User's Manual

DESCRIPTION
SmartCrop® is a revolutionary irrigation management system that uses
the plant itself as the sensor. Therefore, we say, “Listen to Your Crop.”
SmartCrop® reads the canopy temperature of the plants every minute
of every day, and then uses this temperature information to determine if
the plant is experiencing water stress.
How does it know? Once SmartCrop® is installed, the system is setup
on our website (www.smartfield.com/data). On the website, the user
inputs information about the crop. Included in this information is the
optimum canopy temperature for the specific crop (we call this the
Stress Temperature). This optimum temperature is determined in a plant
sciences lab. Basically, the researcher measures the activity of certain
enzymes over various temperatures and this lets us know at what tem-
perature the plant grows best.
The actual canopy temperature is then compared to the known optimum
temperature and it is determined if the plant is experiencing any heat
stress. Other measurements are taken to determine if the plant can be
cooled with irrigation. If so, an “irrigate” signal is sent to the grower.
INSTALLATION
The SmartCrop® system is relatively easy to install. The installation
includes positioning the Sensors in the field, positioning and connecting
the Base Station (usually near the irrigation control panel), placement
of the antennas (the cell phone antenna and the antenna for the Field
Sensors), connection of the other sensors to the Base Station, and the
power-up process.
SENSOR INSTALLATION
Before placing the Sensors in the field, the batteries should be installed.
Disconnect the end of the Field Sensor assembly from the tube with a
short counter-clockwise turn. Take out the Field Sensor assembly and lo-
cate the two battery boxes on the circuit board. Install 4 AAA batteries
making certain that the batteries are installed correctly (the negative end
of the battery will contact the coil spring in the battery well.) As soon as
the batteries are installed, the light will blink at the end of the assembly.
Reinstall the Field Sensor assembly into the tube. Once the batteries
are installed, the Sensors will begin running. The light at the end of the
tube will blink occasionally as the Sensor takes environmental readings.
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FCC NOTICE
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
for a class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses
and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used
in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be deter-
mined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to
try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• 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.
• It is strongly recommended that the TV be plugged into a separate
wall outlet.
This equipment has been verified to comply with the limits for a class B
computing device, pursuant to FCC Rules. In order to maintain com-
pliance with FCC regulations, shielded cables must be used with this
equipment. Operation with non-approved equipment or unshielded
cables is likely to result in interference to radio and TV reception. The
user is cautioned that changes and modifications made to the equip-
ment without the approval of manufacturer could void the user’s author-
ity to operate this equipment.