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P a g e
or visit www.gropoint.com/support
RIOT Technology Corp.
| #220
–
10114 McDonald Park Rd | North Saanich V8L5X8, BC Canada | +1.250.412.6642
All Rights Reserved
©2020,
RIOT Technology Corp.
Sensor Installation Guidelines
Before installing the sensor, follow these guidelines.
• Install
the probe when the soil is dry to minimize the air gaps that can form around the probe
as the soil dries out. Also avoid excessively rocky soil whenever possible as cavities may form
when rocks are pushed out of the way when creating the pilot hole.
• Th
e sensor probe is typically installed vertically, these instructions and guidelines apply for a
vertical installation. Hold the slide hammer and pilot rod perfectly vertical to avoid making the
hole larger than the size of the sensor.
• Always maintain c
ontrol of the slide hammer with a firm grip to avoid wobbling or moving the
hammer side-to-side. This is especially important while the first half of the pilot rod is being
hammered in place.
• Check that the pilot rod is tightly screwed to the slide hamm
er during the insertion process as
the threads may loosen during repeated impacts. Failure to check the connection may place ex-
cessive force on the threads and damage them. (have 2 adjustable wrenches available, one to
hold the pilot rod, a second to tighten the slide hammer shaft onto the pilot rod)
• Drive the pilot rod only as far as needed for the length of probe being used. A hole that is too
short may cause damage to the probe during insertion. A hole that is too long may allow water
to collect in the void below the probe and cause inaccurate readings.
• When extracting the pilot rod, make sure it remains vertical to ensure the hole does not be-
come enlarged, which may result in air gaps forming between the probe and soil and potentially
incorrect soil moisture readings.
• Once the pilot rod is removed,
insert the probe as soon as possible. Any delay may allow
moisture to swell the sides of the hole or water to enter the hole.
• If the pilot hole is larger at the top than the bottom due to side
-to-side movement of the slide
hammer during installation, it may take a few days to a week for the soil to settle back and seal
against the probe. You can also create a soil slurry at the surface to fill the hole. See Mainte-
nance for more details on using a slurry.
• To reduce air gaps from forming over time as so
il expands and contracts, limit the variation of
moisture content of the soil if possible, such as by periodic irrigation.
• Use conduit to protect the cable against damage from animals, lawn mowers, exposure to
chemicals, etc.
