The core of extending the lifespan of digital soil water temperature and salt sensors is to reduce physical damage, avoid chemical corrosion, and standardize usage and maintenance. The specific methods are as follows:
1、 Installation process: Avoid initial damage
Clean up the gravel and sharp debris in the installation area before installation, use specialized drilling tools to drill holes with a diameter slightly larger than the sensor probe, to prevent the probe from scratching or being crushed and damaged.
Ensure that the probe is in close contact with the soil but not forcefully pressed, to avoid violent implantation that may cause the probe housing to rupture and the electrode to deform.
Reserve buffer length during cable laying to avoid pulling or bending. For outdoor installation, ensure proper cable fixation and protection to prevent rodent bites and exposure to sunlight and rain.
2、 Usage process: Avoid damage risk
Avoid exposing the sensor to extreme soil environments with strong acids, strong alkalis, and high salt concentrations. If it needs to be used in such scenarios, choose a specialized corrosion-resistant material probe (such as 316L stainless steel, PTFE coating).
During long-term monitoring, regularly check the soil conditions around the sensor, promptly remove tangled plant roots and stones, and prevent root systems from squeezing the probe or corroding the electrode.
Avoid frequent plugging and unplugging of sensor wiring, and ensure that the interface is dry and clean during wiring to prevent internal circuit damage caused by short circuits or poor contact.
When not in use, promptly remove the sensor from the soil, rinse the surface of the probe with clean water, dry it, and store it in a dry and sealed container to avoid long-term immersion or exposure to moisture.
3、 Regular maintenance: maintain stable performance
Cleaning and maintenance: Clean the probe every 1-3 months (adjusted according to soil moisture and impurities), use a soft brush to remove soil scale and humus on the electrode surface, avoid scratching the electrode with a hard scraper, and prevent damage to the sensing layer.
Calibration: Parameter calibration should be performed every 6-12 months to ensure measurement accuracy while promptly detecting sensor drift issues and avoiding excessive wear and tear.
Cable inspection: Regularly check whether the outer skin of the cable is damaged or aged. If there are cracks or exposed wires, repair or replace the cable with waterproof tape in a timely manner to prevent rainwater from infiltrating and causing short circuits.
Storage maintenance: When the sensor is idle for a long time, place it in a dry and ventilated environment at 0-40 ℃ to avoid damage to internal components caused by high temperature, high humidity, or icing.
4、 Key taboos: Avoid fatal injuries
Do not immerse the sensor directly in water (unless the product clearly indicates the waterproof level support) to prevent internal circuits from being short circuited due to water ingress.
Avoid the sensor probe coming into contact with high-temperature objects or being in an open flame environment to prevent deformation and failure of the casing and electrode materials.
Do not disassemble the sensor housing arbitrarily, as the internal circuit and sensing components are precise, which can easily cause malfunctions and affect warranty after disassembly.