Diapositiva 1

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Humidec Sensor Operation and characteristics -
Xop Física SL
www.xopfisica.es
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Outlook

1. Introduction General characteristics of the
   sensor.
2. Installation Set up of the sensor in the soil
   and connection to the measurements system.
3. Measurements systems Different available data
   acquisition methods offered by Xop Física.
4. Measurements interpretation Information
   provided by the sensor.
5. Contact Location and contact information.

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1. Introduction
Humidec is a conductivity sensor with a coin
similar size.
It allows measuring soil humidity in a simple and
immediate way, so you are able to supply water to
the plant according to its real necessity. It
has a long lifetime, low maintenance and a very
competitive price.
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2. Installation
In applications where measurements are performed
in liquid media, it is enough to deep the sensor
to get the measurement. When sensor has to be
buried in the soil, you have to follow these
steps
1. Make a hole in the sand and place the sensor
face up, forming between 0 and 30º with the
horizontal.
2. Add sand till cover the sensor, holding its
orientation.
3. Compact the sand to ensure a right contact.
4. Irrigate abundantly to facilitate compactation.
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2. Installation
In an orchard with drip irrigation, generally
some different control points are set up,
depending on the homogeneity and soil extension.
In each control point it is advisable to install
several sensors at different depths, placing the
deepest a bit below the length of the roots.
For a proper optimization of the irrigation,
humidity should oscillate between field capacity
and withering point, and water should never
arrive at the area where there are no roots,
therefore, the deepest sensor should not detect
the irrigation.
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2. Installation
Once the sensors have been installed, they have
to be connected to the measurement system.
Usually it is placed holding from the trunk and
it keeps completely watertight to avoid the
entrance of water and dust.
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3. Measurement systems
Xop Física offers four different measurement
systems, according to the costumers
necessities. 1. Digital station hm2

• It has up to 4 input channels.
• Measures automatically each interval time
  selected by the user.
• Memorise measurements (45 days capacity for
  measurements each 10 minutes) as adc dignal.
• Data extraction is done by PC or PDA connection
  or via Bluetooth.

• Power supply is provided by battery (It lasts
  about two months for measurements each ten
  minutes).
• It is completely watertight, protected from the
  water and the dust.
• It has a switchable output to activate latch
  valves or reles.

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3. Measurement systems
2. Analogic Station hm1

• It has 1 channel input.
• Measures in a continuous way.
• Output signal can be voltage or current (4-20 mA
  loop).
• It has very low consume.
• Can be supplied by 5 to 12 V.
• It is compatible with existing control systems.

hm1 station with 4 electronic boards, external
(left) and internal (right) part. Configured to
measure in current loop.
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3. Measurement systems
3. hm1 hand reader

• Used mainly to perform instantaneous
  measurements.
• Consists on an hm1 electronic board connected to
  a display.
• Measures only in voltage.
• Power supply consist on four 1.5 V batteries.

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3. Measurement systems
4. hm2 hand reader

• Used mainly to perform instantaneous
  measurements.
• Consists on an hm2 electronic board connected to
  a display and a keyboard.
• It offers all the advantages of hm2 station
  (memorization, automatic measurement gathering,
  data extraction, etc.).
• Power supply is a 9 V battery.
• Allows data visualization in conductivity,
  humidity or temperature.
• Configurable through the keyboard.

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4. Measurement interpretation
Humidec sensor provides very valuable information
for the efficient irrigation control. Here are
shown some situations that could be found when
analysing the measurements.
1. Evolution during irrigation
Response of two sensors where it is observed that
the water front arrives with certain delay after
the irrigation has started. The delay is longer
for the deeper sensor. High conductivity
attained at the beginning belongs to the liquid
water filling the pores of soil. Once the excess
liquid has percolated, only the water absorbed by
the soil is measured by the sensor.
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4. Measurement interpretation
2. Very dried land

• Usually, a higher humidity level is observed in
  the deepest area (40 cm) due to the existence of
  water reservation.
• It is appreciated that between the 11th and the
  19th the irrigation system was broken.
• When irrigation was performed again on the 19th,
  the deepest sensor does not detect water, since
  it is absorbed at the superficial area.
• It is at the third irrigation when water finally
  percolates and arrives at the deep area.

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5. Contact
For doubts, enquiries, or further information, do
not hesitate to contactXop Física S. L. The
Company is located in Castellón de la Plana, in
the Científic Park of the Universitat Jaume I.
Xop Física S. L. Parc Científic
EspaitecUniversitat Jaume I12071 Castellón Tlf
34 964 38 73 51Fax [phone] E-mail
info_at_xopfisica.esWeb www.xopfisica.es