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CS625 Water Content Reflectometer for CR300-Series
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Overview

The CS625 measures the volumetric water content from 0% to saturation. It is similar to our CS616 but is designed specifically for CR200(X) and CR300-series dataloggers. This reflectometer has a 0 to 3.3 V square wave frequency output that our CR300 and CR200(X)-series dataloggers can measure.

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Benefits and Features

  • High accuracy and high precision
  • Fast response time
  • Designed for long-term unattended water content monitoring
  • Probe rods can be inserted from the surface or buried at any orientation to the surface.

Technical Description

The CS625 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 four-conductor cable is connected to the circuit board to supply power, enable probe, and monitor the output.

The CS625 measures the volumetric water content of porous media (such as soil) using the time-domain  measurement method; a reflectometer (cable tester) such as the TDR100 is not required. This method consists of the CS625 generating an electromagnetic pulse. The elapsed travel time and pulse reflection are then measured and used to calculate soil volumetric water content.

Response Characteristics

The signal propagating along the parallel rods of the CS625 is attenuated by free ions in the soil solution and conductive constituents of the soil mineral fraction. In most applications, the attenuation is not enough to affect the CS625 response to changing water content, and the response is well described by the standard calibration. However, in soil with relatively high soil electrical conductivity levels, compacted soils, or soils with high clay content, the calibration should be adjusted for the specific medium. Guidance for making these adjustments is provided in the operating manual.

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Specifications

Measurements Made Volumetric water content of porous media (such as soil)
Water Content Accuracy ±2.5% VWC (using standard calibration with bulk EC of ≤ 0.5 dS m-1, bulk density of ≤ 1.55 g cm-3, and measurement range of 0% to 50% VWC)
Required Equipment Measurement system
Soil Suitability Long rods and lower frequency are well-suited for soft soil with low electrical conductivity (< 2 dS/m).
Rods Not replaceable
Sensors Not interchangeable
Operating Temperature Range 0° to 70°C
Probe-to-Probe Variability ±0.5% VWC in dry soil, ±1.5% VWC in typical saturated soil
Precision 0.1% VWC
Resolution 0.1% VWC
Output 0 to 3.3 V square wave (with frequency dependent on water content)
Current Drain
  • 65 mA @ 12 Vdc (when enabled)
  • 45 μA (quiescent typical)
Power Supply Voltage 5 Vdc minimum; 18 Vdc maximum
Enable Voltage 4 Vdc minimum; 18 Vdc maximum
Electromagnetic CE compliant (Meets EN61326 requirements for protection against electrostatic discharge.)
Rod Spacing 32 mm (1.3 in.)
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)
Weight 280 g (9.9 oz) without cable

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)
CR200X (retired)
CR216X (retired)
CR300 (retired)
CR3000
CR310
CR5000 (retired)
CR800 (retired)
CR850 (retired)
CR9000X (retired)

Additional Compatibility Information

RF Considerations

The RF emissions are below FCC and EU limits as specified in EN61326 if the CS625 is enabled less than 0.6 ms, and measurements are made less frequently than once a second. External RF sources can also affect the CS625 operation. Consequently, the CS625 should be located away from significant sources of RF such as ac power lines and motors.

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. It replaces both the 14383 and 14384.

Data Logger Considerations

Each CS625 requires a single-ended input channel. A control port is used to enable one or more probes.

Note: A maximum of four CS625 probes can be measured by one CR200(X) datalogger. Valid channel options are analog channels 1 through 4.


FAQs for

Number of FAQs related to CS625: 34

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  1. Yes, as long as the data logger can detect a 0 to 3300 mV square wave over a frequency range of 29 to 67 kHz.

  2. Yes. The PeriodAvg() CRBasic instruction may be used to measure the CS625 on a CR1000, CR800-series, or CR3000 datalogger. To make this work, it is important that the Threshold parameter be set to 1650 mV as shown in the following example:

        PortSet (1 ,1 ) ‘Enable CS625 by setting C1 high (orange wire to C1)

        PeriodAvg (PA_uS,1,mV250,1,1650,0,100,10,1.0,0) ‘Read Period on SE1 (green wire to SE1)

        PortSet (1 ,0) ‘Disable CS625 by setting C1 low

  3. Campbell Scientific does not recommend splicing sensor cables. Sensors may be ordered with custom cable lengths, and Campbell Scientific recommends purchasing the correct length for the application. If the sensor cable needs to be lengthened, a junction box (if practical) is a more favorable option than a splice.

    Note: A splice will void the sensor warranty, but a junction box does not modify the sensor and therefore does not void the warranty.

  4. No. Although the CS616/CS625 could be calibrated to convert its period reading to the dielectric permittivity of snow, there is not an easy way to relate the permittivity to liquid water content. This is because the density of snow changes over time and the amount of liquid water that can be held in the solid matrix is relatively small. Additionally, the sensor emits infrared radiation that melts snow away from its rods, similar to the way snow melts around the base of a tree.

    The CS616 and CS625 are not appropriate sensors for this application because of the lack of good contact between the rods and the snow, as well as the dynamic nature of the solid matrix.

  5. If the electrical conductivity within the waste is less than 5 dS/m and there is good contact between the probe rods and the waste, the CS616/CS625 should respond predictably to changes in water content. The heterogeneous nature and changing bulk density of solid waste, however, make calibration difficult.

  6. The CS616/CS625 can measure volumetric water content over the entire range from completely dry to saturation. A soil-specific calibration will improve accuracy, especially in very dry soil.

  7. Yes. The dielectric permittivity of water varies with temperature, which will cause the CS616/CS625 period to decrease with increasing temperature and increase with decreasing temperature. In addition, the electrical conductivity of the soil water solution is temperature dependent, causing the CS616/CS625 period to increase with increasing temperature and decrease with decreasing temperature. The net effect of those two opposing forces depends on the soil texture and electrical conductivity. The temperature correction equation in the CS616 and CS625 instruction manual was developed using a sandy loam soil with relatively low electrical conductivity. For soils with finer texture or higher electrical conductivity, Campbell Scientific recommends a soil-specific temperature correction equation.

  8. The cable for the sensors is rugged and resistant to damage from the sun and typical weather conditions. However, it is susceptible to damage from rodents, machinery, shovels, and so forth. Running the cable through electrical conduit or PVC pipe will help protect it, but this is not an absolute requirement.  In areas where rodent activity is low, direct burial in a trench is usually sufficient. A particularly vulnerable location is where the buried cables exit the ground and enter the enclosure housing the data logger. At that exit point, take steps to protect the cable from damage.  

  9. No. The output is too fast to be measured on the pulse channel of a 21X or CR7.

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