More accurate in soils with high bulk electrical conductivity
Overview
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 MoreBenefits and Features
- More accurate water content measurements in soils with bulk EC up to 3 dS m-1 without performing a soil-specific calibration
- Larger sample volume reduces error
- Measurement corrected for effects of soil texture and electrical conductivity
- Estimates soil-water content for a wide range of mineral soils
- Versatile sensor—measures dielectric permittivity, bulk electrical conductivity (EC), and soil temperature
Technical Description
The 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.
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Compatibility
Please note: The following shows notable compatibility information. It is not a comprehensive list of all compatible products.
Dataloggers
| Product | Compatible | Note |
|---|---|---|
| CR1000 (retired) | ||
| CR1000X (retired) | ||
| CR300 (retired) | ||
| CR3000 | ||
| CR310 | ||
| CR350 | ||
| CR6 | ||
| CR800 (retired) | ||
| CR850 (retired) |
Additional Compatibility Information
RF Considerations
External RF Sources
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.
Interprobe Interference
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.
Installation Tool
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.
Datalogger Considerations
Compatible Contemporary Dataloggers
| CR200(X) Series | CR800/CR850 | CR1000 | CR3000 | CR9000X |
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Compatible Retired Dataloggers
| CR500 | CR510 | CR10 | CR10X | 21X | CR23X | CR9000 | CR5000 | CR7X |
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Specifications
| 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 |
Resources and Links
Product Brochures
Technical Papers
Case Studies
FAQs for
Number of FAQs related to CS650: 54
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No. The principle that makes these sensors work is that liquid water has a dielectric permittivity of close to 80, while soil solid particles have a dielectric permittivity of approximately 3 to 6. Gasoline and other hydrocarbons have dielectric permittivities in the same range as soil particles, which essentially make them invisible to the CS650 and the CS655.
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The permittivity of saturated sediments in a stream bed is expected to read somewhere between 25 and 42, while the permittivity of water is close to 80. A CS650 or CS655 installed in saturated sediments could be used to monitor sediment erosion. If the permittivity continuously increases beyond the initial saturated reading, this is an indication that sediment around the sensor rods has eroded and been replaced with water. A calibration could be performed that relates permittivity to the depth of the rods still in the sediment.
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The CS650 and the CS655 are not ideal sensors for measuring water level. However, these sensors do respond to the abrupt change in permittivity at the air/water interface. A calibration could be performed to relate the period average or permittivity reading to the distance along the sensor rods where the air/water interface is located. From that, the water level can be determined. The permittivity of water is temperature dependent, so a temperature correction would be needed to acquire accurate results.
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Probably not. The principle that makes these sensors work is that liquid water has a dielectric permittivity of close to 80, while soil solid particles have a dielectric permittivity of approximately 3 to 6. Because the permittivity of water is over an order of magnitude higher than that of soil solids, water content has a significant impact on the overall bulk dielectric permittivity of the soil. When the soil becomes very dry, that impact is minimized, and it becomes difficult for the sensor to detect small amounts of water. In air dry soil, there is residual water that does not respond to an electric field in the same way as it does when there is enough water to flow among soil pores. Residual water content can range from approximately 0.03 in coarse soils to approximately 0.25 in clay. In the natural environment, water contents below 0.05 indicate that the soil is as dry as it is likely to get. Very small changes in water content will likely cause a change in the sensor period average and permittivity readings, but, to interpret those changes, a very careful calibration using temperature compensation would need to be performed.
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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.
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Mine tailings are highly corrosive and have high electrical conductivity. Some customers have successfully used water content reflectometers, such as the CS650 or the CS655, to measure water content in mine tailings by coating the sensor rods with heat-shrink tubing. This affects the sensor output, and a soil-specific calibration must be performed. Care must be taken during installation to avoid damaging the heat-shrink tubing and exposing the sensor’s rods. In addition, covering the sensor’s rods invalidates the bulk electrical conductivity reading. Unless the temperature reading provided by the CS650 or the CS655 is necessary, a better option may be to use a CS616 with coated rods.
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The CS650/CS655 manual gives a temperature correction that works in coarse sand, but it should be used cautiously with other soil types. If a temperature correction is required, it is best to determine a soil-specific temperature correction.
When correcting for temperature, the following effects contribute to the sensor output:
- The effect of temperature on the measurement electronics inside the sensor head. This is a relatively small effect compared to other temperature effects.
- The change in the dielectric permittivity of water with temperature. At 0°C, the permittivity of water is approximately 88, at 20°C it is approximately 80, and at 70°C it is approximately 64. If the sensor is in a soil at any given water content, the changing permittivity of water will cause the period average at 0°C to be higher than it is at 20°C. The same soil will have a lower period average at 70°C than at 20°C. In other words, the sensor will overestimate water content at colder temperatures and underestimate it at warmer temperatures. However, that is only true if electrical conductivity is negligible.
- The change in water content as bound water is captured and released. In soils with high clay content, some of the water is partially or fully immobilized by electrical charges on the surface of the clay minerals. The amount of bound water is temperature dependent and may have a small effect on the sensor readings.
- The temperature effect of bulk electrical conductivity (EC) on period average. Bulk electrical conductivity increases with temperature; as it increases, it slows down the period average.
The interaction of these effects may be complicated. For example, with increasing temperature, two things happen at the same time: the falling permittivity of water is decreasing the period average, and the increasing EC is increasing the period average. The net result as to whether the period average goes up or down depends on how conductive the soil is and the contributions of the other temperature effects.
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The dielectric of water at room temperature is close to 80. The firmware for both the CS650 and the CS655 is programmed to change volumetric water content to NAN or 9999999 when the permittivity measurements are greater than 42. When testing in water, look at the permittivity reading rather than the water content reading. If a test is being done for functionality, pull the sensor about halfway out of the water to see both permittivity and volumetric water content readings.
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In soil that is sandy, sandy loam, or loamy sand with low electrical conductivity, the CS650 is a suitable option because it has slightly better accuracy specifications than the CS655 and a larger measurement volume.
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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.
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