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TEROS 54 Soil Moisture Profile Probe

Updated:2025-03-13

Brand: METER
Model: TEROS 54
Description: You need accurate soil moisture measurements from easily installed sensors without extensive excavation. Most profile probes require you to choose between ease of installation and removal, sensor accu
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TEROS 54 Soil Moisture Profile Probe Description：

User's Manual User's Guide

There’s the hard way, and then there’s the right way

We designed the TEROS 54 profile probe to make every step of your measurement process easier—without sacrificing accuracy or durability. Soil water content and temperature sensors are positioned at 15, 30, 45, and 60 cm depths, providing root zone measurements without requiring soil pits or cumbersome sensor retrieval at lower depths. You get the convenience of profile measurements combined with the research-grade accuracy you’ve come to expect from METER.

Get in. Get out. Get data.

Avoid the cost, hassle, and time of large drilling equipment and pilot tubes. TEROS 54 installation only requires a simple 2 cm borehole for the robust quad-fin profile sensor to then be hammered into the soil. This creates better sensor/soil contact for more accurate readings. Removing the TEROS 54 is made simple with the dedicated extraction tool, making this sensor ideal for annual crops that require sensors to be installed and removed multiple times throughout the year.

Do more with less

Using multiple individual sensors in a large sensor network can create a cord management nightmare, requiring an overabundance of wires and using up all the ports on your data logger. The TEROS 54 alleviates this problem, connecting all the sensors to the ZL6 data logger via one wire while maintaining your ability to monitor individual sensors in ZENTRA Cloud. Best of all, the TEROS 54 is plug and play—no programming or wiring necessary.

See the bigger picture

Other cylindrical profile probes have a minimal measurement volume, only allowing you to see what is happening in a small volume of soil. The quad-fin design of the TEROS 54 creates a large measurement volume than the typical soil moisture profile probe, providing a more holistic view of soil moisture status. More sensors per data logger combined with more soil measured with each probe means you can build a larger data pool with fewer resources. And with ZENTRA Cloud, you can see all your data remotely in real time from the comfort of your own desk.

Confidence is king

Since 2001 METER has been dedicated to producing highly accurate, easy-to-use soil moisture sensors, but we haven’t offered a profile probe—until now. We made the bold decision that our profile probe had to compare to the quality and accuracy standards that environmental researchers have come to rely on from METER. With the TEROS 54, you can measure confidently, knowing your sensors are designed and constructed by scientists who understand the challenges you face and the importance of getting it right.

Feature：

Multi-depth soil moisture profile probe measures water content and temperature

Installs via a small borehole without the need of a pilot tube

Hammers directly into the soil for direct soil contact

All sensors can be removed at once with dedicated removal tool

Easy plug-and-play operation

See all your data remotely in real-time

Ideal for annual crops and soil that requires sensors to be installed and removed seasonally

Get more measurements per logger port

Larger measurement volume

Reduced labor during installation and removal

Accurate research-grade soil moisture measurements

Sensors provide profile measurements throughout and around most root zones

Robust design means durability during installation and through operation in harsh conditions

TEROS 54 Soil Moisture Profile Probe Specifications：

Volumetric Water Content (VWC)	Range	Mineral Soil Calibration: 0.00?0.70m³/m³
		NOTE: The VWC range is dependent on the media the sensor is calibrated to. A custom calibration will accommodate the necessary ranges for most substrates.
		Apparent Dielectric Permittivity (εa): 1–50 (soil range) 1 (air) to 80 (water)
	Resolution	0.001 m³/m³
	Accuracy	Generic Calibration: ±0.05 m³/m³ typical in mineral soils that have solution EC < 8 dS/m
		Medium Specific Calibration: ±0.02–0.03 sup>3/m³ in any porous medium <
		Apparent Dielectric Permittivity (εa): 1–40 (soil range), ±1 (εα) (unitless) 40–80, 15% of measurement
Measurement Specifications	Dielectric Measurement Frequency	70 MHz
Measurement Specifications	Temperature	Range: –20 to +60 °C Resolution: 0.03 °C Accuracy: ±0.35 °C from –20°C to 0 °CC ±0.25 °C from 0°C to 60 °C
Communication Specifications	Output	DDI Serial and SDI-12 communications protocol 3-wire cable version 4-wire cable version RS-485 Modbus RTU and tensioLINK serial communications protocol 4-wire version
Communication Specifications	Data Logger Compatibility/span>	METER ZL6 and EM60 data loggers or any data acquisition system capable of 4.0- to 24.0-VDC power and serial interface with SDI-12; and/or RS-485 interface, Modbus RTU, or tensioLINK communication.
Physical Specifications	Dimensions	Diameter: (Shaft) 6.0 cm (2.36 in) Length: 75.0 cm (29.53 in) Width: (Head) 11.0 cm (4.33 in)
	Operating Temperature	Minimum: –20 °C C Maximum: +60 °C
	Cable Length	Standard: 5.0 m (stereo plug and stripped and tinned wires) 75.0 m (maximum custom cable length) 1.5 m (M12 connector)
	Cable Length	NOTE: Contact Customer Support if a nonstandard cable length is needed.
	Cable Diameter	Stereo Plug: 4.2 ±0.2 mm (0.16 ±0.01 in) with minimum jacket of 0.8mm (0.031 in) M12 Plug: 5.5 ±0.2 mm (0.22 ±0.01 in) with minimum jacket of 1.0 mm (0.039 in)
	Connector Size	3.50 mm (diameter) 14.4 mm (diameter M12)
	Connector Types	Stereo plug connector or stripped and tinned wires 4-pin M12 connector or stripped and tinned wires
	Conductor Gauge	Stereo Plug: 22-AWG / 24-AWG ground wire線 M12 Plug: 22-AWG
Electrical and Timing Characteristics	Supply Voltage (Power to Ground)	Minimum: 4.0 VDC Maximum: 24.0 VDC
	Digital Input Voltage (Logic High)	Minimum: 2.8 V Typical: 3.6 V Maximum: 5.0 V
	Digital Input Voltage (Logic Low)	Minimum: –0.3 V Typical: 0.0 V Maximum: 0.8 V
	Digital Output Voltage (Logic High)	Typical: 3.6 V
	Power Line Slew Rate	Minimum: 1.0 V/ms
	Current Drain (During Measurement)	Minimum: 3 mA (during 500-ms measurement) Typical: 35 mA (during 500-ms measurement) Maximum: 50 mA (during 500-ms measurement)
	Current Drain (While Asleep)	Minimum: 0.03 mA Typical: 0.1 mA
	Power Up Time (DDI Serial)	Minimum: 500 ms Maximum: 800 ms
	Power Up Time (SDI-12)	Typical: 1,000 ms
	Power Up Time (SDI-12, DDI Serial Disabled)	Minimum: 500 ms Typical: 600 ms Maximum: 800 ms
	Measurement Duration	Minimum: 500 ms (4 depths) Maximum: 800 ms
Other	Compliance	EM ISO/IEC 17050:2010 (CE Mark)