iMETOS ECO Series - METOS by Pessl instruments

MANUAL: CONTENT

FAQ

There aren’t any so far. If you encounter any problems with your iMETOS^® ECO D3, contact our support team at: support@metos.at.

1. YOUR iMETOS® ECO D3

1.1 PCB LAYOUT 1.2 TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS 1.3 iMETOS® VARIATIONS

1.2 TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1.2 1 PROCESSOR 1.2. 2 MODEM 1.2. 3 EXTERNAL FLASH MEMORY 1.2. 4 POWER SUPPLY

1.2. 1 PROCESSOR

• 32bit ARM cortex M3 processor (Energy Micro EFM32)
• Real time operating system (RTOS)

1.2. 2 MODEM

1.2. 2.1 LTE (4G) VERSION 1.2. 2.2 UMTS (3G) VERSION

Sierra Wireless® AirPrime® HL embedded modules offer unprecedented scalability between 2G/3G/4G, low-power consumption with up to 10Mbps download data speed.
One of the following modem is mounted on the socket of the board, as each region has different network parameters:

HL7692: For EMEA region (Europe). It is a 4G-LTE Cat-1 module with fallback to 2G-GSM/GPRS/EDGE. Supported frequency bands are 4G-LTE B3, B8, B20 and 2G-900/1800
HL7618: For North America region (USA – Verizon carrier). It supports 4G LTE frequency bands B4 and B13.
HL7688: For North America Region (Canada – AT&T carrier) with fallback to 3G. Supported frequency bands are: 4G-LTE B2, B4, B5, B17 and 3G-B2/B5.

Picture 2: iMETOS ECO D3 PCB with the socket where the modem is mounted.

1.2. 2.2 UMTS (3G) VERSION

For GSM/GPRS/EDGE/3G, e.e G2 networks: Sierra Wireless AirPrime SL808x Series a self-contained E-GSM/DCS/GSM850/PCS-GPRS/
EGPRS 900/1800/850/1900/ WCDMA 800/860/900/1900/2100 quad-band module. SIM cardholder included.
For CDMA/EVDO networks (U.S. of America): Cinterion PCS3. Not SIM cardholder.
GPS included

1.2. 3 EXTERNAL FLASH MEMORY

The external flash memory is an Adesto AT45DB641E (8MB).

The memory is split into several blocks:
• 6MB reserved for weather data in Base64 format (i.e. the measured data), implemented as circulating memory (i.e. when memory is full, oldest data is overwritten with newer data)
• 1MB reserved space for firmware update over the air

1MB reserved for configuration and performance and behavior, including:
• Station settings
• APN tables (Access Point Names with MCC, MNC, user name and password)
• Backup (serial number and similar important settings that normally are not changed)
• Sensor image stores the configuration of the set of sensors connected to the iMETOS®. This info will be re-checked automatically every midnight so newly connected sensors will be detected and included in the logging. Manual update of this part of the memory can be done by pressing the reset button
• Event history (information about communication network and internal parameters, detailed description is given later on in this manual)

1.2. 4 POWER SUPPLY

The 6V-4Ah battery is connected to the iMETOS® ECO D3 board in the specific connector, the solar panel is connected to the solar panel connector.

Both power inputs are monitored by the iMETOS® ECO D3 in the same way as the rest of the sensors.

The iMETOS® ECO D3 will automatically change operational mode according with the charge level of the battery following these rules (also see picture below):

The iMETOS® ECO D3 will automatically change operational mode according with the charge level of the battery following these rules (also see picture below):

a) If the battery drops to 6V data logging continues but data transmission quits until battery recovers adequate charge level supplied from the solar panel.

b) If the battery recovers the voltage value of 6,1V (before reaching the threshold of 5,3V) iMETOS® restarts data transmission without manual intervention.

c) If the battery reaches the limit of 5.3V iMETOS® enters sleep mode and quits also data logging. To escape from sleep mode manual reset will be needed after the battery recovers the proper charge level.

Picture 3: Battery threshold

1.3 iMETOS® VARIATIONS

1.3. 1 iMETOS® ECO D3 FOR SOIL MOISURE MONITORING 1.3. 2 iMETOS® ECO D3 FOR RAIN MONITORING 1.3. 3 iMETOS® ECO D3 WITH DRILL AND DROP PROBES

1.3. 1 iMETOS® ECO D3 FOR SOIL MOISURE MONITORING

If your iMETOS® ECO D3 was intended for soil moisture monitoring it comes in minimum with a set of soil moisture sensors connected to the main unit. The sensors connected to it can be EC 5, HS10, 5TE from METER Group Limited and/or Watermark sensors or vacuum tensiometers.

These sensors can be connected to the iMETOS® ECO D3 itself or – of it is needed because of the installation or because of the number of sensors – they can be connected to an extension box on a serial bus connection.

Picture 4: iMETOS® ECO D3 with soil sensors

1.3. 2 iMETOS® ECO D3 FOR RAIN MONITORING

If your iMETOS® ECO D3 is intended for rain monitoring it will have a rain gauge connected to its main body.

1.3. 3 iMETOS® ECO D3 WITH DRILL AND DROP PROBES

You can connect two Sentek “Drill And Drop” volumetric water content probes to the iMETOS® ECO D3. Connection is done via extension board directly connected to the main PCB.

Further number od Drill and Drop probes can be connected via PI-bus input. Refer to D&D manual.

Picture 5: Sentek Drill&Drop with connectors

2. START UP THE iMETOS® ECO D3

2.1 BLINKING CODE 2.2 USE YOUR iMETOS® 2.3 REGISTER YOURSELF AS A USER ON FieldClimate.com 2.4 ADD THE iMETOS® TO YOUR ACCOUNT

To start up the iMETOS® you will need a valid GSM contract with the possibility to send at least 5MB data on GPRS per month and with the ability to send and receive SMS-messages. This contract has to be activated up front. Please make sure that the PIN code of the SIM-card is deactivated. To deactivate it you will need a mobile phone from the same company.

1. The iMETOS® housing is closed with 6 M3 screws. To open them you will need an Allen key of 2.5 mm. This is part of the delivery. When you opened it the lower part will be still hanging on the upper part, due to the short connection of the battery. The battery has to be pulled out of the top with care. Do not use to much force for this. It might help to knock at the site of the top and pull softly.

2. Please open the iMETOS® and enter the SIM-card. If the system has been sent by any type of parcel service the power will be disconnected. Please connect the power after inserting the SIM card. Please check if the solar panel is connected as well.

3. If the power is connected press the little black button to initialise an internet connection. The success of this can be observed by a blinking code of the iMETOS® LED and the modem PCB LED. If the SIM card has been successfully inserted your iMETOS® has registered in the internet and it will send data to the web server. To access this data use FieldClimate. All settings on data upload times, time zone, position and much more can be set up on this web site. To use it you will have to register as a user first.

To close the iMETOS® again it will need to enter the battery again and to fit the top on the button part. If all fits together insert the 6 screws and tide them carefully

2.1 BLINKING CODE

• Connect to power: iMETOS® LED short on – long off blinking, wait for modem
• GSM connecting: GSM LED short on – long off, iMETOS® LED short on – short on – long off
• TCP/IP connected: GSM LED short on – long off, iMETOS® LED short on – short on – short on – long off
• Data successfully send iMETOS® LED short on –short on – short on – short on – long off
• Test not successful: iMETOS® LED stays on

Yellow LED (center): indicates one of the following:

1. in boot mode (plugged jumper I): Pessl bootloader is installed
2. in terminal mode (plugged jumper F) the meaning of the LED is given on the screen of the terminal program in the PC
3. in normal/scheduling mode (without any jumpers)

a) if the modem is on: modem blink code:
i. short on – long off: waiting for modem, network found, SIM card is active
on――――on――――on――――on――――on――――on――――on――――on――――on――――on
ii. short on – short on – long off: connected to GSM
on-on――――on-on――――on-on――――on-on――――on-on――――on-on――――on-on
iii. short on – short on – short on – long off: connected to FieldClimate
on-on-on――――on-on-on――――on-on-on――――on-on-on――――on-on-on
iv. short on – short on – short on – short on – long off: data has been sent and commands from the server have been received.
on-on-on-on ――――on-on-on-on――――on-on-on-on――――on-on-on-on

b) if the modem is off:
The measurement process is in progress, it will light a few seconds every 5 minutes.

2.2 USE YOUR iMETOS®

FieldClimate.com is the web service you are intended to use your iMETOS® with. It allows you to see the data in graphs or tables. It provides interfaces for automised downloads and it provides a powerful decision support system for plant protection and irrigation.

2.3 REGISTER YOURSELF AS A USER ON FieldClimate.com

To use the services on FieldClimate.com it is necessary to register as a user first. Click the plus (+) button to add a new user.

The registration screen which comes up, asks you for a username and a password and it needs your email address as well as your postal address and some information about the company. Please note you will have to enter the real email address. An acknowledge email is sent to your inbox and its containing link that has to be used to activate the newly created user account on FieldClimate.com.

Picture 6: Registration screen

2.4 ADD THE iMETOS® TO YOUR ACCOUNT

If you have got the activation email and you activated the account you will be able to enter to FieldClimate.com. To add your device, open user menu and then press the “Add/Remove station” button.

Picture 7: User menu

It will ask you for a Station ID number and a station key. Now the little silver colored sticker which came with your device has to be used. This sticker contains two keys. Key 1 gives the power to change all the settings on the device whereas key 2 is only valid to use the data of the system. To be able to set up the device please enter the key 1 here. If you entered the correct key your station list will be enlarged by this device and it can be selected.

Picture 8: Add station

3. INSTALLING THE iMETOS® ECO D3

3.1 MOUNTING THE SOLAR PANEL 3.2 MOUNTING THE iMETOS® ECO D3 ON A POLE 3.3 SOIL TEMPERATURE SENSOR 3.4 SPECIAL VERSION iMETOS ECO D3 WITH WIND SENSOR 3.5 INSTALLING PESSL INSTRUMENTS (PI) AIR TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY SENSOR

The iMETOS® ECO D3 is one plastic box which contains all the electronics, the battery, and the antenna. If it is equipped with a rain gauge, it is just a little longer than without. The heaviest part is the battery. Therefore the clamp for the pole sits below it. The solar panel is hanging on a short cable.

3.1 MOUNTING THE SOLAR PANEL

The solar panel is connected with the main body by a short cable. It is packed in plastic film to be protected form transportation damage. Please unpack it and insert its legs into the two cuts at the top of the iMETOS®.

Picture 9: Mounting the solar panel

3.2 MOUNTING THE iMETOS® ECO D3 ON A POLE

At the bottom of the unit, there is a plastic ring with a metal clamp on it. This fits on a 38 mm pole. Please hammer a pole from 1.2 to 2 m straight into the ground and set the iMETOS® ECO D3 on it. The solar panel should be directed towards the sun (South on northern hemisphere and north on southern hemisphere). Fix the screw on the clamp with a 10 mm spanner.

Picture 10: Bottom of the iMETOS® ECO D3 unit

3.3 SOIL TEMPERATURE SENSOR

The soil temperature sensor should be buried in soil. How deep it should be buried is depending on the goal which should be reached with the sensor. To have an impression of root growth and nitrogen mineralization in vines or apples in early spring it is best to be buried at 10 to 20 cm deep. If you want to assess the emergence possibilities of seeds it depends on the seeding depth of the seed. Using it in corn (maize) would mean to bury it by 5cm and using it for sugar beets would mean to bury it by 2 or 3 cm only.

3.4 SPECIAL VERSION iMETOS ECO D3 WITH WIND SENSOR

3.4. 1 INSTALL PI ULTRASONIC WIND SENSOR 3.4. 2 INSTALL HYGROCLIP

If you want to connect a wind speed sensor to your iMETOS ECO D3, you will need this special version. Please follow the instructions below to install properly the device.

You receive the iMETOS ECO D3 housing and the rain gauge with a stainless steel holder in between.

Hammer a pole from 1.2 to 2 m straight into the ground. Take the small metal part with the 2 screws and insert it to the proper place. Insert the steel holder on the pole and fix it with the 2 screws at the desired height.

3.4. 1 INSTALL PI ULTRASONIC WIND SENSOR

Ultrasonic PI windsensor measures accurately wind speed and direction. You can connect it to EXT1 with extension board PI SDI 29-0279 or to PI bus RS485.

To install the PI Ultasonic wind sensor follow the next steps.

1. Place the Ultrasonic sensor on the top of the mounting pole. The USW is fitted with the standard clamp, allowing it to be fixed on the pole or post.

2. The USW must be oriented with the engraved N on the instrument oriented to true north. Check it with the usage of Compass mobile app.

3. Fix the cable vertically along the pole with zip ties (see below picture), avoiding to wrap it around the pole.

3.4. 2 INSTALL HYGROCLIP

If you ordered also the Hygroclip, you should receive it with its radiation shield already installed on the external bracket like in the picture below.

3.5 INSTALLING PESSL INSTRUMENTS (PI) WITH AIR TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY SENSOR

Sensor HYT939 is measuring air temperature and humidity and it is used for low power consuming applications on iMETOS ECO D3 and μMETOS CLIMA.

It can be plugged directly into iMETOS ECO D3 motherboard to extension connector 2 (I2C Bus) – please pay attention to the proper wire colours – or on μMETOS CLIMA to I2C EXT.

Wiring diagram: 1. Brown; 2. Green; 3. White; 4. Yellow.

The sensor is to be connected below the ECO D3 housing in the central position like shown in the picture.

4. INSTALLING THE SOIL MOISTURE SENSORS TO iMETOS® ECO D3

4.1 WATERMARK SENSORS 4.2 VOLUMETRIC SENSORS 4.3 JOINING WATER TENSION AND SOIL MOISTURE 4.4 TENSIOMETERS

iMETOS® ECO D3 is designed to monitor soil moisture at the crop and to present this data on FieldClimate.com. The GPRS, EDGE or CDMA networks are allowing you to install the device wherever you need it. iMETOS® might be used to monitor only one site or it can be used to monitor several sites in a short distance. These sites will be connected by cables.

iMETOS® ECO D3 supports different ways of soil moisture measurement. All this different sensors will need a different electronic. For this purpose it always consists of the main PCB (responsible for the logging and the communication) and in minimum one second PCB (responsible for sensor evaluation). If it is made to monitor one spot this second and only sensor evaluation PCB will be in the same box than the main PCB. If it is made to monitor several sites with a cable connection this other sites will have their own sensor evaluation PCBs in own boxes.

Picture 11: Installing soil moisture sensors

All the PCBs for sensor evaluation do have a line going towards the iMETOS® and a line going towards the next PCB for sensor chain evaluation. Several of this sensor evaluation PCBs can be linked together in a chain. Nevertheless it might be needed to create a network where the sensing sites are going in two or 3 directions away from the iMETOS®. In this case the iMETOS® ECO D3 supports up to 3 sensor chains. For sensor chain 2 and 3 an extension PCB is needed.

Picture 12: PCB extension

4.1 WATERMARK SENSORS

Watermark sensors measure water tension. These sensors measuring range is between 100 and 2000 mbar (10 to 200 kPa or cBar). This sensor fits many horticultural crops, berries, stone fruits, vines and potatoes. Watermark sensors are easy to use and frost-proof.

Basically it is a gypsum block. The gypsum is embedded in a matrix material. And it gives a defined response in resistance on different water tension levels. We can measure the water tension on 3 to 5 cBar accuracy.

It showed that it works faster if it is wetted for 24 hours before installation. If you install it in the ground you will need a hole with the correct depth. Lay it horizontally on the ground and let the cable go horizontally first to before you take it up to the top. This avoids water following the cable in the ground reaching and wetting the sensor.

The watermark PCB can be equipped with an own soil temperature sensor. This sensor is used to do the temperature compensation of the water tension measurement. It allows you to measure the soil temperature in specific blocks where you measure water tension. The irrigation might influence the soil temperature what can be important in asparagus per example.

Picture 13: Installing Watermark sensors

4.2 VOLUMETRIC SENSORS

From the range of sensors produced by Meter Group we are supporting 2 capacitive soil moisture sensors EC5 and 10 HS and the soil moisture and bulk electrical conductivity EC sensor 5TE. EC5 is a 5 cm long sensor in the shape of a 2 legged fork. 10HS has the same shape but it is 10 cm long and a little stronger than its smaller co-product. In an ideal soil it is possible to press these sensors into the ground. In this case you might dig a hole down to the maximum depth you like to burry the sensor and you insert the lowest sensor straight into ground and the other sensors will be pressed into the site walls of the hole.

As soon as you have structured organic matter or stones in the soil this way of installation is not possible. In this case you will have to dig a trench and to make smaller holes with the different depths you like to install the sensors. Take some of the soil of the different holes and mix it carefully with water to form a slurry a dry as possible. Insert this slurry into the hole and now you can insert the sensor vertically into this slurry. The cables can be buried in the trench.

The PCB supporting the Meter sensors can take 3 sensors. It is possible to connect a wide range of different sensors to this PCB. Therefore a compound with 10 dip switches is on this PCB. 9 of this switches are needed. The first 3 switches are for sensor 1, Switch 4 to 6 is for sensor 2 and switch 7 to 9 is for sensor 3. If an EC5 is connected the switches have to be off, off, off. A 10HS sensor needs the settings On, Off, Off. The 5TE sensor for soil moisture and EC needs the setting On, On, Off.

Picture 14: Volumetric water content sensors

Picture 15: Soil sensor internal node

4.3 JOINING WATER TENSION AND SOIL MOISTURE

Soil moisture measured with capacitive sensors like EC5, HS10 or TE5 responds very well on irrigation, rain or water use by plants. Nevertheless it does not tell if the water is easy available or hardly hold by the soil. Sensors giving water tension like tensiometers or watermark sensors are showing the plant availability of the water much better. This sensors are limited to show the dynamics of the soil water. To use the benefits of both systems Pessl Instruments have developed a PCB on which we can be connected 2 watermark sensors, 2 Meter probes and a soil temperature.

Picture 16: Soil sensor internal node – combines 2 Watermarks and 2 Decagon sensors

4.4 TENSIOMETERS

Pessl Instruments is delivering tensiomers of different lengths form Irrometer LTD. For this tensiometer we deliver screw in pressure adapter. Four of this adapters can be connected to the tensiometer interface. The tensiometer interface also includes a barometric sensor which is used as a reference for the tensiometers.

The four tensiometers are connected with 5 m cable to the PCB. It is a 3 wire cable. It is connected with shield (sh), white (wh), green (gr) and brown (br).

Picture 17: Tensiometer internal node

5. INSTALLING NEW SENSORS ON THE iMETOS® ECO D3

5.1 INSTALLING SOIL OR AIR TEMPERATURE SENSORS 5.2 INSTALLING RAIN GAUGE

Each iMETOS® can be expanded to the maximum possible number of sensors. It is equipped with specific inputs for rain, and soil or air temperature. Beside of this it has 3 digital inputs which can be used for a range of different soil moisture sensors and sensor chains.

5.1 INSTALLING SOIL OR AIR TEMPERATURE SENSORS

iMETOS® ECO D3 can be equipped with a soil temperature sensor. The sensor is connected to the 4 pin PanCon Conector labelled with Temp.

Picture 18: Soil temperature sensor

5.2 INSTALLING RAIN GAUGE

If you like to expand the iMETOS® ECO D3 by a rain gauge, Pessl Instruments or you distributor will send you a new cover for the iMETOS® ECO D3 including the rain gauge. You will have to remove on of the covers form the bottom of the housing and put the cable with the cable gland into this opening. Make sure that you screw in the cable gland carefuly and the seal closes the hole tide. The rain gauge connects to the 4 pin PanCon connector labelled with rain.

6. MAINTAINING THE iMETOS® ECO D3

6.1 MAINTAINING THE RAIN GAUGE

When the solar panel of the iMETOS® is exposed to the sun and it gets enough sunlight it should recharge the lead acid battery of the system constantly. With this the system should have enough power for years. The lifespan of the lead acid battery can be expected to be 5 to 6 years with sufficient recharging from the solar panel. Insufficient recharging will shorten the lifetime of the battery. In case of insufficient recharging of the battery the system will reduce the frequency of data upload to the amount which is needed to make sure that no data will be missed on the server. With this power use will be reduced and battery power will last longer.

The maintenance needed for the sensors depends on the different sensors. Temperature sensors will not need any maintenance for their lifetime whereas the rain gauge will only work properly when it is cleaned periodically.

6.1 MAINTAINING THE RAIN GAUGE

New rain-gauge sensor funnel includes a plastic filter intended to reduce maintenance needs. It is possible that birds or insects construct nests inside the mechanism; so, if it rains and the data does not look consistent, check your Rain Gauge internally. To open it, just press the lateral walls and pull the metallic lid (see pictures below).

Picture 19: Three steps to open the rain gauge.

In case of recurrent bird or insect infestation, a good practice is to spray some Diesel or similar oil inside the Rain Gauge; this will keep them away. If necessary, the Rain Gauge can be recalibrated – the spoons must tip with 4 ml. This can be adjusted using the white screws underneath the mechanism.

Picture 20: Rain gauge

7. UNINSTALLING

iMETOS® ECO D3 is mainly used for soil moisture monitoring. If this is in a permanent crop, it can be out in the field for its lifetime. But it might be that it should change the position or that the crop will not last for longer. In this case the iMETOS® ECO D3 has to be uninstalled. If you do so plan some time for it. If you like to remove the soil moisture sensors ready for reusing you have to dig carefully behind the cables. Make sure that you will not damage them. If the iMETOS® will be installed immediately after this at another site, do this. If the iMETOS® should wait in a shed for the next season, please disconnect the battery. For this you have to open the housing with the six screws. The Allen key which came with is 2.5 mm. If you do not disconnect the battery the iMETOS® will send data for another 2 month and after this the battery will be too weak. If you like to use it in the next spring it will need several days in sun before it can transmit data again.