SlipMeter™
The SlipMeter is a breakthrough all-in-one gate and meter for farmer turnouts and lateral headings.
Now it’s less labor intensive to provide irrigators with a reliable, flexible and accurate water delivery service.
Features and Benefits
The SlipMeter can be remotely pre-set to turn on and off automatically to deliver a constant and accurately measured flow rate and volume. This means you can provide a great service day or night, even when supply canal levels are fluctuating.
And the all-in-one design means everything – drive system, motor control, ultrasonic measurement, power supply, local control keypad and telemetry – functions as a single unit. There are no installation problems or incompatibilities, it simply works.
The SlipMeter’s ability to measure accurately at high and very low flow rates means it is suitable for all crop types. And the extremely low head loss means that command is not compromised even when very little head is available.
It has been designed to be installed in existing structures without costly civil work, by simply sliding into a frame that is fixed to the existing structure.
The SlipMeter is ideal for
- Turnouts requiring very low head loss and/or high accuracy
- Situations where water level fluctuations mean the meter is frequently partially full
- Minimizing expenditure on civil infrastructure
- Situations where is high turbulence, debris or other contaminants
- Remote locations that require controlled flow rates
Highlights
- Sonaray flow measurement accuracy of ±2.5%*
- Exceeds California SBx7-7 requirements
- Solar-charged battery system or AC line power
- SCADA ready communication system – can be integrated to many SCADA platforms
- Partially-full measurement when fitted with MicronLevel™ sensor
Control capabilities
The SlipMeter's built-in software provides the following control possibilities:
Control objective | Gate action | ||
Local | Position | Moves to a desired set-point and stays there | |
Flow | Maintains a constant flow regardless of canal levels |
Local control pedestal
Each SlipMeter installation includes a robust pedestal that provides power and control to the gate and is a secure, weather proof housing for electronic components and batteries.
The pedestal also serves as a local user interface. A keypad and LCD display are located under the lockable pedestal lid, allowing farmers to monitor, or operators to control and troubleshoot on-site.
Low maintenance
The SlipMeter’s modular design allows it to be maintained in the field with minimal tools, training, and easily replaceable parts.
- Level sensors are easily removed during in-field servicing
- Seals can be replaced
- On-site diagnostics built into the software
- Service can be done by local Rubicon field technicians or authorized/trained independent local integrators
Easy to install
SlipMeters are designed to mount to existing headwall structures as well as purpose built emplacements significantly reducing costs associated with civil work.
- Installed and operational in two days during irrigation or off-season
- Factory calibrated and pre-configured
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Existing manual gate
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Replaced with SlipMeter
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Independently tested flow measurement accuracy
The SlipMeter’s flow measurement accuracy has been independently verified under a wide range of conditions and has demonstrated compliance with California's SBX7-7 legislation.
- Provost & Pritchard engineers in California conducted in-situ testing in a customer turnout configuration under calm, turbulent, and extreme turbulent conditions. Download a copy of the report here.
- Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL) in Sydney, Australia conducted laboratory tests under wave disturbance, upstream disturbance and submerged conditions. Download a copy of the report here.
*Accuracy of 600mm 45° SlipMeter verified by Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, April 2011 and Provost & Pritchard, November 2011
Features and Benefits
The SlipMeter can be remotely pre-set to turn on and off automatically to deliver a constant and accurately measured flow rate and volume. This means you can provide a great service day or night, even when supply canal levels are fluctuating.
And the all-in-one design means everything – drive system, motor control, ultrasonic measurement, power supply, local control keypad and telemetry – functions as a single unit. There are no installation problems or incompatibilities, it simply works.
The SlipMeter’s ability to measure accurately at high and very low flow rates means it is suitable for all crop types. And the extremely low head loss means that command is not compromised even when very little head is available.
It has been designed to be installed in existing structures without costly civil work, by simply sliding into a frame that is fixed to the existing structure.
The SlipMeter is ideal for
- Turnouts requiring very low head loss and/or high accuracy
- Situations where water level fluctuations mean the meter is frequently partially full
- Minimizing expenditure on civil infrastructure
- Situations where is high turbulence, debris or other contaminants
- Remote locations that require controlled flow rates
Highlights
- Sonaray flow measurement accuracy of ±2.5%*
- Exceeds California SBx7-7 requirements
- Solar-charged battery system or AC line power
- SCADA ready communication system – can be integrated to many SCADA platforms
- Partially-full measurement when fitted with MicronLevel™ sensor
Control capabilities
The SlipMeter's built-in software provides the following control possibilities:
Control objective | Gate action | ||
Local | Position | Moves to a desired set-point and stays there | |
Flow | Maintains a constant flow regardless of canal levels |
Local control pedestal
Each SlipMeter installation includes a robust pedestal that provides power and control to the gate and is a secure, weather proof housing for electronic components and batteries.
The pedestal also serves as a local user interface. A keypad and LCD display are located under the lockable pedestal lid, allowing farmers to monitor, or operators to control and troubleshoot on-site.
Low maintenance
The SlipMeter’s modular design allows it to be maintained in the field with minimal tools, training, and easily replaceable parts.
- Level sensors are easily removed during in-field servicing
- Seals can be replaced
- On-site diagnostics built into the software
- Service can be done by local Rubicon field technicians or authorized/trained independent local integrators
Easy to install
SlipMeters are designed to mount to existing headwall structures as well as purpose built emplacements significantly reducing costs associated with civil work.
- Installed and operational in two days during irrigation or off-season
- Factory calibrated and pre-configured
![]() |
![]() |
Existing manual gate
|
Replaced with SlipMeter
|
Independently tested flow measurement accuracy
The SlipMeter’s flow measurement accuracy has been independently verified under a wide range of conditions and has demonstrated compliance with California's SBX7-7 legislation.
- Provost & Pritchard engineers in California conducted in-situ testing in a customer turnout configuration under calm, turbulent, and extreme turbulent conditions. Download a copy of the report here.
- Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL) in Sydney, Australia conducted laboratory tests under wave disturbance, upstream disturbance and submerged conditions. Download a copy of the report here.
*Accuracy of 600mm 45° SlipMeter verified by Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, April 2011 and Provost & Pritchard, November 2011
Technologies
The SlipMeter uses core technologies which are common across TCC® products:
Sonaray® flow measurement
The SlipMeter employs Sonaray acoustic array technology. The acoustic array principle maps the velocity profile by using multiple transecting paths to provide an accurate representation of the velocity distribution within the meter box.
This technique measures across the entire velocity field within the meter box and is resistant to swirl, or other non-uniform velocity distributions caused by garbage or other debris.
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Eight horizontal planes sample the velocity distribution passing through the meter (side view) | |
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Each measurement plane implements crossed-path transit time ultrasonics to sample the entire velocity field in that plane (plan view of measurement plane) |
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The horizontal velocity distributions are then integrated vertically to construct the three dimensional flow velocity distribution (side view) |
High-strength FormiPanel™ constructionThe SlipMeter features FormiPanel™, Rubicon’s high-strength construction method that uses techniques adopted from the aerospace and marine industries.
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CableDrive™ and SolarDrive® gate control technologyCableDrive is Rubicon’s actuation system designed to provide precision gate position accuracy and repeatability in harsh environments. The drive is a wire rope (cable) and drum mechanism that provides positive drive in both the raise and lower directions. It is designed for high duty cycle operation and provides precise gate positioning to within ±0.5mm (0.02in).
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Technologies
The SlipMeter uses core technologies which are common across TCC® products:
Sonaray® flow measurement
The SlipMeter employs Sonaray acoustic array technology. The acoustic array principle maps the velocity profile by using multiple transecting paths to provide an accurate representation of the velocity distribution within the meter box.
This technique measures across the entire velocity field within the meter box and is resistant to swirl, or other non-uniform velocity distributions caused by garbage or other debris.
![]() |
Eight horizontal planes sample the velocity distribution passing through the meter (side view) | |
![]() |
Each measurement plane implements crossed-path transit time ultrasonics to sample the entire velocity field in that plane (plan view of measurement plane) |
|
![]() |
The horizontal velocity distributions are then integrated vertically to construct the three dimensional flow velocity distribution (side view) |
High-strength FormiPanel™ constructionThe SlipMeter features FormiPanel™, Rubicon’s high-strength construction method that uses techniques adopted from the aerospace and marine industries.
|
|
|
CableDrive™ and SolarDrive® gate control technologyCableDrive is Rubicon’s actuation system designed to provide precision gate position accuracy and repeatability in harsh environments. The drive is a wire rope (cable) and drum mechanism that provides positive drive in both the raise and lower directions. It is designed for high duty cycle operation and provides precise gate positioning to within ±0.5mm (0.02in).
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Specifications
General |
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---|---|
Minimum flow rate | 2ft wide gate: 0.4cfs; 2.5 ft wide gate: 0.6 cfs; 3ft wide gate: 0.9cfs; 4ft wide gate: 1.6cfs |
Data interface | Local display (4 line LCD with keypad), Modbus serial, data radio |
Units of measure | User definable (metric/imperial (US)) |
Data tags | 140+ available for integration into SCADA systems |
Data storage | All volumetric usage is accumulated and backed up internally in nonvolatile memory. Historical data can be uploaded through the Modbus interface, a local data logger or from the SCADA host database |
Alarming | Alarm indicates when water level falls below bottom measurement plane |
Control | Local or remote via SCADA |
Electronics | SolarDrive® power management and control technology housed in the local control pedestal. Each unit passes a 12hr heat pre-stress and 100% functional test |
Typical weight | 2ft wide gate ≈ 430lbs; 3ft wide gate ≈ 640lbs; 4ft wide gate ≈ 750lbs |
Motor | 12V DC |
Gate position | 256 count magnetic encoder |
Seal performance |
<0.1 gallons/minute/foot of seal (exceeds AWWA C513 leakage standards) |
Actuation options | 12V DC powered (solar); 240V AC powered; manual with hand-crank or car battery |
Flow measurement |
|
Technique | Cross-path ultrasonic transit-time (also referred to as acoustic transit-time) |
Transit-time measurement resolution | 100 picoseconds |
Measurement frequency | 1 second (configurable) |
Accuracy |
±2.5% *Accuracy of 24" 45° SlipMeter verified by Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, April 2011 and Provost & Pritchard, November 2011 |
Velocity measurement range | Accuracy listed above is achieved at flow velocities greater than 1in per second |
Sensor quantity | 32 individual acoustic sensors, arranged in four cartridges, across 8 planes of measurement |
Calibration method | Factory pre-calibrated. Optional ultrasonic level sensor is also internally self-calibrating. Simple in-field verification process. |
Material |
|
Frames | Extruded marine grade aluminum |
Gate panels | Marine grade aluminum sheet and aluminum extrusion |
Hardware | Stainless-steel |
Shafts | Stainless-steel |
Seals | EDPM rubber (Durometer 70 (Shore A)) |
Wear strip | PVC |
Pressure rating | Refer to the Dimensions and Maximum Water Level table in data sheet |
Water level sensor | Anodized aluminum and copolymer acetyl plastic with stainless-steel fittings and gold-plated connectors |
Power |
|
Power supply | 12VDC self-contained battery charged from solar panel or AC line power |
Solar panel | 85W monocrystalline |
Batteries | (2) or (3) 12V 28 ampere-hour sealed gel lead acid with temperature sensor (~5yr life, provides ~5 days of operation without solar or AC line power) |
Communications |
|
Protocols | Modbus, DNP3, MDLC |
Specifications subject to change
Specifications
General |
|
---|---|
Minimum flow rate | 2ft wide gate: 0.4cfs; 2.5 ft wide gate: 0.6 cfs; 3ft wide gate: 0.9cfs; 4ft wide gate: 1.6cfs |
Data interface | Local display (4 line LCD with keypad), Modbus serial, data radio |
Units of measure | User definable (metric/imperial (US)) |
Data tags | 140+ available for integration into SCADA systems |
Data storage | All volumetric usage is accumulated and backed up internally in nonvolatile memory. Historical data can be uploaded through the Modbus interface, a local data logger or from the SCADA host database |
Alarming | Alarm indicates when water level falls below bottom measurement plane |
Control | Local or remote via SCADA |
Electronics | SolarDrive® power management and control technology housed in the local control pedestal. Each unit passes a 12hr heat pre-stress and 100% functional test |
Typical weight | 2ft wide gate ≈ 430lbs; 3ft wide gate ≈ 640lbs; 4ft wide gate ≈ 750lbs |
Motor | 12V DC |
Gate position | 256 count magnetic encoder |
Seal performance |
<0.1 gallons/minute/foot of seal (exceeds AWWA C513 leakage standards) |
Actuation options | 12V DC powered (solar); 240V AC powered; manual with hand-crank or car battery |
Flow measurement |
|
Technique | Cross-path ultrasonic transit-time (also referred to as acoustic transit-time) |
Transit-time measurement resolution | 100 picoseconds |
Measurement frequency | 1 second (configurable) |
Accuracy |
±2.5% *Accuracy of 24" 45° SlipMeter verified by Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, April 2011 and Provost & Pritchard, November 2011 |
Velocity measurement range | Accuracy listed above is achieved at flow velocities greater than 1in per second |
Sensor quantity | 32 individual acoustic sensors, arranged in four cartridges, across 8 planes of measurement |
Calibration method | Factory pre-calibrated. Optional ultrasonic level sensor is also internally self-calibrating. Simple in-field verification process. |
Material |
|
Frames | Extruded marine grade aluminum |
Gate panels | Marine grade aluminum sheet and aluminum extrusion |
Hardware | Stainless-steel |
Shafts | Stainless-steel |
Seals | EDPM rubber (Durometer 70 (Shore A)) |
Wear strip | PVC |
Pressure rating | Refer to the Dimensions and Maximum Water Level table in data sheet |
Water level sensor | Anodized aluminum and copolymer acetyl plastic with stainless-steel fittings and gold-plated connectors |
Power |
|
Power supply | 12VDC self-contained battery charged from solar panel or AC line power |
Solar panel | 85W monocrystalline |
Batteries | (2) or (3) 12V 28 ampere-hour sealed gel lead acid with temperature sensor (~5yr life, provides ~5 days of operation without solar or AC line power) |
Communications |
|
Protocols | Modbus, DNP3, MDLC |
Specifications subject to change