Levelogger Maintenance - Solinst Levelogger Series User Manual

Levelogger Series User Guide

10.2 Levelogger Maintenance

Levelogger maintenance consists of inspecting and replacing o-rings, and cleaning the outside casing, the
circulation holes and the optical eye(s). The required frequency of cleaning is dependent on several aspects
of the monitored water quality. In freshwater with good to excellent water quality, the Levelogger cleaning
requirements will be very minimal; amounting to a seasonal or even annual maintenance inspection.
In most cases cleaning can be accomplished by rinsing the Levelogger and using mild, non-residual,
non-abrasive household cleaners using a very soft-plastic, bristled, pipe-cleaner type brush. Do not insert any
object through the circulation holes at the sensor end of the Levelogger.
Note: To clean the optical eye(s) on a Levelogger, use a clean, soft cloth or cotton swab to gently wipe away any
debris and dry the eye(s). Avoid soap or cleaners, as it may leave a residue. Compressed air may also be used to clear
away any debris.
In some cases simple cleaners are insufficient to properly clean the Levelogger. Several commonly occurring
water conditions require specific maintenance methods, these include hard water, high suspended solids
loading, biological or chemical fouling and salt or brackish water conditions.
Hard water monitoring can result in the precipitation of calcium and magnesium deposits on the pressure
transducer as well as other components of the Levelogger. These deposits can be safely dissolved using a
diluted solution (typically ≤ 10% strength) of acetic or phosphoric acid. Commercially available products for
dissolving hard water scaling are also available and can be used if designed for household use. Some industrial
strength hard water scaling removers are much higher strength and are not recommended for cleaning the
Levelogger.
High suspended solids load may block the circulation ports or clog the internal pressure cell of the Levelogger.
The potential clogging effect of solids deposition can be minimized by placing the Levelogger in zones of
flow. To remove solids build up, rinse the Levelogger under a low flow of tap water until particles have been
washed away.
Bacteriological or chemical fouling can be an important consideration in many groundwater and surface
water monitoring projects. Sessile bacteria will often utilize installed instrumentation as an attachment
substrate. Chemical deposit can be the result of electrical charge differential between the instrumentation of
the monitored liquid or the result of biological or algal activity. Both forms of fouling can result in difficult to
remove deposits on the Levelogger transducer, the conductivity wires and the Levelogger casing. To remove
fouling use a diluted (≤ 10%) solution of sulfuric acid. Persistent material may require soaking for several
hours.
Note: The Levelogger installation cap should be left on when you are soaking a Levelogger.
Cleaning LTC Levelogger sensor pins is recommended before calibrating the unit prior to starting a project.
The pins of the LTC Levelogger sensor are platinum-coated, therefore they should not be roughly cleaned or
touched with any metal. They can be cleaned with a soft bristle brush, Q-tip, or cloth. Almost any acid solution
can be selected to clean the sensor, provided it is highly diluted (generally less than 10% acid). The "soaking"
time should be monitored and kept to a minimum.
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