Programming instructions

40 Designer’s Guide
Calsense
Installation Guidelines
Installation of moisture sensors is the responsibility of the contractor. Proper sensor installation is
extremely important. Moisture sensors must be installed correctly to achieve accurate moisture
readings. All sensor locations should be marked on the plans, as well as in the field. Correct sensor
placement and installation should be verified before the project is signed off. The project inspector
should call Calsense before project is signed off. Calsense recommends the following 'Note To Contractor'
be placed on the plans:
CORRECT SENSOR PLACEMENT AND INSTALLATION ARE VERY IMPORTANT. CALSENSE DETERMINES
SENSOR PLACEMENT AND INSTRUCTS ON HOW TO INSTALL A SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR. SENSORS ARE
THEN INSTALLED BY THE CONTRACTOR. SENSOR PLACEMENT AND INSTALLATION WILL BE VERIFIED
BEFORE PROJECT IS SIGNED OFF.
The Calsense Soil Moisture Sensor is wired in parallel with station solenoids, so the moisture data is
transmitted over the same wires that are used to operate the solenoids. There are no additional wires
run from the valve to the irrigation controller. The choice of groups of stations controlled by the same
sensor is done solely within the controller programming, so there is no additional wire run between
valves to form station groups.
Note: Sensor should be submerged in water for 15 minutes before installation and covered with
compacted soil.
Figure 18 - Moisture Sensor
Moisture Sensor Wire
The Soil Moisture Sensor uses #14 AWG direct burial wire to connect to remote control valves. The
maximum wire run between the sensor and the valve is 3,000 feet. Because the moisture sensor sends
electronic pulses back to the controller, all electrical connections must be waterproof and moisture-
resistant. It is intended that all wire runs between valves and moisture sensors be direct pulls and have
no splices except at the sensor location. Calsense recommends using 3M™ Scotchcast™ 3570G Connector
Sealing Packs (formerly 3M Scotchlok™ 3570 Connector Sealing Packs) or Spears® DS-100 Dri-Splice
Connectors with DS-300 Dri-Splice Sealant for splices.
Campbell Scientific Weather Station
The Campbell Scientific® ET107 Weather Station is an automated system designed for commercial
agriculture and irrigation scheduling. The station calculates potential evapotranspiration (ETo), which is
the amount of water lost from the soil due to evaporation and plant transpiration. Calculating a crop’s