Manual revision 041
Section 4: Deploying and Operating MicroCAT
SBE 37-SM RS-232
51
Recovery
1.
Rinse the conductivity cell with fresh water. (See
Section 5: Routine
Maintenance and Calibration
for cell cleaning and storage.)
2.
Reinsert the protective plugs in the anti-foulant device cups.
3.
If the battery pack is exhausted, new cells must be installed before the
data can be extracted. Stored data will not be lost as a result of exhaustion
or removal of the battery pack. See
Section 5: Routine Maintenance and
Calibration
for replacement of cells.
4.
If immediate redeployment is not required, you can leave the MicroCAT
with battery pack in place and in a quiescent state (
QS
). Because the
quiescent current required is only 30 microAmps, the battery pack can be
left in place without significant loss of capacity (less than 6% loss per
year).
WARNING!
If the MicroCAT stops working while
underwater, is unresponsive to
commands, or shows other signs of
flooding or damage, carefully
secure it away from people until you
have determined that abnormal
internal pressure does not exist or
has been relieved.
Pressure housings
may flood under pressure due to dirty
or damaged o-rings, or other failed
seals. When a sealed pressure
housing floods at great depths and is
subsequently raised to the surface,
water may be trapped at the pressure
at which it entered the housing,
presenting a danger if the housing is
opened before relieving the internal
pressure. Instances of such flooding
are rare. However, a housing that
floods at 5000 meters depth holds
an internal pressure of more than
7000 psia, and has the potential to
eject the end cap with lethal force.
A housing that floods at 50 meters
holds an internal pressure of more
than 85 psia; this force could still
cause injury.
If you suspect the MicroCAT is
flooded, point it in a safe direction
away from people, and loosen the
bulkhead connector very slowly, at
least 1 turn. This opens an o-ring seal
under the connector. Look for signs of
internal pressure (hissing or water
leak). If internal pressure is detected,
let it bleed off slowly past the
connector o-ring. Then, you can safely
remove the end cap.
