Overview


GS3

GS3 Soil Moisture, Temperature and EC Sensor

The GS3 sensor measures soil moisture, temperature and EC.  The internal circuitry is the same cutting edge design that you'll find in other Decagon soil moisture sensors, but the form factor has been optimized for use in soilless substrates.  The steel needles not only slice through the substrates for perfect contact, but they also improve the sensor's ability to measure EC in porous substrates such as peat or perlite.  The sensor also works well in mineral soils.

Accuracy at a fraction of the cost

The GS3 measures water content, temperature, and EC independently.  Its 70 MHz frequency minimizes salinity and textural effects, making it accurate in almost any soil or soilless media. Stainless steel needles have an extended surface area to optimize EC measurements while minimising substrate disturbance during insertion. Temperature is measured with an on-board thermistor and electrical conductivity using a stainless steel electrode array.

Understand your measurements

When used in conjunction with our DataTrac 3 software, GS3 data can be used to determine plant available water, growing degree days and pore water electrical conductivity

Integrate with Campbell Scientific Data Loggers

Serial and SDI-12 communication options mean easy integration with systems run by other data loggers (including Campbell Scientific).

  • Features
  • Application
  • Specifications
  • Video
  • Downloads
  • Measures: volumetric water content, dielectric permittivity, temperature, electrical conductivity
  • Volume of influence: 160 mL
  • Measurement range: 0 to 100% VWC
  • Temperature range: -40 to 60°C
  • Best if: You are measuring water content of soilless substrates. You need high accuracy EC. Manage salts.
  • But not if: You are installing sensors down bore holes.

  • Water resources studies
  • Soil monitoring landfills, hazardous material
  • Waste management
  • Irrigation Control
Accuracy Apparent dielectric Permittivity (Ea): ±1Ea (unitless) from 1-40 (soil range), ±15% from 40-80
VWC: Using Topp equation: ±0.03m3/m3 typical in mineral soils that have solution electrical conductivity <10 dS/m
Using medium specific calibration, ±0.01-0.02m3/m3 (±1-2% VWC) in any porous medium
Electrical Conductivity (EC): ±10% from 0 to 7 dS/m
Temperature: ±1°C
Resolution Ea: 0.1Ea (unitless) from 1-20, <0.75Ea (unitless) from 20-80
VWC: 0.002 m3/m3 (0.2% VWC) from 0 to 40% VWC, 0.001 m3/m3(0.1% VWC) > 40% VWC
EC: 0.001 dS/m from 0 to 23 dS/m
Temperature: 0.1°C
Range Ea: 1 (air) to 80 (water)
EC: 0-23 dS/m (bulk)
Temperature: -40-50°C
Measurement Speed 150mS
Sensor Type VWC: Frequency domain
EC: Two probe design
Temperature: Thermistor
Output Serial TTL, 3.6 Volt Levels or SDI-12 (contact Decagon for information on SDI-12 mode)
Operating Environment -40°C to 50°C
Power 3.6-15 VDC, 0.3mA quiescent, 25 mA during 150ms measurement
Cable Length 5m, custom cable lengths available upon request
Cable Connector Types 3.5mm stereo jack plug or stripped and tinned lead wires (3)
Sensor Dimensions 9.3 x 2.4 x 6.5cm
Data Logger Compatibility (not exclusive) Decagon: Em50, Em50G, ProCheck
Campbell Scientific: CR200X - series, CR800/CR850, CR1000, CR3000, CR9000X
Other: Any data acquisition system capable of 3.6-15V excitation and serial or SDI-12 communication
Warranty One year, parts and labour