Watering with Soil Moisture Sensors - Baseline Systems

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©2011, Baseline Irrigation SolutionsFrequently Asked QuestionsQ What happens when lightning strikes near a soil moisture sensor?A Soil moisture sensors that are made up largely of metal components are susceptible todamage from lightning strikes even though they are buried. If lightning strikes nearby,currents can travel through the interconnecting wires and damage the sensitive circuitelements. Baseline’s soil moisture sensors are much less susceptible to lightning damagebecause no conductive material is in contact with the soil.Q If I have a soil moisture sensor, do I need a rain sensor?A Obviously, the sensor will detect the increased soil moisture caused by rain. However,because it takes time for the rain water to reach the sensor, the sensor reading typically willnot cause the system to shut off quickly during a rain event. If you want to avoid theappearance of watering improperly during rain, we recommend that you combine a rainsensor (rain pause device) with your soil moisture sensor. After the rain sensor allows yoursystem to start watering again, the soil moisture sensor will determine when the nextirrigation event needs to occur.Q Can I use a soil moisture sensor with a weather station?A Remember that there are really only two decisions you need to make irrigating: when/howoften to turn on the sprinklers and how long to run/when to shut off the sprinklers. You canuse a soil moisture sensor or a weather station to automate these decisions, but using bothtechnologies is redundant. Keep in mind that the soil moisture sensor automates thesedecisions based on actual measurements, where the weather station uses estimations.Q Do I have to wire the sensor all the way back to the controller?A No. you just need to wire it to the nearest valve box or connect it to the two-wire path.Q How does the soil moisture sensor affect my run time?A The answer depends on what watering strategy you are using. If you are using the upperthreshold watering strategy, the sensor will monitor the moisture level of the soil and thendecrease or increase the zone’s defined run time based on the upper moisture level that is setfor the sensor. If you are using the lower threshold watering strategy, the system will onlystart when a start time is reached and the soil moisture level is below the lower moisturelevel. The zone will then run for its total defined run time. If the soil moisture level is abovethe lower moisture level when a start time occurs, the system will wait for the next start time.In other words, when you are using the lower threshold watering strategy, the soil moisturesensor does not affect the run time, but it can affect the start time.Watering with Soil Moisture Sensors23 | P age
©2011, Baseline Irrigation SolutionsQ How many soil moisture sensors do I need? Why?A The actual answer depends on many factors such as how your irrigation system is configured,how your hydrozones are laid out, what kind of topography your site has, and the variety ofplant material that you have. In reality, just one soil moisture sensor can help you changeyour watering schedule based on actual onsite moisture readings, which will result in waterconservation and improved plant health.Q Where do I put the soil moisture sensor?A Choose the zone that needs to be watered the most frequently. Place the sensor within thatzone, in an area that receives average to slightly less than average water from the irrigationsystem.Q How deep do I bury the soil moisture sensor?A The sensor must be in the effective root zone of a representative plant. A good rule of thumbis 2 – 3 inches deep.Q How do I know if the soil moisture sensor is not working?A In the unlikely event that a Baseline soil moisture sensor quits working, it sends an error tothe controller. You will see a communication error or an over current error for the sensoraddress.Q What happens if it's really dry and the system can't put enough water down?A A Baseline system with flow control and a soil moisture system can help compensate for anunder-designed system. However, keep in mind that this advanced functionality will notcorrect all issues associated with an under-designed system.Q Should I continue to use the Seasonal Adjust on my controller?A No. Let the sensor do the work – it makes irrigation decisions based on actual data ratherthan on anticipated seasonal changes.Q What do you do if you aerate?A Record the location of the sensor – either with a GPS reading or with a measurement from astatic object like a valve box. Then, avoid that location when you are aerating.Q Does a soil moisture sensor work with a drip irrigation system?A Yes. Place the sensor in an area that receives average to slightly less than average water;usually not directly under the emitter and not too far away from it. The sensor must be in theroot zone of a representative plant – typically the one that needs to be watered mostfrequently.Watering with Soil Moisture Sensors24 | P age
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Watering with Soil Moisture Sensors - Baseline Systems

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