User manual for the METER TEROS 11/12 soil moisture, temperature, and EC sensor covering installation, operation, and specifications.
The TEROS 11/12 sensors from METER are designed for mineral soils, growing media, and other porous materials. This manual provides step‑by‑step guidance on installation, connection to data loggers, and proper handling to ensure accurate measurements of volumetric water content, temperature, and (for TEROS 12) electrical conductivity.
Key sections include safety precautions, detailed installation methods (borehole and trench), communication setup (DDI serial or SDI‑12), and a full specification table. Troubleshooting, calibration, and customer‑support information are also provided to help users maintain reliable sensor performance in the field.
| Volumetric Water Content (VWC) Range (Mineral Soil) | 0.00–0.70 m³/m³ |
|---|---|
| Volumetric Water Content (VWC) Range (Soilless Media) | 0.0–1.0 m³/m³ |
| VWC Resolution | 0.001 m³/m³ |
| VWC Accuracy (Generic Calibration) | ±0.03 m³/m³ |
| Temperature Range (TEROS 11) | −40 °C to +60 °C |
| Temperature Resolution | 0.1 °C |
| Temperature Accuracy (−40 °C to 0 °C) | ±1 °C |
| Bulk Electrical Conductivity (EC) Range (TEROS 12) | 0–20 dS/m |
| EC Resolution | 0.001 dS/m |
| EC Accuracy (0–10 dS/m) | ±(5% + 0.01 dS/m) |
| Physical Length | 9.4 cm (3.70 in) |
| Physical Width | 2.4 cm (0.95 in) |
| Physical Height | 7.5 cm (2.95 in) |
| Needle Length | 5.5 cm (2.17 in) |
The sensor requires an excitation voltage in the range of 4 to 15 VDC and operates at a 4‑VDC level for data communication.
The TEROS 11/12 can communicate via DDI serial or SDI‑12 protocols.
Yes, it can be connected to third‑party loggers such as those from Campbell Scientific, using a 3.5‑mm stereo plug or stripped/tinned wires.
The borehole method is suitable for installations deeper than 50 cm, requiring the specialized Borehole Installation Tool.