Spectrum 6110FS, FieldScout SC 900 User Manual

28

12360 S Industrial Dr. East

Plainfield, IL 60585

[phone] or [phone]

FAX: [phone]

E-Mail: [e-mail]

www.specmeters.com

Technologies, Inc.

Spectrum

Catalog # 6110FS

User’s manual

SC 900 Soil
Compaction Meter

Technologies, Inc.

Spectrum

2

CONTENTS

CONTENTSCONTENTS

CONTENTS

General Overview 3
Taking Compaction Measurements 4
Depth Sensor 5
Meter Operation 6
Connecting to a Computer 8
Identifying the COM Port 9
Connecting to a GPS Unit 10
Calibration/Battery Change 11
Main Toolbar 12
Meter Settings 14
Measurement Procedure 16
Warning Messages 18
Data Management 20
Meter Dimensions 21
Specifications 22
Appendix 1: Time Zone Corrections 23
Appendix 2: When to Replace the Cone 24
Warranty 26

This manual will familiarize you with the features and

operation of your new Field ScoutTM SC 900 Soil Compaction

Meter. Please read this manual thoroughly before using your

instrument. For customer support, or to place an order, call

Spectrum Technologies, Inc.

[phone] or [phone]

between 7:30 am and 5:30 p.m. CST,

FAX [phone],

E-Mail: [e-mail].

www.specmeters.com

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26

Warranty

WarrantyWarranty

Warranty

The Field ScoutTM SC 900 Soil Compaction Meter is
warranted to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of
original purchase. During the warranty period, Spectrum
will, at its option, either repair or replace products that
prove to be defective. This warranty is void if the product
has been damaged by customer error or negligence, or if
there has been an unauthorized modification.

Returning Products to Spectrum

Before returning a failed unit, you must obtain a Returned
Goods Authorization (RGA) number from Spectrum. You
must ship the product(s), properly packaged against
further damage, back to Spectrum (at your expense) with
the RGA number marked clearly on the outside of the
package. Spectrum is not responsible for any package that
is returned without a valid RGA number or for the loss of
the package by any shipping company.

3

Thank you for purchasing the Field ScoutTM SC 900 Soil
Compaction Meter. This manual describes the features
and operation of the meter.

Soil compaction prevents moisture penetration, reduces
fertilizer and chemical uptake and hinders plant root
growth. In some cases, yield losses can run as high as
30% due to compaction. This new electronic soil compac­tion meter is the most versatile compaction meter on the
market. Soil depth readings are determined by a sonic
depth sensor. Cone index values are measured by a load
cell sensor and can be displayed in PSI or kPa.

The Field Scout’s shaft-mounted probe allows the user to
easily and rapidly take many measurements. The shaft
can be dissembled into 2 pieces for easy storage and trans­port. The meter’s built-in datalogger can record data from
several sites and eliminates the need to record data manu­ally. Through the software, the user can download the
data, change the logger settings and configure the meter.

General overview

General overviewGeneral overview

General overview

4

Taking Compaction

Taking Compaction Taking Compaction

Taking Compaction

Measurements

MeasurementsMeasurements

Measurements

The SC 900 is a state-of-the-art electronic cone pene­trometer for use in soil density, trafficability and com­paction studies. This soil compaction instrument meas­ures cone index data, logs the data and allows the user
to review the data to make soil management decisions.

It is recommended that compaction measurements be
taken after a rain, or in the spring when the soils have
good moisture content. Measuring soil compaction in
dry soil conditions will not yield meaningful results.

The SC 900 compaction meter should be used before
tillage to determine where the compacted areas of a
field/plot are. Once the compacted areas, along with
compaction depths, have been determined, a much
more effective tillage system can be employed.

The unit works as an efficient diagnostic tool as well as
a management unit after the tillage operation has been
performed. One can determine how deep the soil has
actually been worked and if the tillage operation has
solved the compaction problems.

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When you are doing comparative analysis of the
readings in a field or a plot, the measurements will be
consecutive. The amount of wear of the cone will not
be a factor. In this case, it is recommended that the
cone be replaced when the shoulder is not easily recog­nizable as a shoulder anymore.

New:

0.505"

Figure 3

Replace the cone as follows:

1. Lay meter on its side

2. Unscrew worn cone by hand or with a
pair of pliers

3. Attach new cone into meter shaft

4. Tighten to a snug fit with hands or pliers. Be

careful not to imprint the cone with pliers.

Replacement cones can be ordered from Spectrum
Technologies or an authorized Spectrum Dealer.

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Appendix 1

Determining When to

Replace Cone

Repeated soil sampling will wear down the metal cone.
Periodically measure the diameter of the cone using a
dial caliper or micrometer that allows you 0.001-inch
measurements.

Place the caliper/micrometer on the shoulder of the
cone. Figure 1 shows the proper placement and Figure
2 the layout of the shoulder.

Figure 1

Shoulder

Figure 2

The determination as to when to replace the cone will
depend on how the user is applying the meter.

If you are using the meter to get absolute compaction
readings, replace the cone when there is a “wear factor”
of 3%. Three percent wear affects the cone index
measurements by 5%. A new cone has a diameter of

0.505“, see Figure 3. When the cone diameter reaches

0.490“ (3% wear), replace the cone.

5

An ultrasonic sensor lo­cated at the base of the
meter is used to measure
the depth of penetration.
The field of view ex­tends about 30o from the
shaft. The sensor meas­ures distance by emit­ting a sound wave and
measuring the travel
time of the first reflected
wave. Usually, this first
reflection will come
from the ground just ad­jacent to the shaft.
However, if an object
with a surface oriented
toward the sensor is
within the field of view,
an erroneous depth
measurement may be
made. This can lead to
depth error messages (see Warning Messages p. 18). If
possible, try to remove the object and/or smooth the sur­face. Repositioning your feet and knees may also elimi­nate these errors. If the problem persists, use a flat target
surface with a hole slightly large than the diameter of the
cone to test the depth sensor and, if necessary, to take
measurements. This target should be about 1 foot wide
and can be made out of cardboard or something sturdier if
more durability is required. To test the sensor, lay the tar­get on the ground and place the shaft in the hole. Have
another person slowly raise the target while you verify the
meter is incrementing the depth.

Depth
Sensor

Depth Sensor