Step-by-Step Guide
Hardware Requirements
To monitor water levels using a soil moisture sensor, you will need the following equipment:
- A BaseStation 3200 controller
- A BL-5315B soil moisture sensor
- Mounting hardware for the sensor (such as PVC pipe, zip ties, or stainless steel clamps)
- A body of water to monitor (tank, canal, pond, or cistern)
Selecting the Sensor Location
Decide where in the water you will place the sensor. The side of a dock may work well, or for a canal, an existing post could be suitable. The key is choosing a location that provides stable mounting and represents the water level you want to monitor.
Installing the Sensor at the Correct Water Level
1. Allow your body of water to drain to the lowest level that is acceptable for your application.
2. Submerge your moisture sensor in the water at this lowest acceptable level.
3. Mount the sensor vertically with approximately half of the sensor in the water and half out of the water. This positioning gives you a good range for variable water levels.
Mounting Options and Best Practices
There are many different mounting options available. PVC pipe, zip ties, and stainless steel clamps all work well for securing the sensor.
Whatever material you choose, it is important that the sensor does not move around and that the materials do not corrode, since they will be constantly exposed to water.
For a PVC mounting setup, use zip ties to hold the sensor in place on the pipe. Use additional zip ties to secure the wire as it leaves the tank or water body.
Another option is to drill holes in the PVC pipe and run zip ties through those holes for a more secure attachment.
Minimizing Wave Influence
Consider using a well screen as a diffuser to minimize wave influence. Waves can throw your readings off and create inconsistent data.
A remote wet well is another way of isolating wave influence in a pond or lake environment.
Connecting the Sensor to the Two-Wire Path
1. Connect the sensor to the two-wire path following the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Use the included DBRY6 splices for the connection.
3. Make sure that you get the red and black wire polarity correct during installation.
Configuring the Sensor in BaseManager
1. Open BaseManager software.
2. Go to Devices.
3. Search the wire path for soil moisture sensors.
4. Give your new sensor a unique name that identifies its purpose (such as "Tank Level 1").
5. Click Save.
Viewing Current Moisture Content Readings
Once the sensor is assigned, you can view its readings in two ways:
Use the Test function to see the current moisture content reading.
Go to Quick View to see the current moisture content displayed there.
The specific moisture content percentage value (such as 26.1 percent) is not necessarily important in itself. What is significant is the repeatability of that value. The next time the sensor reads 26.1 percent, the water level will be at that same low water mark every single time. This consistency allows you to use the sensor reading as a reliable indicator of water level.
Creating a Water Source Empty Condition
You can use the sensor data to automate irrigation decisions by creating a water source empty condition. This will discontinue the use of a water source when the sensor indicates the water source or tank is empty and unusable.
1. Navigate to the Flow Setup tab in BaseManager.
2. Go to Water Sources.
3. Select Edit for the water source you want to configure.
4. Click Add Empty Condition to see the different sensor options.
5. Since you named your soil moisture sensor earlier, it will be easy to find that device in the list.
6. At Empty Condition Percent, set the value to match your lowest acceptable water level (for example, 26.1 percent, which corresponds with the lowest water level you are willing to accept in the tank).
7. For Wait Time, enter the number of minutes the system should wait before checking the water level again (for example, 120 minutes or two hours).
8. Check the Enable box.
9. Click Save to save the program.
How Water Source Empty Conditions Work
With the empty condition configured, here is what happens:
When the tank drains down to the lowest level and the sensor reads 26.1 percent or less, this water source cannot be used and it is taken offline.
After the wait time period (two hours in the example), the system will check to see if the water level has come up again.
If the level has increased and there is more than 26.1 percent moisture content on the sensor, the tank water source will resume watering.
If the tank is still dry or below 26.1 percent, it will wait another two hours before checking again.
Water source empty conditions are a great way to ensure that a tank, pond, or other water source is not used when the water level is just too low.
Creating a Tank Fill Program Based on Water Level
You can automate tank filling by starting a program based on the water level sensor reading.
1. Navigate to the Schedules tab in BaseManager.
2. Click Add a New Program.
3. Name the program (such as "Tank Fill Program").
4. Select the zone that fills the tank or pond (for example, Zone 6).
5. Set a run time for the zone (for example, 120 minutes). You will need to do some math to make sure the tank fills up in the allotted time but does not overfill.
6. Make sure the entire water window is available for the program to run.
7. Remove the start time from the program.
8. Keep only the start days enabled.
Adding a Moisture Sensor Start Condition
Day and time are the most common conditions to start a program, but not the only ones. For a tank fill program, you will use a moisture sensor reading as the start condition.
1. Select Add a Condition.
2. From the drop-down menu, choose Use a Moisture Sensor to Start a Program.
3. At the device list, select your tank level moisture sensor (such as "Tank Level 1").
4. Set the Moisture Limit to Less Than your low water threshold (for example, 26.1 percent), which reflects the lower tank limit.
5. Click Save.
The program will now start when the water level is low enough for the soil moisture sensor to read 26.1 percent or less. The fill zone will run for the specified duration (two hours in the example), filling the tank back up.
Installing Additional Sensors for More Programming Options
You can add a second sensor using the same installation process: fasten it to the PVC mount at a different height and secure the wire.
You can even add a third sensor to the same mounting structure for additional programming options.
Using Multiple Sensors for Comprehensive Water Level Control
With multiple sensors installed at different heights, you can create a comprehensive water level management system:
Use the lowest sensor for a water source empty condition to ensure that no watering happens when the tank is empty.
Use the middle sensor to start a tank fill program when the water level drops to a moderate level.
Use the uppermost sensor for a program stop condition to prevent the tank from overfilling.
Video Walkthrough
Video originally published January 2023.
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