Campbell SoilVUE 10 User manual

Revision: 11/2022
Copyright © 2019 – 2022
Campbell Scientific, Inc.

Table of contents
1. Introduction 1
2. Precautions 1
3. Initial inspection 2
4. QuickStart 2
5. Overview 5
6. Specifications 6
7. Installation 8
7.1 Wiring 8
7.2 CRBasic programming 8
7.3 Siting 9
7.4 Field installation 9
8. Operation 12
8.1 SDI-12 measurements 12
8.2 Measurements at fast scan rates 16
8.3 Measurement theory 16
9. Maintenance and troubleshooting 17
10. References 18
Appendix A. Importing Short Cut code into CRBasic Editor 19
Appendix B. SDI-12 sensor support 20
B.1 SDI-12 command basics 20
B.2 Acknowledge active command (a!) 21
B.3 Send identification command (al!) 21
B.4 Start verification command (aV!) 22
B.5 Address query command (?!) 22
B.6 Change address command (aAb!) 22
B.7 Start measurement commands (aM!) 23
B.8 Stopping a measurement command 24
B.9 Send data command (aD0! … aD9!) 24
B.10 SDI-12 transparent mode 24
Table of Contents - i

B.10.1 Changing an SDI-12 address 25
Table of Contents - ii

1. Introduction
The SoilVUE™10 is a time-domain reflectometer-based soil profile probe that measures
volumetric water content, permittivity, electrical conductivity, and temperature at multiple
depths. This probe was designed with environmental researchers and environmental monitoring
network operators in mind; it is ideal for long-term outdoor operation and for applications that
require highly accurate measurements.
The SoilVUE 10 has two probe length options. The 0.5 m option makes measurements at six
depths (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 cm), and the 1.0m option makes measurements at nine depths
(5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, and 100 cm). Waveguides (measurement rods) are embedded in
threads and are centered on the measurement depths. The threaded design allows it to screw
into a hole created by a standard 5-cm (2-in) hand auger. This simple installation procedure
reduces cost, complexity, and disturbance of the soil.
NOTE:
This manual provides information only for CRBasic data loggers. For retired Edlog data logger
support, contact Campbell Scientific.
2. Precautions
lREAD AND UNDERSTAND the Safety section at the back of this manual.
lAlthough the SoilVUE 10 is rugged, it should be handled as a precision instrument.
lThe depth of the hole in which the SoilVUE 10 will be installed must match the SoilVUE 10
length. Mark the installation tool to align with the length of the probe to ensure the proper
depth is obtained. Gaps between the bottom of the SoilVUE 10 and the bottom of the hole
may adversely affect the measurements.
lWater should be used to wet the sides of the hole, reducing the force needed to install the
probe.
lThis is a robust sensor, but it could break if excessive force is applied during installation.
lCare should be taken to ensure the sides of the hole are even and do not become tapered
with repeated removal of soil.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 1

lTo prevent damage to the connector pins, the plastic cap should be left on the cable
connection during installation.
lExternal radio frequency (RF) sources can affect probe operation. Therefore, the SoilVUE 10
should be located away from significant RF sources such as ac power lines and motors.
3. Initial inspection
lUpon receipt of the SoilVUE 10, inspect the packaging and contents for damage. File any
damage claims with the shipping company.
lThe model number and cable length are printed on a label at the connection end of the
cable. Check this information against the shipping documents to ensure the expected
product and cable length are received.
4. QuickStart
A video that describes data logger programming using Short Cut is available at:
www.campbellsci.com/videos/cr1000x-data logger-getting-started-program-part-3 .Short
Cut is an easy way to program your data logger to measure the sensor and assign data logger
wiring terminals. Short Cut is available as a download on www.campbellsci.com . It is included
in installations of LoggerNet,RTDAQ, and PC400.
The following procedure also details the use of Short Cut in programming the SoilVUE 10.
1. Open Short Cut and click Create New Program.
2. Double-click the data logger model.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 2

3. In the Available Sensors and Devices box, type SoilVUE10 or locate the probe in the
Sensors> Soil folder. Double-click SoilVUE10 Complete Soil Profiler. Type the correct
SDI-12 Address; default address is 0. The Probe length defaults to 0.5 m; to change this,
click the Probe length box and select 1m. Select whether to Measure every hour (default) or
every 15 minutes. For each measurement depth, temperature defaults to degrees Celsius.
This can be changed by clicking the Deg C box and selecting Deg F for degrees Fahrenheit
or Kfor Kelvin.
4. Click the Wiring tab to see how the probe is to be wired to the data logger. Click OK after
wiring the probe.
5. Repeat steps three and four for other sensors.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 3

6. In Output Setup, type the scan rate, meaningful table names, and Data Output Storage
Interval.
CAUTION:
The scan rate must be evenly divisible into 15 or 60 minutes (depending on the Measure
every selected in step 3). The 0.5m probe can take one minute, and the 1.0m probe can
take one and a half minutes, to complete measurements. If the scan rate is less than
that length of time, skipped scans will be registered by the data logger.
7. Select the measurement and its associated output option.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 4

8. Click Finish and save the program. Send the program to the data logger if the data logger
is connected to the computer.
9. If the sensor is connected to the data logger, check the output of the sensor in the data
display in LoggerNet,RTDAQ, or PC400 to make sure it is making reasonable
measurements.
5. Overview
The SoilVUE 10 uses time-domain reflectometry (TDR) to measure soil volumetric water content
(VWC) and electrical conductivity (EC). The waveguides (measurement rods) are embedded in
threads and centered on the measurement depths of 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 cm for the 0.5 m
option (Figure 5-1 [p. 5]); depths of 60, 75, and 100 cm are added for the 1.0m option. The
threaded design maximizes soil contact and minimizes preferential flow—two major drawbacks
to smooth-sided soil profiling probes. This proprietary implementation of TDR by Campbell
Scientific produces a clean, high resolution measurement that provides accuracy and assurance
that cannot be found among other commercially available sensors.
Figure 5-1. SoilVUE 10 waveguides and measurement depths
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 5

The SoilVUE 10 should be installed in a hole made by a standard 5-cm (2-in) hand auger tool.
Auger the hole to the proper depth and screw the SoilVUE 10 into the hole (see Field installation
[p. 9]). Water should be used to lubricate the sides of the hole to aid in installation and to ensure
the probe is not damaged due to excessive force. The threaded design presses the sensing
elements into the side of the hole, producing optimal contact with the soil and minimizing air
gaps that are common with alternative profile probes.
The SoilVUE 10 also has a detachable cable that allows either the probe or cable to be
independently replaced if it gets damaged.
All of these design factors combine to result in a more accurate measurement.
Features:
lVolumetric water content (VWC), electrical conductivity (EC), permittivity, and temperature
measurements at six depths over 0.5 m or nine depths over 1.0 m using one probe
lCampbell Scientific proprietary TrueWave™ TDR technology uses advanced waveform
analysis to determine the true travel time of a high frequency pulse that provides
defensible measurements that can be universally compared with other TDR systems
lThreaded design with individual waveguides built into the threads for optimal contact with
soil, which minimizes air-gap errors
lInstallation using a standard 5-cm (2-in) hand auger, thus eliminating the need for
excavation machinery or expensive proprietary tools
lQuick, low-impact installation
lDetachable cable that facilitates field replacement
lSDI-12 digital output
lDesigned for long-term outdoor operation
lCompatible CRBasic data loggers: CR6, CR3000, CR1000X, CR800-series, CR300-series,
CR1000
6. Specifications
Operating temperature range: –40 to 60 °C
Volumetric water content range: 0 to 100%
Maximuminstallationtorque: 54 N•m (40 ft•lb)
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 6

Diameterwithoutthreads: 5.2 cm (2.05 in)
Diameter including threads: 5.8 cm (2.3 in)
Length: 0.55 m/1.05 m (21.5 in/41.2 in)
Weight: 1.9 kg/3.6 kg (4.2 lb/7.9 lb)
Output: SDI-12 version 1.4 compliant
Operating voltage: 9 to 36 VDC
Current drain at 12 VDC: ~1.5 mA (quiescent), ~64 mA (active)
Measurement depths
0.5 m option: 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 cm (2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 in)
1.0 m option: 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, and 100 cm (2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24,
30, and 40 in)
Permittivity range: 1 to 80
Electricalconductivityrange: 0 to 10 dS/m
Accuracy
Volumetricwatercontent: ±1.5% typical with most soils; soils with high organic matter
(>12% soil organic carbon) or high clay content (>45% clay)
may need a soil-specific calibration due to the dispersive
nature of these materials. For more information, refer to Soil-
specific calibration procedure for volumetric water content
sensors available on the Campbell Scientific website.
Permittivity: ±1 permittivity unit between 4 and 42 permittivity
Electrical conductivity: ±2% (0 to 2.5 dS/m), ±5% (full range)
Temperature: ±0.15 °C between –30 and 40 °C
Response time: Up to 1 minute for 0.5 m probe and up to 1.5 minutes for 1.0m
probe
Compliance documents: View at: www.campbellsci.com/soilvue10
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 7

7. Installation
If you are programming your data logger with Short Cut, skip Wiring (p. 8) and CRBasic
programming (p. 8). Short Cut does this work for you. See QuickStart (p. 2) for a tutorial.
7.1 Wiring
Table 7-1 (p. 8) provides the connections for the SoilVUE 10.
Table 7-1: Wire color, function, and data logger connection
Wire color Wire function Data logger connection
White SDI-12 signal Cor Uconfigured for SDI-121
Clear Shield G
Brown Power 12V
Black Power ground G
1Uand Cterminals are automatically configured by the SDI12Recorder() instruction.
For the CR6 and CR1000X data loggers, triggering conflicts may occur when a companion
terminal is used for a triggering instruction such as TimerInput(),PulseCount(), or
WaitDigTrig(). For example, if the SoilVUE 10 is connected to C3 on a CR1000X, C4 cannot be
used in the TimerInput(),PulseCount(), or WaitDigTrig() instructions.
7.2 CRBasic programming
The SDI12Recorder() instruction is used to measure a SoilVUE 10. This instruction sends a
request to the sensor to make a measurement and then retrieves the measurement from the
sensor. See SDI-12 measurements (p. 12) for more information.
For most data loggers, the SDI12Recorder() instruction has the following syntax:
SDI12Recorder(Destination, SDIPort, SDIAddress, “SDICommand”, Multiplier, Offset,
FillNAN, WaitonTimeout)
For the SDIAddress, alphabetical characters need to be enclosed in quotation marks (for
example, “A”). Also enclose the SDICommand in quotation marks as shown. The Destination
parameter must be an array. The required number of values in the array depends on the
command (see Table 8-1 [p. 13]).
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 8

FillNAN and WaitonTimeout are optional parameters (refer to the CRBasic Editor help for
more information).
A downloadable example program is available at www.campbellsci.com/downloads/soilvue10-
example-program .
7.3 Siting
For more information on installation, watch a video at www.campbellsci.com/videos/soilvue10 .
Proper installation of the SoilVUE 10 is critical. This includes selecting a monitoring site that is
representative of the soil of interest, ensuring good contact between the waveguides and the
surrounding soil, minimizing disturbance to the soil, and minimizing preferential flow of water
along the probe.
Factors that affect the distribution of water in soil include soil properties such as texture, depth,
compaction, slope, land usage, vegetation, and disturbance history.
The selected site should be representative of the soil of interest. Certain soil types may present a
challenge to properly installing the probe. For instance, sandy soil types are likely to collapse into
the augered hole. Pre-wetting the installation location may help to firm up the soil and allow a
hole to be created.
Rocky soils may prevent an auger from creating a hole deep enough for the probe or may
damage the probe during the installation process. Minor abrasions and dents to the body or
threads should not influence the measurements. However, rocky soils may require a different
approach to installation. Either create a larger hole and use a slurry method to install the probe,
or excavate the soil then backfill the soil around the probe.
7.4 Field installation
Campbell Scientific offers a SoilVUE 10 installation kit (Figure 7-1 [p. 9]).
Figure 7-1. Components of the installation kit
A– Auger extension shaft
B– Hex socket
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C– Hex socket handle
D– Edelman auger
E– Auger clean-out tool
F– Rods to aid in disassembly (insert through holes in extension shaft)
G– T-handle for auger/extension shaft
The installation kit is not necessary to install the SoilVUE 10. A standard 5-cm (2-in) hand auger
may be used instead of the auger supplied in the kit. The SoilVUE 10 can then be inserted into the
hole using a standard six-sided 2.25-inch socket.
CAUTION:
Do not use a power auger since they may enlarge the hole diameter beyond the desired
specification for a properly installed probe. Power augers also tend to bring soil up from
lower depths, coating the sides of the hole, which may have adverse effects on the
measurements.
1. Connect the T-handle (Figure 7-1 [p. 9], G) to the auger extension shaft (Figure 7-1 [p. 9], A)
then connect the shaft to the auger (Figure 7-1 [p. 9], D).
2. Use the auger assembly to create a hole with a 5-cm (2-in) diameter that is approximately
5cm (2in) deeper than the SoilVUE 10 length. The auger is narrow at the tip, so making the
hole slightly deeper will ensure that the sensor can be fully installed.
CAUTION:
Large gaps between the SoilVUE 10 and the hole bottom can adversely affect the
measurements. The following auger depths allow proper installation and avoid large
gaps.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 10

a. Care should be taken to ensure the sides of the hole are even and parallel and do not
become tapered with repeated removal of soil.
b. Wet the sides of the hole to reduce the force needed to install the probe. In most
cases, the hole will need to be thoroughly wetted.
CAUTION:
When adding water to the hole, avoid eroding the sides and introducing air gaps. Also
avoid standing water at the bottom of the hole.
3. Insert the hex socket handle into the small holes in the hex socket (Figure 7-2 [p. 11]).
Figure 7-2. Hex socket handle and hex socket
CAUTION:
Leave the plastic cap on the cable connection until the sensor is completely installed
and ready to connect the cable.
4. Place the hex socket on top of the probe and use the handle to screw the probe into the
augered hole.
CAUTION:
Applying too much force to the sensor during installation can break or crack it. The
maximum torque applied during installation should not exceed 54N•m (40ft•lb). If
significant effort is required to install, remove the sensor, make the hole slightly deeper,
add more water, create another hole, or try a combination of these options before
trying again.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 11

a. When the probe is partially installed, remove 5cm (2in) of soil around the top of the
hole. This will prevent the connector from digging into the soil as the probe is
installed and provide room for connecting the cable.
b. When the top of the probe is flush with the soil surface, the top sensor is at 5cm (2in)
depth.
5. Connect the cable to the SoilVUE 10, and hand tighten the cable connector nut to ensure a
water-tight seal. Do not over tighten. The cable nut should turn easily. If it does not, check
to make sure it is correctly aligned. Also, try gently pushing in on the cable.
WARNING:
Do not over tighten. Never use a wrench or spanner on the cable connector nut
because it will damage the connector.
6. After connecting the cable, carefully replace the soil around the top of the probe while
adding water and packing well.
7. Route the cable to the data logger.
8. Operation
8.1 SDI-12 measurements
The SoilVUE 10 responds to the SDI-12 commands shown in Table 8-1 (p. 13). Because of the
delays the M! command requires, Campbell Scientific recommends measurement scans of at
least 10 seconds per sensor. For instance, the recommended scan rate for a 0.5-m probe with six
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 12

sensors is at least 60 seconds. A C! command does not require the data logger to pause its
operation until the values are ready.
Table 8-1: SoilVUE 10 SDI-12 commands
SDI-12 command2Values returned or function Units
aM!
1. Volumetric water content, 5 cm
2. Volumetric water content, 10 cm
3. Volumetric water content, 20 cm
4. Volumetric water content, 30 cm
5. Volumetric water content, 40 cm
6. Volumetric water content, 50 cm
7. Volumetric water content, 60 cm1
8. Volumetric water content, 75 cm1
9. Volumetric water content, 100 cm1
m3/m3
m3/m3
m3/m3
m3/m3
m3/m3
m3/m3
m3/m3
m3/m3
m3/m3
aM1! or aC1!
1. Volumetric water content, 5 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 5 cm
3. Temperature, 5 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 5 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
aM2! or aC2!
1. Volumetric water content, 10 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 10 cm
3. Temperature, 10 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 10 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
aM3! or aC3!
1. Volumetric water content, 20 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ) 20 cm
3. Temperature, 20 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 20 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
aM4! or aC4!
1. Volumetric water content, 30 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 30 cm
3. Temperature, 30 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 30 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 13

Table 8-1: SoilVUE 10 SDI-12 commands
SDI-12 command2Values returned or function Units
aM5! or aC5!
1. Volumetric water content, 40 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 40 cm
3. Temperature, 40 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 40 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
aM6! or aC6!
1. Volumetric water content, 50 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 50 cm
3. Temperature, 50 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 50 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
aM7! or aC7!1
1. Volumetric water content, 60 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 60 cm
3. Temperature, 60 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 60 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
aM8! or aC8!1
1. Volumetric water content, 75 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 75 cm
3. Temperature, 75 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 75 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
aM9! or aC9!1
1. Volumetric water content, 100 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 100 cm
3. Temperature, 100 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 100 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
aC!
1. Volumetric water content, 5 cm
2. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 5 cm
3. Temperature, 5 cm
4. Bulk electrical conductivity, 5 cm
5. Volumetric water content, 10 cm
6. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 10 cm
7. Temperature, 10 cm
8. Bulk electrical conductivity, 10 cm
9. Volumetric water content, 20 cm
10. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 20 cm
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
m3/m3
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 14

Table 8-1: SoilVUE 10 SDI-12 commands
SDI-12 command2Values returned or function Units
11. Temperature, 20 cm
12. Bulk electrical conductivity, 20 cm
13. Volumetric water content, 30 cm
14. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 30 cm
15. Temperature, 30 cm
16. Bulk electrical conductivity, 30 cm
17. Volumetric water content, 40 cm
18. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 40 cm
19. Temperature, 40 cm
20. Bulk electrical conductivity, 40 cm
21. Volumetric water content, 50 cm
22. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 50 cm
23. Temperature, 50 cm
24. Bulk electrical conductivity, 50 cm
25. Volumetric water content, 60 cm1
26. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 60 cm1
27. Temperature, 60 cm1
28. Bulk electrical conductivity, 60 cm1
29. Volumetric water content, 75 cm1
30. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 75 cm1
31. Temperature, 75 cm1
32. Bulk electrical conductivity, 75 cm1
33. Volumetric water content, 100 cm1
34. Relative permittivity (ɛ), 100 cm1
35. Temperature, 100 cm1
36. Bulk electrical conductivity, 100 cm1
°C
dS/m
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
m3/m3
°C
dS/m
?! Returns the SDI-12 address
1Applies to the 1.0-meter probe only.
2ais the SDI-12 address. In the SDI12Recorder() CRBasic instruction, the command parameter does not
include the SDI-12 address because the address is a separate parameter.
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 15

NOTE:
SDI-12 sensor support (p. 20) describes the SDI-12 commands. Additional SDI-12 information
is available at www.sdi-12.org .
8.2 Measurements at fast scan rates
Using the SlowSequence function allows the SDI-12 instruction to run as a background
process, causing minimum interference to other measurements that use the analog hardware.
Measuring the SoilVUE 10 in a SlowSequence section of the program allows faster programs to
run as the main scan. However, if the data logger is too busy to complete all of its tasks, some
slow sequence commands may be skipped, resulting in NANs (not a number) instead of
measurements.
8.3 Measurement theory
The SoilVUE 10 is a multiparameter soil profile probe that measures soil volumetric water content
using a time-domain reflectometry (TDR) method. The probe consists of TDR circuitry connected
to a series of six or nine helical waveguides that makeup part of the overall threaded design.
The travel time for a pulsed electromagnetic signal along a waveguide is dependent on the
velocity of the signal and the waveguide length. The velocity is dependent on the dielectric
constant of the material surrounding the waveguide. This relationship can be expressed by:
Eq. 1
where
Kais the apparent permittivity
c is the velocity of electromagnetic signals in free space
Δt is the travel time
L is the waveguide length
Eq. 1 (p. 16) can be simplified to express the apparent permittivity as the ratio of the apparent
probe length (La= c•Δt/2) to the real probe length.
Ka= (La/L)2Eq. 2
The permittivity of water relative to other soil constituents is high. Consequently, changes in
volumetric water content can be directly related to the change in the permittivity of bulk soil
material. The relationship between permittivity and volumetric water content has been described
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 16

by, among others, Topp et al. (1980) and Ledieu et al. (1986) in an empirical fashion using both
polynomial and linear forms (see References [p. 18]).
9. Maintenance and
troubleshooting
NOTE:
All factory repairs and recalibrations require a returned material authorization (RMA) and
completion of the “Statement of Product Cleanliness and Decontamination” form. Refer to
the Assistance page near the end of this manual for more information.
The SoilVUE 10 does not require periodic maintenance. For troubleshooting, Table 9-1 (p. 17)
provides symptoms, possible causes, and solutions.
Table 9-1: Symptoms, possible causes, and solutions
Symptom Possible cause Solution
All SoilVUE 10
output values
read 0
No SDI12Recorder() instruction
in data logger program
Conditional statement that triggers
readings is not evaluating as true
Add SDI12Recorder() instruction
to data logger program
Check logic of conditional statement
that triggers readings
First value reads
NAN, and all
other values read
0 or never change
from one
measurement to
another.
SoilVUE 10 SDI-12 address does not
match address specified in data
logger program
SoilVUE 10 is not connected to the
SDI-12 terminal specified in data
logger program
SoilVUE 10 not being powered
Change SoilVUE 10 SDI-12 address or
modify program so they match
Connect wire to correct terminal or
modify program to match wiring
Make sure the SoilVUE 10 is wired
correctly and that it matches the
data logger program
Readings erratic,
including NANs
and 9999999s
Multiple devices with same SDI-12
address sharing same Uor Cterminal
Connect each SDI-12 device to a
different Uor Cterminal or give them
unique SDI-12 addresses; ensure that
the data logger program is revised to
account for these changes
SoilVUE™10 Complete Soil Profiler 17