TDR200 Time-Domain Reflectometer
Core of the TDR System
weather applications supported water applications supported energy applications supported gas flux & turbulence applications supported infrastructure applications supported soil applications supported

Overview

The TDR200 Time-Domain Reflectometer is the core of the Campbell Scientific time-domain reflectometry (TDR) system. TDR systems accurately determine soil volumetric water content, soil bulk electrical conductivity, rock mass deformation, or a user-specific time-domain measurement. One Campbell Scientific data logger can control multiple TDR200 reflectometers.

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Benefits and Features

  • Low power (half the power of the TDR100)
  • Robust
  • High sensitivity
  • High resolution
  • Low noise
  • Advanced waveform filtering
  • Advanced waveform analysis algorithm
  • Backward compatible with TDR100 systems (CRBasic data loggers only)
  • 60 Hz frequency rejection

Images

Front view
Front view
Front view
Glam view
Front view
Front tilt view
Front tilt view
TDR200 with connectors
Back view
Right view
Top view
Bottom view

3D/CAD Files:

TDR200 2D (DXF)

Technical Description

The TDR200 generates a short rise time electromagnetic pulse that is applied to a coaxial system that includes a TDR probe for soil water measurements. Then the reflectometer samples and digitizes the resulting reflection waveform for analysis or storage.

The elapsed travel time and pulse reflection amplitude contain information used by the on-board processor to quickly and accurately determine soil volumetric water content, soil bulk electrical conductivity, rock mass deformation, or a user-specific time-domain measurement.

The data logger collects a 250-point waveform and analyzes it in approximately two seconds. Each waveform can have up to 10,112 data points for monitoring long cable lengths used in rock mass deformation or slope stability. Advanced noise filtering and averaging make accurate measurements possible in noisy environments.

A Complete System

A complete TDR200-based system includes the TDR200, SDM8X50 multiplexers, data logger, power supply, enclosures, and probes. PC-TDR version 3 software supports TDR200 and sensor setup, troubleshooting, and program generation. This software is available, at no charge, from our website.

The SDM8X50 Multiplexer brochure, TDR Probes component category brochure, and Time-Domain Reflectometry System brochure provide additional information about the TDR system components. 

Specifications

Measurements Made Volumetric water content (VWC) of porous media (such as soil), soil electrical conductivity (EC), rock mass deformation
Pulse Generator Output 250 mV into 50 Ω
Output Impedance 50 Ω ±1%
Time Response of Combined Pulse Generator & Sampling Circuit ≤ 85 ps
Pulse Generator Aberrations
  • ±16% (within first 1 ns)
  • ±1% (after 1 ns)
Pulse Length 25.5 μs
Waveform Averaging 1 to 128
Operating Temperature Range -40° to +85°C
Power Supply Unregulated 12 Vdc (9.6 to 16 Vdc)
150 mA maximum, USB powered (5 Vdc)
Required Equipment Measurement system
Dimensions 21.6 x 5.1 x 10.7 cm (8.5 x 2.0 x 4.2 in.)
Weight 0.79 kg (1.75 lb)

Waveform Sampling
-NOTE- 20 to 10112 waveform values over chosen length

Distance is Vp=1. Time is one-way travel.
Range
  • 0 to 3800 m (distance)
  • 0 to 27.75 μs (time)
Resolution
  • 1.35 mm (distance)
  • < 4.4 ps (time)

Electrostatic Discharge Protection
Air ±8 kV @ 2 Ω
Contact ±4 kV @ 2 Ω
Surge ±2 kV @ 2 Ω

Current Drain
During Measurement 120 mA
Sleep Mode 1 mA

Downloads

PC-TDR v.3.0 (7.34 MB) 15-12-2016

Support software designed for the TDR200 and is also compatible with the retired TDR100 Time-Domain Reflectometer.

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Related FAQs

Number of FAQs related to TDR200: 2

  1. Are SDMX50-series multiplexers only usable with the TDR100 system?
    Yes.
  2. How far can an SDMX50-series multiplexer be separated from a TDR100?

    In applications where TDR probes are used to measure soil water content, the maximum distance from the TDR probe back to the TDR100 (even through one or more multiplexers) cannot exceed 15 m (50 ft) when using RG58 coaxial cable; the CS605-L, CS630-L, and CS640-L TDR probes have an RG58 cable. When using low-loss coaxial cable, the distance cannot exceed ≈25 m (80 ft); the CS610-L, CS635-L, and CS645-L TDR probes have a low-loss coaxial cable.

    In slope stability and rock mass deformation applications, the maximum coaxial cable length should not exceed ≈1 mile (5,280 ft). The maximum combined length of all SDM cables in the system should not exceed ≈76 m (250 ft).

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