How Drain Gauge works.
Drain Gauge sits below the root zone, collecting down-welling water into a duct and wick system. It measures the water volume collectedand sends the information to a surface datalogger. A surface port lets you draw out samples to analyze for chemicals, fertilizers, and other contaminants.Hassle-free.
Water is emptied from the monitor through a siphon. Because there are no moving parts, Drain Gauge is tough. It’s built to be buried-and stay buried. You don’t need to worry about digging it up for maintenance or inspection. And installation is easy. Simply dig a shaft with an auger,or even a post hole digger and shovel. Then drop in the monitor, re-fill the hole, and begin taking measurements.
The right measurement at the right price. Drain Gauge is accurate-and affordable. You can count on your data. And you can afford to collect it in as many locations as you need to. With the right data, you can be sure your operation is efficient and safe.
How does Drain Gauge measure the volume of drainage?
A dielectric water level monitor in the center of the reservoir measures the water level to 1mm. There are no moving parts.
What is the divergence control tube?
The divergence control duct assures that soil moisture is neither lost nor accumulated once the downwelling soil water approaches the wick.
Why the wick?
The bottom of the divergence control duct creates a boundary where the water will not move. By installing a wick at this location the wick creates a suction which facilitates the water movement down to the reservoir.
APPLICATIONS
The The Drain Gauge uses a direct method to estimate percolation and recharge rates of soils. It can be used in a variety of applications, including:
*Water balance studies
*Farming operations, to measure and control irrigation during a cropping season.
*Recreational facilities, such as golf courses, to measure and control excess water and nutrient losses.
*Waste landfill sites, to advise operators when drainage is occurring and where cover systems need to be improved.
*Maximization of food processing waste applications by monitoring water drainage rates and water quality below the root zone.
*Environmental research measuring percolation and recharge rates.
The Gee passive capillary lysimeter (Drain Gauge) is much smaller than comparable instruments, and its cost allows for more measurement sites over a large range of locations for the monitoring of deep drainage.
The Drain Gauge is constructed of steel and plastic parts. There are no moving parts in the instrument. The Drain Gauge is designed to be installed in the ground for long-term monitoring, with an estimated minimum 10-year lifetime. The unit can be installed using an auger system, or using a shovel combined with a post-hole digger.
For agricultural, turf grass, and wastewater applications where water quality is of interest, the Gee deep drainage monitor also has a collection system that allows for rapid sampling of drainage waters.
SPECIFICATIONS
DCT water interception: 1.6mm per drain, +/- 0.03mm
Reservoir drain volume: 50ml
Water level gauge resolution: 1ml or better
Measurement time: 10ms
Gauge power: 2.5VDC @ 3mA, for 10ms
Output: Proportional mv-to-water-level
Operating temperature: 0-50c
Cable length: 3m
Reservoir sampling tube length: 3m
Wick: 60cm inert fiberglass
Construction Material: Steel
Overall length: 147cm including divergence control tube
DCT length: 66cm
DCT OD: 20.3cm
Weight: 10kg boxed
Warranty: One year
Compatible dataloggers: EM5 (DECAGON) CSI Loggers (21X, 23X, CR10X) and others.
draingauge