Sentek EnviroSCAN SOLO User manual

Sentek™ SOLO
HardwareManual
Version 1.4

Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPagei
All rightsreserved. Nopart of thisdocumentmaybe reproduced, transcribed, translated intoanylanguage or
transmitted inanyformelectronicormechanicalforanypurposewhatsoeverwithoutthe priorwritten consent of
Sentek PtyLtd.All intellectualand propertyrightsremainwith Sentek PtyLtd.
Allinformation presented issubjecttochange without notice.
2008-2012 Sentek PtyLtd
Sentek™,SoloPORTER™,EnviroSCAN™, EnviroSMART™,EasyAG™,TriSCAN™, and IrriMAX™are
trademarks orregistered trademarksofSentekPtyLtdthat maybe registered in one ormorejurisdictions.
Sentek PtyLtd
A.B.N. 78 007 916 672
77 MagillRoad
Stepney, SouthAustralia5069
Phone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Internet:www.sentek.com.au
Rev1.4(2012-01-23)

Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPageii
S
SE EN NT TE EK K S SO OL LO O - - S ST TA AT TE EM ME EN NT TS S O OF F C CO OM MP PL LI IA AN NC CE E
F
FC CC C N NO OT TE E O OF F C CO OM MP PL LI IA AN NC CE E A AN ND D S ST TA AT TE EM ME EN NT T O OF F L LI IA AB BI IL LI IT TY Y
Electro-MagneticCompliance
Thisequipmenthasbeen tested and found tocomplywiththe limitsforaClass Bdigitaldevice, pursuant to
part 15 ofthe FCCrules.Theselimitsaredesigned toprovide reasonableprotection against harmful
interferenceinaresidentialinstallation.Thisequipmentgenerates, usesand can radiateradiofrequency
energyand, if notinstalled and used inaccordancewiththe instructions,maycauseharmfulinterferenceto
radiocommunications. However,thereisno guarantee thatinterferencewillnot occurinaparticular
installation. Ifthisequipmentdoescauseharmful interferencetoradioortelevision reception, whichcan be
determined byturning the equipmentoff and on,the userisencouraged totrytocorrectthe interferenceby
one ormoreofthe following measures:
•Reorientation orrelocation ofthe receivingantenna.
•Connection ofthe equipmentintoan outleton acircuit different fromthat towhichthe receiveris
connected.
•Consultation withthe dealeroran experienced radio/TVtechnician.
E
EM MC C A AP PP PR RO OV VA AL LS S
The Sentek SOLO systemcomplieswiththe following specifications;
•FCC Part15 SubpartB
RadioFrequency Devices–Unintentional Radiators
•CISPR11:2009
IndustrialScientificand Medical (ISM)radio-frequency equipment–Electromagneticdisturbance
characteristics–Limitsand methodsofmeasurement
•61000.6.1:2005
Genericstandards—Immunityforresidential, commercialand light industrial environments
M
MA AR RK KI IN NG G
The aboveEMCapprovalsallowthe product tobe marked CE, C-tick and FCC.
M
MO OD DI IF FI IC CA AT TI IO ON NS S
Anymodificationstoanypartofthe equipmentortoanyperipheralsmayvoidthe EMCcomplianceofthe
equipment.
R
RA AD DI IO O I IN NT TE ER RF FE ER RE EN NC CE E
The probe isnottobe operated infree airasit maycauseinterferencetoradiocommunication devices.

Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPageiii
T
TA AB BL LE E O OF F C CO ON NT TE EN NT TS S
Sentek SOLO -StatementsofCompliance.........................................................ii
FCC noteof complianceand statement of liability.................................................................ii
Electro-MagneticCompliance..........................................................................................ii
EMCapprovals.....................................................................................................................ii
Marking................................................................................................................................ii
Modifications........................................................................................................................ii
RadioInterference................................................................................................................ii
Sentek SOLO Introduction...................................................................................1
Background..........................................................................................................................1
Referenced Documents........................................................................................................1
Features.................................................................................................................2
SentekSOLOProbe........................................................................................................2
SentekSOLO Head Unit..................................................................................................2
Download Options...........................................................................................................2
HardwareRequirementListForSentek SOLO...................................................3
SystemSetup........................................................................................................4
HardwareSetup...................................................................................................................4
SentekSOLOProbes......................................................................................................4
SentekSOLO Head Unit..................................................................................................5
Probe Configuration.............................................................................................................7
Probe Configuration Utility(PConfig)Software.................................................................7
FieldInstallation.................................................................................................................10
Downloading ReadingsfromProbe....................................................................................11
Download Using SoloDownload Cable..........................................................................11
Download Using SoloPORTER......................................................................................12
Maintenance........................................................................................................14
Probe............................................................................................................................14
Cable............................................................................................................................14
Head Unit......................................................................................................................14
Batteries........................................................................................................................14
AppendixA–EnviroSCAN Series IIRS232 Technical Specifications............16
AppendixB–EasyAG Series IIRS232 Technical Specifications...................18
AppendixC-Sentek SOLOQuick ReferenceGuide........................................20
Product Set-upchecklist.....................................................................................................20
Preparation....................................................................................................................20
FieldInstallation............................................................................................................20
Downloading.................................................................................................................20
SoloHead Unit &Probe Troubleshooting Guide.................................................................21
SoloPORTERTroubleshooting Guide.................................................................................22
Recommended MaintenanceSchedules.............................................................................23
Weekly..........................................................................................................................23
Eachtimeaccess tube isopened...................................................................................23
6monthly......................................................................................................................23
12 months.....................................................................................................................23

Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPageiv
T
TA AB BL LE E O OF F F FI IG GU UR RE ES S
Figure1: SentekSOLO..................................................................................................1
Figure2: EnviroSCANSeriesII RS232 probe interfacewiring.........................................4
Figure3: EasyAGSeriesII RS232 probe interfacewiring................................................4
Figure4: Checking interfacefirmwareinProbe Configuration Utility................................7
Figure5: Configuration tab.............................................................................................8
Figure6: Clock tab.........................................................................................................9
Figure7: Loggertab.......................................................................................................9
Figure8: Powertab......................................................................................................10
Figure9: SoloHead Unit battery voltage.......................................................................15
Figure10:EnviroSCANseriesII RS232 probe interfaceboardlayout............................17
Figure11:EasyAG seriesII RS232 probe interfaceboardlayout..................................19

SentekSOLOIntroduction
Background
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage 1
S
SE EN NT TE EK K S SO OL LO O I IN NT TR RO OD DU UC CT TI IO ON N
B
BA AC CK KG GR RO OU UN ND D
SentekSOLOisacosteffective,continuoussoilmoistureandsalinitymonitoring solution.Thesystemconsistsof
abatterypowered, loggingprobeconnected toaHeadUnit, whichallowsforin-fielddownloadviaalaptopor
SoloPORTER.The datacapturedisdisplayed inSentek’sIrriMAX software, allowingforuserfriendly
measurementandmanagementof data.
SentekSOLOcanusetheEnviroSCANorEasyAGprobeandcan utilizeSenteksoilmoistureorTriSCAN
(salinity)sensors.
SentekSOLOprovidesaneconomicalwayforDiviner2000userstoupgradeintocontinuoussoilmoisture
monitoring.SentekSOLOutilizesthe sameinterfaceastheSentekPLUS,allowingforsimpleupgrade to
wireless, web compatiblecommunications.
SentekSOLOcombinestheprovensensortechnologyof theworld’smostusedsoil watermonitoring solution,
EnviroSCAN.
Figure1:SentekSOLO
R
RE EF FE ER RE EN NC CE ED D D DO OC CU UM ME EN NT TS S
•SentekSoloPORTERHardwareManual
•Access TubeInstallationGuide
•EasyAGInstallation Guide
•ProbeConfigurationUtilityUserGuide(andonline help)Version1.7.2orlater(PConfig)
•IrriMAXUserGuide (andonline help)
•IrriMAXDataExchange UserGuide (andonlinehelp)
•EnviroSCANprobeassemblyV2.1.ppt (OnDistributorkitCD)
DownloadPort
DownloadPort
ProtectiveCap
SoloDownload
Cable
Batterytubes
3mcable
SoloPORTER

Features
ReferencedDocuments
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage 2
F
FE EA AT TU UR RE ES S
SentekSOLO Probe
•Readssensorsand storesreadings
•ConfiguredusingSentek’sProbeConfigurationUtilitySoftware
•UtilisesSentekmoistureandTriSCANsensors
•SimpleupgradetoSentekPLUS
•UpgradabletoSentekMULTI and thirdpartytelemetryoptions
•Providescontinuoussoilmoisturedataandsalinitydata
•Probecanstoreover2000samples(21days @15minutesamplingintervals)
•AvailableasbothEasyAGandEnviroSCANprobes
•Downloadingavailablefromtheprobe viatheSoloPORTERorSoloDownloadCable
SentekSOLO Head Unit
•Powersupplyanddownloadaccessforprobe
•Noin-fielddataloggerorsolarpanelrequired.Logged soilmoistureandsalinitydataisstoredwithinthe
probeinterface
•SingleprobeperSentekSOLOHeadUnit
•Poweredby4replaceable“offthe shelf”alkaline orlithiumAAbatteries
•Robustdownload port forin-fielddownloading
•Inconspicuous,lightweight design
•FlexibleHeadUnit placement
•Easytoservicewithsimplecomponents
•Easytomovebetweensites
•Suppliedwith3mofcable
•Suppliedwith2mountingbrackets
Download Options
SoloPORTER
•DatauploadedfromSentekSOLOprobetoSoloPORTERviaHeadUnit downloadport
•DownloaddatafromSoloPORTERUSBtocomputerfordisplayinSentek'sIrriMAXsoftware
•USBflashdrivesizedeterminesdatastoragecapacity
•Durableandlight-weight design
•Downloadandbatterypowerindicatorlights
•Poweredbyremovable“off theshelf”9Valkalineorlithiumbattery
SoloDownloadCable
•DatauploadedfromSentekSOLOprobetolaptop viatheSoloHeadunit andSoloDownload Cable
•Downloadcableconnectstocomputerthroughserialport

HardwareRequirementListForSentekSOLO
ReferencedDocuments
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage 3
H
HA AR RD DW WA AR RE E R RE EQ QU UI IR RE EM ME EN NT T L LI IS ST T F FO OR R S SE EN NT TE EK K S SO OL LO O
•SentekSOLOHeadUnit
•EnviroSCANProbeincludingsensorsand EnviroSCANRS232interfaceor
•EasyAGprobewithRS232Interface
•XPI-SoloFirmwareversion1.2.2orhigherinthe RS232Interface
•4xAA alkalineorlithiumbatteries
•SoloDownloadCableorProbeProgrammingCable(forPConfig)
•ProbeConfigurationUtility(PConfig,version1.7.2orhigher)
•SoloPORTER(optional)

SystemSetup
HardwareSetup
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S
SY YS ST TE EM M S SE ET TU UP P
H
HA AR RD DW WA AR RE E S SE ET TU UP P
SentekSOLO Probes
1.Assembleprobe asperEnviroSCANprobe assemblytraining document(seeReferencedDocuments)
2.MakecertainthatJP201 ontheinterfaceisnotconnected(see SoloHeadUnit & Probe Troubleshooting
Guide formoreinformation).
3.PlaceferritebeadongreydatacableofSoloHeadUnit
4.Insertthegreydatacablethroughthecableglandon topcapintotheaccesstube, andrefitferritebeadas
closeaspossibletotheprobe
5.Connectthe greydatacabletothe green Phoenixconnectoratthetopoftheprobeinterfaceinorderof
coloursshowninFigure2andFigure3below.
Figure2: EnviroSCANSeriesII RS232 probeinterface wiring
Figure3:EasyAGSeries II RS232probeinterfacewiring
ProbeCable Red
Orange
Brown
Black
Blue
Purple
Green
Yellow
JP201
TTLPort–locatedat backofinterface
GreenPhoenixconnector
FuseF201
TTLPort
GreenPhoenixconnector JP201
FuseF201
FuseF202
ProbeCable
+VIN Red
+VIN (T)Orange
+VOUT (T)Brown
GroundBlack
TXBlue
RXPurple
RTSGreen
CTSYellow

SystemSetup
HardwareSetup
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage 5
SentekSOLO Head Unit
1.Removethe batterycapsthat sitinfront ofthebatterytubesat thebaseoftheHeadUnitasindicatedbelow, a
smallcoinmaybeusefultohelpunscrewthe batterycaps:
2.InserttheAAalkalineorlithiumbatteriesintothe batterytubesmakingcertainthatthe batteriesareinsertedin
thecorrectorientationasillustratedonthefaceof theHead Unit.
Note:Bewareofbatteriesthatdonothavethelabels‘Alkaline’or‘Lithium’astheyareoften
Zinc-Carbon orZinc-Chloride. Althoughthesecouldbemarkedas‘heavyduty’or‘superheavy
duty’theyarevastlyinferiortoAlkaline andLithiumbatteries
3.Placethebatterycapsbackontothebatterytubes(aspreviously,asmallcoinmaybeusefulforthisstep):

SystemSetup
HardwareSetup
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage 6
4.TheSentekSOLOHead Unit comeswith2xmountingbrackets,allowing foreitherahorizontalorvertical
orientation.Attachthemounting bracketsinthedesired positionat thebackoftheHeadUnitwithsupplied
screws.
WARNING:
Donotdrill newholesintheSoloHead Unitasthismaycompromisethemoistureexclusion
integrity.

SystemSetup
ProbeConfiguration
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage 7
P
PR RO OB BE E C CO ON NF FI IG GU UR RA AT TI IO ON N
SentekSOLOprobescan beconfigured eitherthroughthe Head UnitusingaSoloDownload Cableorthrough
the TTLporton theprobe interfaceusingaPConfigcable. PleaserefertothePConfigUserGuideorHelpfilefor
the completeusage instructionsonhowtoconfigureSentekprobes.
ProbeConfigurationUtility(PConfig)Software
Open ProbeConfigurationUtilitysoftwareand checkthat theprobeinterfacehasthelatestfirmwareversion. This
canbefoundinthebottomrighthandsectionofProbe Configuration Utility.The latestversionisavailableon
Sentek’swebsite.
Figure4:Checkinginterface firmwareinProbeConfigurationUtility
Configurationtab
1.Pressthe Auto-detectSensors buttontoforcethe probeinterfacetoreadwhatsensorsareattachedtothe
probe
2.WithintheConfigurationtab,setthedepthofeachsensorbyclickinginside eachcellwithintheDepthcolumn
andchangethenumberbyeitherclickingthe upanddownarrowsorbytypingthedepthin. Sensorswith
addressesfrom65–80(Salinity)willautomaticallyupdatedepthsonceall otherconfigurationinformationhas
beenenteredandwritten.
3.Normaliseprobe (airandwatercounts)
a)ToobtaintheHigh (Air) countsforeachsensor; placetheprobe insideitsaccesstube.Thenensure
thattherearenoobstacles(i.e. hands,cables,soil, tablesetc.)withinthesensor’ssphereofinfluence
(20cm)andclickontheheaderrowoftheHigh/ Aircolumnsothattheinterfacetakesareadingfrom
eachsensor.
Note: Alternatively,theAircountscanbetakenonesensoratatimebyclicking onthelightning
bolt nexttoeachsensor
b)ToobtaintheLow(Water)counts,fill yourNormalisationContainerwithwater, slide theprobe intothe
access tube untilthefirst sensorisinthe middleofthecontainer.Inthe Low/Watercolumnclickonthe
lightningboltinthecorrespondingrowofthesensorbeingread. Repeat foreachsensor, and
remembertotakeawaterreadingforbothmoistureand VICwhennormalizingTriSCANsensors.

SystemSetup
ProbeConfiguration
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage 8
Important: VICwatercountsmust be taken inreverseosmosis(RO)water(EClessthan
300 S/cm).Always normalisesensorsunderthe sameconditionstoensuremaximum
repeatability.
4.Ifrequired, entercustomcalibrationcoefficientsforeachsensor. Eachcoefficientshouldbeseparated bya
semicolon (i.e.A;B;C).SeetheSentekCalibrationManualformoreinformation.
5.Savethesesettingstotheprobebyclicking WritetoProbe.
Figure5:Configurationtab
Clocktab
1.Clickon the Clock tab todisplaytheclock settings.Decidehowoften theprobe shouldtakeareadingand set
thedesiredsamplingintervalaccordingly.
WARNING:
Probescanonlystoreabout2000samples,afterwhichtheoldest samplesarediscarded.You
must downloadbeforethiscapacityisreached,otherwisenewsampleswilloverwritetheoldest
samples. Thenumberofdays beforeoverwritingisdependent onthesampleinterval.A
scenarioof 10minutesamplinggivesapproximately14days beforeadownload isrequired.
2.Settheprobeclock tothedesiredtime(usuallyprobelocaltime)byeithertypingitinorsynchronizingitwith
yourcomputerclock.
3.WritetoProbe

SystemSetup
ProbeConfiguration
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage 9
Figure6: Clock tab
Loggertab
1.SelectLoggertabandtypeinaLoggerIDspecifictotheprobesothat thedatacanbeidentified later.This
nameisusedtosupplytheIrriMAXdatabaseLoggerID. Thedefaultistheprobe'sserialnumber.Thelogger
IDcanbeupto16 alpha-numericcharactersand underscoresandcannotcontainanyspaces.
2.Setyourdesired SampleOrigin. Thisdetermineswhenthefirst readingwillbetakenbythe interface.All
subsequentreadingswillusethe SampleOriginasastartingreference.I.e.iftheSampleIntervalis1hour,
andtheSampleOriginismidnight, buttheprobeisonlyswitchedonat7:05am,thefirst reading willoccurat
8:00am,then9am,10ametc.
3. LastResponse:Thisistheresultofthelastattempt touploadtoaSoloPORTER,seeSoloPORTER
HardwareManualforadescription ofthe responsecodes.
4.Pressthe DeleteReadings button todeleteanyunwanteddatathat mayhavebeenrecorded
5. WritetoProbe
Figure7:Loggertab

SystemSetup
FieldInstallation
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage10
Powertab
1.Select Power tab toshowthebatteryvoltage suppliedtotheprobe.Theprobeoperatingthresholdsshould
onlybechanged afteradvicefromSentek.Theprobesupplyvoltageshouldbe ≈6.1Vwithnewbatteries.
Figure8:Powertab
WARNING:
The DisableProbe voltagevalueshouldalwaysbe4voltsorhigher
SensorTesttab
1.WithintheSensorTesttabchecksensorsareworkingandreportingvaluesbyselecting “QueryAll Sensors”.
When theprobeiscorrectlyconfigured andinstalledthereshouldbeno INVALIDreadingsfor“Calibrated
Value”of individualsensors(ignorethe “Total”row).
2.Tostopsensortest click “StopSensorQuerying”
3.Makesureallchangeshavebeenwrittentoprobe
4.Backup configurationbyclicking on BackupConfiguration,and savingtoadesiredlocation.
F
FI IE EL LD D I IN NS ST TA AL LL LA AT TI IO ON N
1.InstallaccesstubesandmountingpolespertheSentekinstallationmanuals(EnviroSCANorEasyAG).
2.SecureSoloHead Unittomountingpoleorpost usingmountingbrackets
3.Placeferritebeadongreydatacable
4.Insertthegreydatacablethroughthecableglandon topcapintotheaccesstube, andrefitferritebeadas
closeaspossibletotheprobe
5.Installtheprobewiththe sensorsconfiguredasrequired.(SeeProbeConfigurationUtilitymanualfor
configurationinformation)
6.Connectthe SoloHeadUnitcabletothegreenPhoenixconnectorat thetopoftheprobeinterfaceinorderof
coloursshowninFigure2andFigure3.
7.ConnecttoprobeviaSoloDownload CableorPConfigcableandopenPConfigonyourcomputer.
a)Withinthe Clock tab checkthatthedateand timearecorrect.

SystemSetup
DownloadingReadingsfromProbe
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage11
b)Withinthe Logger tabpressthe“DeleteReadings” button todeleteanyunwanteddatathatmay
havebeenrecordedbeforetheprobewasinstalled.
c)Withinthe SensorTest tabchecksensorsareworkingand reportingvaluesbyselecting“QueryAll
Sensors”.WhentheprobeiscorrectlyconfiguredandinstalledthereshouldbenoINVALIDreadings
for“Calibrated Value”ofindividualsensors(ignorethe“Total”row).
d)WritetoProbe (if required).
D
DO OW WN NL LO OA AD DI IN NG G R RE EA AD DI IN NG GS S F FR RO OM M P PR RO OB BE E
ThedatafromtheSentekSOLOprobeisdownloadedin-fieldusingeitheraSoloDownloadCabletoalaptop, or
the SoloPORTER.
Download UsingSoloDownloadCable
1.Unscrewthe protectivecapthatsitsatop theSentekSOLOHead Unit
2.OntheSoloDownload Cableholdthesectioncircledinred stilland rotatethe sectioncircledingreento
releasetheprotectivecapfromthe SoloDownloadCable
3.PlugintheSoloDownload Cablebyaligning thetabon the cableportwiththenotchontheHeadUnit as
illustratedbelow.Thepinsontheserialconnectionshouldslideinfirmlybutsmoothly, thentwistthe collar
clockwise(the collariscircledingreeninthepreviousstep)tosecuretheconnection
4.Todownloadmakecertaintheotherendofthe fielddownloadcableissecurelyattachedtoyoucomputer
COMport. (Computerwithout builtincomportswill needaUSB toserialadaptor)
5.OpenDataExchange.

SystemSetup
DownloadingReadingsfromProbe
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage12
a)Select Sentek Plus/Multi/Solo(Cable)
b)Selectthe communicationsporttowhichthedownloadcableisplugged
c)KeeptheBaudrateat9600(Thisisthedefaultbaudrateofthe RS232probe)
d)TypetheLoggerIDoryou can leaveblankand DataExchange willfindtheprobe ID.Thisisthe
sameLoggerIDthatwassetonthe Logger tabofPConfigwhenconfiguringtheprobe.Afterthefirst
downloadforeachLogger, the LoggerIDshouldappearinthepull-downmenuforfuturedownloads.
e)SelectIrriMAXDatabase(sdb)asthedestination
f)Ifdownloadingforthefirsttimebrowsetothe locationyouwantthedatabasesaved andtypeina
databasename.Ifyouaredownloadingintoanexisting databaseBrowsetothelocationofthe
databaseon yourcomputerandselectthedatabase.
g)Click Start tocommencethedownload.
h)Oncethedownloadisfinished,select “Quit”.Disconnectcableand replaceprotectivecapsoncable
andSoloHeadUnit.
Download UsingSoloPORTER
1.Makesurethe 9VbatteryandUSBflashdriveareinstalled intheSoloPORTER
2.Removethe batterycapfromthe SoloPORTERandtheprotectivecapfromthe SoloHeadUnit.Plugthe
SoloPORTERintotheHeadUnit.

SystemSetup
DownloadingReadingsfromProbe
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage13
3.Theredlightwill comeonindicatingthattheSoloPORTERshouldnotberemoved. Thegreenlight willblink
until the SoloPORTERfinishesdownloading.The greenlightbecomessolidtoindicateasuccessfuldownload.
4.When theSoloPORTERisremoved,thestatuslightswill repeat the previousstatuscodes.
NOTE:Ifthe red light blinks pleaserefertoSoloPORTERManualorQuick ReferenceGuidefor
errorlightdescriptions
5.RemoveUSBdrivefromSoloPORTERandinsertintoyourcomputer
6.Awizardwill automaticallybelaunched, select“DownloadfromSoloPORTER” tolaunchDataExchange.
Note: If wizardisnotautomaticallylaunched,openDataExchangemanually
7.Selectthesourceas‘SentekPlus/Multi/Solo(Folder)’
8.SelectloggerIDbyclicking‘getlist’
9.Selectdestination as‘IrriMAXDatabase(sdb)’
10.Ifdownloading forthefirsttimebrowsetothe locationyouwantthedatabasesaved andtypeinadatabase
name.IfyouaredownloadingintoanalreadycreateddatabaseBrowsetothelocation ofthedatabaseon
yourcomputer.
11.Click“Start”
Note:
SeeDataExchangeonlinehelpformoreinformation ondownloading.

Maintenance
DownloadingReadingsfromProbe
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage14
M
MA AI IN NT TE EN NA AN NC CE E
SentekSOLOdistributorscan provide aregularmaintenanceprogramwhichconsistsof regularvisitsbyan
authorizedinstallertotestandensurecorrectoperation ofthesystem. Aregularmaintenanceprogramsuchas
thiswill ensurethattheSentekSOLOsystemfunctionsproperlyand continuestogiveworryfreeoperations.
Probe
TheSentekSOLOprobeelectronicsshouldbekeptfreeofmoisture,dust andinsects.Ifanyofthesethingsare
foundtohaveenteredtheaccesstubetheyshouldberemovedandtheentrypointresealedimmediately.
Theprobetopcapshouldbechecked regularlyforcracks orbreakages.Machineryshouldbekeptwellaway
fromtheprobes. Thiswillavoiddamage tothe proberodsaswellaspreventingcompactingofthesoilaroundthe
probe, thusgivingafalseindicationofthesoilmoisturecontent.
EasyAGprobesshouldhavethetopcapgasketreplacedeachtimethecapisremoved.
Cable
Regularinspectionofthe cablingfordamagecausedbyinsects,animalsormachineryshouldbecarriedout.If
necessarythecablecanbe elevatedand/orcovered toprotect it frompotentialdamagingelements.
Abreakintheoutersheathofthecablecanbean entrypoint formoistureintotheprobesaccesstube.
CorrosiononthewireswithinthecablecancauseadropinvoltagebetweentheSoloHeadUnitandtheprobe.
Useavoltmetertotestthevoltageateachendofthe cabletobesurethisisnotanissue.
Head Unit
TheSoloHeadUnitshouldbeelevated off the ground, outofthe canopy, andoutofthewayof machineryto
preventanybreakage,moistureorinsect intrusion. Formaximumpreventionofmoistureintrusion,mountthe
Head Unit onaslight anglesowatercanrunoff and placeabeadofsiliconalongthejoinof theHeadUnit.
NeversubmergetheHeadUnitandavoidopening it.
Ensurethatprotectivecapisalwaysscrewedon straightandtightwhennot downloading toprevent damageto
the download port.
Batteries
SoloHeadUnitbatteriesshouldbemonitoredintheIrriMAX softwaretogiveanindicationofwhenthebatteries
needtobereplaced.
ThegraphinFigure9showsthetypicalcurveofthe voltagegraph fromaSentekSOLOsystem. Itshouldbe
notedthattheactuallifeof thesystemmaybelessthanshown.Factorssuchassamplefrequency,ambient
temperature,batteryage,manufacturer,qualityandotherunpredictablefactorscouldhaveanadverseeffect on
the lifeofthebattery.
Corrosioncausedbymoistureintrusionontheprobeelectronics,cablewiresorinsideoftheSoloHead Unitcan
alsohaveanadverseeffectonbatterylife.Keepcomponentscorrosionfreebyperformingregularmaintenance
asdescribedinthismanual.

Maintenance
DownloadingReadingsfromProbe
Copyright©2008-2012SentekPtyLtdAllrightsreservedPage15
Figure9:SoloHeadUnitbatteryvoltage
WARNING:
Theprobeinterfaceclock maylosetimeifthereisaninterruptioninthepowersupplyformore
than sevendays.Aninterruptiontothepowersupplycouldbecaused byflat batteriesinthe
SoloHeadUnitordamagetothecable.
Inthecaseofaprolongedpowerinterruption, afterpowerisrestoredtheinterfaceclockwill
needtobe checkedandpossiblyresetthroughtheTTLorDownloadPortusingthePConfig
utility.
EstimatedBatteryLifeExample
•Probehas5TriSCANsensors
•Datadownloaded daily
•Probetaking areadingevery15minutes
•BatteriesareDuracellAlkalineAA
Thebatteriesshouldlastmorethan6months
WARNING:
Theabovestatement isprovidedpurelyasan estimate,basedona‘best case’operating
scenariowithstandardSentekparts.It shouldbenoted that the actuallifeof the systemmaybe
lessthan 80% oftheestimateprovided above.Factorssuchasambienttemperature, battery
age,manufacturerandotherunpredictablefactorscouldhaveanadverseeffectonthelifeofthe
battery.