The latest version SDI-12 of the GroPoint Lite soil moisture sensor is now made available by Environmental Sensors (ESI). This version can be used in old and new irrigation systems and the OEM sellers can implement them in their systems as well.
Soil Moisture Sensor
The GroPoint Lite was introduced in 2009 having only three output options in having ranges of 0 to 5 mA (milliamp), a 4 to 20 mA (high current) and a 0 to 2.5 V (voltage). The new version is designed to meet the input requirements of the irrigation controllers that have newly arrived at the market. The term SDI-12 stands for Serial/digital interface at 12000 baud. This version comes with new and enhanced specifications like being battery operated, low cost, can use single data recorder with multiple sensors and a cable length of upto 200 feet connecting the sensor and the recorder.
The SDI-12 version of GroPoint Lite gives a number of benefits to the users such as interchangeable sensors without the need for reprogramming data recorders; power supply is through the interface; independent design of data recorders and sensors compatible with data recorders using older versions of SDI-12.
The future advancements coming up in ESI’s line of soil sensors development would be integrating GroPoint Lite and GroPoint Pro sensor technologies. The SDI-12 technology permits having multiple data points on a single recorder hence can be used for the integration of the sensors. With the success of this integration ESI would become the sole company that offers time domain transmissiometry profiling sensors to the market.
Source: http://www.esica.com/