PASCO PS-2163 Soil Moisture Sensor - Manual (Page 9)

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Model No.PS-2163 Setup
9
Setup
Hardware Setup
The following three steps can be performed in any order.
1. Connect the mini-DIN plug of the Soil Water Potential Probe cable to the front
end of the Soil Moisture Sensor box.
2. Connect the Soil Moisture Sensor to a PASPORT interface.
3. If you will be using a computer, connect the PASPORT interface to the com-
puter’s USB port.
DataStudio Setup
If you will be using the Soil Moisture Sensor with a computer, install the latest
version of DataStudio first. Check the PASCO web site at www.pasco.com for
information.
1. When you connect the Soil Moisture Sensor to the computer
through a PASPORT interface, the PASPortal window will
launch automatically (if DataStudio is not already running).
2. Select Launch DataStudio in the PASPortal window.
A Digits display for soil moisture (%VWC) and Water Potential (kPa) will
appear.
3. In the Digits display, select %VWC (Potting Soil) to make it active, and then
remove it using the delete (X) button in the toolbar.
4. Click to begin data collection.
To view and change the sample rate, click . Note that the best results are usu-
ally obtained with the sample rate left at the default setting of 10 Hz (10 measure-
ments per second).
Xplorer and Xplorer GLX Setup
If you will be using an Xplorer or Xplorer GLX in logging mode (not connected to a
computer), connect the sensor to the Xplorer or Xplorer GLX, and then press
to
begin data collection.
SPARK Setup
• If the SPARK Science Learning System is off, press and hold the power button
on the bottom to turn it on and then wait for it to boot up.
• Connect the sensor. Touch “Water Potential” in the list that appears, and then
touch SHOW to open a default graph display, or touch BUILD to select a partic-
ular display (e.g., digits display), and then touch “Water Potential” and the
desired display icon, and finally touch OK.
Touch the Start button to begin data collection. .
The mini-DIN plug on the
Soil Water Potential Probe
cable fits into the sensor box
in only one way.
Start button