Ecomatik DR2 User manual

Dendrometer
ECOMATIK GmbH
Muenchner Str. 23
D-85221 Dachau/Germany
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.ecomatik.de
Radius Dendrometer (Type DR2)
For measuring changes in stem radius
of fast growing plants.
User Manual
Version 2019

DR2 Radius Dendrometer
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1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing an Ecomatik Dendrometer type DR2. This is a highly precise
sensor for continuous measurements of radius changes of trees under both indoor and
outdoor conditions.
This manual is written to help you install and operate your DR2 dendrometer with least dif-
ficulty and for 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 den-
drometer should be connected to a data logger for continuous data recording. The den-
drometer is compatible with the most data logger types. At Ecomatik a low-cost, special
for dendrometers developed DL18 logger is available.
2. Product Description
As shown blow, the radius dendrometer consists of:
1 Sensor with 5 m cable. The cable length is extendable to 100 m
1 Aluminum frame
2 Special screws for fixing the frame onto the plant stem
Please contact us should you miss anything of these items:
- Sensor body with mounting frame
- 2x special screws incl. nuts and washers
Radius Dendrometer DR2
The standard cable length is 5 m. if you ordered cable extension, the cable length is the
ordered extension + 5 m.
To meet the requirements of different loggers, there are 2 different types of cables: cable
with plug and cable without plug. Cable with plug can only be connected to Dendrome-
ter Logger DL18. Cable without plug can be connected to other loggers.

DR2 Radius Dendrometer
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3. Safety Information
The sensor is protected from rain water, but it is not waterproof. 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 read-
ings.
4. Installation
4.1 Cable Extension
The standard version is delivered with 5 m cable. It can be extended up to 100 m. Cable
type 4×0.25 mm2with shield is recommended for extensions.
4.2 Required tools for installation
A hand-held drill with 4 mm drill bit, tree resin, cable straps, 2 spanners for M6 screw nut
(10 mm).
4.3 Mounting
Remove the dead bark from the region/section on which the sensor is to be installed. En-
sure no injury/damage to the living tissues below the dead bark.
Drill two holes ( =4 mm, max. 6 cm deep) on the left and right side and max. 5.5 cm apart
from the measuring point. Dip the screw top into the tree resin before screwing them into
the trunk. Both screws are screwed 6 cm into the holes by using the countered two nuts.
Fix the frame, with sensor attached, to the screws.
Turn the screws so that the sensor rod is pushed in by about 2-3 mm. When the installa-
tion is taking place shortly before frost period, the sensor rod should be pushed in by 5
mm. At frosts the stem diameter can shrink considerably.
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 into the sensor casing.
5. Wiring and Logger Configuration
The dendrometer is compatible with most data loggers. In the following we describe the
connection with Dendrometer Logger (DL18), Campbell Logger (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.

DR2 Radius Dendrometer
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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 den-
drometers in single-ended mode, but only 8 dendrometers in differential mode.
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. Adjustment and maintenance
Ensure that no falling branches, fruits or snow land on the sensor. The sensor is protected
against water droplets but is not waterproof.

DR2 Radius Dendrometer
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When the sensor is correctly installed, it will function under outdoor conditions without the
need for further maintenance.
Depending on the growth rate of the tree, the sensor should be reset after some months
or years of measurements. When the output approaches 25 mm, the sensor needs to be
reset.
Relax the screw slowly so that the sensor rod is pushed in by about 2-3 mm. When the
reset is taking place shortly before frost period, the sensor rod should be pushed in by 5
mm. At frosts the stem diameter can shrink considerably.
7. Technical Specification
Name of the Sensor
Radius dendrometer
Type DR2
Use area
For measuring radius growth of fast growing trees
Suitable for plant size
Diameter > 8 cm
Limitation
Tree trunk is injured by drilling (the damage can be minimized if
using tree resin).
Range of the senor
25.4 mm
Resolution
The resolution of the sensor itself is infinite. The resolution of
readings 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)
Dependent on the connected data logger, e.g.:
CR1000:±(0.04% of reading+10µm)
Dendrometer logger DL18: ±0.1%
Temperature coeffi-
cient of the sensor
<0.2 µm / °C in the whole range
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
Stabilized Vex 0.5 –10 VDC, power consumption practically zero
Material
Stainless steel and Aluminium
Cable length
5 m, extendable up to 100 m