WIRELESS SOIL MOISTURE/ TEMPERATURE STATION INSTALLATION MANUAL The Wireless Soil Moisture/Temperature Station, referred to in this document at the Soil Moisture Station, is for use with Wireless Vantage ProTM Weather Stations. Components The Soil Moisture Station includes the following components and mounting hardware: Shelter Temperature Probe with 15" (4.6 m) of cable Soil Moisture Sensor with 15" (4.
U-Bolts 1/4" Flat Washers 1/4" x 1-1/2" Lag Screws 1/4" Lock Washers 1/4" Hex Nuts Mounting Hardware Tools for Setup In addition to the components shown, you will need some or all of the following materials: ✦ Adjustable wrench or 7/16" wrench ✦ Ballpoint pen or paper clip (small pointed object of some kind) ✦ Drill and 3/16" (5 mm) drill bit (if mounting on a vertical surface) ✦ Stepped Sensor Installation Tool Installation Steps For ease of installation, please follow steps in the order presented.
Preparing the Soil Moisture Station The illustration below shows the location of the DavisTalk transmitter DIP Switches, the battery mounting location, and the terminal blocks used to connect the soil moisture sensors and temperature probes. Insert the 3-volt lithium battery into the battery holder, matching the “+” sign on the battery with the “+” sign on the SIM. 3-Volt Lithium Battery DIP Switches Terminal Blocks Sensor Interface Module on Soil Moisture Station Note the location of the DIP switches.
The factory default transmitter ID is ‘1’. Looking at the table below, you can see that means the DIP switches are in the OFF position when each transmitting station leaves the factory. This is true for all of Davis’ wireless equipment. The default setting on a Wireless Vantage Pro console is “ON (ISS).” The ISS is included with every Wireless Vantage Pro, so the console/receiver is set to find the ISS on DavisTalk channel 1.
Setting Console/Receiver(s) to Same ID 1. Put your console into Setup Mode — press and hold the DONE key and press the DOWN arrow key. The console will show you Screen 1: Transmitters. You should see the words: “RECEIVING FROM...” and “STATION NO.” followed by the transmitter IDs that your console detects. One of these should be the ID number you just set on the Soil Moisture Station transmitter.
TEST mode DIP switch #4 on the SIM (see illustration on page 4) is the TEST DIPswitch. Switch it to the ON position using a ball-point pen or paper clip. This puts the transmitter in Test Mode. An LED indicator light will flash each time it transmits: ✦ The LED will immediately flash once to show that the light itself func- tions. ✦ Then it will flash each time the transmitter broadcasts a signal, which should be every 10 seconds.
Range is up to 400' (125 m) in the line of sight, under optimal conditions. Typical range under most conditions is 100' to 200' (45 to 150 m), but this may be reduced by walls, ceilings, trees, or foliage. Radio-frequency interference (RF) can also reduce transmission distance. Cordless phones and ham radios are common examples of RF interference. A metal roof or other large metal structure can interfere with the signal (aluminum siding, a furnace with metal ducts, and your refrigerator are examples).
Mounting the Soil Moisture Station Mounting on a Pole 1. While holding the shelter against the pole, place a U-bolt around the pole and through the two holes on at the top of the shelter. 2. Place a flat washer, a lock washer and a hex nut on each of the bolt ends. Hex Lock Flat Washer Nut Washer U-Bolt Mounting Soil Moisture Station on a Pole 3. Using an adjustable wrench or 7/16" wrench, tighten the nuts. 4.
Mounting on a Vertical Surface 1. With a 3/16" (5 mm) drill bit, drill two holes approximately 2" (50 mm) apart. Use a carpenter’s level to ensure the holes will be level. 2. Drill two more holes 7-1/32" below the upper holes. Flat Washer Lag Screw Mounting Soil Moisture Station on a Vertical Surface 3. Insert the 1/4" x 1-1/2" lag screws through the flat washers, and through the holes at the top of the shelter into the post. Using an adjustable wrench or 7/16" wrench, tighten the lag screws. 4.
A Note on Securing Cables To prevent fraying or cutting of cables, secure them so they will not whip about in the wind. Secure a cable to a metal pole by wrapping electrical tape around them both. Make sure cables are secure by placing clips or ties approximately every 3 – 5' (1 – 1.6 m). Cable Clip Cable Tie Note: Do not use metal staples or a staple gun to secure cables. Metal staples—especially when installed with a staple gun—have a tendency to cut the cables.
Specifications ✦ Temperature range: –40 to 140° Fahrenheit (–40 to 60° Celsius) ✦ Primary power input: Solar power – Davis solar charger ✦ Secondary (backup) power: CR-123A 3-volt lithium battery ✦ Wireless transmission frequency: 916.5 MHz ✦ 868.
FCC Part 15 Class B Registration Warning This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
