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...
FAQs
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...
My SUNA V2 fails the self-test function when it tries to report the internal voltage measurements.
Although most functions of the SUNA V2 can be accomplished though the USB connection, parts of the self-test require that external power be applied. In this case, connect external power and repeat the test. If the problem persists, please contact Customer Support.
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