SBE SeaCAT 21 User manual

SBE 21 SeaCAT
Thermosalinograph
Conductivity and Temperature Recorder
with RS-232 Interface
User’s Manual
Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.
13431 NE 20th Street
Bellevue, Washington 98005 USA Manual Version #027, 02/21/13
Telephone: [phone] SBE 21 Firmware 5.0a and later
Fax: [phone] Interface Box Firmware 3.1b and later
E-mail: [e-mail] Seasave V7 Version 7.22.4 and later
Website: www.seabird.com SBE Data Processing Version 7.22.4 and later

2
Limited Liability Statement
Extreme care should be exercised when using or servicing this equipment. It should be used or serviced
only by personnel with knowledge of and training in the use and maintenance of oceanographic
electronic equipment.
SEA-BIRD ELECTRONICS, INC. disclaims all product liability risks arising from the use or servicing
of this system. SEA-BIRD ELECTRONICS, INC. has no way of controlling the use of this equipment
or of choosing the personnel to operate it, and therefore cannot take steps to comply with laws
pertaining to product liability, including laws which impose a duty to warn the user of any dangers
involved in operating this equipment. Therefore, acceptance of this system by the customer shall be
conclusively deemed to include a covenant by the customer to defend, indemnify, and hold SEA-BIRD
ELECTRONICS, INC. harmless from all product liability claims arising from the use or servicing of
this system.

Manual revision 027 Declaration of Conformity SBE 21
3
Declaration of Conformity

Manual revision 027 Table of Contents SBE 21
4
Table of Contents
Limited Liability Statement ................................................................ 2
Declaration of Conformity .................................................................. 3
Table of Contents ................................................................................. 4
Section 1: Introduction ........................................................................ 6
About this Manual .............................................................................................6
Unpacking SBE 21.............................................................................................7
Section 2: Description of SBE 21 ........................................................ 8
System Description ............................................................................................8
Specifications...................................................................................................10
Dimensions and Bulkhead Connectors ............................................................11
Data I/O ...........................................................................................................12
Data Storage.....................................................................................................12
Remote Temperature Sensor (optional) ...........................................................12
Section 3: Installing System .............................................................. 13
Installing Software ...........................................................................................13
System Schematic and Installation Guidelines ................................................14
Mechanical Installation....................................................................................16
Electrical Installation .......................................................................................17
Section 4: Setting Up SBE 21 ............................................................ 19
Setting Communications Parameters in Interface Box.....................................19
Power and Communications Test and SBE 21 Setup in Seaterm ....................19
Command Descriptions....................................................................................24
Checking SBE 21 Configuration (.xmlcon or .con) File in Seasave ................39
Data Formats....................................................................................................41
Notes on SBE 38 Remote Temperature Data Format ...............................42
Section 5: Setting Up NMEA Interface............................................ 43
NMEA Operating Modes .................................................................................43
Setting Up and Testing NMEA........................................................................44
Troubleshooting NMEA Interface ...................................................................46
Setting Up SBE 21 Configuration (.xmlcon or .con) File................................46
Section 6: Operating System ............................................................. 47
Acquiring Real-Time Data with Seasave.........................................................47
Uploading SBE 21 Data from Memory ...........................................................50
Processing Data................................................................................................53
Section 7: Routine Maintenance and Calibration ........................... 55
Corrosion Precautions......................................................................................55
Removing Sensor/Electronics Module from SBE 21 Water Jacket .................55
Cleaning and Storage .......................................................................................56
Sensor Calibration............................................................................................57
Section 8: Troubleshooting................................................................ 58
Problem 1: Unable to Communicate with Interface Box .................................58
Problem 2: Unable to Communicate with SBE 21...........................................58
Problem 3: Unable to View Data in Seasave
(Real-Time Data Acquisition program) ...........................................................59
Problem 4: Scan Length Error in SBE Data Processing ..................................59
Problem 5: No Data Recorded .........................................................................59
Problem 6: Nonsense or Unreasonable Data....................................................59
Problem 5: Salinity Lower than Expected .......................................................60
Problem 6: Program Corrupted ........................................................................60

Manual revision 027 Table of Contents SBE 21
5
Glossary .............................................................................................. 61
Appendix I: Functional Description................................................. 62
Sensors .............................................................................................................62
Sensor Interface ...............................................................................................62
Real-Time Clock..............................................................................................62
Power ...............................................................................................................62
Appendix II: Electronics Disassembly/Reassembly ........................ 63
Appendix III: Command Summary ................................................. 65
Appendix IV: AF24173 Anti-Foulant Device .................................. 67
Appendix V: Replacement Parts ...................................................... 71
Appendix VI: Manual Revision History .......................................... 73
Index.................................................................................................... 75

Manual revision 027 Section 1: Introduction SBE 21
6
Section 1: Introduction
This section includes contact information and photos of a standard
SBE 21 shipment.
About this Manual
This manual is to be used with the SBE 21 SeaCAT Thermosalinograph
Conductivity and Temperature Recorder. It is organized to guide the user from
installation through operation and data collection. We have included detailed
specifications, command descriptions, maintenance and calibration
information, and helpful notes throughout the manual.
Sea-Bird welcomes suggestions for new features and enhancements of our
products and/or documentation. Please contact us with any comments or
suggestions ([email protected] or 425-643-9866). Our business hours are
Monday through Friday, 0800 to 1700 Pacific Standard Time (1600 to 0100
Universal Time) in winter and 0800 to 1700 Pacific Daylight Time (1500 to
0000 Universal Time) the rest of the year.

Manual revision 027 Section 1: Introduction SBE 21
7
Unpacking SBE 21
Shown below is a typical SBE 21 shipment.
Cell cleaning solution
(Triton X-100)
SBE 21
Software, and Electronic Copies of
Software Manuals and User Manual
I/O cable
(SBE 21 to Interface Box)
AC power cable for
Interface Box
Grounding cable
(from SBE 21)
I/O cable
(Interface Box to computer)
Jackscrew kit
4-pin RMG-4FS pigtail with
locking sleeve (from SBE 21
to Interface Box)
NMEA Interface test cable
(Interface Box to NMEA device
simulation computer)
4-pin
MS connector
assembly
(for SEACAT data
I/O connector on
Interface Box)
50369 5-pin
MS connector
assembly
(for NMEA Input
connector on
Interface Box)
PN 90488 –
SeaCAT/Sealogger
RS-232 and Navigation
Interface Box

Manual revision 027 Section 2: Description of SBE 21 SBE 21
8
Section 2: Description of SBE 21
This section describes the functions and features of the SBE 21,
including specifications and dimensions.
System Description
The SBE 21 SeaCAT Thermosalinograph is an externally powered, high-
accuracy, conductivity and temperature recorder, designed for shipboard
determination of sea surface (pumped-water) conductivity and temperature.
Data is simultaneously transmitted to a computer’s serial port and stored in
64 Mb FLASH RAM memory, allowing both real-time data acquisition and
independent data logging. An internal lithium back-up battery in the SBE 21
supports the real-time clock when the main power supply is off.
The SBE 21 is connected by cable to PN 90488 - SeaCAT/Sealogger
RS-232 and Navigation Interface Box. The Interface Box is AC-powered,
provides isolated DC power and an optically-isolated RS-232 data interface for
the SBE 21, and provides power and a NMEA 0183 receiver for a NMEA
device (not supplied by Sea-Bird). The Interface Box appends NMEA
information to the SBE 21 data stream.
The platinum-electrode glass conductivity cell’s unique internal-field
geometry eliminates proximity effects. This feature is critically important in
thermosalinographs, where the cell must operate in a water jacket’s confined
volume. The internal-field cell also allows the use of expendable AF24173
Anti-Foulant Devices (supplied).
For corrosion resistance, only plastic, titanium, and the glass/platinum
conductivity cell are exposed to seawater. Valves control seawater circulation
and fresh water flushing. The sensor assembly is easily removed for cleaning
and calibration.
The PVC base or back plate may be drilled for mounting to the ship. Seawater
connections (for normal use) and fresh water connections (for cleaning) are
PVC pipes with 1-inch (25.4 mm) U.S. standard NPT threads. Mating female
fittings are provided, and can easily be adapted to locally available pipe sizes.
Communication with the SBE 21 is over an internal, 3-wire, RS-232C link,
providing real-time data transmission. Commands can be sent to the SBE 21 to
provide status display, data acquisition setup, data retrieval, and diagnostic
tests. Output format is raw, hexadecimal data. The SBE 21 samples using one
of the following user-programmable schemes:
•Continuously at 4 Hz: At pre-programmed 3- to 600-second intervals,
the SBE 21 averages all the data from within the sampling interval, stores
the average in memory, and sends the average to the computer (through
the Interface Box).
•At pre-programmed intervals: At pre-programmed 3- to 600-second
intervals, the SBE 21 takes one sample, stores the sample in memory, and
sends the sample data to the computer (through the Interface Box).
A standard SBE 21 can record the output of an optional remote temperature
sensor (SBE 38), allowing for the measurement of sea surface temperature
with minimum thermal contamination from the ship’s hull. A stainless steel
and plastic in-line pipe mount is available for safe below-waterline installation
of the remote temperature sensor (see Section 3: Installing System).
Note:
Seasave 7.18 or later also
supports acquisition of data from a
NMEA device connected directly
to the computer (instead of the
interface box).

Manual revision 027 Section 2: Description of SBE 21 SBE 21
9
A standard SBE 21 is supplied with:
•Bulkhead connectors:
one 4-pin I/O connector
one 6-pin connector for A/D inputs (four single-ended or
two differential channels – customer selects desired configuration at
time of purchase)
one 4-pin connector for remote temperature sensor
one 1-pin connector for ground to ship’s hull
•64 Mbyte FLASH RAM memory
•Anti-foulant device attachments and expendable AF24173 Anti-Foulant
Devices on each end of the conductivity cell.
•PN 90488 – SeaCAT/Sealogger RS-232 and Navigation Interface Box,
providing power to the SBE 21, an optically isolated RS-232 interface, a
NMEA 0183 input port for NMEA data, and power for a NMEA device.
SBE 21 options include:
•Remote temperature sensor (SBE 38) and mounting kit
•Auxiliary A/D sensors (mounts not supplied)
Future upgrades and enhancements to the SBE 21 firmware can be easily
installed in the field through a computer serial port and the I/O connector on
the SBE 21, without the need to return the SBE 21 to Sea-Bird.
The SBE 21 is supplied with a powerful Windows software package,
Seasoft©V2, which includes:
•Seaterm –terminal program for easy communication and
data retrieval.
•Seasave V7 –program for acquiring, converting, and displaying real-time
or archived raw data.
•SBE Data Processing - program for calculation and plotting of
conductivity, temperature, data from auxiliary sensors, and derived
variables such as salinity and sound velocity.
Notes:
•Help files provide detailed
information on the software.
•Separate software manuals contain
detailed information on Seasave V7
and SBE Data Processing.
•Sea-Bird also supplies an older
version of Seasave, Seasave-
Win32. However, all Seasave
instructions in this manual are
written for Seasave V7. See
Seasave-Win32’s manual and/or
Help files if you prefer to use the
older software.
•Sea-Bird supplies the current
version of our software when you
purchase an instrument. As software
revisions occur, we post the revised
software on our FTP site. See our
website (www.seabird.com) for the
latest software version number, a
description of the software changes,
and instructions for downloading the
software from the FTP site.

Manual revision 027 Section 2: Description of SBE 21 SBE 21
10
Specifications
Conductivity
(S/m)
Primary
Temperature
(°C)
SBE 38
Secondary
Temperature
(°C)
Measurement
Range 0 to 7 -5 to +35 -5 to +35
Initial Accuracy 0.001 0.01 0.001
Resolution 0.0001 0.001 0.0003
Calibration
(measurement outside
these ranges may be
at slightly reduced
accuracy due to
extrapolation errors)
0 to 7; physical
calibration over
the range 2.6 to
6 S/m, plus zero
conductivity (air)
+1 to +32 -1 to +32
Memory 64 Mbyte non-volatile FLASH memory
Data Storage
Recorded Parameter Bytes/sample
temperature and conductivity 6 (3 each)
each external voltage 2
SBE 38 remote temperature 3
Real-Time Clock 32,768 Hz TCXO accurate to ±1 minute/year
Sample Rate 1 sample / 3 seconds to 1 sample / 600 seconds
Sample rate is incremented in 1-second steps
Materials PVC housing, water jacket, piping, and valves;
titanium end cap
Recommended
Flow Rate 1 liter/second (15.8 gallons/minute)
Auxiliary
Voltage Sensors
Auxiliary power out: up to 500 mA at 10.5 - 11 VDC
A/D resolution: 12 bits
Input range: 0 - 5 VDC
Maximum
Safe Operating
Pressure
34.5 decibars (50 psi)
Input Power
SeaCAT/Sealogger RS-232 and Navigation
Interface Box is included with standard SBE 21
order. If testing SBE 21 without Interface Box,
provide 9-14 VDC power.
Weight 41 kg (90 lbs)