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Carousel Water Sampler 
SBE 32

Print version     Current manual (for older manuals, click here)    Configuration options & accessories - 32, 32C, or 32SC

Photo by S. Compoint / Sygma
 32red.bmp (542878 bytes)

SBE 32 Carousel Water Sampler - An innovative design, free of the reliability problems associated with motor-driven types. The Carousel has no moving-shaft seals that can bind up at low temperatures or under pressure because each bottle position has its own magnetically-activated lanyard release latch. Only the magnetic field -- not a moving part -- links the Carousel's lanyard release mechanism with the pylon control electronics.

Sea-Bird's Carousel has been extensively deployed throughout the world's oceans, where it has built a reputation for reliability and ease of use. The Carousel has rapidly become the standard for oceanographic water sampling.

SYSTEM ENGINEERED - PERFORMANCE PROVEN - TIME TESTED

The heart of every Carousel is the magnetically-actuated lanyard release (shown at right). A pressure-proof electromagnet at each bottle position is energized on command to release the latch holding the bottle lanyard. Titanium, acetal plastic, and other corrosion-resistant materials are used in the latch and magnet assembly. The latch array's modular construction makes servicing easy.

SBE 32 (FULL SIZE) CAROUSEL

The Carousel’s electronics/release assembly and mounting hub are standard components of all 12- and 24-position systems, and are available separately. When the electronics/release assembly is bolted into the mounting hub, a drop-in replacement is created for the pylon assembly commonly found in many existing water samplers, allowing reuse of existing bottle mount stands and adapter plates when upgrading to the more reliable and convenient Carousel design.

Custom 36-position Carousel36-position Carousels typically require a custom design suited to the intended bottle size, and are built to meet specific application requirements for size, weight, and materials. One example of a 36-position electronics/release assembly is shown at left, installed in a custom 36-position stainless steel frame for 12-liter bottles.

SBE 32C COMPACT CAROUSELSBE 32C Compact Carousel

For use with limited vertical clearance, the SBE 32C is a 12-position sampler without CTD extension stand. It supports bottles up to 8 liters, and accommodates a 9plus CTD mounted horizontally inside the bottle circle. Bottle positions are closely spaced into 2 arcs, leaving spaces between the arc ends to provide unobstructed flow to the 9plus or to allow mounting an SBE 19, 19plus, 19plus V2, or 25 CTD (or SBE 49 CTD for real-time operation only) and/or other instruments vertically, using an accessory mounting fixture.

SBE 32SC SUB-COMPACT CAROUSEL

The 12-position SBE 32SC is sized for 1.7 or 2.5 liter bottles. When used with an SBE 19, 19plus, 19plus V2, or 25 CTD (or SBE 49 for real-time operation only), it offers a small yet full-featured system, well suited to operation from small boats.

CAROUSEL CONTROL

The Carousel can be controlled in several ways:

Each of these is described briefly below; see the applicable (hyperlinked) specification sheet for more details.

SBE 11plus Deck Unit

The Carousel is designed to be connected to the SBE 9plus CTD and SBE 11plus Deck Unit, and controlled via the SBE 911plus modem channel.

SBE 33 Carousel Deck Unit

For stand-alone Carousel use (without a CTD), the SBE 33 provides power and real-time control to the water sampler. When used with an SBE 19, 19plus, 19plus V2, 25, or 49 CTD, it also provides a real-time data telemetry link and power for the CTD and auxiliary instruments. The SBE 33 includes a NMEA 0183 interface to allow GPS position data to be appended to Sea-Bird CTD data, and an optional auxiliary A/D channel to interface a surface PAR sensor.

Auto Fire Module (AFM)

The AFM allows Carousel operation without a conducting seacable by firing bottles:

The AFM also records bottle number, firing confirmation, and 5 scans of CTD data for each bottle fired. At the end of a cast, data from the CTD and from the AFM are both uploaded using the provided software. Setup and checkout are also performed (without opening the housing) through the software. Power is supplied to the Carousel by the AFM's internal batteries.

SBE 17plus V2 SEARAM Recorder & Auto Fire Module

The SEARAM allows Carousel operation with an SBE 9plus CTD without a conducting seacable. Power is supplied to both CTD and Carousel by the SEARAM's internal battery. Using pressure data received from the SBE 9plus CTD and a programmable table of bottle closure pressures, the SEARAM commands the Carousel to close bottles on the upcast. Setup, checkout, and data uploading are performed (without opening the housing) through the provided software.

SEA-BIRD SOFTWARE

SEASOFT© V2, our complete Windows 2000/XP software package, is included at no extra charge. SEASOFT's modular programs include:

CAROUSEL DRAWINGS

Full Size Carousel (12-bottle, 5-liter shown)

                                    

 

Compact and Sub-Compact Carousel

 

 

CAROUSEL CONFIGURATIONS

 

Note: When using the SBE 49 with the Carousel and SBE 33, Seasave (our real-time data acquisition software) does not allow acquisition of Surface PAR data.

 

CAROUSEL DIMENSIONS

Carousel 
Type
Number of Bottles Bottle Size 
(liters)
Diameter, 
mm (in.)
Overall Height, 
mm (in.) 1
Dry Weight, kg (lb)
[no CTD or bottles]
Full Size 12 1.2  2 991 (39) See 2.5 liter See 2.5 liter
1.7  2 1201 (47.3) 68 (150)
2.5  2 1438 (56.6) 79 (174)
5  2 1234 (48.6) 78 (172)
8  2 1438 (56.6) 79 (174)
10  2 1603 (63.1) 82 (182)
12  2 1730 (68.1) 83 (184)
20  3 1550 (61) 1765 (69.5) 164 (363)
30  3 1765 (69.5) 171 (378)
24 1.2  2 1143 (45) See 2.5 liter See 2.5 liter
 1.7  2 1214 (47.8) 95 (210)
2.5  2 1417 (55.8) 106 (235)
5  3 1550 (61) 1300 (51.3) 179 (397)
8  3 1506 (59.3) 185 (410)
10  3 1659 (65.3) 194 (430)
12  3 1786 (70.3) 199 (440)
Compact 12 1.2 to 8  2 966 (38) 973 (38.3) 68 (150)
Sub-Compact 12 1.7  2 699 (27.5) 800 (31.5) 50 (111)
2.5  2 1003 (39.5) 52 (114)
1 Overall Height = bottle mount stand + CTD extension stand (if applicable) + height of lifting bail above bottle mount stand.
Height of lifting bail above bottle mount stand is approximately 8 mm (0.3 in.).

2 Frame parts are 25.4 mm (1 inch) diameter for full size SBE 32 12-bottle through 12-liter bottle size, full size SBE 32 24-bottle through 2.5-liter bottle size, and all compact SBE 32C and sub-compact SBE 32SC.

3 Frame parts are 34.9 mm (1.375 inch) diameter for full size SBE 32 12-bottle larger than 12-liter bottle size and 24-bottle larger than 2.5-liter bottle size.

SPECIFICATIONS

Depth Rating: 6800/7000/10500 m (22,300/22,900/34,400 ft)

Power requirement: 110/230 VAC (user-selectable), 100 watts

Sea Cable Compatibility: Single or multi-core armored cable up to 10,000 meters long with an inner core resistance of 0 - 350 ohms

Carousel Materials: Anodized aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, Delrin, PVC

Weight in air (electronics/mechanical array, hanger, adapter plate):

Contact Sea-Bird for information about the GeoTraces Carousel, developed for use in the GEOTRACES program.

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.  

Last modified: 02-Mar-2011

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