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SBE 21 SEACAT Thermosalinograph
Configuration Details

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Brochure/specifications     SBE 21 Manual     Interface Box Manual

Note: We do not publish prices on the website. Please contact us [seabird@seabird.com or (+1) 425-643-9866] for pricing.

Part # Description Notes
21 SEACAT THERMOSALINOGRAPH - With PVC (plastic) manifold & water jacket for shipboard installation. Includes 8 MB memory, 3 bulkhead connectors for data I/O, A/D inputs, remote sea surface thermometer (SBE 38 optional), AF24173 Anti-Foulant Devices, AC interface junction box (PN 90488.2) providing optically isolated RS-232 interface, NMEA 0183 input port for navigation data, DC power to sensors (10 m data I/O cable 80438, 3 m computer cable, NMEA test cable 801424, & AC power cord included), SEASOFT software, & complete documentation. Specify: auxiliary A/D channel configuration selection. For photos of standard shipment, click here.



Note: Seasave version 7.18 or later also supports acquisition of data from a NMEA device connected directly to computer (instead of deck unit).

See SBE 45 for thermosalinograph without memory or A/D auxiliary sensor channels.
SBE 21 Auxiliary A/D Channel Configuration Selections -- MUST SELECT ONE
21-1a 4 single-ended A/D channels Auxiliary 0 - 5 V sensors plug into 1 bulkhead connector on SBE 21 top cap.
  • 21-1a provides 1 bulkhead connector for 4 single-ended A/D channels. Single-ended channels are acceptable for sensors that draw very little current & can share power & signal common with SBE 21 without injecting ground line noise into signal.
  • 21-1b provides 1 bulkhead connector for 2 differential A/D channels (can also be used with 2 single-ended A/D sensors). Sensors that draw larger amounts of current generate ground line noise which interferes with signals. For these sensors, when power & signal common are shared, a differential channel is needed. Differential input amplifiers are able to distinguish & reject noise from signal.

Note: 21-1a & -1b do not include auxiliary sensors, mounts, or interface cables.

Many auxiliary sensors are electrically compatible with SBE 21; these sensors can be purchased from Sea-Bird & integrated with SBE 21 at our factory, or you can purchase cables from Sea-Bird & perform integration yourself. Note that integration of these sensors at Sea-Bird is limited to providing appropriate cable & setting up instrument configuration file. Sea-Bird does not provide methods for mechanical integration of these auxiliary sensors with SBE 21. User must design / provide flow-through chamber that receives outflow from SBE 21 for auxiliary sensors.

  • See Third Party portion of price list for ordering details on fluorometers, transmissometers, turbidity meters, etc. that are electrically compatible with SBE 21. These sensors can be purchased from Sea-Bird, along with appropriate cables. Alternatively, you can purchase sensors from third party manufacturers, & purchase cables from Sea-Bird.

User can change sensors on SBE 21 in field, if combination is compatible with auxiliary A/D channel configuration selection. However, bulkhead connector requires Y-cable to connect multiple auxiliary sensors to SBE 21; each Y-cable is unique to sensors being integrated, so changing sensors may require changing Y-cable.

21-1b 2 differential A/D channels
SBE 21 Remote Sea Surface Thermometer Option
21-2 SBE 38 Digital Oceanographic Thermometer (titanium housing) Standard SBE 21 with serial number greater than 3110 supports input from remote SBE 38 thermometer through 4-pin remote temperature connector, providing sea surface temperature. Ideal location for SBE 38 is on pipe near seawater intake, as close to ship's bow as possible, to minimize water temperature changes due to ship's thermal mass. User can add SBE 38 to system at any time.
  • Some custom SBE 21s with serial number less than 3345 & greater than 3110, & all standard SBE 21s with serial number less than 3110, supported input from remote SBE 3 temperature sensor through a 3-pin remote temperature connector. Current SBE 21 electronics does not support SBE 3 as remote temperature sensor.
Shown below is SBE 38 installed in 50244 mounting kit; see document 67071.
50244 Stainless steel/plastic pipe coupling mounting kit for SBE 38 remote sensor (1 inch female NPT thread) with dummy sensor plug
171012 SBE 38 interface cable, 10 m (DN 31311)
SBE 21 Accessories
90488.2 RS-232 & Navigation Interface Box for Seacats / Sealoggers (SBE 16, 16plus, 16plus V2, 19, 19plus, 19plus V2, 21, or 25), AC powered. Provides isolated power, opto-isolated RS-232C & NMEA 0183 compliant interfaces, & up to 2 amps at 12 VDC to power a NMEA navigation device. NMEA interface merges position data with CTD data. Includes AC power cord & necessary interface cables & mating connectors, manual & software CD. One Interface Box comes standard with SBE 21; this is spare. Box comes with:
  • PN 17015 -- AC power cable
  • PN 80438 (DN 31063) -- 10 m cable for connection to SBE 21
  • PN 17031 (DN 30581) -- 2.4 m pigtail cable for connection to SBE 21
  • PN 801424 (DN 32787) -- 1.8 m NMEA test cable for connection to computer simulating NMEA input for testing NMEA interface. NMEA simulation program, NMEATest, is part of SEASOFT software, & is installed when you install SBE Data Processing.
  • PN 171887 (DN 32431) -- 3 m cable for connection to computer
  • PN 171888 -- Cable adapter, DB-25S to DB-9P (for use with computer with DB-25 connector)
  • PN 50368 -- connector assembly for 4-pin SEACAT Data I/O (for connection to SBE 21)
  • PN 50369 -- connector assembly for 5-pin NMEA Input (for connection to NMEA device -- can acquire latitude/longitude & depth data)
50298 Thermosalinograph spares kit (SBE 38 interface) - contains connectors, o-rings, titanium hardware, & maintenance items Spares kit for use with SBE 21 that has 4-pin bulkhead connector for remote temperature input -- compatible with SBE 38 Temperature Sensor. Most SBE 21s with serial number greater than 3110, & all SBE 21s with serial number greater than 3345 are compatible with SBE 38. See document 67119 for complete listing of parts.

Note: Order 50107 instead of 50298 for use with SBE 21 that has 3-pin bulkhead connector for remote temperature input -- compatible with SBE 3 Temperature Sensor. All standard SBE 21s with serial number less than 3110 & some custom SBE 21s with serial number less than 3345 & greater than 3110 are compatible with SBE 3 Temperature Sensor. See document 67060 for complete listing of parts.

23388.2 SBE 21 top end cap blank (flow chamber seal when sensors removed) Seals flow chamber when electronics/sensor assembly removed from water jacket for recalibration/repair.
50315 Anti-foul holder kit - installs on SBE 4, & SEACATs (not SEACAT plus) to allow use of AF24173 in place of obsolete 24012 Anti-Foulant Devices. Order AF24173 separately

50315 --
slide Tygon on end of conductivity cell

50315 provides fittings (2) to hold AF24173 Anti-Foulant Devices at each end of conductivity cell. See Application Note 70: Installing Anti-Foulant Device Mount Kit on SBE 4, 16, 19, and 21 Conductivity Cells.
  • SBE 21s shipped before October 2002 used a smaller anti-foulant device inside Tygon tubing that attached to end of conductivity cell, & did not include 50315. For those SBE 21s, order 50315 & 801542 AF24173 Anti-Foulant Devices first time you need new Anti-Foulant Devices. Once you have 50315, order AF24173 Anti-Foulant Devices as needed.
  • SBE 21s shipped after October 2002 include 50315 & 801542 installed on SBE 21. Order AF24173 Anti-Foulant Devices as needed.
801542 AF24173 Anti-Foulant Device (pair, bagged, labeled for shipping)
80438 Data I/O cable, RMG-4FS to 4-pin MS3106A connector, 10 m (DN 31063) Connects SBE 21 to 90488 SEACAT / SEALOGGER RS-232 & Navigation Interface Box. Cable is included with standard shipment; this is spare.
90399.1 SBE 21 Electronics/sensor assembly (spare) (SBE 38 interface) Fits inside water jacket. 90399.1 is for use with SBE 21 that is compatible with SBE 38 Temperature Sensor (standard SBE 21 with serial number > 3110 -- supports input from remote SBE 38 thermometer through 4-pin remote temperature connector).

Note: Order PN 90387.1 instead for use with older SBE 21 that is compatible with SBE 3 Temperature Sensor -- supports input from remote SBE 3 thermometer through 3-pin remote temperature connector.

23188.2 PVC water jacket/manifold assembly (no electronics or sensor housing) (spare) SBE 21 without 90399.1 (electronics/sensor assembly) pictured above.
171887 RS-232 serial cable, DB-9P to DB-9S, 3 m Connects Interface Box to computer. See 171887 for pinouts.

 

Product configuration options listing for all products

Additional cables, mount kits, and spares may be found at: Cables, Mount kits for Sea-Bird sensors, Mount kits for Third Party sensors, Spare parts

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Last modified: 26 Apr 2011

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