CARA MET User manual © SenseNL V20210308
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS The CARA MET Slab bears sharp pins which, if not handled with care, could result in serious injury. When handling the product, take the appropriate measures for handling objects with sharp elements at all times. LIMITED WARRANTY SUMMARY SenseNL B.V. warrants the included product against defect in materials and workmanship for a period of twenty four (24) months from the date of original order confirmation. SenseNL B.V.
Notice USER INFORMATION Those responsible for the application and use of this product must satisfy themselves that all necessary steps have been taken to assure that application and use meets all performance and safety requirements, including any applicable laws, regulations, codes and standards. Throughout this user manual pictograms are used to draw your attention to important safety, installation, program or usage requirements.
1. CARA MET KIT The following table shows the content of your new CARA MET kit. DESIGNATION QUANTITY User manual 1 DESCRIPTION This manual 10/5 Sensor for measuring Moisture Content (MC) Electrical conductivity (EC) and Temperature (T) in Substrate 10/5 Special for the CARA MET Slab designed element for a correct fixation in the substrate. Base station 1 Equipment which coordinates the communication between the sensor and the cluod.
2. SPECIFICATION 2.1 SENSOR SENSOR CRITERIA RANGE AND ACCURACY SPECIFICATION Type: MC, EC and T in the slab Standard measurement interval: 5 min. Communication type: Wireless, License Free ISM band Range: 50 meter radius from base station in fully developed crop.
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3. INSTALLATION 3.1 BASE STATION Please read all the instructions carefully. Follow the steps exactly as described below by first installing the base station and then the sensors. STEP 1 - Choose your internet connection method: 4G or Ethernet cable 4G STEP 2 - Secure your base station on the highest possible point (e.g.: beam of greenhouse, this will permit better communication ranges).
STEP 3 - Connect the white antenna to the ANT connector, antenna should point towards the crops. STEP 4a - When using internet cable, plug the base station’s ethernet cable into the IN connector. STEP 4b - If you prefer a 4G connection, just make sure that there is a good 4G coverage in your place. If not, SenseNL advises the ethernet connection for a better working of the system.
STEP 5a - Connect to the router in your local network. STEP 5b - For 4G connection, install the black antenna as high as possible, preferably above any screening. It has a magnetic bottom which can easily be fixed to a metal beam. STEP 6 - Plug in the base station’s power supply.
3.2 SENSOR WARNING: following steps involve sharp elements which, if not handled with care, could result in serious injury. Take the appropriate measures for handling objects with sharp elements at all times. Max. 50 meter (164 feet) STEP 1 - Walk to area where the sensors will be used (max. 50 meter (164 feet) radius from base station). STEP 2 - Dismount battery cover.
LIGHT STEP 3 - Insert/changing batteries. When Inserting or changing the batteries, the LED on the back of the sensor should follow the sequence below. LED FLASHING SEQUENCE On start-up 1 - Flash RED four times: Indicating microcontroller boot. 2 - Steady RED four seconds: Indicating sensor startup. Then, either: 3a - Flash GREEN three times: Indicating successful connection with base station.
QUICK START 3.3 INSERTING THE SENSOR IN THE SLAB STEP 1 - Position fixer firmly against the slab.
STEP 3 - Select height of position. Top holes for 75mm slabs, bottom probes for 100mm height slabs. STEP 4 - Firmly insert the sensor in the slab until hearing 2 clicks. These will mechanically lock the sensor in its position. The sensor MUST click in the fixer, otherwise it will not measure correctly.
4. POSITION IN THE SLAB 4.1 REGULAR INSTALLATION In order to have a representative and consistent measurement between sensors, the recommended distance between the side of the block and sensor is 10 cm (4”). Distance “C” represents the ideal distance between the side of the block and center of the sensor. c v v v Figure 4.1 - Positioning the sensor Always position the sensor at the wettest area. In the figure on the right, the sensor would measure a lower MC and wrong EC measurements. Figure 4.
5. CLEANING THE SENSOR Hygiene is of upmost importance in the greenhouses. Therefore, it is very important to keep a good cleaning strategy of the sensors. The design of the CARA MET sensors was optimized to ease cleanability and reduce the possibility of water stagnation within it. Thanks to its materials, many cleaning agents can be used. HERE UNDER IS A LIST OF CLEANING AGENTS WHICH CAN BE USED TO CLEAN THE SENSOR: - Hydrogen Peroxide - Amonia - Alumonium, Chloride - Diluted Ethanol (e.g.
6. FCC and IC statement Product Name CARA MET Slab Applicant SenseNL B.V. FCC ID 2AWXW-MSSLL01 IC ID 26309-MSSL01 Item Description Radio NiceRF LORA1276-C1 module Radio transmission Number of channels LoRa TM Radio transmission FHSS (Frequency-hopping spread spectrum) 8 out of 64. One subband per gateway. Default to FSB2. 1 903.9 MHz 5 904.7 MHz 8 905.3 MHz Tx Frequency LoRa: 903.9 -- 905.3 MHz Rx Frequency LoRa: 903.9 -- 905.
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. • Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. • Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. • Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Warning: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by SenseNL could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
