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APPLICATION NOTE NO. 83

Deployment of Moored Instruments
April 2006

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Application note in pdf format

This Application Note applies to Sea-Bird instruments intended to provide time series data on a mooring or fixed site:

We have developed a check list to assist users in deploying moored instruments. This checklist is intended as a guideline to assist you in developing a checklist specific to your operation and instrument setup. The actual procedures and procedure order may vary, depending on such factors as:

Deployment Summary
Instrument serial number  
Mooring number  
Date of deployment  
Depth of instrument  
Intended date of recovery  
Capture file printout(s) attached, or file name and location (showing status command, calibration coefficients command if applicable, any other applicable commands)  
Actual date of recovery  
Condition of instrument at recovery  
Notes  

 

Preparation for Deployment
Task Completed?
If applicable, upload existing data in memory.

Perform preliminary processing / analysis of data to ensure you have uploaded all data, that data was not corrupted in upload process, and that (if uploading converted data) instrument EEPROM was programmed with correct calibration coefficients. If there is a problem with data, you can try to upload again now. Once you record over data in next deployment, opportunity to correct any upload problem is gone.

 
Initialize memory to make entire memory available for recording.

If memory is not initialized, data will be stored after last recorded sample.

 
Calculate battery endurance to ensure sufficient power for intended sampling scheme.

See instrument manual for example calculations.

 
Calculate memory endurance to ensure sufficient memory for intended sampling scheme.

See instrument manual for example calculations.

 
Install fresh batteries.

Even if you think there is adequate battery capacity left for another deployment, cost of fresh batteries is small price to pay to ensure successful deployment.

 
Establish setup / operating parameters.
  1. Click Capture button in SEATERM and enter file name to record instrument setup, so you have complete record of communication with instrument.
  2. Set current date and time.
  3. Establish setup / operating parameters.
  4. If desired, set date and time for sampling to automatically begin.
  5. Send Status command (DS or #iiDS) to verify and provide record of setup. **
  6. Send Calibration Coefficients command (DC, #iiDC, DCal, or #iiDCal) to verify and provide record of calibration coefficients. **

 
Get conductivity sensor ready for deployment:

Remove protective plugs that were placed in Anti-Foulant Device caps or remove Tygon tubing that was looped end-to-end around conductivity cell to prevent dust / dirt from entering cell.
Note: Deploying instrument with protective plugs or looped Tygon tubing in place will prevent instrument from measuring conductivity during deployment, and may destroy cell.

 
Install fresh AF24173 Anti-Foulant Devices for conductivity sensor.

Rate of anti-foul use varies greatly, depending on location and time of year. If you think there is adequate capability remaining, and previous deployment(s) in this location and at this time of year back up that assumption, you may not choose to replace Anti-Foulant Devices for every deployment. However, as for batteries, cost of fresh Anti-Foulant Devices is small price to pay to ensure successful deployment.

 
For instrument with external pump (16plus, 16plus-IM, 19plus), verify that system plumbing is correctly installed.

See instrument manual for configuration.

 
Start sampling (if you did not set up instrument with a delayed start command), or verify that sampling has begun (if you set up instrument with a delayed start command).
  1. Click Capture button in SEATERM and enter file name to record instrument setup, so you have a complete record of communication with instrument.
  2. If you did not set up instrument with a delayed start command, send command to start sampling.
  3. Send Status command (DS or #iiDS) to verify and provide record that instrument is sampling. **
  4. Send Send Last command (SL or #iiSL) to look at most recent sample and verify that output looks reasonable (i.e., ambient temperature, zero conductivity, atmospheric pressure). **
  5. If instrument has pressure sensor, record atmospheric pressure with barometer. You can use this information during data processing to check and correct for pressure sensor drift, by comparing to instrument’s pressure reading in air (from Step 4).

Note: For instrument with pump (external or integral), avoid running pump dry for extended period of time.

 
If cable connectors or dummy plugs were unmated, reinstall cables or dummy plugs as described in Application Note 57: I/O Connector Care and Installation.

Failure to correctly install cables may result in connector leaking, causing data errors as well as damage to bulkhead connector.

 
Install mounting hardware on instrument.

Verify that hardware is secure.

 

** Note: Actual instrument command is dependent on communication interface and instrument.

 

Recovery

Immediately upon recovery

Task Completed?
Rinse instrument with fresh water.  
Remove locking sleeve on dummy plug or cable, slide it up cable (if applicable), and rinse connection (still mated) with fresh water.  
For instrument with pump (external or integral), stop sampling.

Connect to instrument in SEATERM and send command to stop sampling (Stop or #iiStop). Stop sampling as soon as possible upon recovery to avoid running pump dry for an extended period of time. **

 
If instrument has pressure sensor, record atmospheric pressure with barometer.

You can use this information during data processing to check and correct for pressure sensor drift, by comparing to instrument’s pressure reading in air.

 
Gently rinse conductivity cell with clean de-ionized water, drain, and gently blow through cell to remove larger water droplets.
  • If cell is not rinsed between uses, salt crystals may form on platinized electrode surfaces. When instrument is used next, sensor accuracy may be temporarily affected until these crystals dissolve.
  • Note that vigorous flushing is not recommended if you will be sending instrument to Sea-Bird for post-deployment calibration to establish drift during deployment.
 
For instrument with external pump (16plus, 16plus-IM, 19plus): Remove Tygon tubing from pump head’s hose barbs, and rinse inside of pump head, pouring fresh water through a hose barb.

If pump head is not rinsed between uses, salt crystals may form on impeller. Over time, this may freeze impeller in place, preventing pump from working.

 
Install protective plugs in Anti-Foulant Device caps or loop Tygon tubing end-to-end around conductivity cell for long term storage.

This will prevent dust / dirt from entering conductivity cell.
Note: For short term (less than 1 day) storage, see Application Note 2D: Instructions for Care and Cleaning of Conductivity Cells.

 
Upload data in memory.
  1. Connect to instrument in SEATERM.
  2. If you have not already done so, send command to stop sampling (STOP or #iiSTOP). **
  3. Upload data in memory, using Upload button in SEATERM.
  4. Perform preliminary processing / analysis of data to ensure you have uploaded all data, that data was not corrupted in upload process, and that (if uploading converted data) instrument EEPROM was programmed with correct calibration coefficients. If there is a problem with data, you can try to upload again now. Once you record over data in next deployment, opportunity to correct any upload problem is gone.

 

** Note: Actual instrument command is dependent on communication interface and instrument.

 

Later

Task Completed?
Clean conductivity cell, as needed:
  • Do not clean cell if you will be sending instrument to Sea-Bird for post-deployment calibration to establish drift during deployment.
  • Clean cell if you will not be performing a post-deployment calibration to establish drift.
See cleaning instructions in instrument manual and Application Note 2D: Instructions for Care and Cleaning of Conductivity Cells.
 
For instrument with external pump (16plus, 16plus-IM, 19plus): Clean pump as described in Application Note 75: Maintenance of SBE 5T and 5M Pumps.  
(Annually) Inspect and (if applicable) rinse pressure port.

See instructions in instrument manual.

 
Send instrument to Sea-Bird for calibrations / regular inspection and maintenance.

We typically recommend that instrument be recalibrated once a year, but possibly less often if used only occasionally. We recommend that you return instrument to Sea-Bird for recalibration. In between laboratory calibrations, take field salinity samples to document conductivity cell drift.

Notes:

1. We cannot place instrument in our calibration bath if heavily covered with biological material or painted with anti-foul paint. Remove as much material as possible before shipping to Sea-Bird; if we need to clean instrument before calibrating it, we will charge you for cleaning. To remove barnacles, plug ends of conductivity cell to prevent cleaning solution from getting into cell, then soak instrument in white vinegar for a few minutes. To remove anti-foul paint, use Heavy Duty Scotch-Brite pad or similar material.

2. If using lithium batteries, do not ship batteries installed in instrument. See Shipping Lithium Batteries for details.

 

 

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Last updated: 06 Apr 2007

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