5 Costly Sonde Mistakes (…and how Training Can Help!)

WEBINAR © 2014 YSI, A XYLEM BRAND

December 4th, 2014

Webinar Agenda

5 Costly Mistakes with Sondes (…and how Training Can Help!)

5 Costly Mistakes: Overview • Calibration Errors• Incorrect Settings & Setup (Continuous Monitoring)• Hardware Issues• Improper Storage, Handling & Maintenance• Falling Behind Trends in Monitoring & Development

Training • YSI’s traditional training methods.• YSI’s Digital Solution: EXO-University.com

Questions & Answers

2

Presenters

3

Brandon Smith EXO Product Manager

Patrick Beatty Communications Specialist

Lyndsey McDermand Digital Marketing Coordinator

5 Costly Sonde Mistakes

4

Mistakes

Mistake #1 Calibration Errors

5

Calibration Errors

6

Mistake #1

Using Expired Standards

pH buffer 2 year shelf-life (unopened)

pH buffer 6 month life-span after being opened.

Labeled to avoid confusion.

Calibration Errors

7

Mistake #1

Using Expired Standards

Common Expiration Dates [PDF] Click to Download

pH4 pH7 pH10

One expired standard can ruin

a multi-point calibration!

Calibration Errors

8

Mistake #1

Unclean Equipment

Dirty equipment can contaminate a turbidity calibration.

Is this really a 0 NTU standard? Maybe not!

Calibration Errors

9

Mistake #1

Unclean Equipment

Thoroughly clean all of your equipment before you calibrate.

Having a second set of clean sensor guards or calibration cups for lab use only can reduce contamination.

Calibration Errors

10

Mistake #1

Taking Shortcuts

Our manuals recommend rinsing 2-3 times prior to calibration.

You gotta’, “Shake, shake, shake.”

Calibration Errors

11

Mistake #1

Taking Shortcuts

Calibration 1 Turbidity

1010 NTU Standard

Calibration 2 pH

4, 7, 10 pH Buffers

Between calibrations, rinse the cal cup with your first pH buffer 2-3 times.

Calibration Errors

12

Mistake #1

Taking Shortcuts

Conductivity / Temperature

Conductivity Standard

Freshwater Brackish water Seawater < 1000 μS

1000 μS 10,000 μS 50,000 μS 1000 μS

Calibration Errors

13

Mistake #1

Taking Shortcuts

Turbidity

0 NTU

pH

pH 4 pH 7 pH 10 126 NTU 1010 NTU

Calibration Summary

14

Don’t use expired standards.

Read standard labels carefully and also reference the look-up tables that may be on that label.

Make sure to clean your equipment thoroughly before calibrating.

Avoid taking shortcuts in calibration like skimping on rinsing.

Mistake #2 Incorrect Setup

(Continuous Monitoring)

15

Incorrect Settings & Setup

16

Mistake #2

Incorrect Deployment Settings

“Report Menu” of ECOWATCH Lite, 6-Series Sondes (RS232)

“Deploy Menu” of KOR, EXO Sondes (SDI-12)

Incorrect Settings & Setup

17

Mistake #2

Incorrect Deployment Settings

Signal Output Adapter for Data Collection Platforms

To Data Logger

To Sonde

Incorrect Settings & Setup

18

Mistake #2

Incorrect Deployment Settings

Setup must be mirrored on both instruments, or data will not be collected!

Data Logger 1) Temp 2) Cond 3) pH 4) ORP 5) Voltage

Sonde 1) Temp 2) Cond 3) pH 4) ORP 5) Voltage

Incorrect Settings & Setup

19

Mistake #2

Sample and Hold

For 6-Series Advanced > Setup Menu

For EXO Deployment Setup > Advanced Tab

Redundant Logging Ensures a copy of your data is recorded to the sonde before it is sent to the data logger.

Incorrect Settings & Setup

20

Mistake #2

Rapid Sampling Intervals

Sampling too quickly will drain your batteries.

A 10 to 15 minute interval is better for long-term monitoring and works in 90% of applications.

This also allows your antifouling wipers to do their job and helps avoid data drift from bio-fouling.

Incorrect Settings & Setup

21

Mistake #2

Incorrect Start Time

Oops!

Custom Time:

Incorrect Settings & Setup

22

Mistake #2

Incorrect Start Time

Pre-deployment quality assurance test.

Deployed in field the next day after satisfactory results.

Settings & Setup Summary

23

If you’re setting up a sonde for long-term deployment, check that your sample interval and battery life are adequate

When connecting the sonde to a data logger, be sure to setup the RS232 / SDI-12 settings in the software, and make sure they match the data logger

Be careful when choosing a start time for a deployment, because one typo can lead to an incomplete data set

Mistake #3 Hardware Issues

24

Hardware Issues

25

Mistake #3

Lack of a Maintenance Schedule

5-Year Operational Lifespan*

*Longer in Less Extreme Use-Cases

Hardware Issues

26

Mistake #3

Check Battery Compartment,

Sensor, & Cable O-Rings

Lack of a Maintenance Schedule

Hardware Issues

27

Mistake #3

Lack of a Maintenance Schedule

Don’t use sharp tools when installing or removing with O-rings

Avoid laying O-rings down on a workbench or table

Don’t forget to lubricate O-rings

Hardware Issues

28

Mistake #3

No Spares Available

Hardware Issues

29

Mistake #3

No Spares Available

Try to keep a spare sonde for emergencies.

Hardware Issues

30

Mistake #3

Lack of Budgeting

Often times equipment is purchased with one time

grant funding.

Try to save 20% of funding for

maintenance.

Hardware Summary

31

Make sure your equipment is receiving regular preventative maintenance to extend its operational lifespan.

Be prepared with spare hardware (sonde, sensors, handhelds) ready to go in case of an emergency.

Maintaining equipment is equally or more important than buying it in the first place. Budget for spares, accessories, and consumables.

How Training Can Help

32

Traditional Training

33

Traditional Training

34

Mistakes are Costly

35

EXO–University.com

36

EXO University Feedback

37

“EXO University, while covering a more intricate list of topics than my other courses, was presented in a more logical, easy to follow manner. The informal approach taken with the presenters was very appreciated.”

“EXO University was easy to follow and captured my full attention. The videos were clear and the trainers knowledgeable.”

“EXO University was better equipped to handle changing work schedule as it was self passed, where as other training's were timed”

“I learned a lot more than I had with the 556 manual. I do Sampling & profiling on 5 small creeks for 2 townships as one of my duties as Park Manager. It was dropped in my lap when the volunteers cut out, so I'm self taught, this was great!”

“I enjoyed the course very much! Cannot wait to add this training to my skills and impress future employers ”

Mistake #4

Improper Handling & Storage

38

Improper Handling & Storage

39

Mistake #4

Improper pH Probe Storage

NO: DI Water NO: Stored Dry

Improper Handling & Storage

40

Mistake #4

Improper pH Probe Storage

Short Term Storage (a few weeks)

Long Term Storage

Place in a humid environment. A small amount of tap water in your calibration cup is fine.

Short Term Storage

Place pH probe back in the solution it was shipped with, or pH 4 buffer.

Improper Handling & Storage

41

Mistake #4

Storage with Batteries

Corrosion

Remove batteries from any equipment left unused longer than a month.

Handling & Storage Summary

42

Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE) based sensors should never be stored in DI water, or they will lose their potency as their internal reagents leech out.

Don’t allow pH sensors to go dry.

Always remove batteries from sondes for storage periods longer than a month to prevent potential acid leaks.

Even though sondes are tough by nature, don’t leave thousands of dollars of equipment up to chance.

Mistake #5

Falling Behind Monitoring Trends

43

Falling Behind Monitoring Trends

44

Mistake #5

Underestimating Capabilities

EXO fDOM Assessment [PDF] Click to Download

Falling Behind Monitoring Trends

45

Mistake #5

Check out Industry Publications

USGS Publication Warehouse: www.pubs.er.usgs.gov

EPA National Service Center For Environmental Publications

(NSCEP) www.epa.gov/nscep

Peer-Reviewed Publications to consider

Lake Line www.nalms.org

AWRA Water Recourses IMPACT

www.awra.org/impact

Monitoring Trends Summary

46

There are many moving targets with monitoring water quality and best practices are always evolving.

Keep up with the latest publications and monitoring applications.

Connect with YSI on our social media channels, or sign up on our blog.

Continue to educate yourself on new technologies and brush up on the capabilities of equipment that you already have.

Q&A facebook.com/myYSI

Twitter.com/YSIinc

Connect with us:

Pinterest.com/myysi

blog.ysi.com

Thank You!

WEBINAR © 2014 YSI, A XYLEM BRAND

Environmental@ysi.com

Patrick.Beatty@XylemInc.com

Brandon.Smith@XylemInc.com

facebook.com/myYSI

Twitter.com/YSIinc

Pinterest.com/myysi

blog.ysi.com

Connect with us: Email us: