez 17 ...

Page 18: ...ture by the use of these two coefficients About a0 and a1 These parameters are used with the selected sensor specific Linearisation Table in the DL6 to convert the sensor mV output into soil moisture readings They are a convenient and efficient way of describing the calibration curves for different soil types without the memory overhead required for a unique table for every different soil For opti...

Page 19: ...Verifying Sensor Operation In the Sensors tab of the DL6 Control Panel select Read now The readings will continually refresh a scrolling graph DL6 User Manual v 1 3 Softwarez 19 ...

Page 20: ...e to save the dataset as a dt6 type data file Chart and Table views of the data See also Dataset Import Wizard on page21 To save data as an ASCII text file first save it as a dataset file This will activate the Dataset Viewer From the Dataset Viewer use the Save As command File menu to save the dataset as a comma tab or space separated file for importing into other programs 20 z Software DL6 User ...

Page 21: ... select medium or low then ok Medium displays warning and option to disable macro before it runs To install the Wizard into Excel Select Start menu Programs DL6 Control Panel Install Dataset Import Wizard Dataset Import Wizard should report that it has installed itself The Excel File menu should now contain an additional command Import Dataset s It will remain in the File menu available each time ...

Page 22: ... Import Wizard Try this if the automatic installation process does not work Start Excel and select Tools Add Ins In the Add Ins dialog click Browse and select DTImpWiz xll in your C Program Files Common Files Delta T directory Dataset Import Wizard should report that it has installed itself The Excel File menu should now contain an additional command Import Dataset s which starts the Dataset Impor...

Page 23: ... and saving data as dataset files Software Installation Items required 1 Pocket PC with Active Sync version 3 7 1 or later 2 PC running Windows 98 XP or later 3 Pocket DeltaLINK kit for DL6 To install DeltaLINK Insert CD and follow the on screen instructions or start Setup exe Read the readme txt file if you get stuck On line help From the Pocket PC Start menu select Help Pocket DeltaLINK to displ...

Page 24: ...DeltaLINK Navigation Help Sensors Logger Datasets Programs 24 z Software DL6 User Manual v 1 3 ...

Page 25: ...er 3 If you have a fresh installation enter appropriate Connection Settings 4 If you have previously used Pocket DeltaLINK it attempts to connect to a logger using the serial port which was last used 5 If the logger is connected to a different serial port from the one that was last used for a logger connection Pocket DeltaLINK reports that a logger is not connected Select Tools Connection to modif...

Page 26: ...ave made in the Program window select Tools Undo Changes Checking sensor operation To verify sensor operation 1 Connect to the logger and select the Sensors window 2 Tap and observe the sensor readings displayed in the scrolling strip charts and value panels while adjusting sensor wiring and or installation conditions Starting and stopping logging To start or stop logging 1 Connect to the logger 2...

Page 27: ...K Programs 2 Tap an existing program file or New to create a new program 3 When finished making changes select Tools Save or Tools Save As to save the program file changes To program the logger from a program file 1 Connect to the logger 2 Stop logging and delete all dataset records 3 Select the Program window and select Tools Import Program To save a program the logger to a program file 1 Connect...

Page 28: ...Uses internal battery voltage supply Alarm out 1 1A 25V DC AC Isolated relay switching 2A max Feature Full scale Notes Feature No rating Notes Logging frequency 1s to 24hr User selectable with accelerated logging option PC connection 1 Via RS232 connection USB to RS232 converters are available Accelerated logging 1s to 24hr User selected rain gauge or event triggered Battery lifetime 1yr 6 alkalin...

Page 29: ...ot shown Note Contents subject to change without notice DL6 User Manual v 1 3 Specifications z 29 Mounting Kit type DL6 MKT1 Includes the following Stainless steel Mounting Post 1m long Stainless steel Mounting Plate M6 stainless steel bolt star washer and nut x 2 M4 stainless steel screw star washer and nut x 4 Cable tie x 2 Mounting instructions for posts walls ...

Page 30: ... battery expires the LED will no longer flash when you tap the logger You might need to press reset to restart the logger if the battery goes completely flat going flat may cause it to lose time also After changing the battery check that the LED flashes or check the battery voltage indicated on the DL6 Control Panel Logger tab If not press the Reset button inside the logger you may also need to st...

Page 31: ...ware serial numbers see below Locating version and serial numbers The Logger serial number and firmware version are displayed on the Logger tab of the DL6 Control Panel once communications are established with the logger The PC software version number is displayed in Help About DL6 Control Panel Troubleshooting Flashing LED The logger should flash if you tap it It will not flash or communicate if ...

Page 32: ...he reset button You should expect to see 4 LED flashes indicating a warm reset For a cold reset hold down the button until you see four additional flashes after about 5 seconds Warm reset means that the program and the data are preserved and if you are logging it will resume logging Cold reset restores the default program and deletes all data Still stuck x Remove all power for at least one day the...

Page 33: ...f charge or by repairing the goods free of charge at Delta T s premises in the UK during the warranty period If Delta T requires that goods under warranty be returned to them from overseas for repair Delta T shall not be liable for the cost of carriage or for customs clearance in respect of such goods However we much prefer to have such returns discussed with us in advance and we may at our discre...

Page 34: ...r if the equipment has to be forwarded to our original supplier for specialist repairs or recalibration additional delays of a few weeks may be expected Technical Support Technical Support is available on Delta T products and systems Users in countries that have a Delta T Distributor or Technical Representative should contact them in the first instance Technical Support questions received by Delta...

Page 35: ...netic emissions and susceptibility and is CE marked by Delta T Devices Ltd Warning To maintain conformance to CE standards the equipment must be used as described in this manual Modifications to the equipment may invalidate CE certifications DL6 User Manual v 1 3 Warranty and Service z 35 ...

Page 36: ... Program tab 13 channel properties 18 charts changing the scale 18 clock 12 COM Port 12 Contact details 34 D Dataset tab 20 Datset Full 12 DeltaLink 23 Desiccant 30 Details 12 DL6 5 DL6 MKT1 5 DL6 RS232 5 DL6 SP 5 DL6 SW1 5 Dual Recording Rate 15 E EMC 35 Environmental specs 28 error flashing LED 6 Event counter 28 F Flashing LED 31 Flashing logger 6 G graph real time readings 19 L LED 6 Logging 3...

Page 37: ...12 32 S Save 20 Save Program 13 send program to logger 13 Sensor excitation 28 sensor parameters edit 13 sensors 4 Sensors Sensors Tab of DL6 Control Panel 19 Serial Cable 5 Serial numbers 31 Service and Spares 34 Set Clock 12 Software Installation 11 Soil Properties 18 Soil Types 18 Spares Kit 5 29 Specifications 28 Start 12 Start Stop Logging 13 stop logging 12 T Technical Support 31 34 temperat...

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