Sample conductivity values
The following table provides the typical conductivity of common
aqueous solutions at a temperature of 25°C.
Solution
Conductivity (µS/cm)
Drinking water
50 to 1,000
Wastewater
900 to 9,000
KCl solution (0.01 M)
1,400
Potable water maximum 1,500
Brackish water
1,000 to 80,000
Industrial process water 3,000 to 140,000
Calibrating the sensor
The Wireless Conductivity Sensor is calibrated at the factory
and does not require initial calibration. However, the sensor can
be calibrated in SPARKvue or Capstone, using two standard
solutions of known conductivity. To calibrate the sensor, connect
it to SPARKvue or Capstone, then follow the steps below.
SPARKvue
1. From the Experiment Screen, click Show Hardware
Setup
, then select the Calibrate
icon under the
Conductivity Sensor to open the Calibrate Sensor menu.
2. For the new calibration settings, ensure that the sensor is
Wireless Conductivity Sensor, the measurement is
Conductivity (µS/cm), and the calibration type is 2 point
(Adjust Slope and Offset), then click Continue.
3. Insert the Conductivity Probe into a beaker containing your
first standard solution. Wait for the value of conductivity
recorded in the Sensor Value box under Calibration
Point 1 to stabilize.
4. Under Calibration Point 1, enter the known conductivity of
the first standard solution into the Standard Value box,
then click Set Calibration.
5. Remove the Conductivity Probe from the first beaker, rinse
with de-ionized water, then insert the probe into a beaker
containing the second standard solution. Wait for the value
of conductivity recorded in the Sensor Value box under
Calibration Point 2 to stabilize.
6. Under Calibration Point 2, enter the known conductivity of
the second standard solution into the Standard Value box,
then click Set Calibration.
7. Check New Calibration to ensure the resulting calibration
is appropriate, then click OK to finish.
PASCO Capstone
1. Select Calibration
from the Tools palette.
2. Ensure that Conductivity is selected in the dropdown box,
then click Next.
3. Ensure that Two Standards (2 point) is selected from the
list of calibration types, then click Next.
4. Insert the Conductivity Probe into a beaker containing your
first standard solution. Wait for the value of conductivity
recorded in the Current Value box to stabilize.
5. Enter the known conductivity of the first standard solution
into the Standard Value box, then click Set Current Value
to Standard Value.
6. Remove the Conductivity Probe from the first beaker, rinse
with de-ionized water, then insert the probe into a beaker
containing the second standard solution. Wait for the value
of conductivity recorded in the Current Value box to
stabilize.
7. Enter the known conductivity of the second standard
solution into the Standard Value box, then click Set
Current Value to Standard Value.
8. Review your new calibration to ensure it is appropriate,
then click Finish.
Battery usage
The Wireless Conductivity Sensor contains a three volt coin cell
battery (CR2032). Battery life is very important to making the
sensor simple and always ready to use. Therefore, like all
PASCO wireless products, the Wireless Conductivity Sensor is
designed for long battery life. For example, after several minutes
of inactivity, the sensor turns itself off to preserve the battery.
The included battery should provide more than one year of
battery life, but the actual amount depends on factors such as
the data collection sampling rate.
Sensor storage
If the sensor will be stored for several months, we recommended
that you remove the battery and store it separately to avoid
damaging the sensor in case of a battery leak.
Product Guide | 012-14997C
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