The CS650 is a multiparameter smart sensor that uses innovative techniques to monitor soil volumetric water content, bulk electrical conductivity, and temperature. It outputs an SDI-12 signal that many of our dataloggers can measure.
This product is supplied with a 3 m cable as standard, other lengths available to order.
Read MoreThe CS650 consists of two 30-cm-long stainless steel rods connected to a printed circuit board. The circuit board is encapsulated in epoxy and a shielded cable is attached to the circuit board for datalogger connection.
The CS650 measures propagation time, signal attenuation, and temperature. Dielectric permittivity, volumetric water content, and bulk electrical conductivity are then derived from these raw values.
Measured signal attenuation is used to correct for the loss effect on reflection detection and thus propagation time measurement. This loss-effect correction allows accurate water content measurements in soils with bulk EC ≤3 dS m-1 without performing a soil specific calibration.
Soil bulk electrical conductivity is also calculated from the attenuation measurement. A thermistor in thermal contact with a probe rod near the epoxy surface measures temperature. Horizontal installation of the sensor provides accurate soil temperature measurement at the same depth as the water content. Temperature measurement in other orientations will be that of the region near the rod entrance into the epoxy body.
Measurements Made | Soil electrical conductivity (EC), relative dielectric permittivity, volumetric water content (VWC), soil temperature |
Required Equipment | Measurement system |
Soil Suitability | Long rods with large sensing volume (> 6 L) are suitable for soils with low to moderate electrical conductivity. |
Rods | Not replaceable |
Sensors | Not interchangeable |
Sensing Volume | 7800 cm3 (~7.5 cm radius around each probe rod and 4.5 cm beyond the end of the rods) |
Electromagnetic |
CE compliant Meets EN61326 requirements for protection against electrostatic discharge and surge. |
Operating Temperature Range | -50° to +70°C |
Sensor Output | SDI-12; serial RS-232 |
Warm-up Time | 3 s |
Measurement Time | 3 ms to measure; 600 ms to complete SDI-12 command |
Power Supply Requirements | 6 to 18 Vdc (Must be able to supply 45 mA @ 12 Vdc.) |
Maximum Cable Length | 610 m (2000 ft) combined length for up to 25 sensors connected to the same data logger control port |
Rod Spacing | 32 mm (1.3 in.) |
Ingress Protection Rating | IP68 |
Rod Diameter | 3.2 mm (0.13 in.) |
Rod Length | 300 mm (11.8 in.) |
Probe Head Dimensions | 85 x 63 x 18 mm (3.3 x 2.5 x 0.7 in.) |
Cable Weight | 35 g per m (0.38 oz per ft) |
Probe Weight | 280 g (9.9 oz) without cable |
Current Drain |
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Active (3 ms) |
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Quiescent | 135 µA typical (@ 12 Vdc) |
Electrical Conductivity |
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Range for Solution EC | 0 to 3 dS/m |
Range for Bulk EC | 0 to 3 dS/m |
Accuracy | ±(5% of reading + 0.05 dS/m) |
Precision | 0.5% of BEC |
Relative Dielectric Permittivity |
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Range | 1 to 81 |
Accuracy |
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Precision | < 0.02 |
Volumetric Water Content |
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Range | 0 to 100% (with M4 command) |
Water Content Accuracy |
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Precision | < 0.05% |
Soil Temperature |
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Range | -50° to +70°C |
Resolution | 0.001°C |
Accuracy |
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Precision | ±0.02°C |
Please note: The following shows notable compatibility information. It is not a comprehensive list of all compatible products.
Product | Compatible | Note |
---|---|---|
CR1000 (retired) | ||
CR1000X | ||
CR200X (retired) | ||
CR216X (retired) | ||
CR300 | ||
CR3000 | ||
CR310 | ||
CR5000 (retired) | ||
CR6 | ||
CR800 | ||
CR850 | ||
CR9000X (retired) |
External RF sources can affect the probe’s operation. Therefore, the probe should be located away from significant sources of RF such as ac power lines and motors.
Multiple CS650 sensors can be installed within 4 inches of each other when using the standard datalogger SDI-12 “M” command. The SDI-12 “M” command allows only one probe to be enabled at a time.
The CS650G makes inserting soil-water sensors easier in dense or rocky soils. This tool can be hammered into the soil with force that might damage the sensor if the CS650G were not used. It makes pilot holes into which the rods of the sensors can then be inserted.
CR200(X) Series | CR800/CR850 | CR1000 | CR3000 | CR9000X |
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CR500 | CR510 | CR10 | CR10X | 21X | CR23X | CR9000 | CR5000 | CR7X |
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Number of FAQs related to CS650: 54
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Campbell Scientific strongly discourages shortening the sensor’s rods. The electronics in the sensor head have been optimized to work with the 30 cm long rods. Shortening these rods will change the period average. Consequently, the equations in the firmware will become invalid and give inaccurate readings.
Because the reported volumetric water content reading is an average taken along the entire length of the rods, the sensor should be fully inserted into the soil. Otherwise, the reading will be the average of both the air and the soil, which will lead to an underestimation of water content. If the sensor rods are too long to go all the way into the soil, Campbell Scientific recommends inserting the rods at an angle until they are fully covered by soil.
No. The temperature sensor is located inside the sensor’s epoxy head next to one of the sensor rods. The stainless-steel rods are not thermally conductive, so the reported soil temperature reading is actually the temperature of the sensor head. If the CS650 or the CS655 is installed horizontally, which is the preferred method, then the sensor head will be at the same temperature as the soil, and the soil temperature value will be accurate. However, if the sensor is installed vertically, and/or with the sensor head above ground, the soil temperature reading will be less accurate. Because the sensor orientation is not known, no temperature correction was written into the firmware.
Yes. There is surge protection built into the sensor electronics. The sensor survives a surge of 2 kV at 42 ohm line-to-ground on digital I/O and 2 kV at 12 ohm line-to-ground on power. It also survives a surge of 2 kV at 2 ohm line-to-ground on the rods.
If additional surge protection is required, consider using the SVP100 Surge Voltage Protector DIN Rail with Mounting Hardware.
The CS650-series sensors have the same rugged epoxy and stainless-steel rods that have been used for water content reflectometers since the CS615-L model was introduced in 1995. There are CS615-L and CS616 sensors in many locations that have been in continuous use for more than ten years with no reported problems. If a CS650 or CS655 remains undamaged by external forces such as lightning, harsh chemicals, or animal actions, the sensor is expected to continue working for decades.
A thermistor is encased in the epoxy head of the sensor next to one of the stainless-steel rods. This provides an accurate point measurement of temperature at the depth where that portion of the sensor head is in contact with the soil. This is why a horizontal placement is the recommended orientation of the CS650 or CS655. The temperature measurement is not averaged over the length of the sensor rods.
Yes, but the pots would have to be large. The CS650 and CS655 can detect water as far away as 10 cm (4 in.) from the rods. If the pot has a diameter smaller than 20 cm (8 in.), the sensor could potentially detect the air around the pot, which would underestimate the water content. In addition, potting soil is typically high in organic matter and clay, causing the probable need for a soil-specific calibration.
The volumetric water content reading is the average water content over the length of the sensor’s rods.
The bulk electrical conductivity (EC) measurement is made along the sensor rods, and it is an average reading of EC over that distance at whatever depth the rods are placed.
The CS650 and CS655 work best when the rods are inserted into the soil as parallel to each other as possible. To make parallel pilot holes before installation, use the CS650G Rod Insertion Guide Tool. Minor deflection of a rod during insertion, such as when it contacts a small stone or root, may not affect the readings significantly, but major deflections may cause the CS650 or CS655 to operate outside of published accuracy specifications.