Ecomatik DF6 User manual

Dendrometer
ECOMATIK GmbH
Muenchner Str. 23
D-85221 Dachau/Germany
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.ecomatik.de
Fruit Dendrometer
with reference voltage supply
(Type DF6)
For continuous measurements of diameter of
fruit and vegetables
User Manual
Version 02/2022

Fruit Dendrometer –Type DF6
1
1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing an Ecomatik Dendrometer type DF6. This is a precise sensor for
continuous measurements of fruit and vegetable diameter under both indoor and outdoor con-
ditions.
This manual is written to help you install and operate your DF6 dendrometer with least difficul-
ty and for most desirable results. Please read it carefully before installing the sensor, and refer
to it if you should have any difficulty with the sensor in the future.
The dendrometer is the sensor part of a measuring system. This means that the dendrometer
should be connected to a data logger for continuous data recording. The dendrometer is com-
patible with the most types of data loggers and microcontrollers (i.a. Arduino).
2. Product Description
As shown below, the DF6 dendrometer consists of:
1x Sensor with quick-mount fruit gripper hook, 5 m cable
1x Piece re-usable UV-resistant rubber reusable to fix the sensor cable at the branch/stem for
strain relief (rubber cord may also be delivered as separate part of a bulk delivery. Then the
total length may be delivered in one piece on a roll and).
1x Piece re-usable string cord to hang sensor to release the instrumented fruit from additional
sensor weight.
2x Cable strips to fix string cord to fruit carrying branch (for correct installation of the strips
please refer to the below section “Installation”)
DF6 Fruit Dendrometer
The standard cable length is 5 m. if you ordered cable extension, the cable length is the or-
dered extension + 5 m.
3. Safety Information
The sensor is protected from rain water, but it is not sealed. Please do not immerse the sensor
in water. Avoid any tension between the cable and sensor during handling and operation.
Pay attention to connections to data logger. Wrong connections will provide wrong readings.
Max. measurement range 25 mm until maintenance required, exceedance may cause
sensor damage!

Fruit Dendrometer –Type DF6
2
4. Installation
Tools & accessories:
- light resistant rubber cord for strain relief of the sensor cable.
- string cord to hang sensor on fruit carrying branch to release the instrumented fruit from
additional sensor weight
- 2x cable strips to fix string cord to fruit carrying branch
- Additional tools required: scissors for cutting cords
a) Select a representative fruit for instrumentation.
b) Use the included rubber cord to strain relief the sensor by fixing the sensor cable on the fruit
carrying branch. Please leave enough cable between the fixation point on the branch and the
sensor. In the final installation position, the fruit sensor should be able to move freely with the
instrumented fruit, without tension on the cable.
c) Use the included string cord to hang the sensor at the fruit carrying branch and adjust the
positioning such that the sensor in its final installation position does not exert additional
weight to the instrumented fruit.
IMPORTANT:
- Please mind orientation of the sensor such that rod entrance, as well as wire outlet should
hence always be inclined downwards.
- Please do not tie the string cord directly to the branch to avoid strangulating the branch. To
fix the string cord to the branch you may either use the included cable strips, loosely fixed to
the branch, or the elastic rubber cord and tie the string cord to the fixed strips, or the rubber
cord respectively.
d) Untighten the knurled-head nuts such that the fruit gripper hook can be moved.
e) Open sensor clamping system and carefully insert the fruit between the fruit gripper hook
and the sensor piston.
f) Move the dendrometer body along the sliding rail, so that the sensor rod is pushed in by
about 5 to 10 mm and the fruit is firmly clamped between fruit gripper hook and sensor rod.
Then lock the gripper hook at the desired position by firmly tightening the two knurled-head
nuts.
g) Fix the cable onto the stem or on a ground stake for strain relief of the sensor cable between
instrumented plant and data logger. This can be done using a rope or cable straps. There
should be no tension between the sensor, fixation point at the fruit carrying branch and the
remaining sensor cable.

Fruit Dendrometer –Type DF6
3
!! IMPORTANT !!
Fix the cable onto the tree stem/branch so that the sensor is protected from any acci-
dental pull/ drag of the entire cable length. This can be done using a rope or cable
straps. In addition, there should be no tension between the sensor and cable.
Ensure that no rain water can run along the cable, or the sensor rod and enter the sen-
sor casing. Rod entrance, as well as wire outlet should hence always be inclined
downwards.
5. Wiring and Logger Configuration
The dendrometer is compatible with most data loggers.
Wiring as single-ended voltage measurement:
4-wire connection
(cable type: 4-wires + shield)
An interval 0.5-hour for data collection can reveal the diurnal course of diameter changes very
well.
In the following we describe the connection with Dendrometer Logger (DL18), Campbell Log-
ger (CR1000). Please contact us if your logger is not described here.
Dendrometer Data Logger (DL18)
The DL18 is a battery powered, waterproof logger for connecting 4 dendrometers. It is a very
effective data logger for dendrometer measurement under outdoor conditions. For details
please see the user manual of the DL18.
Campbell Data Logger (CR1000)
The dendrometer can be measured both in single-ended voltage as well as differential voltage
mode. Differential voltage mode provides better accuracy. But single-ended mode requires half
as many channels as differential mode. One CR1000 can include 16 dendrometers in single-
ended mode, but only 8 dendrometers in differential mode.
Single-ended Voltage
Cable Color
Input Port
Yellow
H (Signal, Vout +)
Green
GND
Brown
Vex
White
GND
Black
GND
Differential Voltage
Cable Color
Input Port
Yellow
H (Signal, Vout +)
Green
L (Signal, Vout -)
Brown
Vex
White
GND
Black
GND

Fruit Dendrometer –Type DF6
4
Single-ended Voltage Mode ( 2 dendrometers)
Connection
Cable Color
Input Port
1st dendrometer
Yellow
1H
Green
Ground
Brown
Vx1
White
Ground
2nd dendrometer
Yellow
1L
Green
Ground
Brown
Vx1
White
Ground
Program Syntax
ExciteV (Vx1,2500,0)
VoltSe(SEVolt(),2,mV2500,1,True,0,_50Hz,Mult(),Offs())
If Multiplier=10.16, Offset=0, the results are measured in microns.
Differential Voltage Mode ( 2 dendrometers)
Connection
Cable Color
Input Port
1st dendrometer
Yellow
1H
Green
1L
Brown
Vx1
White
Ground
2nd dendrometer
Yellow
2H
Green
2L
Brown
Vx1
White
Ground
Program Syntax
ExciteV (Vx1,2500,0)
VoltDiff(DiffVolt(),2,mV2500,1,True,0,_50Hz,Mult(),Offs())
If Multiplier=10.16, Offset=0, the results are measured in microns.
An interval 0.5-hour for data collection can reveal the diurnal course of diameter changes very well.
6. An Example of measured data
The figure shows the
diameter changes of a
lemon fruit measured
with an Ecomatik DF6
fruit dendrometer.

Fruit Dendrometer –Type DF6
5
7. Technical Specifications
Name of the Sensor
Hook-mount fruit dendrometer medium
Type DF6
Use area
For measuring small-medium fruits
Suitable for fruit size
Diameter 0.5-5 cm
Range of the senor
25.4 mm
Resolution
The resolution of the sensor itself is infinite. The resolution of read-
ings is determined by connected data logger, e.g.
CR1000: 3.3 µm
Dendrometer logger DL18: 0.5 µm
Accuracy
Dendrometer dependent:
Max. ±1.97% of reading (stable offset)
RVS50 dependent:
Max. ± 2.0% of reading (stable offset)
Dependent on the connected data logger, e.g.:
CR1000:±(0.04% of reading+10µm)
Dendrometer logger DL18: ±0.1%
Temperature coefficient
- Dendrometer
- integrated RVS50
<0.2 µm / °C in the whole range
±0.015 % of reading / °C max
Linearity
<0.7%
Environment
Outdoor condition: -25 to 70C air temperature, 0 to 100% relative
air humidity
Weight of the sensor
33 g without cable
Power supply via inte-
grated RVS50
Vin (min, max): 6.5 to 36.0 VDC, Vout 5.0 VDC stabilized
Current draw @ Vin min of 6.5 V: 1.41 mA
Max. power consumption per measurement @ Vin min (100 ms
power-up time): 255 nWh
Output signal (Vout)
0 to 5.0 VDC
Material
Stainless steel and Aluminium
Cable length
5 m, extendable up to 100 m