Phathom - Support Services
Because Phathom sensors generate and measure light intensity, they’re designed to exclude the effects of ambient light. However, light variations from other sources may need to be excluded or they could skew the readings. Ensure your monitoring system includes a manifold or other covering to maintain a consistent light environment. As is the case with all sensors, bubbles will affect turbidity measurement because bubbles scatter and reflect light. Set up your Phathom sensor away from sources of aeration. TSS and turbidity vary at different depths and at different places on the same site, so make sure your Phathom sensor is securely fixed in one place so that it can give you consistent data.
Calibrate your Phathom sensor for TSS monitoring in mg/L by taking reference samples of the water at your site. This relates the sensor’s output to the characteristics of that particular environment. You can create a calibration range by taking samples at higher and lower concentrations of the locally occurring suspended solids. The concentration of the calibration samples can be cross-checked in a laboratory.
Calibrate your Phathom sensor for turbidity monitoring by using an internationally recognised standard like formazin. Using higher and lower concentrations of the standard will create a calibration range.
Unlike single-beam sensors that require constant cleaning, Phathom sensors almost never need more than occasional cleaning because their multi-beam technology self-compensates for accumulated dirt unless they get completely clogged. There are rare exceptions to this in some environmental monitoring applications, such as streams where there are higher levels of nitrates, sunlight, and temperature. In some of these settings, a filamentous or reflective growth can occur and must be cleaned off to maintain accuracy. When they do need cleaning, the robustness of Phathom sensors makes this easy. They can be cleaned manually, for example as part of a periodic maintenance programme. They can also be cleaned automatically, for example by fitting a jet attachment connected to a hose supplying an occasional burst of compressed air or water which dislodges filamentous growth, or a mechanical brush for those rare cases of reflective growth.
Phathom sensors are immersion-style water monitors. They cover the full range of clean to dirty water (0-10 g/L and 0-4000 NTU) so there’s a Phathom for every environment.
Key technical specifications:
- Connection: directly with 4-20mA, SDI-12 and Modbus RS485
- Temperature: 0-50 degrees Celsius operating range
- Pressure: up to 5 bar
- Required power: 0.25W at 5V for Modbus or SDI-12 only, or 9-32V for 4-20mA and Modbus
- Wavelength: 880 nm as standard, other wavelengths available