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A Pressure Transducer for Field Tensiometers¹

ABSTRACT

Field-installed tensiometers are generally equipped with pressure gauges or mercury manometers. These read-out devices require much maintenance, while the cost of gauges is high when used in large quantities. This paper describes a pressure transducer system for field-installed tensiometers. The system consists of a pressure transducer with attached syringe needle and digital read-out. The needle is inserted through the septum stopper which closes the upper end of the tensiometer. The pressure in the air below the septum stopper, in equilibrium with the water pressure, is read on the digital read-out, which is calibrated in millibars. Upon withdrawal of the needle from the tensiometer, the septum stopper seals the tensiometer. The pressure transducer system is easy to use and requires little maintenance. Possible errors with the measurement system are discussed.

¹ Contribution from the Soil Physics Laboratory at the Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland. (The system was submitted for patent protection at the Swiss intellectual property office U.S. patent pending).

² Staff Research Associate, Research Soil Physicist, Professor of Soil Physics, and Visiting Professor, respectively. Soil Physics Laboratory, Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.

Received for publication April 4, 1982. Accepted for publication February 16, 1983.

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