Cleaning & Preventive Maintenance
One of the smartest ways to reduce the cost of data is to take good care of the equipment you have already purchased. Preventive maintenance is an essential activity to make the most of your investment.
Whether it is re-applying anti-fouling paints to a mounting pipe or cleaning a sonde or buoy, a well-developed maintenance schedule will fit your platform and environment.
Monitoring Cycle QuickLinks
Periodically clean and inspect the connectors on both the field cable and the sonde. A little maintenance here will go a long way in extending the life of your equipment.
Are you using a zinc anode to prevent connector corrosion in salt water? Learn more about this and other tips by downloading the presentation below.
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Download the Cable Connector Maintenance presentation: |
Membranes on probes may also require maintenance. Some maintenance can be handled by you, reducing your external repair costs and downtime.
For example, you can replace the membranes on YSI dissolved oxygen probes in a few steps.
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Download the ROX DO Membrane Replacement presentation: |
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Download the Rapid Pulse Clark-type DO Membrane Replacement presentation: |
Additionally, you can work with YSI's Technical Support and Repair Teams to troubleshoot any maintenance issues you may have with your equipment.
environmental@ysi.com
800-897-4151
Once the-post deployment calibration check is completed, the sonde body and probes should be completely cleaned.
- Remove the sonde guard.
- Use dish detergent and soft paintbrush to remove debris from the sensors.
- Any fouling, such as barnacles in the conductivity cell, that may have affected the data, should be photographed and recorded . It is important to understand your data so you can determine if data are compromised and if you can salvage parts of the record.
- Do not remove sensors unless necessary. If removing a sensor from the sonde, cap over the sonde port immediately to keep water out. Also, cap the connection end of the probe.
- Keep sonde horizontal to reduce chance of getting water in the ports.
- Clean conductivity chamber with water and insert small brush several times into the sides of the cavity. Rinse with water.
- Clean depth sensor by filling 10 ml syringe with tap water and inserting the tip into the depth port. Flush. Repeat 3 times or until rinse water is clear.
- If pH probe has exposed glass bubble, you can use dental floss or soft toothbrush to gently clean crevice.
- Remove brushes from optic probes.
- Use a fine-bristled paintbrush to clean probe faces and a plastic scrubber or brush to remove accumulated debris. Rinse well with tap water.
Other tips to clean your sonde or sensors:
- If you remove probes from sonde to paint, clean, or to put on a new DO membrane, use a probe holder. Make a probe holder from a piece of 2x4 wood. Drill 0.5-inch holes for non-optical probes and 1-inch holes for optical probes.
- When replacing sensors, optical probe nuts must be tightened securely. Finger tighten first, then use YSI tool to snug, then 1/8 - 1/4 turn more. Other probes should be snug-tightened only, as they are friction fit and will not be more waterproof if tighter.
Check out the Cleaning & Preventive Maintenance section of the True Cost of Data User Forum for additional suggestions.
