Hobo RXW-GP3 Series User manual

RXW Multi-Depth Soil Moisture Sensor (RXW-GPx-xxx) Quick Start
25114-B MAN-QSG-RXW-GP
Adding a Mote to the HOBOnet® Wireless Sensor Network
Important: Keep the mote near the station while completing these steps.
If you are setting up a new station, follow the instructions in the station
quick start before setting up this mote (go to www.onsetcomp.com/
support/manuals/24380-man-rx2105-rx2106-qsg for RX2105 and RX2106
stations or www.onsetcomp.com/support/manuals/18254-MAN-QSG-
RX3000 for RX3000 stations.
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2
3
4
Watch the mote LCD during the process of joining the
network:
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6
Go to www.hobolink.com to monitor mote status and
health. See the HOBOlink® Help for details.
Important: Set the logging interval for wireless sensors in
HOBOlink to the following minimum settings. See the product
manual for more details (link on back).
Part Number Minimum Logging Interval
Using Solar Power with
Rechargeable Batteries*
Minimum Logging Using
Non-Rechargeable
Lithium Batteries
RXW-GP3-xxx 5 minutes year round 10 minutes with a
1-year battery life
RXW-GP4-xxx 5 minutes summer,
10 minutes winter
15 minutes with a
1-year battery life
RXW-GP6-xxx 5 minutes summer,
15 minutes winter
15 minutes with a
7-month battery life
* Requires the solar panel is positioned directly toward the sun and without
shade
Mounting and Positioning the Mote
•Close the mote and use a padlock to keep it secure.
•Mount the mote vertically using cable ties or screws.
•Position the mote towards the sun, making sure the solar panel is
oriented so that it receives optimal sunlight throughout each season.
It may be necessary to periodically adjust the mote position as the
path of the sunlight changes throughout the year or if tree and leaf
growth alters the amount of sunlight reaching the solar panel.
•Make sure the mote is mounted a minimum of 1.8 m (6 feet) from the
ground or vegetation to maximize distance and signal strength.
•Consider using plastic poles such as PVC to mount the mote as certain
types of metal could decrease the signal strength.
•Place the mote so there is full line of sight with the next mote. Use a
repeater if there is an obstruction between motes.
•There should not be more than five motes in any direction from a
repeater or the manager. Data from sensor motes travels or “hops”
across the network and may not reach the station if the mote is more
than five hops away.
Press the Search button. The magnifying glass icon will
blink while the station is in search mode waiting for motes
to join the network.
Press the Select button on the station to switch to the module
with the manager (module 2 on RX2105 or RX2106 stations).
Open the mote door and install the rechargeable batteries.
Press the button on the mote for 3 seconds.
Press the Search button on the station again to
stop the search for motes.
This signal strength icon
blinks while searching for
a network.
Once a network is found,
the icon will stop flashing
and the bars will cycle from
left to right.
a.
b.
c.
d.
This network connection
“x” icon blinks while the
mote completes the
registration process,
which may take up to
five minutes.
Once the mote has finished
joining the network, the “x”
icon is removed and the channel
count on the station LCD
increases by the total channel
count for that sensor model.

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-800-LOGGERS (564-4377) • 508-759-9500
www.onsetcomp.com/support/contact
© 2020 Onset Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Onset, HOBO, HOBOnet, and HOBOlink are registered trademarks
of Onset Computer Corporation. GroPoint is a trademark of RioT Technology Corp. Some material reprinted with permission
of RioT Technology Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
This product has been manufactured by Onset Computer Corporation and in compliance with Onset’s ISO 9001:2015 Quality
Management System.
25114-B MAN-QSG-RXW-GP
Installing the Sensor
To install the sensor, use a slide hammer and pilot rod to form a
hole to insert the sensor probe. You may also need two
adjustable wrenches, tape, and water.
WARNING: Follow these important safety guidelines
when working with a slide hammer and pilot rod:
●Be careful when carrying and using the slide hammer as
the bottom part of the slide may drop down, potentially
causing injury. Steel-toed work shoes are recommended
to prevent possible injury to toes and feet.
●Eye and ear protection are recommended at all times
when using the slide hammer. When in use, the slide
hammer generates harmful levels of acoustic energy.
Hearing protection with a Noise Reduction Rating of 20
decibels should always be worn.
●Wear work gloves and keep both hands on the slide
hammer when driving the pilot rod. Be careful to avoid
getting fingers caught in the slide mechanism.
These are basic guidelines and instructions for installing the
sensor. More detailed guidelines and instructions as well as
alternate installation methods are available in the product
manual (see link at the end).
•The sensor probe must be installed vertically. Always
maintain control of the slide hammer with a firm grip to
avoid wobbling or moving the hammer side-to-side.
•Check that the pilot rod is tightly screwed to the slide
hammer during the insertion process as the threads may
loosen during repeated impacts.
•Insert the pilot rod only as far as needed for the length of
probe being used.
•When extracting the pilot rod, make sure it remains
vertical so the hole does not become enlarged.
•Once the pilot rod is removed, insert the probe as soon as
possible so that moisture or water does not affect the size
of the hole.
•Secure the sensor cable to the mounting pole or tripod
with cable ties.
•Use conduit to protect the cable against damage from
animals, lawn mowers, exposure to chemicals, etc.
To install the sensor:
1. For assembled pilot rods, skip to step 2. For disassembled
pilot rods, select the appropriate number of middle rod
segments based on the length of your probe: two segments
for RXW-GP3 and RXW-GP4 models, or three for the RXW-
GP6 model. Assemble the pilot rod by screwing one
segment into the other, connecting each rod segment
together to form the body of the pilot rod, making sure all
edges are aligned. Screw in the pilot rod tip to one end of
the pilot rod body and the top cap to the other end.
2. Lay the pilot rod down next to the sensor probe, with both
tips aligned. Wrap a piece of tape around the pilot rod at
the depth the rod should be driven into the soil (which
should line up with the top of the sensor).
3. Screw the pilot rod into the slide hammer. Use two
adjustable wrenches to make sure the threads are tight
between the slide hammer and pilot rod.
4. Use a repetitive up-then-down motion on the slide hammer
to vertically drive the pilot rod into the soil.
5. Once the pilot rod reaches the desired depth, extract the
pilot rod by using the slide hammer in reverse, lifting it
rapidly to hammer upwards.
6. Clear away any loose soil at the top edges of the hole.
7. Insert the sensor probe into the hole, pressing it in as far as
possible by hand. Pour a bit of water around the probe at
the top of the hole if the soil is very tightly packed to help it
slide more smoothly into the hole.
Important: Do not use a hammer or other tools to push
in the sensor because these may damage the sensor.
8. Pack the soil around the top of the sensor to prevent water
from entering the hole. The sensor should be completely
covered with soil and only the sensor cable visible.
For specifications and other details about this mote, refer to the
full product manual. Scan the code at left or go to
www.onsetcomp.com/support/manuals/25115-rxw-gpx-manual.