CS616 30 cm Water Content Reflectometer

The CS616 is comprised of two 30-cm-long stainless-steel rods connected to the measurement electronics. The circuit board is encapsulated in epoxy, and a shielded four-conductor cable is connected to the circuit board to supply power, enable the probe, and monitor the output. 

The CS616 uses the time-domain measurement method to measure VWC; a reflectometer (cable tester) such as the TDR200 is not required. This method consists of the CS616 generating an electromagnetic pulse. The elapsed travel time and pulse reflection are then measured and used to calculate soil volumetric water content. 

Response Characteristics 

The signal propagating along the parallel rods of the CS616 is attenuated by free ions in the soil solution and conductive constituents of the soil mineral fraction. In most applications, the attenuation is not enough to affect the CS616 response to changing water content, and the response is well described by the standard calibration. However, in soil with relatively high soil electrical conductivity levels, compacted soils, or soils with high clay content, the calibration should be adjusted for the specific medium. Guidance for making these adjustments is provided in the instruction manual. 

Benefits and Features 

• • Compatible with most Campbell Scientific data loggers 
  • High accuracy and high precision 
  • Fast response time 
  • Designed for long-term unattended water content monitoring 
  • Compatible with AM16/32-series multiplexers, allowing measurement of multiple sensors 
  • Probe rods can be inserted from the surface or buried at any orientation to the surface.