Quick Set Up

1. Install the Batteries

Use a small Phillips Screwdriver to remove the protective battery cover on the back of the meter and install 6 AA batteries. We recommend using Lithium batteries for the longest battery life and always install fresh new batteries to ensure the best performance. Replace the battery cover and push the black power button located on the bottom panel of the meter. The power button should illuminate with a soft blue color when the unit is turned on. Look at the LED screen on the front of the meter. You should see the LED screen light up and the battery power display in the upper right corner of the LED screen should show a battery icon with 3 full bars. If the power button and the LED screen does not illuminate, remove the batteries, and reinstall them again. If the issue persists, please contact us for assistance.

2. Connect the TDR Sensor

Take the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) sensor and insert the sensor cable plug into the silver metal port at the bottom of the device. The plug has 3 small prongs that must align with the corresponding holes in the port to plug in properly, then turn the silver metal sensor casing clockwise with your hand until it is fully inserted into the port to lock the cable in place. Carefully remove the black protective cover from the metal tines. The tip of the sensor tines are extremely sharp and can cause serious bodily injury and death if not handled carefully. Never run with the sensor and always keep it capped and pointed downwards while holding or walking with it.

3. Insert The TDR Sensor into The Soil

Find an area of turf or soil that is free of large rocks or debris that could potentially interfere with your insertion of the sensor tines, then insert the tines vertically into the soil. As you insert the tines, use one or two hands to press the sensor down until the black nubs at the top of each tine sink into the soil and the black sensor head makes full contact with the ground (SHOW IMAGE HERE). The black sensor head requires full contact with the surface for a precise reading. While inserting the sensor, if your hand feels like the tines have hit a hard obstruction in the soil, carefully remove the sensor and move it to another location 6-12 inches away and try again. The sensor tines are stainless steel and built to withstand significant impact but could potentially bend or get damaged if excessive force is used to install it against a hard obstruction. It is normal to experience some resistance while pushing the sensor into the soil. For example, the sensor will insert easier into a sandy or loamy soil then into a clay soil that is hard, dry, dense, and compact. In cases of drought and unusually hard soil, a rubber mallet can be used to gently tap the sensor into the soil. Never use a metal hammer or object to pound the sensor into a hard soil or medium.

4. Take a Soil Reading

With the sensor installed fully into the soil, press the power button at the bottom of the Soil Cub – Soil Moisture Meter case. When it turns on, the LED screen should say “Tap to Measure”. Firmly tap the cover of the meter in the vicinity of the orange label that says, “Tap for Reading”. The words “Measuring…Please Wait” will appear, and moments later you should see the first screen that shows:

• Soil VWC: This is the precise percentage of volumetric water content in the soil
• Soil Temp: This is the precise soil temperature by degrees Fahrenheit
• Soil E.C.: This is the electroconductivity of your soil in uS/cm

Moments later, a second screen will appear that shows:

• Ambient Temp: This is the air temperature by degrees Fahrenheit.*
• Relative Humid: This is the relative humidity by percentage.*

*The air temperature & humidity sensor is located inside the meter case, so it can take 5-10 minutes for the air temperature and humidity inside the meter case to equalize with the external air temperature & humidity. Keep this in mind as you move the meter from an air conditioned vehicle of 70 degrees into a 90 degree environment.

The data readings will continue to display for roughly 3 minutes and then the meter will go into a sleep mode where the LED screen will go dark, and the power button will flash blue. To wake up the meter, just firmly tap the cover again. NOTE: A protective film has been added to the glossy cover of the meter to prevent scratching during manufacturing and shipping, which can be removed.

5. Remove the TDR Sensor from the Soil

To remove the sensor from the ground, use your stronger hand to grab and pull up on the sensor head. If the sensor won’t move, use a second hand to pull up on the sensor cable at the same time. Then, move to another location, insert the TDR sensor, and tap the screen for a new reading.

6. Storing your Soil Cub – Soil Moisture Meter

When you’re done using the meter, press the black power button at the bottom of the case to turn it off. Clean the black head and stainless-steel tines after every use by wiping it down with a damp cloth and drying it thoroughly with a clean, dry cloth. Replace the cap on the metal tines and use the box for storage when not in use. Keep Soil Cub out of the reach of children since the stainless steel tines are sharp and can cause serious bodily injury and death if not handled carefully.

Use it Everywhere You Irrigate