Information on steps required for sensor checks.

1. Water Quality Monitor
Sensor Check Procedures

2. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
Overview
•Check procedures for each sensor
• Pre-deployment
• Post deployment
• Tracking
•Service intervals
• Tracking can reinforce

3. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
WQM – Optics
• ECO Flntu or Triplet
• Stability tests over time shown largest change in response in first year
• +/- 2% of full scale
• Routine checks done pre and post deployment capture potential drift
• Bio-wiper™/Triplet wiper prevents bio-fouling from forming over
optics
• Service is ESSENTIAL
• Every 13 months of in-water use

4. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
WQM – Optics Pre-deployment Checks:
Establishing the ECO Offsets
• Procedure based on standard ECO offset/dark count FAQ
• Cover LED and Detector with black electrical tape and turn system
on
• Be sure to smooth tape to remove bubbles
• Record the output for all channels
• Use minimum or average value as offset
• WET Labs records 60 seconds of data at 1 Hz – reports minimum value as
offset on calibration sheet
• Record new values under the Troubleshooting Tab on WQM Host

5. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
WQM – Optics Pre-deployment Checks:
Updating the ECO Offsets
• WQM Host 1.51
• Under Advanced drop down
menu
• Setup External Data Port
• Select Internal ECO
• Click boxes to enter new
offsets
• Using terminal program
• Exit to C prompt
• $xit
• c:> set chl.off

6. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
• No specialized equipment required
• Saturation stick
• Hand
• Calibration Cap
• With sensor running, start with target 6-8” away and gradually move
closer to face of sensor
• Counts should increase, goal is full saturation (4120 counts)
• Move away to ensure counts fall back to stable in air values
WQM – Optics Pre-deployment Checks:
Establishing the ECO Saturates

7. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
•Verify functionality
•Track instrument changes over time
•Additional supplies:
• 12 oz can Diet Coke
• 500 ml bottled water/DI water
• 1000 ml glass beaker
• Stir stick
WQM – Optics Pre-deployment Checks:
Performing Mid-Point Characterization Checks

8. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
•NTU Test Procedure:
• Point ECO into space, record counts as offset value
• Cover face of the sensor with calibration cap or hand
• Record raw counts – maximum and minimum
• If offset, maximum or minimum change exceeds 50 counts –
contact WET Labs Support
WQM – Optics Pre-deployment Checks:
Mid-Point Characterization Checks Cont.

9. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
•Chlorophyll Test Procedure:
• Mix Diet Coke with bottled/DI water
• Allow to degas
• Point ECO into space, record counts as offset
value
• Immerse ECO end into test fixture to test
solution
• Record raw counts
• If change in offset or chlorophyll raw counts
exceeds 50 counts from previous test – contact
WET Labs Support
WQM – Optics Pre-deployment Checks:
Mid-Point Characterization Checks Cont.

10. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
WQM – Conductivity Pre-Deployment
Check
•Check conductivity zero frequency against calibration
sheet
• Rinse cell with distilled/DI water
• Dry cell should read very close to zero conductivity reading on
calibration sheet
• If not, cell may be dirty/damaged
• Attempt cleaning with Triton X solution

11. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
• More difficult to check of all sensor components
• Requires moving water to make accurate reading
• Plug plumbing with water inside tubing – submerge in aerated or
stable water
• Let sit for ½ hour or few hours
• Take reading
• Should give near saturation value if operating properly
• 98% or 101%
• DO saturation level will jump when/if pump is turned on
WQM – Conductivity Pre-Deployment
Check

12. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
WQM – Temperature Pre-Deployment
Check
•Comparison to secondary sensor
•Known temperature comparison

13. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
WQM – Pressure Pre-Deployment Check
•Check responsiveness with finger over pressure sensor
•Reset Pressure Offset from Host Program
• Pre-Deployment drop down menu
• Reset the WQM Pressure Offset

14. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
WQM – BLIS Pre-Deployment Check
• Fill bleach intake port with
DI water
• Under Help dropdown
menu choose
Troubleshooting
• Select BLIS
• Run 100 BLIS Cycles
• Run 2-3 times to fully
empty

15. ©2014 Sea-Bird Scientific Inc.
WQM – Sensor Validation
• Validation of moored data set with CTD cast as
available
• Allows for corrections
• Winkler comparisons for DO sensors
• Field calibrations for chlorophyll
• Run through pre-deployment sensor checks to
verify functionality
• Pre package cleaning for base line
• Post package cleaning

16. Questions?
Please feel free to contact our Customer Support Team at
+1 541 929 5650.