Sonde Maintenance and Care

1. Sonde Maintenance and Care 10th Annual Red River Basin Water Quality Monitoring Training March 5, 2014 Bruce Paakh, MPCA

2. Introduction The Red River Basin Monitoring Advisory Committee system to assure quality sonde data includes: 1. Well maintained equipment. Annual “Sonde CheckUp” service for all basin sondes. Assures the sondes are upgraded (both in software & hardware) each year prior to use. 2. Trained field technicians that properly maintain, calibrate, and use sondes.

3. Sonde Check- Up Day January 2010

4. Introduction cont. • Additional training is available each year in Brainerd by YSI reps for those who want it. • It covers the details of probe replacement, diagnosing problems, probe mechanics. • Our goal is to provide you what you need to produce reliable data without the extra stuff you won’t need with our Red River Basin system. (KISS principle)

5. You Need to Know How To: • Change a DO Membrane • Change Batteries in the 650 Display • Calibrate and Use the Sonde • Maintain and Care for the Sonde

6. Basics • Don’t collect data with a sonde that isn’t properly calibrated. We don’t want poor quality data in our datasets. • Don’t use calibration solution that is expired or has been frozen. Use for rinse. • Calibration standard is only good for 30 days once it is opened. Record date when opened on bottle & initial.

7. Help - Only a Call Away • A primary reason the MPCA went with YSI when selecting a vendor for WQ sondes was their service. • If you need to call YSI, DO IT. They are very good. YSI Technical Service – 1-800-897-4151 • You can also call Danni, Wayne, Evelyn, Asher, Joe or myself if you need help. Danni Halvorson 218-280-0515 (c) Bruce Paakh 218-849-4886 (c)

8. Care of Sonde - Basics • Keep calibration cup or storage bottle on the sonde when not in use. Don’t let probes dry out. Keep at least a 1/2 inch of water in the cal cup of all YSI sondes. • 600 series If you lose or tear the orange o-ring on the storage bottle cap, get a replacement. We have spares & hardware stores have o-rings.

9. Care continued • Store sonde away from temp extremes. Freezing will break pH bulb. Don’t leave in vehicle overnight during early spring & late fall. Don’t store in hot vehicle during summer. • Handle it with care. It will take a beating over time. Being careless can shorten it’s lifespan. • Don’t try to take a sonde apart. They are factory sealed and not repairable by us.

10. Care continued • Water shouldn’t to get into probe ports or cable connections. Make sure cable is on tight. Should be able to see only 2 threads on sonde when cable is screwed on tight. • Moisture in a probe port is the most common reason for trouble with a probe. • Cable connector port should be covered at all times, either with cable end or cap. • If you need to replace a probe get help.

11. Care continued • To clean pH bulb or sonde body after long-term deployment you can soak entire sonde in white vinegar.

12. DO Probes • The DO probe requires that the KCl solution & membrane be changed every 30 days when in use. • The KCl solution & membrane will also need to be replaced if: - bubbles are present under the membrane; - deposits of dried KCl are apparent on the o-ring or membrane; or - probe shows unstable reading or other problems. • Temp sensor and membrane should be dry for calibration.

13. D.O. Probe cont. • If the silver electrodes (under the membrane) become tarnished (black), they need a fine sanding (2400 grit in maint kit). This must be done correctly or the probe can be damaged. • It is unlikely you will need to perform this task. • If you feel you need to have this done, refer to your manual for specifics or call for help.

14. Optical DO Probes • For Optical DO probes, the ODO Gain in cal constants should be .85 to 1.15 • Problems with wiper parking improperly is due to a motor mount problem inside probe. Turn off wiper in Advanced sensor menu. Set Wipe Interval & # of wipes to 0.

15. Conductivity / Temp Probes • Conductivity probe openings - clean with small brush. Dip brush in clean water & brush in and out 15 to 20 times & rinse. • Can use a mild detergent. • Temp probe requires no maintenance – just keep it clean. • Common problem for cond calibration – not enough cal solution in cup.

16. pH Probe • If you see deposits on the probe bulb or have a slow response time, the pH probe needs cleaning. • Use clean water and a soft clean cloth, cotton swab or pipe cleaner to remove dirt from probe. • Be careful not to wedge the swab between the bulb and sensor guard. The glass bulb can break. • If you need additional cleaning, refer to manual and or contact one of us. • Don’t let this probe dry out.

17. Long-term Storage • Remove batteries from 650 display & any 6000 series sondes. Store at room temp & away from moisture & heat. • Keep the probes moist without immersing them in liquid. YSI suggests al least .5 inch of water (any type will do) in the calibration/storage cup.

18. Long-term Storage Continued • Use enough water to provide 100% humidity, but not enough to cover the probe surfaces. • Make sure the storage vessel is sealed to minimize evaporation. • Check the vessel periodically to make certain that water is still present.

19. Calibration Tips • Calibrate in the order that the 650 displays the parameters. DO requires that cond is calibrated. Always do pH 7 before 10. • Temp sensor needs to be in cal solution when calibrating each of the probes. • Always use “enter” during a probe calibration & not “escape”. “Escape” will abort calibration.

20. Calibration Tips • Always keep the cap on the cal stdbottle. • Probes that don’t stabilize quickly. Check: 1. Is the temp changing? 2. Is the probe dirty? 3. Cal constants out of range? Old probe? 4. Cal standard expired? 5. Enough cal standard in cal cup? • Never accept an “out of range”. You should be able to correct the problem unless probe is bad.

21. Calibration Tips - Conductivity • Always calibrate in specific conductance. • When entering the Conductivity Standard enter 1.0 ms/cm & not the 1000 us/cm that’s on the cal bottle. Different units.

22. D.O. Calibration Tips • Don’t shake KCl solution for DO probe. • Low DO charge - can indicate insufficient or old KCl. • High DO charge – recondition probe (sand electrodes), replace membrane and burn it in. If still high – repeat recondition process. If still high – replace DO probe.

23. Optical D.O. Calibration Tips • If you aren’t having problems with optical DO membrane – don’t replace it. Each membrane has it’s own cal coefficients. If you change it, the coefficients needs to be entered into the 650 display. Main menu > calibrate > optical DO > view cal constant. • Water under membrane & inside the o-ring area needs to be dried out.

24. Turbidity Calibration Tips • Turbidity readings that are negative are due to calibrating the zero with distilled water. Distilled water typically has .8 to 1.0 turbidity.

25. Summary • Keep the probes moist, but not immersed. • Don’t let it freeze or over heat in a vehicle. • Minimize rough play - banging into bridges, etc. • Keep moisture out of the probe ports and cable connections. • Inspect probes for bubbles (DO) & dirt or fouling. Clean on a routine basis depending on use.

26. Summary cont. • Call to get help if needed. • Proper maintenance and care of sonde results in dependable equipment that will last a long time. • If your sonde is damaged or is acting up, let us know right away so we can get you a replacement probe or sonde. Questions??

27. Lunch and Afternoon Schedule • Split up group for the afternoon sessions now. • Keep an eye on the clock and make your way to either the lab or this auditorium by about 12:15. • Those going to the lab right after lunch can drop off their notebooks, sonde, etc in the lab on the way to the cafeteria.

28. When You Get to the Lab Find your sonde & take it to a work station. Work as a team to: • Replace KCl and membrane, take turns. • Turn on handpad. Batteries in? • Calibrate sonde. Complete cal sheet. • Run 2 blinds and temp probe test & complete and turn in paperwork.