Instructions SOIL COMPACTION TESTER / DIAL PENETROMETER Page 1 - www.turf-tec.
Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2 Warranty and Service.......................................................................................................... 3 What is soil compaction?.................................................................................................... 3 What are the impacts of a soil compaction problem?.........................................................
WARRANTY The Soil Compaction Tester is guaranteed by Turf-Tec to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for one year from date of retail purchase. This warranty does not cover damage resulting from misuse, neglect, accident or improper installation or maintenance. This warranty does not apply to any product which has been repaired or altered outside the factory.
WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF A SOIL COMPACTION PROBLEM? Farming 1. Compacted soil is much harder to work. This will cause you to use more power and take longer to till, wasting fuel, time and money. 2. You may already be aware of soil compaction but not have the tools to determine if it is a problem. For example, unnecessarily trying to correct soil compaction by tilling to a deeper depth can be a waste of time and money. 3.
WHAT IS A SOIL COMPACTION TESTER? Your Soil Compaction Tester is a Penetrometer which measures the compaction of soil and is based on the ASAE S313.3 standard. The tester is supplied with two tips: a small tip (1/2” diameter) for use in firm soil and a large tip (3/4”diameter) for use in soft soil. The dial has two scales (one for each tip) that are calibrated in pounds per square inch of the base area of the cone shaped tip.
Unpacking the Soil Compaction Tester Remove the Soil Compaction Tester from the box. An adjustable shock collar is installed on the shaft of the Soil Compaction Tester next to the plastic housing. This collar is used during shipping and storage to protect the dial from damage should an impact on the shaft occur. Loosen the wing nut on the shock collar and slide it down at least an inch away from the plastic housing.
Once you have chosen a tip, thread the tip on to the end of the Soil Compaction Tester’s shaft. Note: No valid readings can be obtained from the tester if a tip is not attached to the end of the shaft. 4. Position the tip of the tester on the ground in the area you wish to test. Apply even downward pressure on both handles of the tester to keep the shaft and tip penetrating the soil at a slow even pace. 5. The tester shaft is marked at three inch intervals for easy depth measurement.
