Adhesive Teflon tape (actually, UHMW tape — Ultra High Molecular Weight polyethylene) provides insulation to prevent damage due to contact of dissimilar metals. It is typically used by Sea-Bird on the inside of hose clamps used for mounting instruments, where U-bolts...
Service
What do you recommend for cleaning barnacles off the exterior of the instrument?
Plug the ends of the conductivity cell to prevent the cleaning solution from getting into the cell. Then soak the entire instrument in white vinegar for a few minutes. After scraping off the barnacles and marine growth, rinse the instrument well with fresh...
Why is the color on my instrument housing changing? Does it need to be repaired?
The housings of some of our instrument are made from anodized aluminum. In our experience it is very common to see color change when anodized housings are moored in seawater. We even see some discoloration during the brief time instruments undergo calibration and...
Can I get my CTD calibrated in the low conductivity range for use in freshwater only?
No, Sea-Bird does not perform low or narrow range calibrations on our CTDs. However, CTDs are used successfully in many freshwater environments.Conductivity calibrations performed at Sea-Bird are valid in the range of 0 – 9 S/m (or 0 – 7 S/m, as specified for some...
My ISUS is running slower than normal. What is causing this?
An ISUS should run at approximately 1Hz. Check the amount of storage space left on the internal memory; old data files should be downloaded or deleted from the disk on a regular basis. Additionally, the Messages.log files should be periodically removed. Download...
How often does the SeaFET™ need to be calibrated?
The stability of the SeaFETTM Ocean pH sensor is expected to be 0.005 pH units on the timescale of weeks to months (Martz et al. 2010). At minimum, the SeaFETTM should be calibrated yearly. The body of data collected by the community of...
What power system is used for the Thetis?
The Thetis system uses on board batteries (BlueFin Robotics, 1.5kW) for power.
How should I handle my CTD to avoid cracking the conductivity cell?
Shipping: Sea-Bird carefully packs the CTD in foam for shipping. If you are shipping the CTD or conductivity sensor, carefully pack the instrument using the original crate and packing materials, or suitable substitutes.Use: Cracks at the C-Duct end of the conductivity...
How often do I need to have my instrument and/or auxiliary sensors recalibrated? Can I recalibrate them myself?
General recommendations: Profiling CTD — recalibrate once/year, but possibly less often if used only occasionally. We recommend that you return the CTD to Sea-Bird for recalibration. (In principle, it is possible for calibration to be performed elsewhere, if the...
I am planning to ship my instrument to Sea-Bird for calibration and minor repairs. What is the typical turn-around time?
Typically, Sea-Bird can calibrate the instrument and perform minor repairs within 3 - 4 weeks, plus shipping time. However, this may vary, depending on current backlog. Before shipping an instrument to us, go to our Online RMA and Service Request...
Featured Posts
Pride 2024
Celebrating and honoring our LGBTQIA+ communities It is in our DNA at Sea-Bird Scientific to embrace community and the beauty in diversity. As during previous Pride Months, we have changed our logo on social media to feature the colors of Pride throughout the month of...
Scripps Technical Forum: Understanding the Implications of the Lahaina Wildfire on Coastal Water Quality
We are pleased to partner with Scripps Institute of Oceanography to showcase a recent study done by Dr. Andrea Kealoha and her team at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa in monitoring coastal water quality following the devastating wildfire in Lahaina in August of...
April 2024 Newsletter
Welcome to the Sea-Bird Swell – our monthly newsletter that gives you the latest on what’s happening at Sea-Bird Scientific and the broader oceanographic community. Using the HydroCAT-EP V2 to Study Coastal Water Quality Following the Lahaina Wildfire We were...
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