The Anti-Foulant Device is an expendable device that is installed on each end of the conductivity cell, so that any water that enters the cell is treated. Anti-Foulant Devices are typically used with moored instruments (SBE 16, 16plus, 16plus-IM, 16plus V2, 16plus-IM...
FAQs
Does it matter whether you use natural or artificial seawater for calibrations? Which does Sea-Bird use?
For SBE 4 conductivity calibrations, Sea-Bird uses natural seawater that has been carefully collected, stored, UV irradiated, and filtered. Artificial seawater is not adequate if calibration errors are to be kept below 0.010 psu. Note: SBE 4 is the...
Do you recommend a particular brand of alkaline D-cell batteries?
For Sea-Bird instruments that use alkaline D-cells, Sea-Bird uses Duracell MN 1300, LR20. While rare, we have seen a few problems with cheaper batteries over the years: they are more likely to leak, may vary in size (leading to loose batteries causing a bad power...
Why is Teflon tape used?
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...
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...
What do I do if the STF induction curve does not reach a plateau?
If the fluorescence yield does not reach its maximum value (i.e., plateau) by the end of the single turnover flash (STF), increase the STF duration. For example, if you are currently using an STF duration of 80-100 micro-seconds, try increasing it...
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...
Featured Posts
Seattle Ocean Science & Technology Conference 2023
Sea-Bird Scientific is proud to partner with Sequoia Scientific in hosting the first Ocean Science & Technology Conference in Seattle, Washington on Thursday, September 14th. This conference will enable those in the Seattle area to network, connect, and discuss...
Seattle Ocean Science Mixer Recap
Sea-Bird Scientific was proud to host an Ocean Science Mixer and Networking Event in Seattle, Washington, on June 1, 2023 for World Oceans Day. Following our virtual webinar on Forging Your Career in Academia and Industry in partnership with The Oceanography Society...
Partnering with Surfrider Foundation to Clean Our Beaches
On Wednesday, July 12th, the team at Sea-Bird Scientific took time out of their day to go to one of our local beaches and pick up trash. Early July is an especially critical time of year to do beach clean-ups, given the proximity to the 4th of July in the United...
Science and Technology
Platform