Aquaread Aquaprobe AP-700 User manual

Instruction Manual
for the
Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800
Multiparameter Water Quality Probes
an associate
Aquameter®, Utilities & Accessories
Aquameter® Software Version 4.50 an Above
Document No. 10401-02005
Revision: A
Date: October 10, 2013
Aquarea ® Lt
Kent Innovation Centre
Thanet Reach Business Park
Millennium Way
Broadstairs
Kent
CT10 2QQ
NGLAND
Phone: [phone]
www.aquarea .com

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
PROPRIETARY NOTICE
The information disclosed within this document or separately supplied in furtherance of this document includes
proprietary rights of Aquaread® Ltd. Neither this document nor the information disclosed herein or of a
supplementary nature shall be reproduced or transferred to other documents or used for any other purposes,
except as specifically authorised in writing by Aquaread® Ltd. Copyright 013 Aquaread® Ltd. All rights
reserved.
SOFTWARE LICENCE AGREEMENT
By using the Aquameter , its associated probes and PC based software (AquaLink),
you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the following software licence
agreement. Please read this agreement carefully.
Aquaread® Ltd grants you a limited license to use the software embedded in the devices (the “Software”) in
binary executable form in the normal operation of the products. Title, ownership rights and intellectual
property rights in and to the Software remain in Aquaread® Ltd.
You acknowledge that the Software is the property of Aquaread® Ltd and is protected under British
copyright laws and international copyright treaties. You further acknowledge that the structure, organisation
and code of the Software are valuable trade secrets of Aquaread® Ltd.
You agree not to decompile, dissemble, modify, reverse assemble, reverse engineer or reduce to human
readable form the Software or any part thereof or create any derivative works based on the Software.
RECYCLING
Any product bearing this symbol must be handed over to an applicable collection point for the
recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. By ensuring this product is disposed of properly,
you will prevent possible adverse consequences for the environment which could be caused by
inappropriate waste handling.
Note: For return for recycling, please contact Aquaread® Ltd for instructions on how to return end-of-life
equipment, accessories, and all auxiliary items for proper disposal.
WARNING
Favourable indications made by this equipment do not guarantee water is safe for human or
animal consumption. This equipment can not detect the presence of harmful bacteria or toxins. If in
doubt, ALWAYS TREAT SUSPECT WATER PRIOR TO CONSUMPTION.
Limitations of Liability
Aquaread® Ltd and its affiliates specifically disclaim liability for any and all direct, indirect, special,
general, incidental, consequential, punitive or exemplary damages including, but not limited to, loss
of profits or revenue or anticipated profits or revenue or expenses incurred arising out of the use or
inability to use any Aquaread® product, miscalibration, loss of data or product failure, even if
Aquaread® Ltd and/or its affiliates has been advised of the possibility of such damages or they are
foreseeable or for claims by any third party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall
Aquaread® Ltd and/or its affiliates aggregate liability arising under or in connection with Aquaread®
products, regardless of the number of events, occurrences, or claims giving rise to liability, be in
excess of the price paid by the purchaser for the Aquaread® product.
TRADEMARKS
Aquaread , AquaPlus™, Aquameter , Aquaprobe , AquaLink™ and RapidCal™
are all trademarks of Aquaread® Ltd.
Microsoft®, Windows® and Excel® are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
GOOGLE™ is a trademark of Google, Inc. StablCal® is a trademark of the HACH company
Aquaread Ltd has no affiliation with Microsoft Corporation, Google, Inc. or HACH
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 2 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................................6
2. WHAT’S IN THE BOX?.................................................................................................................................................6
2.1. THE AQUAMETER® AND THE ENVIRONMENT......................................................................................................................6
2.2. THE AQUAPROBE® AND THE ENVIRONMENT.......................................................................................................................6
2.3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBE SLEEVE ..........................................................................................................6
2.4. ABOUT THE LANYARD.....................................................................................................................................................7
3. BATTERY INSTALLATION AND CARE...................................................................................................................8
3.1. CHOICE OF BATTERY TYPE..............................................................................................................................................8
3.2. BATTERY LIFE................................................................................................................................................................8
3.3. BATTERY CHARGING ......................................................................................................................................................8
3.4. BATTERY CONDITION ICON ..............................................................................................................................................8
3. . BATTERY SAVER FUNCTIONS............................................................................................................................................8
4. OVERVIEW OF THE OPERATING SYSTE ...........................................................................................................9
4.1. INITIAL SWITCH ON, LANGUAGE AND CLOCK SETUP ...........................................................................................................9
5. CONNECTING THE AQUAPROBE®.......................................................................................................................10
.1. NOTES CONCERNING THE AQUAPROBE® CABLE ...............................................................................................................10
6. TAKING EASURE ENTS ....................................................................................................................................10
6.1. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?.........................................................................................................................................11
6.2. TREND INDICATION.......................................................................................................................................................12
6.3. GLOBAL STABILITY INDICATION ......................................................................................................................................12
6.4. TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION.......................................................................................................................................12
6. . GPS RECEPTION..........................................................................................................................................................13
7. E ORY ODE ........................................................................................................................................................14
7.1. MANUALLY SAVING READINGS.......................................................................................................................................14
7.2. RECALLING AND VIEWING SAVED READINGS....................................................................................................................14
7.3. RECALLING GLP DATA................................................................................................................................................14
7.4. CLEARING THE MEMORY................................................................................................................................................1
7. . AUTOMATIC DATA LOGGING ..........................................................................................................................................1
7.6. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MEMORY MODE...........................................................................................................16
8. SETUP & INSTALL......................................................................................................................................................17
8.1. SETTING UNITS OF MEASUREMENT..................................................................................................................................17
9. RAPIDCAL CALIBRATION ETHOD....................................................................................................................19
9.1. ABOUT CALIBRATION....................................................................................................................................................19
9.2. USING RAPIDCAL.........................................................................................................................................................19
To Calibrate the 100% Saturation Point in Damp Air..............................................................................................20
9.3. CALIBRATION ERROR MESSAGES.....................................................................................................................................21
9.4. RESETTING TO FACTORY CALIBRATION DEFAULTS.............................................................................................................22
9. . CALIBRATION DATA STORAGE........................................................................................................................................22
9.6. CALIBRATION REPORTS..................................................................................................................................................22
10. AFTER USE..................................................................................................................................................................23
10.1. GENERAL PROBE MAINTENANCE...................................................................................................................................23
11. PH/ORP ELECTRODE CALIBRATION AND AINTENANCE........................................................................24
11.1. RECOGNISING THE PH/ORP ELECTRODE........................................................................................................................24
11.2. ELECTRODE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT.....................................................................................................................24
11.3. KEEPING THE ELECTRODES MOIST.................................................................................................................................24
11.4. CALIBRATING PH........................................................................................................................................................24
11.4.1. Calibrating the First Point (pH .00)............................................................................................................25
11.4.2. Calibrating the Second Point.........................................................................................................................26
11.4.3. Calibrating the Third Point............................................................................................................................26
11. . ERRORS DURING CALIBRATION.....................................................................................................................................27
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 3 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
11.6. PH ELECTRODE EFFICIENCY.........................................................................................................................................27
11.7. SERVICING THE PH ELECTRODE.....................................................................................................................................27
11.8. CALIBRATING ORP.....................................................................................................................................................27
11.9. CONVERTING ORP READINGS TO THE HYDROGEN SCALE................................................................................................29
12. DO ELECTRODE CALIBRATION AND AINTENANCE.................................................................................30
12.1. RECOGNISING THE DO SENSOR....................................................................................................................................30
12.2. PRECAUTIONS DURING USE..........................................................................................................................................30
12.3. CALIBRATING THE DO ELECTRODE...............................................................................................................................30
12.3.1. Calibrating the DO Zero Point......................................................................................................................30
12.3.2. Calibrating the DO 100% Saturation Point in Moist Air..............................................................................31
12.4. REPLACING A GALVANIC DO ELECTRODE MEMBRANE CAP.............................................................................................32
13. EC ELECTRODE CALIBRATION AND AINTENANCE.................................................................................33
13.1. RECOGNISING THE EC SENSOR.....................................................................................................................................33
13.2. CALIBRATING EC ......................................................................................................................................................33
13.3. VERIFYING EC CALIBRATION.......................................................................................................................................3
13.4. ERRORS DURING CALIBRATION.....................................................................................................................................36
13. . CLEANING THE EC CONTACTS......................................................................................................................................36
14. TURBIDITY ELECTRODE CALIBRATION AND AINTENANCE (AP-800 ONLY)...................................37
14.1. ABOUT THE TURBIDITY ELECTRODE...............................................................................................................................37
14.2. TOP TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL TURBIDITY MEASUREMENT....................................................................................................38
14.3. ABOUT TURBIDITY......................................................................................................................................................38
14.4. PRECAUTIONS DURING USE..........................................................................................................................................38
14. . CALIBRATING THE TURBIDITY ELECTRODE......................................................................................................................39
14.5.1. Turbidity Zero Point Calibration...................................................................................................................39
14.5.2. Calibrating the Turbidity 1000 NTU Point....................................................................................................40
14.6. ERRORS DURING CALIBRATION.....................................................................................................................................41
14.7. LENS AND SLEEVE MAINTENANCE................................................................................................................................41
14.8. REFERENCES...............................................................................................................................................................41
15. AQUALINK PC SOFTWARE....................................................................................................................................42
1 .1. SOFTWARE INSTALLATION............................................................................................................................................42
1 .2. DRIVER INSTALLATION.................................................................................................................................................42
1 .3. RUNNING AQUALINK..................................................................................................................................................42
1 .4. UPLOADING DATA FROM YOUR AQUAMETER®..............................................................................................................43
1 . . DISPLAYING GPS CO-ORDINATES.................................................................................................................................43
1 .6. ON SCREEN HELP.......................................................................................................................................................44
1 .7. SAVING LOGGED DATA...............................................................................................................................................44
1 .8. RETRIEVING LOGGED DATA ........................................................................................................................................44
1 .9. EXPORTING DATA.......................................................................................................................................................44
1 .10. EXPORTING TEXT REPORTS.......................................................................................................................................44
1 .11. TYPICAL TEXT REPORT COVER PAGE..........................................................................................................................46
1 .12. EXPORTING EXCEL® FILES.......................................................................................................................................47
1 .13. EXPORTING GOOGLE™ FILES.....................................................................................................................................47
1 .14. IMPORTING FILES INTO GOOGLE™ MAPS .....................................................................................................................47
1 .1 . IMPORTING FILES INTO GOOGLE™ EARTH ...................................................................................................................47
1 .16. GOOGLE™ EXAMPLES...............................................................................................................................................49
16. LI ITED WARRANTY.............................................................................................................................................50
16.1. CLEANING PRIOR TO RETURN...................................................................................................................................... 0
16.2. DECONTAMINATION CERTIFICATE.................................................................................................................................. 1
17. TROUBLESHOOTING...............................................................................................................................................52
18. DECLARATION OF CONFOR ITY......................................................................................................................53
19. APPENDIX 1. FLOW THROUGH CELL................................................................................................................54
19.1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................................ 4
19.2. SPIGOT INSTALLATION................................................................................................................................................. 4
19.3. AQUAPROBE® INSTALLATION....................................................................................................................................... 4
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 4 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
19.4. OPERATION................................................................................................................................................................ 4
19. . CAUTION...................................................................................................................................................................
19.6. CLEANING..................................................................................................................................................................
19.7. FLOWCELL TROUBLESHOOTING......................................................................................................................................
20. APPENDIX 2. ELECTRODES DETAILED SPECIFICATION ...........................................................................56
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 5 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
1. Introduction
This manual covers the setup, operation, calibration and maintenance of the Aquaprobe®
AP-700 & AP-800, the Aquameter® V4.50+ Meter, the AquaLink V4.00+ PC software and
associated Aquaprobe® accessories.
2. What’s in the Box?
The Aquameter® is supplied with the following:
The Aquameter® unit.
Quick release lanyard.
Set of 5 AA Alkaline batteries.
USB Cable for downloading logged data to a PC.
Cross-head screwdriver for fitting the batteries and Probe maintenance.
Getting started card for quick reference.
CD containing AquaLink software and USB drivers.
The Aquaprobe® is supplied with the following:
Protective Sleeve End Cap
Calibration bottle filled with RapidCal Solution.
Spare calibration / rinse bottle.
Getting started card for quick reference.
Spare Galvanic DO Cap
5mL bottle of DO filling solution
5mL bottle of pH storage solution
2.1. The Aquameter and the Environment
The Aquameter® is designed to be used outdoors and is rated to IP67, that is to say it is
waterproof but it is not designed for submersion. In order to prevent accidental dunking or
loss, a lanyard is supplied.
Please note that the socket on the Aquameter is only waterproof when the
associated plug is fitted. Without the plug fitted, water can enter the socket. Damage
caused by water ingress through the socket is not covered by your warranty.
You may notice a small hole on the rear of the unit near the top. This is a waterproof vent
for the internal barometric sensor. Do not poke anything in this hole! Doing so will cause
major damage to the vent’s waterproof membrane and invalidate your warranty.
2.2. The Aquaprobe and the Environment
The Aquaprobe® is designed to be fully submerged in water and is rated to IP68, that is to
say, it is rated for continual immersion to a depth of 10 meters, and short term immersion to
50 meters.
2.3. Important Information about the Probe Sleeve
The Aquaprobe® is constructed with an aluminium sleeve surrounding the delicate sensing
electrodes. The Sleeve can be easily removed by unscrewing to allow cleaning of the
individual electrodes, however, the Probe sleeve forms an integral, working part of the
Probe’s EC and Turbidity measurement system, and MUST be fitted for correct
operation.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 6 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
2.4. About the Lanyard
The lanyard supplied with the Aquameter® may, at first, appear to be a little long. This is
intentional. In order to keep the Meter out of the way whilst your hands are full, the lanyard
has been made long enough to wear round your neck and over your shoulder so the Meter
sits on your hip.
The extra length also allows the meter to be held in a comfortable position in front of you
during normal use. In order to prevent you being dragged into the water in the event of the
Probe cable becoming snagged, the lanyard includes a quick-release clip.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 7 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
3. Battery Installation and Care
The Aquameter® requires five AA size batteries. To install the batteries, loosen the two
screws on the centreline of the rear of the meter and remove the battery compartment lid.
Following the battery polarity markings inside the battery compartment, insert five AA cells
then replace the compartment lid and tighten the screws.
3.1. Choice of Battery Type
Alkaline or rechargeable batteries may be used, but never mix battery types in the meter. If
you choose to use rechargeable batteries, we recommend nergizer 500mAh (or greater)
Nickel-Metal Hydride cells, which are widely available.
If the Meter is to be out of use for a long period, remove the batteries to prevent damage
due to possible leakage.
3.2. Battery Life
A set of fresh alkaline cells will give over 0 hours use in the AM- 00 GPS Aquameter® and
up to 40 hours use in the AM-100 Aquameter®. A fully charged set of 500mAh NiMH cells
will give up to 40 hours use in the AM- 00 GPS Aquameter® and up to 60 hours use in the
AM-100 Aquameter®.
3.3. Battery Charging
During the charging process, batteries generate heat and vent gasses, and must never be
charged inside a sealed unit. Because the Aquameter® is a sealed unit, we do not allow
charging in-situ. Batteries must be removed and charged with a suitable battery charger
outside the Meter. We recommend the use of one of the nergizer range of NiMH chargers.
3.4. Battery Condition Icon
On all the main Aquameter® screens, a battery condition icon is displayed in the top left
corner. The icon shows full when the batteries are fresh, and gradually empties as the
batteries are used. When the batteries need replacing, the empty battery icon will flash on
and off. If you ignore this, the Meter will automatically switch itself off when the battery
voltage becomes too low for reliable operation.
When using rechargeable batteries, the battery icon will not show completely full, even with
freshly charged cells. This is due to the fact that rechargeable batteries are only rated at
1. V per cell compared to 1.5V per cell for alkaline batteries. This indication does not affect
battery life. The icon will simply sit at the ¾ full mark for a longer period of time.
3.5. Battery Saver Functions
The Aquameter® is designed to switch off automatically if you do not touch any of the keys
for 30 minutes. The only exception to this is if you have activated the Automatic Data
Logging feature. In this case, the Meter will continue to operate until either the memory is
full or the batteries go flat.
The display on the Aquameter® incorporates a white backlight to improve visibility in low-
light conditions. As on a mobile phone, the backlight switches on each time a key is
pressed, and stays on at full brightness for 15 seconds. After 15 seconds, the backlight will
fade to half brightness. After a further 15 seconds the backlight will switch off.
During normal operation, if you want to activate the backlight without changing the Meter
function, simply press the ESC or OK key.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 8 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
4. Overview of the Operating System
The operating software in the Aquameter® has been designed for simple, intuitive use.
Similarly, a great deal of development work has been put into simplifying and automating
the calibration procedures in the Aquameter® in order to allow normal field operatives (as
opposed to trained lab technicians) to achieve quick and accurate results.
If you are used to operating a mobile phone or programming audio/visual equipment using
a remote control, you should feel at home with the familiar up/down left/right arrow shaped
navigation keys and central OK key.
The tree structure behind the MENU key should also be very familiar. Each item on the
menu leads to a sub menu and then either onto further menus or final choices. Each
branch of the menu system is navigated using the arrow keys. At each point, selections can
be made by either pressing the OK key or the right arrow key.
To reverse along a branch of the menu system, use the ESC (escape) key or left arrow
key. After a short time, you should be able to navigate around the entire menu system at
speed using just the four arrow keys. If, at any time, you leave the Meter in one of the sub-
menu screens, it will automatically back out to the main operating screen after 15 seconds.
4.1. Initial Switch On, Language and Clock Setup
To switch the meter on or off, briefly press the red key. Do not hold it down. The meter
contains a clock and is capable of operating in several different languages. When switching
on for the first time, you must select an operating language and set the clock. The first
screen you will see is the Language Selection Screen.
 English
Francais
Deutsch
Espanol
To select a language, move the cursor down the list using the down arrow key. To enter
your selection, press the OK key or the right arrow key.
The next screen to be displayed is the Time & Date Setting Screen.
Time & Date
 Time:15:46:37
Date:15/Jun/13
To set the time and date, use the arrow keys to move the cursor around the screen. Use
the up and down arrow keys to adjust values. When the time and date are correct, press
the OK key. Don’t worry if you make a mistake first time round. You can easily get back to
these screens later through the MENU key.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 9 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
5. Connecting the Aquaprobe
The Aquaprobe® is designed to connect to the Aquameter® using the built in cable which
features a rugged metal connector.
Always ensure the Aquameter® is switched off prior to connecting or disconnecting an
Aquaprobe®. Align the ◄Aquaread logo on the plug body with the red on/off switch on the
Aquameter®, then press the plug into the socket and tighten the retaining collar.
DO NOT TWIST THE CONNECTOR BODY WITH RESPECT TO THE METER.
Once the Aquaprobe® is connected to the Aquameter®, switch the Meter on by briefly
pressing the red on/off switch. The Aquameter® should detect the Probe and automatically
start displaying readings.
5.1. Notes Concerning the Aquaprobe Cable
Whilst the cable fitted to the Aquaprobe® is reinforced with Kevlar® and is extremely tough,
excessive sharp bending and twisting where it enters the probe through the strain-relief
gland could result in damage to the outer sheath. Damage of this kind is not covered by
your warranty. You will be charged for cable repair or replacement.
6. Taking Measurements
The Aquaprobe® includes a pH/ORP electrode, which is kept moist by a storage cap.
Remove the storage cap by pulling the red lanyard marked ‘Remove Before Use / Replace
After Use’ straight down. Do not use a twisting motion to remove or replace the cap as
this can unscrew the electrode from the Probe body. Rinse any salty deposits from the
pH/ORP electrode with fresh water.
Fit the protective Sleeve End Cap into the end of the Probe sleeve. Switch the Aquameter®
on and immerse the Aquaprobe® in the sample water, making sure that the water level
covers the minimum immersion depth groove halfway up the Probe sleeve.
TIP: Occasional application of a smear of silicone grease or similar lubricant to the
protective Sleeve End Cap O ring and the inside rim of the Probe sleeve will make fitting
and removal of the Cap easier.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 10 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
If the Aquaprobe® is connected correctly, the meter will read the Probe’s serial number and
model number, then will automatically configure itself to display only those readings the
current Aquaprobe® is capable of taking. Initial Probe readings will be displayed on the
meter’s screen along with the current GPS status. The initial data screen for the GPS
Aquameter® in conjunction with the Aquaprobe® is shown below.
 TEM :018.5°C 
OR :+0415.2mV 
pH:06.48 
 G S:Acquiring 
Left/right arrows at the bottom corners of the screen indicate further data screens are
available. To access these screens, simply press either the left or right arrow keys. Any
value that is out of range or unavailable will be displayed as dashes. The other three
screens available with the standard AM- 00/AP-800 combination are shown below.
 DO:098.7% 
EC:6541µS/cm 
TDS:3271mg/L 
 G S:3D os 
 SAL:03.57 SU 
SSG:01.3σt 
 TURB:05.1 NTU 
 G S:3D os 
 Lat:N51 °21.498
Long:E001°24.323
Alt:00050M 1013mb
 Sats in use:09 
6.1. What Does It All Mean?
The screens above show the full default range of readings for the AM- 00/AP-800
combination. If you are using an AP-700, the Turbidity value will be replaced by the
barometric pressure.
If an asterisk (*) character is flashing just below the battery symbol, this indicates that Auto
Data Logging is switched on. See Automatic Data Logging in section 7.
The table below explains the screen abbreviations.
Prefix Meaning Units
TEMP Probe Temperature °C or °F*
pH pH (Acidity/Alkalinity) pH or pHmV*
ORP Oxidation Reduction Potential mV
GPS GPS Status See section 6.5
DO Dissolved Oxygen %Sat or mg/L*
EC Electrical Conductivity µS/cm or mS/cm†
TDS Total Dissolved Solids mg/L or g/l†
SAL Salinity PSU or ppt*
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 11 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
SSG Sea Water Specific Gravity σt
BARO Barometric Pressure mb or mmHg*
Lat Latitude Degrees & Mins
Long Longitude Degrees & Mins
Alt Altitude above Sea Level Meters or Feet*
Items in the Units column marked with an asterisk (*) can be selected as alternative units of
measurement in the Settings Menu (see section 8 Setting Units of Measurement). Items in
the Units column marked with a dagger (†) are auto-ranging, i.e. when the values become
too large to display, the units of measurement automatically re-scale.
The EC field can be replaced by its reciprocal value, RES (Resistivity), if selected in the
Settings Menu. If selected, readings will be displayed in either Ω▪cm or KΩ▪cm, depending
on the value. See section 8 Setting Units of Measurement for more details.
6.2. Trend Indication
To the right of each reading, (except position and BARO), a trend indication is given. This
consists of either an upwards facing arrow (which indicates the numeric value of the
reading is rising), a downwards facing arrow (which indicates the numeric value of the
reading is falling) or a two-headed arrow, which indicates a stable reading. Readings are
judged to be stable when the variation over a ten second period drops below 1%.
6.3. Global Stability Indication
In addition to the individual trend indications, there is a global stability indication, which is
displayed when all readings are stable. This takes the form of a flashing double headed
arrow which is displayed at the start of the third line of the display.
When taking a set of readings, gently stir the Probe, or raise and lower it in the sample (if
there is no natural water flow) until the global stability icon appears. The initial display of the
global stability icon will be accompanied by a double beep. When this occurs, all values are
stable and ready for reading or saving.
6.4. Temperature Compensation
The electrochemical properties of all solutions change with the solution's temperature. In
addition, the response of electrochemical measuring electrodes change with temperature. It
is a fundamental, practical requirement in the field of water quality monitoring that test
measurements taken at different temperatures can be compared.
In order to facilitate this, the Aquaprobe® automatically applies corrections for temperature
wherever required.
During calibration of the EC electrode, the variation in the calibration buffer solution due to
temperature is automatically corrected for. During measurement of EC, the readings can be
displayed without any temperature correction, corrected to 0°C, or corrected to 5°C. See
section 8 Setting Units of Measurement for more details.
During calibration of the DO electrode, variations due to temperature and air pressure are
automatically compensated for. During the measurement of DO, temperature, air pressure
and salinity are automatically compensated for.
During calibration of the ORP electrode, the variation in the calibration buffer solution due
to temperature is automatically corrected for. During measurement of ORP however,
temperature corrections are not applied as the correction factors are system and chemical
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 12 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
dependent and are not easily determined.
ORP potential measurements are mostly made to follow reactions rather than for their own
sake. The completion of an ORP reaction is normally accompanied by a sharp change in
the ORP millivolts reading.
This change is usually much larger than the errors induced by temperature side effects.
During calibration of the pH electrode, the small variation in the calibration buffer solutions
due to temperature is not compensated for due to the differences in thermal coefficient
between various buffer manufacturers. For this reason, the three pH points should be
calibrated as close to the buffer manufacturer's specified temperature as possible (usually
0ºC or 5ºC) although a variation of up to +/-10ºC makes very little difference in reality.
During pH measurement, temperature variation is automatically compensated for.
6.5. GPS Reception
The GPS version of the Aquameter® (AM- 00) contains a built-in GPS receiver and
antenna. The antenna is situated at the top of the case, just behind the Aquaread ® Logo.
For optimum signal reception, the antenna must be able to ‘see’ a reasonably large amount
of the sky. The GPS receiver will not work indoors or when shielded from the sky by
any solid structure.
After switch-on, the GPS receiver will automatically start to search for satellites. During this
phase, the message GPS:Acquiring will be shown on the bottom line of all the screens. As
soon as three satellites are acquired, two dimensional position (no altitude) will be
calculated and the message GPS:2D POS will be shown on the bottom line of the screens.
Once a fourth satellite is acquired, altitude will be calculated and GPS:3D POS will be
shown on the bottom line of the screens. With a good view of the sky, position should be
calculated within ninety seconds of switch-on. To see your geographic position and the
number of satellites in use, use the left or right arrow keys to scroll to the Position page.
If you switch the meter on indoors, then carry it outside after several minutes, there may be
a considerable delay in acquiring satellites. In this case, switch the meter off, then back on
again to reset the acquisition process.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 13 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
7. Memory Mode
7.1. Manually Saving Readings
When you are happy that the readings are stable (see section 6.3: Global Stability
Indication), press the M+ key to snapshot the readings along with the time, date, GLP
(calibration) data and position (GPS models only).
As each reading is saved, a numeric memory location ‘Tag’ will be briefly displayed which
you can note down. This Tag can be used to identify readings at a later date, both on the
Aquameter® and when using AquaLink software.
7.2. Recalling and Viewing Saved Readings
To recall your readings, press the MR key. On entering Memory Recall mode, the most
recent Tag and set of readings are displayed first along with the date and time the readings
were taken shown on the bottom line of the screen.
M TEM :012.5°C M
OR :0415.2mV
pH:08.21
02/Apr/13 15:04:01
During Memory Recall, an ‘M’ is flashed in the top left and right corners of the screen
alternatively with an up/down arrow and a left/right arrow. This is to indicate that the Meter
is in Memory Recall mode and that other screens can be accessed using the arrow keys.
To see earlier readings, press the up arrow key. Just before each set of readings is
displayed, the Tag will be briefly displayed. To view all the parameters within one set of
readings, use the left/right arrow keys as described earlier. To exit Memory Recall mode,
press the ESC key. If no key is pressed for 30 seconds, Memory Recall mode will be
automatically cancelled.
7.3. Recalling GLP Data
Each time a set of readings is added to memory, the date of the last successful calibration
of each electrode is also appended. This is called GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) Data. In
addition to the date of the last successful EC calibration, the Calibration Standard value at
which the EC was calibrated is also displayed (see section 13: Calibrating EC for further
details).
To view the last successful calibration date for each electrode for any particular stored
reading, enter Memory Recall mode, scroll to the reading you are interested in using the
up/down keys, then press the MENU key. The screen below will be displayed.
GL DATA
>pH/OR
DO/EC
TURB
Using the up/down keys, select the electrode you are interested in, then press either the
OK key or the right arrow key. If, for instance, you selected pH/ORP, the screen below
would be displayed.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 14 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
pH7.00?[31/Jan/13]
pH4.01?[07/Feb/13]
pH10.0?[07/Feb/13]
OR ? [09/Feb/13]
This tells you that the last successful calibration, prior to the recorded reading being
taken, was January 31st for the pH 7.00 point, February 7th for the pH 4.01 * pH10.0 points
and February 9th for ORP. If the date field is dashed (==/===/==), this means the electrode
was either not fitted or had never been calibrated.
To exit this screen press the ESC key or the left arrow key.
7.4. Clearing the Memory
The memory within the Aquameter® is capable of storing over 1000 full sets of readings.
To clear the entire memory, switch the Meter off, hold down the M+ key, then switch the
Meter back on. A screen will be displayed asking you to confirm your request. Press OK to
clear the memory or ESC to cancel and return to normal operation.
7.5. Automatic Data Logging
If you want to save readings automatically on a regular basis, in order, say, to check water
quality at a certain location over a period of time, you can set the Meter to record readings
automatically.
To do this, press the MENU key. The Main Menu screen will be displayed. Please note, the
first item on the menu, 'Clean Probe', will only be active if an Aquaprobe® AP-7000 (which
has an automatic cleaning system) is connected.
 Clean robe
Auto Data Logging
Calibration
Setup & Install
Select Auto Data Logging by pressing the down arrow key then the right arrow key or the
OK key. The Auto Data Logging screen will be displayed.
Auto Data Logging
Interval:10 Mins
Status:OFF
Using the arrow keys to navigate, set the desired logging interval, then set the Status to
ON.
To leave this screen, reverse back to the Main Menu screen then the normal operation
screen by pressing the left arrow key. The Meter will now record a full set of data
automatically at the set rate until either the memory is full or the batteries go flat.
To remind you that Auto Data Logging is switched on, an asterisk (*) character will flash on
and off just below the battery symbol on all the main reading screens.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 15 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
You can cancel Auto Data Logging at any time by going back into the screen above and
setting the Status to OFF. Auto Data Logging will also be cancelled if you switch the Meter
off.
7.6. Important Information About Memory Mode
When data is saved in the Meter, it is compressed in raw Probe format. In other words, the
same way that it came up from the Probe. When you recall the data in Memory Recall
mode, the data is decompressed, then processed for display.
The advantage of this is that the readings will always appear in the current Meter
configuration. For example, if you spent a day taking readings with the Meter set to read
Dissolved Oxygen in %Saturation, then when you got back you really want to see
Dissolved Oxygen displayed in mg/L, you can do this by simply changing the Meter settings
(see section 8 Setting Units of Measurement).
The stored data can be displayed any way you want on recall. You are not limited to
viewing the data in the same way it was logged. This is a major advantage and allows you
to actually store and recall far more parameters than can be displayed at any one time.
The same rules apply when data is output to a PC running AquaLink Software via the USB
cable. The data that is output is always as per the Meter’s current configuration . You can
output the data as many times as you like in various Meter configurations.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 16 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
8. Setup & Install
To alter the way the Aquameter® displays readings, press the MENU key to get to the Main
Menu, then choose Setup & Install. The Settings Menu will be displayed. Please note, the
'Socket Assignment' option on this screen is for use with AP- 000 probes and above.
 Time & Date
Units
Language
Socket Assignment
8.1. Setting Units of Measurement
From this screen choose Units. The Units Menu will be displayed. Remember, you can use
just the arrow keys to navigate through the branches of the menus. You don’t need to press
OK or ESC at each level.
Units Menu
 DO/EC/TDS
TEM /pH/OR /SAL
BARO/Alt & Depth
At the Units Menu, you have a choice of which units you want to adjust. Choose the first
line if you want to adjust Dissolved Oxygen, Electrical Conductivity or TDS. Choose line if
you want to adjust Temperature, pH, ORP or Salinity. Finally, line 3 will give access to
Barometric Pressure, Altitude and Depth settings.
Moving the cursor right onto the first line will display the following screen.
Units
 DO:%SAT
EC:Ref 25°C
TDS Fact:0.65
On this screen you can adjust the DO: setting between %Sat and mg/L. This will set the
Meter to display Dissolved Oxygen as either % Saturation or in milligrams/Litre (which is
the same as parts per million). Both readings are automatically corrected for atmospheric
pressure, sample temperature and sample salinity.
The second option on this screen allows you to choose how the Meter displays Electrical
Conductivity. There are four options. EC can be displayed as ‘Absolute EC’ without any
temperature correction [ABS EC], as ‘Specific EC’ referenced to 0°C [Ref 0°C], as
‘Specific EC’ referenced to 5°C [Ref 5°C] or as a reciprocal of Absolute EC, which is
Absolute Resistivity [ABS RES].
Finally, this screen allows you to set the factor that the Meter uses to calculate Total
Dissolved Solids from Specific EC. This is the TDS Fact: (TDS = EC x TDS Fact) and can
be set anywhere between 0.00 and 1.00. Default value is 0.65.
Selecting the second line of the Units Menu will display the following screen.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 17 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
Units
 TEM :°C
pH:pH
SAL: SU
The first option on this screen allows you to change the temperature display between °C
and °F.
The second option allows you to change the pH display between plain pH and pHmV. Plain
pH displays normal, temperature compensated pH values in the range 0 - 14.
pHmV displays the actual voltage being generated by the pH electrode in +/- millivolts (mV)
over a range of +/- 6 5mV. This is not temperature compensated.
The last option on this screen allows you to choose between displaying salinity in Practical
Salinity Units (PSU), or parts per thousand (ppt), which is the same as grams per litre.
Selecting the third line of the Units Menu will display the following screen.
Units
 BARO:mb
ALT:Metres
The first line allows you to choose between displaying Barometric pressure in millibars (mb)
or in mm of mercury (mmHg).
The second line allows you to choose between displaying altitude in metres (M) or feet (F).
Altitude is displayed with respect to mean sea level.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 18 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
9. RapidCal Calibration Method
9.1. About Calibration
Calibration is a very important part of successful water quality measurement and should be
carried out regularly as detailed in each separate section of this manual. A great deal of
development work has been put into simplifying and automating the calibration procedures
in the Aquameter® in order to allow normal field operatives (as opposed to trained lab
technicians) to achieve quick and accurate results.
As a general rule, pH and EC should be calibrated as close to 5ºC as possible. Turbidity
electrodes should be calibrated as close to their deployment temperature as possible.
In order to standardise calibration techniques, Aquaread® provide plastic calibration bottles
into which the Aquaprobe® can be directly inserted. The Aquaprobe® is designed to be
calibrated in these calibration bottles with the Probe Sleeve fitted. If you are using an
AP-800, the Sleeve End Cap End Cap Plug must also be fitted.
The Probe Sleeve, Sleeve End Cap and End Cap Plug form an integral, working part
of the Probe’s measurement system, and MUST be fitted during calibration and
measurement for correct operation.
9.2. Using RapidCal
RapidCal is an easy way to calibrate the Aquaprobe® in the field using just one calibration
solution. RapidCal calibrates EC at 570µS/cm, the pH7.00 point and the Turbidity
Electrode Zero point (AP-800 only) simultaneously. Ideally, this procedure should be
carried out at the beginning of each day the Probe is to be used. To use RapidCal:
1. Remove the lid from a fresh bottle of RapidCal solution, remove the storage cap
from the pH electrode if fitted, wash the Probe in distilled water, then drop the Probe
in all the way. Bang the Probe against the bottom of the bottle several times in order
to remove any air bubbles that may be clinging to the electrodes.
. When the Probe is inserted, ensure the level of the solution is
right up to the neck of the bottle. If the level is low, the EC
electrodes will not be covered and EC will not calibrate
properly. If the level is low, top up with fresh RapidCal solution.
3. Switch the Aquameter® on and wait until all readings are
completely stable. The longer you can leave the probe to
achieve thermal equilibrium before proceeding, the better.
4. Ensure the temperature of the solution is between 5ºC and
40ºC (41ºF – 104ºF). The closer to 5ºC the better.
5. Press the MENU key then select Calibration. The following
screen will be displayed.
Calibration
 RapidCal
DO 100%
Full Cal
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 19 of 56

Aquaprobe® AP-700 & AP-800 Instruction Manual 10401-02005 Rev A
6. Select RapidCal. The screen will change to:
LEASE WAIT
Stabilising
000%
The Meter will wait until all readings are stable, then it will send the RapidCal command to
the Probe, where the calibration takes place. During calibration, the Calibrating screen is
displayed and the progress counter counts up. If the calibration is successful, the counter
will reach 100% and the following screen will be displayed.
Calibrating
100%
ress [OK]
When calibration is complete, press OK then ESC to return to normal reading mode.
Now the DO 100% saturation point should be calibrated in damp air.
To Calibrate the 100% Saturation Point in Damp Air
1. After calibrating with RapidCaL,
remove the Probe from the bottle,
wash in fresh water, then shake off
ensuring there are no droplets
adhering to the DO membrane.
. Moisten a clean cloth or piece of
tissue paper with fresh water and
wrap it around the open end of the
probe ensuring all the holes are
covered. Place the probe on a flat
surface. Do not hold the probe, the
heat from your hands will warm the
probe up and interfere with
calibration.
3. Wait until the temperature measurement is completely stable. This is very
important.
4. Referring back to the screen shown in item 5 above, select DO 100%.
5. Wait while the Aquameter® carries out the calibration procedure.
6. When the ‘Calibrating 100%’ screen (shown above) is displayed, press OK then
ESC repeatedly to return to normal reading mode.
© 2013 Aquaread® Ltd. www.aquaread.com Page 20 of 56