|
|
|
Soil Moisture
Sensor Probe Comparison
Here's a comparison of various soil
moisture sensor probes from various venders. If a field is left blank then
information on the product is unknown. We invite all soil manufacturers to
contact us and add their soil moisture sensor probe products to this comparison.
Click
here to see Vegetronix's
offerings of low cost, high accuracy soil moisture sensor probes.
What should I look for when choosing a Soil
Moisture Sensor Probe?
- Price - Let's face it, this is
usually the most critical parameter when selecting anything. The
VG400 series of soil moisture
sensor probes leads the pack in
pricing. If you are the first person to find a comparable probe
for a lower price let us know, and we'll send you a gift certificate
to the Olive Garden!
- Power - For battery applications
power efficiency is critical. We have yet to find a lower power soil
moisture sensor probe in the
same class as the VG400 series. It VG400-LP can run for over 5
years from a coin battery, with soil samplings of once per minute.
- Technology - Many
"cheap" soil moisture sensor probes use what is called
resistive or conductive sensing of the soil. The problem with
these sorts of probes is that they corrode and rust over time, since
bare metal of the soil moisture
sensor probe is exposed to the
soil. If this weren't bad enough, they also give inaccurate
results since soils with different salinity levels give different
readings. These sorts of low tech soil
moisture sensor probes should be
avoided because of their short life span and inaccurate results.
The VG400 series use superior sensing technology and will never
corrode, and is insensitive to salinity.
- Form Factor - The VG400 probes
are long and slender and so they can be used in more
applications than their bulky competitors, including monitoring
of smaller potted plants.
- Durability - Avoid any soil
moisture sensor probes that measure
conductivity or resistance, since they will wear out over time.
- Accuracy and Linearity - A
quality soil moisture sensor probe
should give an output which is proportional to water content over the
full output range. In addition, the soil
moisture sensor probe should have a
good output range to reduce sensitivity to noise.
- Supply Voltage Range - Many
inferior soil moisture sensor probes
must be powered with a specific voltage, otherwise the will be damaged
or give inconsistent results. The VG400 series soil
moisture sensor probes have voltage ranges
that span 2V to over 20VDC. In addition, their outputs are
consistent over the full supply voltage range.
|
Recommended Soil Moisture
Sensor
Probes:
|
| Manufacturer |
Sensor |
Technology |
Current (uA) |
Input Voltage |
Price 1 Unit |
| Vegetronix |
VG400 |
Dielectric |
800 |
3.3 to 24V |
< $29.95 |
| Vegetronix |
VG400-LV |
Dielectric |
600 |
2.0 to 24V |
< $29.95 |
|
Other Miscellaneous Soil
Moisture Sensor Probes:
|
| Acclima |
Digital TDT |
Dielectric |
80,000 |
6 to 12V |
|
| Aquaflex |
SI.99 |
Dielectric |
|
|
~ $1020.00 |
| AquaPro |
AP Moisture Probe |
Dielectric |
18,000 |
5.5 to 17V |
~ $1000.00 |
| aquaSpi |
Soil Moisture Probe |
Capacitive |
1640 |
7.5 to 16V |
|
| AquaTerr |
M-300 |
Dielectric |
|
9V |
|
| AquaTerr |
T-300 |
Dielectric |
|
9V |
|
| AquaTerr |
EC-300 |
Dielectric |
|
9V |
|
| Campbell Scientific |
CS615-L |
Dielectric |
70,000 |
12V |
|
| Dynamax |
ThetaProbe |
Dielectric |
15,000 |
5 to 15V |
|
| Dynamax |
TH20 |
Dielectric |
19,000 |
5 to 15V |
|
| Environmental Sensors |
Moisture Point |
Dielectric |
|
|
|
| Environmental Sensors |
Gro-Point |
Dielectric |
|
|
|
| Decagon Devices |
EC-5, 5TE, 10HS, EC-TM
,EC-20, EA-10, MPS-1 |
Dielectric |
|
|
|
| Netafin |
|
Dielectric |
|
|
|
| LusterLeaf |
Rapitest Meter 1820 |
Resistive |
|
|
|
| SDEC |
HMS9000 |
Dielectric |
20,000 |
8 to 24V |
|
| SDEC |
STM 2150 |
Tensiometer |
|
|
|
| SenTek |
Diviner2000 |
Dielectric |
|
|
|
| Soilmoisture Equipment |
G-Block |
Resistive |
|
|
|
| Soilmoisture Equipment |
Trase |
Dielectric |
|
|
|
| Spectrum Technologies |
TDR 100, 6440FSS |
Dielectric |
|
|
$250.00 |
| Spectrum Technologies |
TDR 200, 6435FS |
Dielectric |
|
|
$745.00 |
| Spectrum Technologies |
TDR 300, 6430FS |
Dielectric |
|
|
$895.00 |
| Stevens Water |
Hydra Probe |
Dielectric |
40,000 |
7 to 30V |
|
| Troxler |
Sentry 200-CP |
Dielectric |
|
|
|
| WaterMark |
6450 |
Resistive |
|
|
$34.00 |
| Vernier |
SMS-BTA |
Dielectric |
|
|
$91.00 |
Soil Moisture Sensor
Probe Manufacturers
Comparison Table
|
|
|
