Sentek RT6 Hardware Manual Download Page 11

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Page 7

I/O

Abbreviation for “Input” (I) and “Output”(O) usually
in reference to signals into and out of a device

IEC 60529

Abbreviation for “Identification”

Standard  IEC  60529  Degrees  of  protection  provided
by enclosures (IP code).
The Access tube top cap is rated to IP55:
IP5x =   complete protection from contact.

Dust allowed but does not affect function.

IPx5 = (water) jets from a nozzle in all directions.

Summary of Contents for RT6

Page 1: ...Sentek RT6 HARDWARE MANUAL Version 3 2 February 2011 ...

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Page 3: ...mation provided in this document is proprietary to SENTEK Pty Ltd This document or any part of it may not be copied reproduced or translated in any way or form COPYRIGHT 1997 2010 SENTEK Pty Ltd EnviroSCAN and EasyAG are trademarks of SENTEK Pty Ltd Sentek RT6Rev03 2011 01 31 ...

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Page 5: ...Top Cap 15 EnviroSCAN Sensors 16 Cabling 17 Software 18 Chapter 3 Technical Description 19 GENERAL SYSTEM OPERATION 19 DETAILED TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION 19 Logging facility 19 Probe 21 Sensor 21 Power Supply 23 DATA DOWNLOADING OPTIONS 25 Chapter 4 System Installation 27 POSITIONING 27 Mounting poles 27 Logging Facility 27 Solar Panel 27 Access Tubes 28 Top Caps 28 CABLING 28 External Power 28 Intern...

Page 6: ...0 REMOVING THE LOGGER FOR DOWNLOADING 40 Chapter 6 Maintenance 43 SYSTEM 43 SOLAR PANEL 43 CABLING 44 SLA BATTERY 44 REMOVABLE LOGGERS NI CAD BATTERY 45 Chapter 7 Moving Storing 47 SYSTEM REMOVAL 47 TRANSPORTATION 49 STORAGE 49 Chapter 8 Trouble Shooting 51 FUSES 51 FAULTS 51 Fault Determination 52 Cable Faults 54 REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES 54 APPENDIX A 59 SYSTEM OVERVIEW 59 APPENDIX B 61 SYSTEM CONF...

Page 7: ...RS485 CONNECTIONS 75 RS485 Circuit Diagram 75 RS485 Physical Connections 75 APPENDIX J 77 FORMULA TO CALCULATE LOGGER STORAGE CAPACITY 77 APPENDIX K 79 SPECIFICATION SHEETS 79 EnviroSCAN soil moisture sensors 79 EnviroSCAN 5 Wire Technical Specifications 80 EasyAG 5 Wire Technical Specifications 81 RT6 logger 82 RT6 Main Board 83 Power supply 84 APPENDIX L 85 SUPERSEDED SYSTEMS 85 Comparison of RT...

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Page 9: ...ger RCM or online help Study of this manual does not allow users who have not undertaken the appropriate Sentek training course to install maintain and repair the Sentek RT6 System under the warranty conditions Superseded Equipment For details of the superseded RT5 systems and the related 4 wire boards sensors and installation methods please refer to EnviroSCAN Hardware Manual Version 3 0 November...

Page 10: ...the circuitry that converts the signals from the logging facility into a form that can be transmitted and received by radios Is an abbreviation for Printed Circuit Board Is a frequency band used by radio and is an abbreviation for Very High Frequency Is a frequency band used by radio and is an abbreviation for Ultra High Frequency This an abbreviation for Alternating Current and describes the type...

Page 11: ...to and out of a device ID IEC 60529 Abbreviation for Identification Standard IEC 60529 Degrees of protection provided by enclosures IP code The Access tube top cap is rated to IP55 IP5x complete protection from contact Dust allowed but does not affect function IPx5 water jets from a nozzle in all directions ...

Page 12: ...ck marked Any modifications to any part of the system or to any peripherals may void the EMI compliance of the system or peripherals Caution The sensors probes are not to be operated in free air as they may cause interference to radio communication devices Caution Caution External power supplies connected to the logging facility must comply with safety and EMC requirements of the country in which ...

Page 13: ... logging facility is connected by cable to probes at each monitoring site Probes can be located within cable runs of up to 500 meters from the logger The logging facility supports 2 cable runs with each run supporting up to 16 sensors See Appendix B for examples of configurations The 16 sensors on each run can be connected on 1 probe or spread across up to 8 probes depending on application With st...

Page 14: ...in Board removable logger battery The UV resistant housing is fixed to an aluminium mounting pole The solar panel if used will also mount onto this pole The housing is designed to be water resistant and manufactured from a compound which is resistant to chemicals typically used in agricultural applications The housing has a latched front lid that opens to gain access to the communication port for ...

Page 15: ...er discharge RS485 communication drivers RS232 communication drivers power drivers for Run A and Run B encoders drivers and buffers for Run A and Run B receiver decoders for Run A and Run B lightning surge protection Removable logger The removable logger contains the intelligence of the logging facility for control of I O signals and recording of measurements The removable logger performs the foll...

Page 16: ... every 100mm Up to 16 sensors may be connected at desired depths on any one probe for example sensors placed at 10 20 30 50 70 90 and 120 cm The sensors snap on to the probe with slots provided every 10 centimeters allowing the user to specify the sensor depths during installation or subsequently re positioning sensors if required See Appendix C for examples Standard length probes of 0 5 meters ar...

Page 17: ...ease the length of the cable run but ensure reliable operation of the system so long as it stays under 500m Failure to follow these cabling guidelines can result in erratic readings EasyAG Probes An EasyAG probe is a cost reduced fixed configuration 30cm or 50cm instead of the fully configurable EnviroSCAN probe The EasyAG probe consists of An EasyAG top cap and integrated access tube 5 wire EasyA...

Page 18: ...o very high standards with a fine tolerance inside diameter so as to provide minimal internal air gap for the sensor Tube installation tools and cutting edges have been specially designed to install the access tubes into various soil types without air gaps See the Access Tube Installation Manual or EasyAG Installation Manual for details ...

Page 19: ... the site The Top Cap has locaters for the probe which minimizes translocation effects resulting from rotating the probe in the tube following removal and re insertion A cable gland located at the bottom of the body provides a watertight entry of the cable from the logging facility The Top Cap also has a stop for the probe so that the sensors are positioned vertically in the correct position in re...

Page 20: ...the extruded support rod which supports the sensors This support rod can be fitted with multiple sensors up to 16 located at 100mm intervals along its length The sensors slide onto the extrusion at the desired depth The sensors may be replaced in the field No gluing or soldering is necessary A link is provided on each sensor to enable it to be easily addressed and re addressed The sensors can be m...

Page 21: ...0 32 Area 0 56mm 2 TYFLO irrigation cable specification The manufacturers of the TYFLO irrigation cable state it is Multicore Tyflo Sheathed Irrigation Sprinkler Systems http tycab com au 1 PRODUCT CODE WMX57032 2 DESCRIPTION 5 Core 7 32 0 56sq mm HDPE insulated Solid fill UV stable P V C sheathed cable Low Voltage Not for mains connection 3 CONSTRUCTION 3 1 CONDUCTOR 7 strands of 0 32mm Annealed ...

Page 22: ...tage equipment e g electric pumps Cable running parallel with high voltage wires including over head power lines can cause erratic readings Caution Ferrite beads must be fitted to both ends of the probe cabling in order to comply with EMC and FCC requirements Software The IrriMAX software is an interactive Microsoft Windows system which provides the user with multiple options to access and graph o...

Page 23: ...ending on moisture content of the soil The signal from the sensor open collector 40 to 80 kHz is applied to a common wire on the probe ribbon cable back to the interface board The 5 wire interface board converts the signal from open collector to differential drivers for transmission back to the logger via probe cabling After addressing the sensor the logger waits for 0 5 seconds while sensor stabi...

Page 24: ... The logger waits for 0 5 seconds while sensor stabilizes then counts pulses for 0 5 seconds and records the reading with a time date stamp The logger then sends a signal to power up the second sensor turning the previous sensor off and repeats the process Once all sensors configured on Run A are recorded the logger powers up Run B while removing power from Run A and repeats the process until all ...

Page 25: ...ess signal is processed by the interface 5 wire board which applies power down one of the wires of the ribbon cable The sensor that has been addressed via PCB link picks up the power from the ribbon cable and begins to oscillate depending on moisture content of the soil The signal from the sensor open collector 40 to 80 kHz is applied to a common wire on the ribbon cable back to the interface boar...

Page 26: ... horizontally 130 mm to 150 mm radius of axial centre in free air and vertically 85 mm to 120 mm either side of axial centre If we assume that the soil and organic matter remains constant then capacitance varies with varying fertilizer salinity water and air The frequency of oscillation was selected from scientific studies on high frequency excitation of various soil types with varying salinity te...

Page 27: ...l moisture instruments such as the Neutron Probe Caution The default calibration equation in the IrriMAX software is provided for those customers who require only soil moisture dynamics for irrigation scheduling purposes Customers who require accurate soil moisture data for their particular soil type must calibrate the sensors to that soil Gravimetric sampling is the recognized method for determin...

Page 28: ...fice Once removed from the logging facility the data is secure for approximately 2 days Connecting the logger to an Office Download Cable which is connected to power will charge this battery thus prolonging the time the logger can be removed from the logging facility There are 3 power modes 1 No logger connected With the battery cable plugged into the main board and without the logger plugged in t...

Page 29: ... the site removing the logger taking it to the office and downloading the data using the Office download Cable Then returning it to the site This will result in gap in readings while the logger is not connected to the probes Downloading in an office environment using remote communication by radio modem or phone line modem via an external RS232 remote telemetry device connected to the Main Board or...

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Page 31: ...n and electrical connection of the logging facility solar panel and probes For information on the software see the IrriMAX Manuals Positioning Mounting poles The aluminium mounting poles are used to mount the logging facility and solar panel Care should be taken when selecting the position of the mounting pole to ensure that there are no buried pipes or cables in close proximity Logging Facility T...

Page 32: ...monitored See the appropriate Installation Manual for details on installation of the access tubes and top caps Top Caps See the Access Tube Installation Manual for details on installation of the access tubes and top caps Cabling External Power Joining Cables The length of the cable supplied with the solar panel should be sufficient for normal applications If alternative external power sources are ...

Page 33: ...f the outer sheath protrudes from the cable gland Tighten the cable glands 5 Tuck the connections into the box and attach the top cover Connection The cables should be connected to the SOLAR PANEL connector X5 with the following color allocation see Appendix E Overlay Diagram Solar Panel Red Black Note The panels may be supplied to American standards which is the reverse of the above These cables ...

Page 34: ...ct probes with the logging facility The following is the method of connection of the cable run to the probe 1 Loop the cable loosely twice through the ferrite bead it will be repositioned later 2 Pass the cable through the cable gland and into the centre of the top cap assembly 3 Strip back the outer sheath of the cable so that 150mm of inner cables are exposed 4 Strip the inner cables to expose 5...

Page 35: ... Probe Cabling at logging facility Only the specified cable should be used to interconnect probes with the logging facility The following is the method of connection of the cable run to the logging facility 1 Loop the cable loosely twice through the ferrite bead it will be repositioned later 2 Pass the cable through the cable gland at the bottom of the logging facility housing 3 Strip back the out...

Page 36: ...ices These devices may be in the form of radio modems computers etc The following signals are made available for connection to these devices 0V 0 volts or ground RTS request to send TD transmit data RD receive data 12V 12 volts fused Consult the external device manual for the correct wiring method to these devices Note that null modem connections need to be made at the computer end see Appendix H ...

Page 37: ...ies can be connected together multi dropped RS485 on a twisted pair screened data cable back to a computer Note normal telephone cable is not suitable Although only one pair is required for RS485 communication it is recommended that at least a two pair cable be installed in the event of failure Cable lengths up to 1km from computer to last logger can be used depending on cable specifications and d...

Page 38: ...Pin A and Pin B on the RS485 cable end connector or move the terminator to the prior RT6 logger and unwire the final cable from that logger Jumper JP2 see Appendix E Overlay Diagram is used to select either RS232 or RS485 external communications To enable RS485 connection the RS232 RS485 jumper should be in the RS485 position as marked Front panel remote switch RS232 RS485 converters Also the swit...

Page 39: ...during assembly and for easy recognition in the field Handle Attach the probe handle to the probe rod with the use of the backing plate and locating screws Interface board Attach the 5 wire board to the probe rod making sure the connector pins are properly located in the socket on the probe rod and secure using the screws A cable tie placed around the probe rod at the 5 wire board connector that p...

Page 40: ...p cap screwed on Caution To ensure accurate and consistent readings for each sensor it must be normalized during initialization of the logger configuration by IrriMAX This is generally done in an office environment before the probe is installed in the access tube See Operating Instructions chapter EasyAG 5 wire Probes Attach 5 wire interface board to sensor PCB Line up the sensor assembly and inte...

Page 41: ...Board RT6 Main Board Attach each 5 way connector of the cable runs to the main board to position X2 or X3 see Appendix E Overlay Diagram taking care to connect the Run A cable to the Run A connector X2 on the Main Board and likewise with Run B X3 SLA Battery Fixing Main Board front panel The SLA battery is inserted into the logger housing with the terminals positioned to the rear and the cable pro...

Page 42: ...ront cover of the logging facility Velcro fasteners will hold the logger in place when the front cover is closed Only connect the logger once all other components including probes probe wiring external power wiring etc have been assembled installed and connected ...

Page 43: ...unication baud rate 2 Then using the Logger Configuration dialog normalize the sensors in each probe 3 Using Logger Manager to set the logger wake up times This process is described in the Logger Configuration section of the IrriMAX manual and in the Logger Manager manual Day to Day Operation Note Once installed the Sentek RT6 System will operate continuously without requiring the user to perform ...

Page 44: ...the laptop data to a an IrriMAX database on the office computer using Data Exchange To download in the field 1 ensure your laptop is fully charged 2 connect the Field Download Cable from your laptop and to the Front Panel communications connector 3 On Front Panel position the Remote Front Panel to Front Panel 4 On the laptop Start Data Exchange select source RT6 Logger and destination the matching...

Page 45: ...onnected this cannot occur The logger contains a rechargeable Ni Cad battery that maintains the contents of the loggers memory as well as the time and date clock If this battery is discharged sufficiently this information can be lost and vital data along with it When connected to the system this battery is recharged to the correct level Disconnected from the system the battery should hold the conf...

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Page 47: ... operation Sentek Distributors can provide a regular maintenance program which consists of regular visits by an authorized installer to test and ensure correct operation of the system A regular maintenance program such as this will ensure that the Sentek RT6 System functions properly and continues to give worry free operation If problems are experienced running diagnostics may assist in determinin...

Page 48: ...part number 80100 Scotchlock 2 4 wire cable and crimp To do this hold the connector with the button side down and insert the wires all the way into the ports and then crimp the button fully Ensure that the cables are fully inserted into the gel filled connectors prior to crimping Failure to do this may result in unreliable connections Note Sentek recommends joining each wire in the cable even if t...

Page 49: ...e data logger has a typical life expectancy of 1 to 3 years The life of the battery is effected by number of discharges depth of discharges and operating temperature When the battery does not hold charge causing loss of data and time date when removable logger is unplugged it will require replacing This can be done by a Sentek approved electronic technician ...

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Page 51: ...by a Sentek Authorized Installer System Removal Note Some of these steps do not apply to EasyAG probes Removing those tubes is described in the EasyAG Installation Manual The following steps are to be followed when removing the system This will ensure the system will function correctly when re installed Disconnect the Logger Open the logger housing and disconnect logger by carefully pulling out th...

Page 52: ...Short access tubes 0 5m can often be pulled out by hand Longer tubes may require digging out or wetting of the soil to pull out or use of the access tube extraction tool or Extraction tool EasyAG If access tube is to be re used inspect the tube for damage and clean as appropriate Remove the Solar Panel and Logger Housing from the Mounting Pole Leaving the solar panel cable connected to logger hous...

Page 53: ... protected from any damage by objects dropping onto the glass Avoid dropping or jarring of equipment during transport Storage While the Sentek RT6 System is not installed in the ground it can be safely stored until it is required for re installation The following points should be observed to ensure the system is fully functioning when re installed Remove the Sentek RT6 System according to the proc...

Page 54: ...NTEK Page 50 Caution Failure to follow this procedure will cause the internal SLA battery to discharge below the recommended minimum voltage which may damage the battery permanently requiring replacement ...

Page 55: ...e rest of the Sentek RT6 System and in some cases damage to the system from Plug Pack power surges Fuse F11 1 0 amp Protects the battery against damage caused by system failure Faults The Sentek RT6 System has been developed to a point that allows relatively easy identification of faulty or troublesome parts and enables quick identification and replacement of these parts To assist in diagnosing an...

Page 56: ...se three major components the problem lies it is then easier to identify and replace the faulty unit or repair the fault Fault Determination Symptom Possible Cause Rectification No communication with logger Battery low 12 5V Solar panel failed or dirty Fuse blown Replace fuse Download cable faulty Replace cable Logger 25 way cable faulty Replace cable Logger faulty Replace logger Main board faulty...

Page 57: ...nsor 5 wire board failure Replace board Probe failure Replace probe rod Main board failure Replace main board Logger failure Replace logger Probe not working Probe failed Replace probe rod Receiver failed Replace receiver 5WB failed Replace 5WB Cable faulty Repair or replace cable Main board failure Replace main board Logger failure Replace logger Run A and or B not working Cable faulty Repair or ...

Page 58: ...break occurs Disconnect all components from the cable run that you wish to test Using a multi meter check the resistance between every conductor on any of the connectors on that run Low resistance indicates there is a short somewhere on that cable run If the cable run has 3 way junction boxes on it you will need to remove the scotchloks connectors from the conductors showing the short and test eac...

Page 59: ...bles into a replacement main Board Front panel in the following order RS485 X8 external RS232 X7 probe cables X2 3 battery power X6 external power X5 5 Insert the front panel screws 6 Plug in logger 7 Run diagnostics Probe 1 Remove the top cap 2 Lift probe sufficiently to unplug the connector of the probe cable 3 Lift probe completely from access tube 4 Insert new probe into access tube until cabl...

Page 60: ...Insert probe into access tube until cable can be plugged in 13 Plug in probe cable connector 14 Insert probe fully into access tube 15 Replace top cap EnviroSCAN Sensor Failing EasyAG sensors cannot be replaced in the field 1 Remove the top cap 2 Lift probe sufficiently to unplug the connector of the probe cable 3 Lift probe completely from access tube 4 Remove the sensors from the probe until the...

Page 61: ... panel and check angle 8 Insert cable into cable gland at bottom of housing 9 Install cable into plug note orientation 10 Plug the cable into the main board 11 Tighten the cable gland 12 Screw front panel onto housing 13 Plug in logger 14 Run diagnostics Logger 1 If possible download the data using Data Exchange 2 Unplug the logger 3 Plug in the replacement logger 4 Configure the logger as per the...

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Page 63: ...APPENDIX A Page 59 APPENDIX A System Overview ...

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Page 65: ...APPENDIX B Page 61 APPENDIX B System configuration examples ...

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Page 67: ...APPENDIX C Page 63 APPENDIX C Probe configuration examples ...

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Page 69: ...APPENDIX D Page 65 APPENDIX D Front panel visual ...

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Page 71: ...APPENDIX E Page 67 APPENDIX E Overlay diagram RT6 Main Board Overlay ...

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Page 73: ...APPENDIX F Page 69 APPENDIX F Cable Wiring Order 5 wire Connector ...

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Page 75: ...d as link 1 to 16 address as A1 to A16 in software setup Addressed as link 1 to 16 address as B1 to B16 in software setup Box around pin number five shows the link installed to address as sensor five Box around pin number eleven shows the link installed to address as sensor eleven ...

Page 76: ...SENTEK Page 72 EasyAG Sensor Addressing This example shows wiring for a 6 probe 50cm 5 wire EasyAG configuration This example shows an 8 probe 30cm 5 wire EasyAG sensor configuration ...

Page 77: ...omputer cable diagram The following diagram shows the wiring connections between the external RS232 connector and computers serial port RT6 Computer 9 pin serial port RX 3 TX 2 GND 5 7 8 1 4 6 RT6 Computer 25 pin serial port RX 2 TX 3 GND 7 4 5 6 8 20 ...

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Page 79: ...APPENDIX I Page 75 APPENDIX I RS485 connections RS485 Circuit Diagram RS485 Physical Connections ...

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Page 81: ...memory will start to overwrite the data The length of that period is determined by a constant 86 the sampling interval in minutes which can be altered and the number of sensors installed variable No of Days until 86 x Sampling Interval min memory wraps Number of Sensors Example 16 sensors logging every 2 hours 86 x 120 645 days 16 12 sensors logging every 1 hours 86 x 60 430 days 12 5 sensors logg...

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Page 83: ... upon request PVC 2 copper rings length 25mm diameter 49mm spacing 10mm Horizontal 130mm to 150mm radius of axial centre in free air Vertical 85mm to 120mm either side of axial centre Minimum interval between sensors of 100mm between axial centers Maximum 100khz open collector free air Temperature range Measurement range Resolution 30 to 85 degrees Celsius No upper or lower limits of Volumetric so...

Page 84: ...rand Phoenix Contact MSTB 2 5 5 08 Plug 5 Wire Interface pin configuration 1 Yellow Data A 2 Blue Address 3 Red Power 4 Green Ground 5 White Data B Total Power consumption 0mA standby 5mA sampling interface only 90mA sampling interface and sensor Time to sample 1 sensor 1 2 seconds maximum Maximum sensors supported 16 ...

Page 85: ...Brand Phoenix Contact MC1 5 5 ST 3 5 Plug 5 Wire Interface pin configuration 1 Yellow Data A 2 Blue Address 3 Red Power 4 Green Ground 5 White Data B Total Power consumption 0mA standby 5mA sampling interface only 90mA sampling interface and sensor Time to sample 1 sensor 1 2 seconds maximum Maximum sensors supported 5 ...

Page 86: ...acilities On board power 2 days from removal of power RS232 and TTL serial communications which are software selectable for 1200 2400 9600 and 19 2K Baud rates 16 bit counter Clock Calendar battery backed Power fail detection 3 6 Volt Nickel Cadmium battery 5 Volt regulation Capability I O Connections Maximum of sensors 32 2 runs of 16 sensors Via female DB25 connector to Main Board ...

Page 87: ...use in line with sensor drivers Over voltage protection on solar panel input Internal battery reverse bias protection Solar external power reverse bias protection Lightning protection on all inputs and outputs 2 x 5 wire drivers to drive 2 runs of 16 sensors 25 way IDC connector to logger 1 DB9 connector on front panel for RS232 1 5 way screw connectors to probes 2 2 way screw connector for batter...

Page 88: ...hout breakage External DC Power External AC Power The DC supplied should be between 18 and 30 volts DC with sufficient current to operate circuitry and charge the internal battery The external DC supply can be provided from A DC supply which is rated at between 16 and 24 volts DC and be able to supply 1 5 amps Two car batteries connected in series which will supply 24 volts DC The AC supplied shou...

Page 89: ...RT6 Main board are 1 receiver is incorporated onto the RT6 Main Board 2 components on the RT6 are mounted flat to prevent mechanical damage during handling and transport 3 SLA battery charger on RT6 Main Board is redesigned to be more efficient over extended temperature ranges and provides trickle charging 4 the RT6 has more robust buffering of signals to probes to prevent damage from lightning su...

Page 90: ...ts all RT6 system features Features of earlier versions can be viewed on the Sentek Web site Support FAQ s Version Table RT5 RT6 Loggers IrriMAX software will work with RT5 loggers Comparison of 4 wire and 5 wire board The 5 wire board is the combination of the circuitry of the 4 wire board and transmitter In addition to this the 5 wire board has resetable fuses to resist damage if a surge occurs ...

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