Section 8.  Operation 
 
 
•  Minimize polarization of polar sensors such as those for measuring 
conductivity, soil moisture, or leaf wetness. Polarization may cause 
measurement errors or sensor degradation. 
•  Improve accuracy of an LVDT measurement. The induced voltage in an 
LVDT decays with time as current in the primary coil shifts from the 
inductor to the series resistance; a long integration may result in most of 
signal decaying before the measurement is complete. 
Note  See White Paper "Preventing and Attacking Measurement Noise 
Problems" at www.campbellsci.com. 
The magnitude of the frequency response of an analog integrator is a SIN(x)/x 
shape, which has notches (transmission zeros) occurring at 1/(integer multiples) of 
the integration duration. Consequently, noise at 1/(integer multiples) of the 
integration duration is effectively rejected by an analog integrator. If reversing the 
differential inputs or reversing the excitation is specified, there are two separate 
integrations per measurement; if both reversals are specified, there are four 
separate integrations. 
 
 
 Analog Measurement Integration 
Integration Time (ms) 
Integration 
Parameter Argument 
Comments 
0 to 16000 µs 
0 to 16000 
250 µs is considered fast 
and normally the 
minimum 
16.667 ms 
_60Hz 
Filters 60 Hz noise 
20 ms 
_50Hz 
Filters 50 Hz noise 
 
 
Ac Power Noise Rejection 
Grid or mains power (50 or 60 Hz, 230 or 120 Vac) can induce electrical noise at 
integer multiples of 50 or 60 Hz.    Small analog voltage signals, such as 
thermocouples and pyranometers, are particularly susceptible.  CR800 voltage 
measurements can be programmed to reject (filter) 50 Hz or 60 Hz related noise.   
Noise is rejected by using a signal integration time that is relative to the length of 
the ac noise cycle, as illustrated in the figure Ac Power Noise Rejection 
Techniques 
(p. 317).