RBR RBRsolo Installation guide

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RBRsolo and RBRduet operation and maintenance
This section of the manual covers the basic operation of the RBRsolo and RBRduet data
logger: changing the battery, inspecting and replacing O-rings, inserting desiccant, etc.
Please see the Ruskin RBRsolo and RBRduet manual for instructions relating to logger
programming and data retrieval.
Opening and closing the logger
To open an RBRsolo/duet logger, unscrew the sensor end counter-clockwise while holding
on to the yellow housing. Once fully unscrewed, the housing can be carefully slid away from
the sensor end cap, revealing the sensor carriage.
The sensor carriage contains the battery compartment; desiccant holder and USB port (Figs. 1
and 2).
Fig. 1 RBRsolo/duet sensor carriage and housing
Fig. 2 RBRsolo/duet sensor carriage, reverse side

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Closing the logger is exactly the reverse of opening it. Remember to keep the O-rings clean and
avoid scratching the O-ring mating surfaces. Carefully inspect the O-rings, as described in
“Inspecting the O-rings” section (p.6), before deploying the logger. Do not use excessive force
when tightening the end sensor end; hand-tight is quite sufficient, as the seal depends upon the O-
rings, not the end cap tightness.
Changing the batteries
RBRsolo/duet data loggers are powered by one (1) AA size 3.6V lithium thionyl chloride
cell.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The logger will not operate with alkaline or zinc-chloride 1.5V AA
batteries, you must use 3.6V lithium thionyl chloride cells. The instrument will also not
operate with rechargeable batteries.
RBR recommends using Tadiran brand batteries only (part# TL-5903 or TL-4903) in your
RBRsolo/duet. Generally, lithium thionyl chloride cells sensitive to orientation, and if the
logger is placed with the positive end facing downward (logger pointing up), it will suffer
from decreased capacity and reduced battery life. Tadiran cells are minimally sensitive to
this orientation effect.
To remove the battery, use either your finger or a blunt tool to push the battery from its
holder using the keyhole opening (Fig. 3) on the back of the carriage.
Fig. 3 Keyhole opening for battery removal
To insert the battery, press the battery into the battery holder, ensuring it is correctly oriented
with the negative terminal placed towards the electronics (Fig. 4 and 5). The label in the
logger indicates proper battery placement.
Fig. 4 RBRsolo/duet battery holder with battery

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Fig. 5 Battery orientation label
Communicating with the logger
To establish communication between the RBRsolo/duet and a computer, open the instrument
and remove the housing. There is a micro-USB connector located on the opposite side of the
circuit board (Fig. 6). The supplied interface cable is plugged into this connector.
Fig. 6 Micro-USB connector location

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LED Behaviour
Your RBRsolo/duet has a red LED located next to the USB connector. The LED will flash in
various patterns depending on the state of the instrument, as follows:
Action LED Response
Connect download cable Lights for one second
Disconnect download cable from programmed
logger (either logging or pending) Blinks slowly for 6 seconds
Click Enable button and confirm memory erase Blinks rapidly for 6 seconds
Installing desiccant
The RBRsolo/duet has a dedicated location for placement of desiccant in the sensor carriage,
which will accommodate one (1) Dricap desiccant capsule (part # 02-01207AG35).
Insert a fresh desiccant capsule into the desiccant holder, ensuring that it is securely placed.
To remove the desiccant, there is a small keyhole opening in the back of the carriage. Simply
use your finger or a blunt instrument to push the desiccant from the holder (Fig. 3).
Deployment
Once you have ensured that the batteries are fresh, inspected the O-rings and programmed the
logger, the instrument is ready to be deployed. There are three precautions you should take
to avoid damaging the logger:
1. Heed the maximum pressure rating of 1700m. This is indicated by the label which is
placed on the logger’s sensor end cap.
2. Avoid physical stress to the logger. Any type of clamp or bracket which concentrates the
stress to the logger body is not recommended for use in logger mooring, mounting, and/or
other deployment. Stress due to improper mounting may cause the logger to leak,
resulting in the loss of valuable data or permanent damage to the electronics. RBR can
provide proper mooring and mounting clamps suited to your specific application.
3. Use desiccant. If the logger is closed up in a warmer environment than the deployment
environment, internal condensation can result. Since condensation may cause the
circuitry to malfunction, the installation of fresh desiccant prior to deployment is
mandatory.
4. Orientation on a mooring. Due to battery capacity potentially being sensitive to cell
orientation, it is best to mount the logger with the sensor end facing down when
deployed. Even if batteries that are minimally sensitive to cell orientation are used (e.g.
Tadiran), it is always good practice to mount the loggers in this manner in the event that
any brand of battery is employed.

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Maintenance and repairs
Support kits
To simplify maintenance of your data logger, RBR supplies support kits with sufficient O-
rings, desiccant and silicone grease for 5 deployments. Please contact RBR for more
information or to place an order [email protected].
O-rings
The single most important item of maintenance on any RBR submersible data logger is care
of the O-rings. Any kind of water leak can damage the circuitry beyond repair and cause
complete data loss. Every logger’s seal depends upon its O-rings, not the end cap tightness.
Proper O-ring maintenance, therefore, is crucial. The RBRsolo/duet uses two O-rings. One
is the main O-ring and the other is the backup O-ring. Both O-rings are required to ensure
that the logger does not become flooded. The correct placement and orientation of the two
O-rings is critical to maintaining depth rating integrity.
The backup O-ring is flat on one side, and grooved on the other. When installing, the
grooved side must be located towards the main O-ring (Fig. 7).
Main O-ring
Backup O-ring
Main O-ring
Backup O-ring

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Battery end Thermistor end
Fig. 7 Backup O-ring orientation
Before you remove the O-rings from the RBRsolo/duet, make your self familiar with their
orientation and location. Inspect the new O-rings provided in the loggers support kit – there
are two types. The back-up O-ring is a flat O-ring with a concave channel on one side. The
main O-ring is round.
Inspecting O-rings
Give particular attention to the following areas:
•The surface of the O-ring itself
•The mating surface on the inside of the case between the threads and the open end
•The inner surfaces of the groove in the end cap where the O-ring sits
Any dirt present should be removed by wiping thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth. When
cleaning, never use any material or tool which could scratch the O-ring or any of its mating
surfaces. If any dirt is present in the O-ring groove, then the O-ring should be removed as
described below to allow thorough cleaning of the groove. If an O-ring needs to be removed
for any reason, it should be replaced.
If the O-ring is scratched, cut, distorted, perished or defective in any other way it must be
replaced. If any of the surfaces of the O-ring groove are scratched, pitted or otherwise damaged,
the logger may need to be returned to RBR for refurbishment: please contact us for advice
[email protected].
Replacing an O-ring
1. Lever the O-ring from its groove. Use a soft plastic or wood tool; do not use a metal
screwdriver or any other tool which may scratch the surfaces of the O-ring groove: doing
so will probably render the end cap useless. Slide the O-ring out of its groove and off the
logger. The O-ring may need to stretch quite a bit as it is pushed off; this requires some
effort but can be done by hand.
Main
O-ring
Backup
O-ring
O-ring
Groove

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2. Thoroughly clean the O-ring groove, taking great care not to scratch or damage it in any
way. Inspect it carefully, and contact us for advice if it appears damaged. Apply a light
film of silicone grease (part #10-568) to all three inside surfaces of the groove, being
careful not to trap any dirt, hairs or lint.
3. Select the proper O-ring and make sure it is not damaged. Lubricate it with a very light
film of silicone grease to ease its installation. The correct order and orientation is as
follows (assuming the o-rings have been removed): Install the main o-ring first by sliding
it over the electronics housing (it is too small to fit over the sensor cap). Install the back
up o-ring making sure that the concave part faces toward the sensor end and will mate
with the main o-ring. The flat part of the backup o-ring must mate flat with the o-ring
backing wall. Make sure there are no twists in either o-ring.
4. When the new O-ring is in place, inspect it once more for scratches and dirt, and wipe
away any silicone grease deposited on the end cap.
Many experienced users of oceanographic equipment replace all O-rings before every
deployment as a matter of routine. The cost of an O-ring is negligible compared with the cost
of the instrument and its deployment. Routine replacement of O-rings, therefore, is cheap
insurance.
Repairs
We support all instruments and software that we manufacture. First line support is always
available by phone, fax or e-mail. Please contact us immediately if you are experiencing
problems with your RBR product. It is very important to contact us before returning your
instrument, as some difficulties can be easily solved on-site by the user. Please have the
model and serial number of the unit handy when you contact us. [e-mail]
There are no user-repairable parts of the logger. Any attempt at repair, whether successful or
not, without prior authorization from RBR Ltd. will void the warranty.
If it is necessary to return the product to RBR for an upgrade, repair, or calibration; please
review the detailed shipping information on our website before returning the unit.
Calibration
We recommend that you verify the calibration of your data logger before any critical deployment,
periodically once a year, or if you suspect the calibration to be out of specifications. Discuss your
calibration needs with RBR. In some cases, you will be recommended to return the instrument to
RBR to have it checked and re-calibrated. Please contact us for our current calibration fees.