The TMS dataloggers offer a great possibility to measure air and soil temperature as well as soil moisture thanks to three temperature sensors and one soil moisture sensor. Its high capacity lithium battery has a lifespan of approximately 10 years. Combined with the large memory, capable of 524,288 data recordings, each TMS logger is autonomous and requires minimal maintenance. All that, along with its exceptionally low price and robust construction, facilitates long-term measurements over large special areas in harsh conditions. Peer reviewed description of TMS loggers have been published in prestigious scientific journal Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.
Technical specification:
Size: 29 cm
Weight: 108g
Memory: 524.288 events ~ 14 years in 15 min intervals
Battery: lithium (3,6 V; 2600 mAh) ~ 10 years
Connector: Touch probe for settings and extraction of data into PC via USB adapter
Temperature sensors: 3x MAXIM/DALLAS Semiconductor DS7505U+, with resolution of 0.0625 °C and with accuracy of ±0.5 °C
Range of measurement: -40 to +60 °C. The datalogger is capable of measuring even in temperatures ranging from -60 to +85°C, but this can have a negative impact on the lifespan of the battery.
Moisture sensor: 1x soil moisture sensor
Software: Lolly Manager (Free)
Price of TMS standard: 99 EUR/piece
We provide different types of TMS units for diverse methods of data capturing.
There are currently 4 variations: TMS Standard, TMS Extreme, TMS Long and TMS Buriable.
TMS Standard
Standard unit is measuring temperature in 3 different levels and measuring the soil moisture as well. The unit is installed into the ground and the reading probe of the unit is above the ground level. It is mainly used for measuring soil moisture and temperature in a depth of -6, +2 and +15cm.
Price: 99 EUR/piece
TMS Extreme
The TMS extreme is the same size as the TMS Standard (29 cm) although slightly heavier at 118 g. The placement of the temperature and soil moisture sensors is likewise identical, which allows for uncomplicated data comparison.
Further improvements are hidden within the sensor. The battery included has a capacity of 3500mAh, which is a 30% increase compared to the TMS Standard. This translates into a longer lifetime, expected approx. 14 years as well as a wider temperature range of measurement. Moreover, the device is filled with epoxy to the very top, making it heavier but also even more durable.
Price: 109 EUR/piece
TMS Long
Is a prolonged version of the standard TMS device. The upper pipe with thermosensor no.3 is manufactured in sizes 20, 30, 45, 60 cm.
Price: 111 / 113 / 117 /119 EUR/piece
TMS Cable
Cable unit is measuring temperature in 3 different levels and measuring the soil moisture as well. The unit is build from 2 parts. The first part is soil moisture and two temperature meters and this part can be buried deep into the ground. Second part is battery pack, data downloading probe and the 3rd thermo meter. This two parts are connected by the cables which are well protected with the cable protector. Cable TMS is manufactured in sizes: 0,5m, 1m and 2m.
Price: 131 / 135 / 141 EUR/piece
Why choose TMS dataloggers?
- The TMS dataloggers offer the unique possibility to precisely measure air and soil temperature as well as soil moisture
- Thanks to their small size (approx.15 cm above and 10 cm below the surface) they mimic an herbaceous plant and thus can capture the microclimatic conditions at that ground level; this provides much more accurate data for various ecological studies as opposed to the data obtained through standard meteorological stations
- They require minimal maintenance thanks to their high capacity lithium battery and large memory; this enables long-term collection of data in rural areas
- They can withstand extreme conditions thanks to their robust construction; the data loggers have been tested in various areas from rainforests in Africa to cold deserts in the Himalayas
- The extraction of data is very easy and quick; it takes approximately 3 seconds to extract a month’s worth of collected data (with the interval of measurement every 15 minutes) via a USB cable using our TMD adapter
- When properly installed, the positions of the sensors relative to the surface are the same and hence allow good standardization and comparison between various studies
- TMS loggers have been described in peer-reviwed scientific publication.
Should you be interested, please write us an email using the address: tomst@tomst.com
Installation tips
- For the data logger to measure properly, make sure that the entire surface of the belowground part (of green color) is in contact with the soil. This can usually be achieved by simply shoving it directly into the soil; however, sometimes air pockets occur, preventing precise measurement. Drying out soils (e.g. clay soils), the soil can shrink or swell, which might cause the loss of contact with the logger thus causing collected values of soil moisture to be lower.
- Adjust the installation to the type of soil you are working with. In especially rocky soils, simply shoving the logger into the ground could damage the sensors. Therefore, consider creating a hole for the logger and only then placing it into the soil. You can either shove a metal plate of some kind into the ground and then insert the logger; or you could create a larger hole, which you would then cover up with soil. Beware of the later option, you could slightly alter the composition of the soil.
- When the soil is frozen, do not work with the data of soil moisture from that period. Whether the soil is frozen or not can be easily distinguished by looking at the data from the thermometers.
Protection from wild animals
From our experience, most damage occurs due to wild animals, which manipulate with the devices. Therefore, we suggest protecting the TMS using wire cages. These prevent wild animals (e.g. deer, wild boar, bears) from moving or damaging the devices.
Reference
When referring to TMS dataloggers in scientific literature, please cite:
Wild J., Kopecký M., Macek M., Šanda M., Jankovec J., & Haase T. (2019) Climate at ecologically relevant scales: A new temperature and soil moisture logger for long-term microclimate measurement. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 268, 40–47.