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ECO Water Sampler
SBE 55

Print version     Current manual (older manuals)     Configuration options & accessories

SUMMARY

SBE 55 ECO Water Sampler
 With one 3-position lanyard release assembly and 3 bottles

SBE 55 lanyard release modules
 Configured with two
3-position lanyard release assemblies
(for 6 bottles)


photo by Paul deRoos

DESCRIPTION

The ECO is the ideal small-boat water sampler for coastal, estuarine, and large lake ecological monitoring. The ECO is light and economical and can be integrated with an SBE 19, 19plus, 19plus V2, 25, 25plus, or 49* CTD. It is available in a three-bottle or six-bottle configuration with 4-liter ECO sample bottles, uniquely designed for the ECO. The ECO can operate autonomously on internal batteries and be programmed to close bottles at selected depths, allowing deployment using non-electrical wire or line. It also can be used with an SBE 33 Carousel Deck Unit for real-time CTD data acquisition and water sampling. Real-time operation requires an electro-mechanical cable and slip-ring equipped winch.
(*Note: SBE 49 integration for real-time operation only.)

The bottle closing mechanism is a magnetically actuated lanyard release latch derived from the SBE 32 Carousel Water Sampler, with a long history of reliability and ease-of-use. Lanyards are rigged to hold bottles open when attached to the release latches. A pressure-proof electromagnet is energized on command to trigger a lanyard release, allowing the bottle to close. The ECO has one or two 3-position lanyard release assemblies. Each release assembly is connected to the ECO’s Electronics Control Module by a separate cable, allowing easy do-it-yourself expansion from a three- to a six-bottle system.

The ECO includes the Electronics Control Module (ECM), one or two lanyard release assemblies, three or six 4-liter ECO sample bottles mounted in saddle brackets and fastened with band clamps, stainless steel guard frame with integral lifting bail, and mesh panels for mounting the ECM, CTD, and other sensors that may be integrated with the CTD (e.g., dissolved oxygen sensor, fluorometer, turbidity sensor, etc.). CTD mounting brackets and interface cable, auxiliary sensors, and (for real-time operation) SBE 33 Carousel Deck Unit must be ordered separately.

SOFTWARE

Seasoft© V2, our complete Windows software package, is included at no extra charge. Seasoft’s modular programs include:

WATER SAMPLER CONTROL

Autonomous Operation (wire rope only, no electromechanical cable required)

The ECO’s Electronics Control Module provides power to and programmable control of the water sampler:

  • With an SBE 19, 19plus, 19plus V2, 25, or 25plus CTD, the ECO monitors pressure data and fires bottles at user-programmed pressures or depths. The ECO also records bottle number, firing confirmation, and 5 scans of instrument data for each bottle.
  • Without a CTD, the ECO fires bottles at user-programmed elapsed times, and records bottle number and firing confirmation for each bottle fired.

At the end of a cast, data from the CTD and the bottle summary file from the ECO are uploaded using the software provided. Nine high-quality alkaline D-size cells (LR-20) provide several months of daily operation (rechargeable Ni-MH batteries also available).

   Real-Time Operation via Electromechanical Cable

The ECO’s Electronics Control Module can be connected to a winch cable for real-time use. Users can switch from autonomous to real-time operation at any time by connecting the winch cable to the ECM, and connecting the SBE 33 Carousel Deck Unit to AC power and the winch slip rings. This enables real-time CTD data acquisition and water sampler control from your computer keyboard or Deck Unit panel controls:

  • With an SBE 19, 19plus, 19plus V2, 25, 25plus, or 49 CTD, the SBE 33 provides power and real-time control to the ECO, as well as power and real-time telemetry for the CTD and auxiliary sensors.
  • Without a CTD, the SBE 33 provides power and real-time control to the ECO.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

Depth Rating 600 meters
Materials 316 stainless steel, titanium, anodized aluminum, plastic
Weight in Air Without CTD or bottles -- 30 kg (67 lbs)
With SBE 19plus* and three empty 4-liter bottles -- 51 kg (113 lbs)
With SBE 19plus* and six empty 4-liter bottles -- 60 kg (133 lbs)
With SBE 19plus* and six full 4-liter bottles -- 84 kg (185 lbs)

*Note: 19plus and 19plus V2 weights are identical.
Winch Cable Compatibility Single or multi-core armored cable up to 10,000 meters long with inner core resistance of 0 - 350 ohms
 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / LINKS:

Documentation -- manual, photos, technical papers, application notes, etc.

Sales Information -- options, accessories, cables, mount kits, spares, etc.

Software -- components of Seasoft V2

Links to Other Instruments of Interest

[HRule Image]

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

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