Stevens Hydra Probe II Series, Manual

Page: 15 / 63

3 Installation
The Hydra Probe is easy to install and the use of installation tools are seldom required.
3.1 Avoid Damage to the Hydra Probe:
!
Do not subject the probe to extreme heat over 70 degrees Celsius (160 degrees
Farenheit).
!
Do not subject the probe to fluids with a pH less than 4.
!
Do not subject the probe to strong oxidizers like bleach, or strong reducing agents.
!
Do not subject the probe to polar solvents such as acetone.
!
Do not subject the probe to chlorinated solvents such as dichloromethane.
!
Do not subject the probe to strong magnetic fields.
!
Do not use excessive force to drive the probe into the soil because the tines could bend. If
the probe has difficulty going into the soil due to rocks, simply relocate the probe to an
area slightly adjacent.
!
Do not remove the Hydra Probe from the soil by pulling on the cable.
While the direct burial cable is very durable, it is susceptible to abrasion and cuts by shovels.
The user should use extra caution not to damage the cable or probe if the probe needs to be
excavated for relocation.
Do not place the probes in a places where they could get run over by tractors or other farm
equipment. The Hydra Probe may be sturdy enough to survive getting run over by a tractor if it is
buried; however, the compaction of the soil column from the weight of the vehicle will affect the
hydrology and thus the soil moisture data.
DO NOT place more than one probe in a bucket of wet sand while logging data. More than one
Hydra Probe in the same bucket while powered may create an electrolysis affect that may
damage the probe.
3.1.1 Lightning
Lightning strikes will cause damage or failure to the Hydra Probe or any other electrical device,
even though it is buried. In areas prone to lightning, serge protection and /or base station
grounding is recommended.
For maximum protection from lightning, attached a duel dissipater to the top of the lightning rod
3 to 6 meters above the ground surface. Using at least a 1 cm thick copper cable, connect the
dissipater to a buried copper rod 2 cm in diameter. The buried copper rod should be at least 3
meters long buried horizontally 1.5 to 3 meters deep.
3.2 Wire Connections
3.2.1 Analog Probe Wire Connection
Table 2.4 in section 2.4.3 shows the wiring scheme for the Analog Hydra Probe. The four
voltage data wires need to be wired into four separate data ports on the logger. On the Stevens
DOT Logger, the analog ports are labeled A1, A2, A3, and A4. The red power wire should be
15