Description
The TrolMaster WCS9 Substrate Sensor Kit is TrolMaster's most advanced root zone monitoring solution, delivering highly accurate measurements of Volumetric Water Content (VWC), Electrical Conductivity (EC), and root zone temperature across soil, coco, Rockwool and high-EC soilless growing media.
Designed specifically for growers who demand precision irrigation and advanced crop steering capabilities, the WCS-9 eliminates the limitations of traditional single-point substrate monitoring by allowing multiple sensor nodes to work together, creating a far more accurate picture of what is happening throughout the root zone.
The TrolMaster WCS-9 is NOT compatible with the older Hydro-X HCS-1 controller.
Compatible controllers include:
- Aqua-X (NFS-1)
- Aqua-X Pro (NFS-2)
- Aqua-X Plus (NFS-3)
- Hydro-X Pro (HCS-2)
- Tent-X (TCS-1)
- Green-X (GCS-1)
Please review the compatibility table below before ordering.
- 1 × TrolMaster WCS-9 Sensor Display
- 1 × TrolMaster WN-9 Sensor Node
This product is a complete substrate sensor starter kit containing both the WCS-9 Sensor Display and one WN-9 Sensor Node required to begin monitoring moisture content, EC and root zone temperature.
The WCS-9 Display acts as the communication hub between the Sensor Node and your TrolMaster controller. The WN-9 Sensor Node is the probe that sits inside your growing media and performs all moisture, EC and temperature measurements.
Each WCS-9 Display can support up to 4 Sensor Nodes, allowing multiple measurement points throughout your grow room for more accurate root zone averaging.
Additional WN-9 Sensor Nodes can be purchased separately here.
For larger facilities, additional WCS-9 Displays can be integrated into the system using the TrolMaster Hub, allowing significantly more monitoring points across multiple grow rooms, irrigation zones and crop steering strategies.
Important: Additional Sensor Nodes, and TrolMaster Hubs are sold separately.
What Is The Difference Between The WCS-9 Display And WN-9 Sensor Nodes?
This is one of the most important things to understand before purchasing the WCS-9 system.
- WCS-9 Sensor Display = The communication and control module that connects to your TrolMaster controller and your Sensor Node.
- WN-9 Sensor Node = The probe that connects to the Sensor Display and the other end sits inside the substrate and measures VWC, EC and temperature.
- One WCS-9 Display can support up to 4 WN-9 Sensor Nodes.
- Sensor Nodes connect together using ECS-7 Daisy Chain Cables.
- The system can display both individual node readings and averaged readings.
- Additional Displays and Nodes can be added as your facility grows.
Why The WCS-9 Is Different
Most substrate sensors only monitor a single point within the root zone. Unfortunately, root zones are rarely uniform. Water channeling, irrigation distribution issues, dry pockets and nutrient hotspots can all create misleading readings that fail to accurately represent what's happening across the entire root zone.
The WCS-9 solves this problem with an advanced multi-node architecture. By connecting multiple WN-9 Sensor Nodes to a single Display, growers can collect readings from several locations and calculate an averaged root zone value.
The result is a much more reliable picture of substrate conditions, allowing growers to make better irrigation decisions and implement advanced crop steering strategies with confidence.
This technology is particularly valuable in:
- Rockwool cultivation
- Coco cultivation
- High-frequency fertigation systems
- Feed On Demand irrigation strategies
- Commercial crop steering applications
- Large multi-zone grow facilities
Monitor Three Critical Root Zone Parameters
The WCS-9 continuously measures the three most important root zone variables affecting plant performance.
- Volumetric Water Content (VWC) - Monitor substrate moisture levels, saturation and dry-backs.
- Electrical Conductivity (EC) - Measure nutrient concentration within the root zone.
- Temperature - Track root zone temperature to optimise nutrient uptake and plant health.
Unlike many competing sensors, the WCS-9 is specifically engineered to maintain accurate EC measurements even in high bulk EC environments and demanding commercial cultivation facilities.
Feed On Demand Irrigation Control
The WCS-9 is the foundation of TrolMaster's advanced Feed On Demand irrigation strategy.
Instead of relying solely on timer-based irrigation schedules, Feed On Demand uses real-time substrate moisture readings to automatically trigger irrigation events when moisture levels reach predefined thresholds.
This allows growers to:
- Automate irrigation based on actual root zone conditions.
- Achieve more consistent dry-backs.
- Improve irrigation precision.
- Reduce overwatering.
- Implement sophisticated crop steering strategies.
- Respond dynamically to changing plant demand.
Users can create multiple moisture targets throughout the day including morning, midday and evening schedules while controlling irrigation shot sizes using Max On Time and Dry Back settings.
TM+ Pro App Monitoring
The WCS-9 integrates directly with TrolMaster's free TM+ Pro App, allowing growers to monitor substrate conditions remotely from anywhere.
- Live VWC monitoring.
- Live EC monitoring.
- Live root zone temperature monitoring.
- Historical data charts.
- Custom alarm notifications.
- Unlimited historical data storage.
- No subscription fees.
The TM+ Pro App allows growers to analyse historical trends, monitor crop performance and receive instant alerts whenever readings exceed user-defined thresholds.
TrolMaster WCS-9 Features
- Simultaneous VWC, EC and temperature monitoring.
- Designed for soil, coco, Rockwool and high-EC soilless media.
- Advanced multi-node averaging technology.
- Supports up to 4 Sensor Nodes per Display.
- Factory calibrated for Rockwool.
- Simple 100% saturation calibration process.
- Dynamic refresh intervals.
- 1-minute standard refresh rate.
- 10-second refresh rate during Feed On Demand operation.
- Supports advanced crop steering strategies.
- Free TM+ Pro App integration.
- Unlimited cloud-based historical data.
- No subscription fees.
- Affordable system expansion through additional Sensor Nodes.
- Compatible with Aqua-X, Hydro-X Pro, Tent-X and Green-X systems.
TrolMaster WCS-9 Controller Compatibility
| Controller | Maximum WCS-9 Displays Supported | Maximum Sensor Nodes Supported |
|---|---|---|
| Aqua-X (NFS-1) | 1 | Up to 4 Nodes |
| Aqua-X Pro (NFS-2) | 50 | Up to 200 Nodes |
| Aqua-X Plus (NFS-3) | 20 | Up to 80 Nodes |
| Hydro-X Pro (HCS-2) | 50 | Up to 200 Nodes |
| Tent-X (TCS-1) | 1 | Up to 4 Nodes |
| Green-X (GCS-1) | 1 | Up to 4 Nodes |
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input Voltage | 12V DC |
| Maximum Current Draw | 0.1A |
| Water Content Range | 0-100% |
| EC Range | 0-30 mS/cm |
| Temperature Range | 0-50°C (32-122°F) |
| Operating Humidity | ≤90% RH |
| Refresh Interval | 1 Minute (10 Seconds During Feed On Demand) |
| Maximum Nodes Per Display | 4 |
WCS-9 Installation & Operation Guide
The sections below can be expanded as required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add more sensor nodes later?
Yes. Each WCS-9 Display supports up to 4 WN-9 Sensor Nodes. Additional nodes are connected using ECS-7 Daisy Chain Cables.
Do I need a TrolMaster Hub?
Not necessarily. Most smaller installations will connect directly to the controller. The TrolMaster Hub is primarily used when expanding larger systems and adding additional Displays beyond the controller's native connection capacity.
Can I monitor multiple pots or slabs?
Yes. This is one of the biggest advantages of the WCS-9. Multiple Sensor Nodes can be placed throughout the crop, allowing the system to calculate a more representative average root zone value.
Can I view readings remotely?
Yes. The free TM+ Pro App provides remote access to live readings, historical graphs and alarm notifications.
Is the WCS-9 suitable for Rockwool?
Absolutely. The sensor is factory calibrated for Rockwool and is specifically designed for high-frequency irrigation and crop steering applications.
Can the WCS-9 measure EC?
Yes. The WCS-9 simultaneously measures substrate moisture content, substrate EC and root zone temperature.
What's Included
- 1 × TrolMaster WCS-9 Sensor Display
- 1 × TrolMaster WN-9 Sensor Node
- Connection cables
- User documentation
Take The Guesswork Out Of Irrigation
Whether you're implementing advanced crop steering strategies, optimising dry-backs in Rockwool, or simply looking for a more accurate understanding of what's happening inside the root zone, the TrolMaster WCS-9 provides the data needed to make better irrigation decisions.
With multi-node averaging, Feed On Demand compatibility, TM+ App integration and support for the entire TrolMaster ecosystem, the WCS-9 represents one of the most advanced substrate monitoring systems available today.
