SE0X-MS Multi-Probe Soil Moisture and EC Mesh Node

1. Introduction

1.1 What is the Dragino Multi-Probe Mesh Soil Moisture and EC Sensor?

SE0X-MS is a Dragino Mesh Node for monitoring soil conditions at several depths or locations from one device. It supports up to four external probes, and each probe measures soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil electrical conductivity.

Every probe is identified by an address from 01 to 04. The node reads the connected probes and sends their measurements to a Dragino Mesh gateway, either directly or through other Mesh Nodes.

The soil probes use the FDR method for moisture measurement, with compensation from soil temperature and conductivity. They are factory calibrated for mineral soil and are intended especially for saline-alkali and loamy soil.

1.2 Features

• Up to four external soil probes.
• Soil moisture, temperature, and conductivity from each probe.
• Addresses 01 to 04 to keep probe data separated.
• Approximately 3.5 m cable length for each probe.
• LoRa Mesh communication with multi-hop relaying.
• S-type outdoor enclosure, solar panel, and 3000 mAh rechargeable lithium battery.
• Automatic scheduled collection of connected-probe measurements.
• Probe data, battery information, and device status displayed on the Mesh gateway.
• Firmware upgrades through USB serial or PC BLE.

1.3 Specifications

Common DC characteristics

Item	Specification
Main unit operating voltage	Approximately 2.5 V to 3.6 V
Main unit operating temperature	-40 °C to 85 °C; battery operating temperature is subject to the battery specification

Soil moisture

Item	Specification
Range	0 to 100.00 % V/V
Resolution	0.01 % V/V
Accuracy	±3 % from 0 to 53 % V/V; ±5 % above 53 % V/V
Measurement method	FDR with temperature and conductivity compensation

Soil temperature

Item	Specification
Range	-40.00 °C to 85.00 °C
Resolution	0.01 °C
Accuracy	Less than 0.3 °C from -10 °C to 50 °C; less than 0.6 °C outside this range
Measurement method	Calibrated RTD measurement

Soil conductivity

Item	Specification
Range	0 to 20000 µS/cm at 25 °C
Resolution	1 µS/cm
Accuracy	2 % FS
Measurement method	Conductivity measurement with temperature compensation

Multi-probe system

Item	Specification
Maximum number of probes	4
Supported addresses	01, 02, 03, and 04
Factory-default probe address	01
Measurements per probe	Soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil conductivity
Probe operating voltage	5 V to 24 V
Current per powered probe	Peak less than 30 mA; average less than 10 mA
Response time	Less than 1 second
Measurement stable time	Less than 2 seconds
Cable length	3500 mm, deviation ±30 mm
Protection rating	IP68
Approximate measurement volume	Cylinder 7 cm in diameter and 10 cm high, centered on each probe's central pin

Mesh main unit

Item	Specification
MCU	STM32WLE5, 48 MHz ARM Cortex-M4
Flash	256 KB
RAM	64 KB
Radio	STM32WLE5 integrated sub-GHz LoRa radio
Power supply	Solar panel + 3000 mAh rechargeable lithium battery
Local interfaces	3.3 V UART, BLE
Antenna	Sub-GHz LoRa antenna matching the shipping Region

1.4 Applications

• Multi-depth monitoring through the crop root zone.
• Comparison of several field zones using one Mesh Node.
• Irrigation monitoring in greenhouses, orchards, nurseries, landscaping, and open fields.
• Distributed soil temperature and conductivity monitoring at remote sites.

1.5 Sleep Mode and Working Mode

In the sleep state, the node disables most functions and remains in low-power standby until its next scheduled wake-up or a user action wakes it.

After enrollment, the normal working cycle is:

Reach scheduled time -> Wake up -> Read connected probe addresses
                     -> Send grouped measurements to the Mesh gateway
                     -> Wait for a short communication window -> Sleep

Reading more connected probes extends the measurement activity performed during each cycle.

1.6 Button Operations and LED Status

Button operations and LED indications are common to Dragino Mesh Nodes. See 3.1 Button Operations and LED Status in the Mesh Quick Start for sleep, wake-up, manual reporting, restart, reset, and firmware-upgrade actions.

1.7 BLE and Local Interfaces

SE0X-MS provides 3.3 V UART and BLE local interfaces. BLE can be used for normal APP firmware updates from a PC through PC BLE in FirmwareUpdateUtility.

The mobile upgrade workflow is still under development.

1.8 Enclosure and Mechanical Reference

The following figures show the pin definitions, soil probe dimensions, and sensor cable dimensions used by SE0X-MS.

Pin definitions

Soil probe dimensions

Sensor cable dimensions

1.9 Multi-Probe Organization

The probe address associates each measurement with a physical location. Two probes connected to the same node must not share an address because their responses would conflict.

SE0X-MS
   ├── Probe 01 -> Moisture + Temperature + Conductivity
   ├── Probe 02 -> Moisture + Temperature + Conductivity
   ├── Probe 03 -> Moisture + Temperature + Conductivity
   └── Probe 04 -> Moisture + Temperature + Conductivity

1.9.1 Required Probe Addresses

New probes use address 01 by default. A multi-probe installation requires a unique address for each probe:

First probe  : keep address 01
Second probe : assign address 02
Third probe  : assign address 03
Fourth probe : assign address 04

Duplicate probe addresses

Do not connect two probes with the same address to the node. Address changes must be performed with only one probe connected at a time. After every probe has a unique address, reconnect the required group and confirm that each address appears separately on the Mesh gateway before burial.

1.9.2 Recording the Installation Plan

Label every cable with its probe address and record what the address represents.

Example: one location, several depths

01 = Root zone, 20 cm
02 = Root zone, 40 cm
03 = Root zone, 60 cm
04 = Deep reference, 80 cm

Example: several locations at one depth

01 = Zone A, 30 cm
02 = Zone B, 30 cm
03 = Zone C, 30 cm
04 = Zone D, 30 cm

Keep the address-to-location record with the site documentation so gateway values can be matched to their buried positions.

1.10 Measurement Planning and Installation in Soil

Each probe measures the soil volume immediately surrounding its rods. For meaningful comparison, keep the installation method consistent and change only the variable the project intends to study, such as depth or field zone.

Moisture, temperature, and conductivity should be considered together. Conductivity can be influenced by salinity, fertilizer, moisture distribution, and soil composition; it does not identify individual nutrients.

1.10.1 Selecting Probe Positions

Avoid rocks, large roots, pipes, buried metal, and empty spaces within the sensing volume. Do not place a probe directly beside an irrigation outlet, drainage channel, or fertilizer deposit unless that local condition is intentionally being monitored.

Plan cable routing before burial and avoid tension, crushing, sharp bends, and areas where machinery can damage the cable.

1.10.2 Temporary Measurement

For spot checks, open the soil to the target depth and insert the probe vertically. Preserve the original soil density, insert the probe steadily without shaking, and restore firm contact around all rods before taking the reading.

1.10.3 Permanent Installation

For long-term monitoring, dig an access hole larger than 20 cm and insert the probe horizontally into an undisturbed sidewall at the planned depth. Remove air gaps, backfill the hole, and restore the soil density as closely as possible.

Install the enclosure above ground with the cable outlet facing downward. Protect cable connections and provide a drip loop.

1.10.4 Installation Check

Trigger a report before burial and confirm that every expected address appears on the Mesh gateway. After installation, trigger another report and compare the gateway fields with the address-to-location record.

2. Use SE0X-MS with a Mesh Gateway

2.1 How It Works

The node can communicate directly with a Mesh gateway or relay its data through other awake Mesh Nodes.

The gateway groups measurements by probe address:

Probe 01 : Soil moisture | Soil temperature | Soil conductivity
Probe 02 : Soil moisture | Soil temperature | Soil conductivity
Probe 03 : Soil moisture | Soil temperature | Soil conductivity
Probe 04 : Soil moisture | Soil temperature | Soil conductivity
Node     : Battery status | Online status | Data update time

Only connected and successfully read probes produce measurement data. Display names, units, and page layout depend on the Mesh gateway version.

2.2 Quick Guide to Connect SE0X-MS to a Mesh Gateway

2.2.1 Preparation

1. Confirm that the product label shows SE0X-MS.
2. Install the LoRa antenna before powering or waking the node.
3. Place the solar panel where it receives stable, unobstructed sunlight.
4. Confirm that each probe has a unique address from 01 to 04.
5. Label every cable and record its assigned location or depth.

2.2.2 Enrollment and Before-Burial Test

For the complete gateway and enrollment procedure, see 2. First network test.

1. Configure the node and Mesh gateway for the Region corresponding to the installation country.
2. Add the node to the gateway with its Dev EUI and App Key.
3. Wake or restart the node so that it sends enrollment requests.
4. Confirm that the gateway lists the node as enrolled.
5. Connect the probes and trigger a report before burial.
6. Confirm that every expected probe address and measurement group appears.

2.2.3 Installation and Final Check

1. Install every probe according to the address-to-location plan in Section 1.10.
2. Secure the enclosure and protect all outdoor cable connections.
3. Trigger another report.
4. Compare each gateway field with the recorded physical location.

2.3 Mesh Payload

The Mesh payload specification for this product will be added in a future documentation update.

3. Configure SE0X-MS

3.1 Configuration Method

Common Mesh configuration is managed through the Mesh gateway. Use the Mesh Quick Start for the current configuration and enrollment workflow.

3.2 Region and Radio Preset

New units, factory-reset units, and units whose saved configuration has been cleared start with EU868 and the LONG_FAST modem preset (SF11 / BW 250 kHz).

Before deployment, configure the node and gateway for the Region corresponding to the installation country and confirm that their Region settings match.

3.3 Scheduled and Manual Reporting

After enrollment, the node follows the wake-up and reporting schedule provided by the Mesh gateway.

To request an immediate update:

1. Wake the node if it is sleeping.
2. While it is active, hold the button and release it within 1 to 3 seconds.
3. Allow the complete connected-probe measurement cycle to finish.
4. Confirm that the new probe data and update time appear on the gateway.

3.4 Change a Probe Address

The user-facing procedure for changing an SE0X-MS probe address is currently under development. The required tool, connection, commands, and verification steps will be added in a future documentation update.

4. Battery & Power Consumption

Battery performance depends on the reporting interval, number of connected probes, Mesh coverage, relay conditions, sunlight, solar-panel orientation, ambient temperature, and battery condition.

Reading more probes extends each measurement cycle. SE0X-MS uses a solar panel and a 3000 mAh rechargeable lithium battery.

Battery Info & Power Consumption Analyze.

5. Firmware Update

Use only APP firmware built for SE0X-MS and the device's shipping Region.

For the firmware preparation and upload procedure, see 2. How to upload the firmware.

The mobile upgrade feature is still under development.

6. FAQ

6.1 Why must every probe have a unique address?

The address identifies the probe and associates its measurements with a physical location. Duplicate addresses cause response conflicts and prevent the gateway from separating the probes correctly.

6.2 Why are one or more probe addresses missing?

Check the missing probe's cable and connection. Confirm that its address is within 01 to 04, is unique, and was visible during the before-burial test.

6.3 How should abnormal measurements from one probe be checked?

Inspect the soil contact, air gaps, rocks, cable damage, depth, and installation position of that probe. Compare moisture, soil type, fertilizer history, and depth before treating a conductivity difference as a sensor fault.

6.4 How should a multi-probe installation be maintained?

• Keep cable labels readable and maintain the address-to-location record.
• Verify a replacement probe's address before reconnecting the complete group.
• After excavation or soil disturbance, restore firm soil contact and trigger a report.
• Inspect the solar panel, antenna, enclosure, connectors, and every probe cable.
• Clean heavy soil deposits with clean water and a soft cloth or brush.

For enrollment, Region, gateway connectivity, general power, or firmware-update questions, see the general Mesh FAQ.

7. Order Info

Ordering details, supported probe combinations, and Region-specific part numbers for SE0X-MS will be added when the product options are finalized.

8. Packing Info

Package contents, probe options, dimensions, and weights for SE0X-MS will be added in a future documentation update.

9. Support

Dragino support is available Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00 GMT+8. When requesting assistance, provide the product model, firmware identification, Region, connected probe addresses, address-to-location record, and the steps required to reproduce the problem.

Contact: Support@dragino.cc