I have 4 devices that all had brand new Energizer ultimate lithium batteries installed. 2 of the sensors have started giving alerts about Critically Low Battery, Unusual Readings Detected, Device Slow Update. It blames the battery, poor WiFi connection, device may not be gripping on the soil properly, o ring must be dirty and moisture leaked in. I’ve replaced batteries even though they read 100% with tester, I’ve let it air out for 24 hours and cleaned, inspected, and regreased o rings. 10 days after installing, it says the brand new batteries are down to 20.8%. I know the battery readings are wrong and probably the moisture readings too. The signal strength readings are wrong too because the 2 sensors are only a driveway’s width apart. I did notice some moisture inside but not much. Almost like condensation. Both o rings seemed to be doing their jobs. The battery compartment cover seemed to have a gap in the middle even with screws fully fastened. I’ll try to post the video where I’m able to squeeze the cover in the middle and it gives but nothing at the ends with the fasteners. But I’m thinking it’s probably the top cap because it’s no longer level. Placed upside down on a table, you can see a light gap. Like it’s bent. I don’t know how much freezing water can expand or ground heave but the probes no longer seem parallel. It still runs but I doubt it works correctly. Directions said you didn’t need to remove them in the winter. Maybe that’s not the case. Let me know if there’s any trouble shooting tasks you’d like me to perform. It doesn’t seem like I can post videos here.
Model Number: # GDS431
Serial Number: # 3359YF & 337HRX
Purchase Date: May 23, 2024 Kickstarter (Learning Since July 9 2025)
Problem details:
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2/18: Notice
GeoDrops Al has detected that the device may not be gripping on the soil properly, and may cause inaccurate moisture readings. Please wait for soil to settle for a few days.
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2/18: Critically Low Battery
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2 days prior I had just replaced batteries on another sensor that also had Critically Low Battery. Those batteries were replaced even though they tested 100%. That one with new batteries installed supposedly reads at 40%. I replaced this sensor’s critically low battery (also tested 100%) with brand new Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries and now won’t turn back on. All 4 sensors have the same type of batteries. 2 in the backyard still read 100%. 2 in the front yard both having issues. Backyard sensors are 115ft and 75ft from WiFi router. Front sensors are 85 and 88ft from the router.
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front sensor (337HRX) is on but not working correctly. Detects watering (rain gauge reads 1inch) but Soil Moisture % stays level.
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Front right sensor (3359YF) hasn’t turned back on since replacing batteries. But then again it died with 100% batteries before replacing.
Hi @Tballtaxi ,
Apologies for the late reply. I want to let you know that our engineering team is taking a closer look at this. If it is concluded that your devices had moisture damage, we will send you the next steps regarding the RMA process as we recommend this option to deal with hardware damage.
Stanley
Marketing PM
Team GeoDrops
Hi @Tballtaxi ,
I’m moving your other post here b/c it appears to be about the same topic.
Stanley
Marketing PM
Team GeoDrops
335-9YF
337-HRX
Both seem to dripping down from the same battery spring.
335-9YF had new batteries installed for 4 days and status displayed “Device Offline.” Techs must’ve overridden the 0.0v and got it back online. Battery History reading dates seemed out of sync with the Soil Moisture (%) readings. I’m sure everything will be out of wack while they troubleshoot.
I have video of both devices being opened if you’d like me to email them. Moisture seems to be coming from the top and not from the bottom where the batteries get installed.
I had it in two places because when I wrote it I had one working, which I put under help and the other one under repair because that one wouldn’t turn back on even after having brand new batteries for 4 days.
Hi @Tballtaxi ,
After reviewing the information, especially the photos, as you have mentioned that there’s moisture within the device, there appears to be hardware damage. We will be sending you an email with further instructions on the RMA process shall you decide to go through with it.
Stanley
Marketing PM
Team GeodRops
Hi @Tballtaxi
I have personally inspected and tested your devices, and can confirm that 3 of the 4 devices you sent in have electrical hardware damage most likely caused by moisture leaks.
The moisture seal for all 4 devices were also tested (once at 2psi, and a second time at close to 10psi), showing negligible air pressure decay, which means that there’s no compromise to the moisture seal.
Unfortunately, since it looks like you actually cleaned the O-ring seals before you mailed them in, I’m unable to provide any recommendation regarding your O-ring greasing and installation procedure. But a few things I did notice though:
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One of your device’s O-rings (serial number “336S48”) actually has a very slight cut in the O-ring itself. Below is an enlarged photo taken using a macro camera. This cut unfortunately is actually just large enough to cause O-ring leak (the length of the cut is more than 1/5 of the width of the O-ring)
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One of the photos you’ve sent us shows what the O-ring looks like when you opened the battery compartment. There are a number of things worth highlighting in this photo, and I’d love to work with you when you receive your RMA replacement devices to understand if this is a persistent issue. First of all, this is the original photo sent by you:
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Observation #1: Looking at the light reflection off the O-ring, it looks like the O-ring grease is under-applied? Possibly underapplied by a considerable amount? The grease we’ve qualified and included with all the GeoDrops devices are industrial-grade Silicone grease, and it does not dry up or evaporate even after a year of use. So it’s a bit unusual to see the O-ring surface not shinning off light like you’d expect with a layer of oil.
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Observation #2: The dirt “settling line” is a bit higher than we’d expect. In fact, we can kind of see two different settling lines here. The O-ring designed by us is expected to have the dirt settle around here, due to how much we’re compressing against the O-ring:
But the actual settling line for some of the dirt end up around here instead, which suggests that a significant amount of dirt has been rubbing against and trapped between the O-ring and the battery compartment wall.
Lastly, I’ve been brainstorming with John (our Lead Mechanical engineer), and we’re still a bit curious to understand how the dirt particles even got inside the O-ring. Even in the extreme case that Silicone grease is not applied, the amount of compression against the O-ring should at most allow accelerated moisture condensation, but it’s not physically possible for dirt (or mud) to penetrate and settle at such a high water mark on the O-ring.
Anyways, long story short, except that 1 device with a damaged O-ring, we’d like to work with you to better understand if this is an O-ring mishandling or whether it’s a design shortfall we’ve overlooked. It is a bit unusual to have 3 of 4 devices all fail at the same time.
If possible, let’s continue to use this thread to exchange follow-up information on this.
I’ll follow-up with you via email for the RMA replacement follow-up.
Thanks,
Lawrence
CEO and Main Engineering Lead of GeoDrops Team