Tekbox TBSST04 User Manual

V1.9

TBSST04

SDI-12 Soil Temperature Sensor 3 depth levels

© 2021 Tekbox Digital Solutions

Factory 4, F5, Lot I-3B-1 | Saigon Hi-Tech Park | Tan Phu Ward, District 9 | Ho Chi Minh City | Tel [phone]

E-mail [e-mail]| www.tekbox.com

TBSST04 is a soil temperature sensor with SDI-12 interface. It allows measuring the temperature
on 3 different depth levels (up to 3 meters for each segment). The product is available in 3 variants,
with one, two or three temperature sensors that are based on Swiss made PT1000 with 0.1 C
accuracy.
The sensor is used to monitor the soil temperature and for specific applications like compost
temperature monitoring where this parameter is critical to prevent sudden fire.

TBSST04 3 depth levels TBSST04 single depth level

Features

▪ Soil and compost temperature sensor
▪ Measures temperatures on 3 levels.
▪ Each segment length: up to 3 m
▪ Probe length: up to 9 m
▪ Customizable probe length
▪ SDI-12 Standard V1.4
▪ 6 - 16V supply voltage
▪ Less than 80µA idle current
▪ Temperature accuracy: 0.1 C

▪ Temperature resolution: 3 digits
▪ Dimensions: 118x13x13 cm
▪ Weight: 2.1 kg
▪ Operating Temperature Range:

- 40°C … + 80°C

Target Applications

▪ Soil temperature monitoring
▪ Compost temperature monitoring

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TBSST04

SDI-12 Soil Temperature Sensor 3 depth levels

Contents

1 INTRODUCTION 3
2 MEASUREMENT 3
3 PRODUCT SPECIFICATION 4
4 CALIBRATION 4
5 INSTALLATION 5
6 SDI-12 5
7 APPLICATION EXAMPLES 6
8 FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION 7
9 SUPPORTED SDI-12 V1.3 COMMANDS 7
10 SUPPORTED SDI-12 V1.4 COMMANDS 9
11 SUPPORTED EXTENDED COMMANDS 11
12 MECHANICAL DIMENSIONS 12
13 CABLE CONNECTION 14
14 ORDERING INFORMATION 15
15 HISTORY 15

Tables

Table 1 – Standard SDI-12 v1.3 commands 9
Table 2 – Standard SDI-12 v1.4 commands 11
Table 3 – Extended SDI-12 Commands 12
Table 4 – Cable Connection 14
Table 5 – Ordering Information 15
Table 6 – History 15

Figures

Figure 1 – TBSST04 and other sensors with SDI-12 interface connected to TBS03 SDI-12 to USB converter;

setup for controlling / testing sensors and for PC based data recording 6

Figure 2 – TBSST04 and other sensors with SDI-12 interface connected to Remote Telemetry Unit or Data

Recorder 6

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TBSST04

SDI-12 Soil Temperature Sensor 3 depth levels

1 Introduction

The TBSST04 is a rugged soil temperature probe with SDI-12 interface.
It is made of high grade Pt1000 sensors and the electronic parts are mounted inside an UV resistant resin/glass

fiber fabrics reinforced tubes. The interior of the tube is potted with silicon for enhanced durability.

2 Measurement

The TBSST04 outputs the temperature for 3 different depth levels.
Supported measurement commands:

aM! aMC! aC! aCC! Temperature first depth level
aM1! aMC1! aC1! aCC1! Temperature second depth level
aM2! aMC2! aC2! aCC2! Temperature third depth level
aM3! aMC3! aC3! aCC3! Temperature for each depth level

Supported SDI-12 v1.4 commands: metadata commands

aIM! aIMC! aIC! aICC! Identify Measurement Commands
aIM1! aIMC1! aIC1! aICC1! Identify Measurement Commands
aIM2! aIMC2! aIC2! aICC2! Identify Measurement Commands
aIM3! aIMC3! aIC3! aICC3! Identify Measurement Commands

aIM_001! aIMC_001! aIC_001! aICC_001! Identify Measurement Parameter (1st)
aIM1_001! aIMC1_001! aIC1_001! aICC1_001! Identify Measurement Parameter (1st)
aIM2_001! aIMC2_001! aIC2_001! aICC2_001! Identify Measurement Parameter (1st)
aIM3_001! aIMC3_001! aIC3_001! aICC3_001! Identify Measurement Parameter (1st)
aIM3_002! aIMC3_002! aIC3_002! aICC3_002! Identify Measurement Parameter (2nd)
aIM3_003! aIMC3_003! aIC3_003! aICC3_003! Identify Measurement Parameter (3rd)

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TBSST04

SDI-12 Soil Temperature Sensor 3 depth levels

Extended SDI-12 commands:

aXSNnnnnnn! Set serial number
where nnnnnn: 6 digits serial number

aX0n! Calibration at zero degree
where: n=1,2,3 is the depth level index

aXTn,ff.ff! Calibration at ambient temperature
where: n=1,2,3 is the depth level index,

ff.ff the ambient temperature
aXSTUF! Set temperature unit to degree Fahrenheit
aXSTUC! Set temperature unit to degree Celcius

3 Product Specification

• 3 high grade Pt1000 sensors

o Extremely short response time

o Low heat transfer, vibration resistant

o Long term stability: maximum drift=0.03% after 1000h at 600C

o -200 / + 600 C

• UV resistant resin/glass fiber fabrics reinforced tube

o 18 mm outer diameter

o 3.5 mm wall thickness

o Potted with silicon

• Segment length of the profile probe can be fully customized up to a maximum segment length of 3 meters

(maximum probe size is 9 meters).

• SDI-12 Standard V1.4

• 6 - 16V supply voltage

• Temperature accuracy: 0.1 C

• Temperature resolution: 3 digits

• Operating Temperature Range: - 40°C … + 80°C

• Weight and dimensions: variable depending on the tube length.

o For 1m probe and 1 depth level: 118x13x13 cm, 2.1 kg

• Current consumption: active 15mA; idle 80µA

• Standard cable length: 3m; any other length upon requirement

4 Calibration

TBSST04 is factory calibrated by inserting a 1kΩ resistor in lieu of Pt1000 sensor (which is equivalent to a zero
degree Celcius calibration).

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TBSST04

SDI-12 Soil Temperature Sensor 3 depth levels

However user calibration is also possible by setting the actual temperature for a given depth level based on a
reference through aXTn,ff.ff! SDI-12 command.

Examples:

• aXT1,-03.546! => calibrates depth level 1 with temperature -3.546 degrees Celcius

• aXT3,+28.925! => calibrates depth level 3 with temperature +28.925 degrees Celcius

5 Installation

TBSST04 is compatible with any data logger or remote telemetry unit with SDI-12 interface (v1.3 or v1.4).
Refer to the data logger or RTU manual for further information.

6 SDI-12

SDI-12 is a standard for interfacing data recorders with microprocessor-based sensors. SDI-12 stands for
serial/digital interface at 1200 baud. It can connect multiple sensors with a single data recorder on one cable. It
supports up to 60 meter cable between a sensor and a data logger.

The SDI-12 standard is prepared by

SDI-12 Support Group
(Technical Committee)
165 East 500 South
River Heights, Utah
435-752-4200
435-752-1691 (FAX)
http://www.sdi-12.org

The latest standard is version V1.4 which dates from December 1

rst

, 2017. The standard is available on the

website of the SDI-12 Support Group.