Spot-on TDR User manual

INSTRUCTIONS | Spot On Soil TDR Moisture Meter
Spot On TDR Moisture Meter 1
SpotOn
SpotOn TDR SOIL MOISTURE METER
QUICK & ACCURATE SOIL MOISTURE,
EC, AND TEMPERATURE READINGS IN
A COMPACT AND DURABLE DESIGN
US PATENT PENDING

INSTRUCTIONS | Spot On Soil TDR Moisture Meter
Spot On TDR Moisture Meter 2
WARNING:
Use caution when probing into soil to avoid hitting buried electrical wires or other utilities.
Use caution when handling and transporting this meter since its sharp metal tip could cause
damage to packaging, containers, or personal.
Always use the included tip cover when transporting the meter.
FEATURES:
•Continuous readings for quick moisture testing (no button pressing required)
•Measures soil moisture, salinity (EC), and soil surface temperature (°F or °C)
•Includes both 2.375” and 1.5” probe rods
•Rubber mounted rods resist bending in dry or rocky soil
•Ultra high frequency (100 MHz) measuring circuit provides accurate moisture measurements
in a variety of soil types and salinity levels
SPECIFICATIONS:
Range:
0.0 - 100.0 % Volumetric Water Content
0.0 - 5.00 mS/cm Electrical Conductivity
16°F(-9°C) - 120°F(49°C) Temperature
Accuracy:
+/- 3% VWC
+/- 0.1 mS/cm
+/- 1°F(0.6°C)
Repeatability:
Less Than 0.5% Variation
Environmental:
32 - 122°F (0-50°C) Operating Range
IP-64 Rated (Rain and Dust Proof)
Battery:
(3) AA/LR6 Alkaline Batteries (included)
300 Hrs. Continuous On-time Battery Life
Meter Automatically Turns Off After 20 Minutes Of Inactivity
Size & Weight:
Meter: 14” (36cm)W x 2”(5cm) D x 35.8”(91cm)L
2.4lb (1.1kg)
As Shipped: 4.5” (11.4cm)W x 4.5” (11.4cm) D x 36.5”(93cm)L
3.3lb(1.5kg)
1 YEAR WARRANTY
This product is warranted to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for one (1) year from the date of purchase

INSTRUCTIONS | Spot On Soil TDR Moisture Meter
Spot On TDR Moisture Meter 3
METER ASSEMBLY:
As pictured above: With the meter facing you, install the handle with Cap for Battery Compartment (1)
of Fig. 1 by handle turning clockwise until as tight as possible by hand. Do the same for the handle with
Cap for In-Handle Rod Storage (2) of Fig. 1. Once both handles are attached, use a Hex Key Wrench
(included) to tighten the locking screws. Store extra rods in LEFT handle. Install (3) AA/LR6 Alkaline
Batteries (included) in RIGHT handle.

INSTRUCTIONS | Spot On Soil TDR Moisture Meter
Spot On TDR Moisture Meter 4
USE OF PRODUCT:
Turn on the meter by pressing POWER button (4) of Fig. 1. The display will first show the Rod Length
(2.4”Rods), which are pre-installed in the unit. See Changing Rods if using 1.5” Rods. Next the display will
show the battery life in %. Lastly, the display will show VWC or VWC + EC + Temp and is ready to take
measurements.
Note: To switch the display between VWC only and VWC + EC + Temp (°F or °C), press the POWER and
AVG buttons simultaneously. The meter will then continuously take new sensor readings and display
updated values every second until turned off.
Average Function
To obtain an average for multiple probing, insert the rods into the
ground and press the AVG button once a stable reading appears
on the display. The meter will then display the new average value
and the total number of readings included in this average. To
redisplay the current average without changing its value hold the
meter, with the rods in the air and press the AVG button.
Note: To clear the average, press and hold the AVG button for 4 seconds.
Changing the Batteries
The LCD will show “Replace Battery!” when it’s time to change the batteries. On the RIGHT handle,
remove the Cap for Battery Compartment (1) of Fig. 1 by turning counterclockwise. Replace with (3)
AA/LR6 Alkaline Batteries and tighten the cap. Each time the meter is turned on it will show % battery
life left in the batteries. Note: battery life % will only display correctly for Alkaline Batteries.

INSTRUCTIONS | Spot On Soil TDR Moisture Meter
Spot On TDR Moisture Meter 5
Changing the Rods
Once installed, adjust display to match new rod length. At Power On, the rod
length will show on the display, press AVG button to switch between 2.4” or
1.5” rods. Note: This adjustment is only possible while the second line of the
display shows “AVG to ↑↓”
Protective Rod Cover:
Correlating Readings
Remember that each soil is unique and readings from one type of soil will be different from another type
of soil. The best way to find out your soil moisture readings is to take a Moisture Sensor reading at field
capacity; this will tell you what the "Wet" readings are in your particular soil type. This is accomplished
by saturating the soil with your irrigation water, letting it soak in and then taking a moisture reading. This
will give you the “High” reading. You should also measure moisture in a dry area, and this will give you
your “Low” reading threshold. By watering until the soil reached the middle of these two numbers will
give you the best turfgrass health.
1. Readings on the scale are in VWC (Volumetric Water Content) percentages.
2. Normally, after irrigation or rain, the read out will indicate wet or saturated soil. This condition
will change in about an hour, when dealing with normally draining soils.
3. To calibrate the readings on your area - Run your irrigation cycle for as long as you usually run
during dry conditions. (If you do not have irrigation, test the area right after a soaking rain of at
least one-half inch.) One hour after irrigation or rainfall, take soil moisture readings in the
rootzone with the appropriate length probes. Record these readings.
4. These numbers are your baseline reading of your soil at field capacity. “Field capacity” means
that the soil is holding all the water it can; after the gravitational water has drained from the top
three inches of the soil profile.

INSTRUCTIONS | Spot On Soil TDR Moisture Meter
Spot On TDR Moisture Meter 6
5. After field capacity readings have been recorded for each area with unique soils, you can use
this range as your "Wet" moisture readings. You will never want to irrigate above these
numbers as the soil will be saturated and turfgrass health will decline.
Soils and Readings
A soil in good tilth consists of 50% solids, 25% air spaces and 25% water. Rain or irrigation water will
temporarily fill all the voids in the soil. Depending on the porosity of the soil or its capacity to hold water,
good soils will drain in about an hour. This is called gravitational water, and, with gravity, it will move
down into the soil profile. Normally, it will take about an hour for this gravitational water to move down
after it is applied to turfgrass areas.
As the turfgrass plant uses the water held in the soil, which is at “field capacity”, air begins to fill the voids
occupied by the water, allowing the root system to take in oxygen. As water is used up in the “field
capacity” range, it can be noted on the meter over time.
Learning to use your Spot- On Soil TDR Moisture Meter as a guide to irrigation practices will greatly reduce
the guesswork in developing and managing quality turfgrass areas.
Different Soils and their Moisture Readings
The Spot-On Soil TDR Moisture Meter tells the amount of water in the air space that is in the soil. A one-
to two-year-old USGA sand-based golf green or sand based athletic field that is saturated will show a
very small amount of moisture because of the air space in the soil and its ability to drain the water quickly
at field capacity. An area constructed from clay, soil, silt, or other native materials will show a much
higher reading when saturated.
The main objective in using this tool is to be sure you calculate your field capacity for all areas of unlike
construction. On Golf Courses, Greens, Tees, and Fairways will require three different ranges for wet,
good, and dry readings. Athletic fields may have different soil characteristics if wear areas have been re-
built or re-seeded with different soil types. Once these areas on your property are noted, they will not
change much over time unless a total renovation or re-construction is undertaken.
Golf Courses, Tournaments and Sporting Events
The main thing to look for before tournament play or events is not to need an actual percentage reading
of say 30% but to look for consistency. If all the greens surfaces or athletic field playing areas have the
same percentage of soil moisture and they all have the same reading on a Turf-Tec Penetrometer or
Impact Testing device, they will all respond to the ball impact and player interaction the same way. The
key to playability is consistency from green to green or area to area on an athletic field with the
relationship of soil moisture and compaction. If all sports field areas are also consistent, they will have
the same footing and ball bounce. For sports fields shear strength is also an important factor to measure.
Meter Readings and Calibration
Each meter is factory calibrated with a 7-point calibration process that cannot be repeated in the field.
Meter recalibration should not be needed since errors in readings are typically due to bent or worn rods.
Replacing worn rods or straightening bent rods should restore the meter to “factory calibration”
accuracy. As rods become worn during normal use, they become shorter in length and smaller in
diameter. Both changes will affect the meter’s accuracy, the remedy is replacing the rods not
recalibrating the meter. Bent rods will cause the spacing between them to either be larger or smaller

INSTRUCTIONS | Spot On Soil TDR Moisture Meter
Spot On TDR Moisture Meter 7
than that of parallel rods. Again, the remedy should be to straighten the rods, or if bent badly, to replace
the rods, not meter recalibration.
Checking the Meter’s Accuracy
Items needed:
1. Distilled water (at room temperature)
2. Quart size or larger plastic container
Testing should be done with both the meter and the distilled water at room temperature. With a hand
on each handle hold the meter such that the sensor rods are suspended in the air about 6” above the
ground. The meter should read 0.0% +/- 0.0% VWC in air.
Place the meter in distilled water at room temperature so that the entire length of the rods is submerged.
Be sure to use at least a quart size non-metallic plastic container for this step making sure spikes are
completely submerged in the water and not touching the bottom of the container.
It is not recommended to submerge more than about ¼” of the sensor head below the surface of the
water. The meter with 2.4” rods should read 101.0% +/- 3.0% VWC in distilled water. The meter with
1.5” rods should read 103.0% +/- 3.0% VWC in distilled water. If this variation exceeds +/- 5% then it is
recommended that the sensor rods be replaced
Turf-Tec International Terms of Sale and Warranty
LIMITED WARRANTY OF TURF-TEC INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTS
Turfgrass Products Corporation - dba - Turf-Tec International ("Seller") warrants to the final purchaser, that all Turf-Tec International tools will be free
from defects in material or workmanship for a period of one year from date of purchase. SELLER'S SOLE OBLIGATION AND YOUR EXCLUSIVE
REMEDY under this Limited Warranty and, to the extent permitted by law, any warranty or condition implied by law, shall be the repair or replacement
of parts, without charge, which are defective in material or workmanship, and which have not been misused, carelessly handled, or improperly repaired
by persons other than Turf-Tec International. To make a claim under this Limited Warranty, you must return the complete tool, transportation prepaid,
to Turf-Tec International after contacting Turf-Tec International and receiving a return authorization number. Please include a dated proof of purchase
with your tool.
ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES SHALL BE LIMITED IN DURATION TO ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER BE
LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS OF PROFITS)
ARISING FROM THE SALE OR USE OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY
ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE IN THE U.S., PROVINCE TO PROVINCE IN CANADA AND FROM
COUNTRY TO COUNTRY.
Return Policy
Turf-Tec International has been in business since 1976 and we pride ourselves in producing quality tools that last for years and years. We offer a
100% satisfaction guarantee on all our products and will gladly accept any return for a credit to be used at Turf-Tec International for future orders or a
check refund may be issued. There is a 30% re-stocking fee for all returned merchandise whether an in-house credit or a refund is requested, and
shipping charges will not be refunded. All returned merchandise must be new and in re-salable condition. Turf-Tec will only receive returns if a return
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Hold Harmless Agreement
The seller shall protect, defend, indemnify and hold the purchaser and their respective assigns and their attorneys, accountants, employees, officers
and directors harmless from and against all losses, costs, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of every kind and character, as incurred, resulting
from or relating to or arising out of the inaccuracy of results, injury of user, injury of sports participant, turfgrass loss, warranty, covenant or any
agreement made by the seller in this agreement.