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Steps for Measuring With a S-C-T Meter

Many laboratory technicians work with liquid samples, analyzing the various molecules that combine within the solution. Liquid samples, especially from rivers or oceans, offer many different pieces of information for understanding the watery habitat. In fact, measurement meters have been developed for examining liquid factors that are not visible. S-C-T meters measure salinity, or saltiness, conductivity and temperature. These three measured factors help workers determine problems and solutions for a specific water body, preserving its natural healthy composition. However, the S-C-T meter must be used appropriately for obtaining the most accurate readings.

Things You'll Need

S-C-T meter
Batteries
Liquid sample

Instructions

Measuring Procedure
- 1
  Verify that fresh batteries are inside the meter. Turn the S-C-T meter on, allowing the device to warm up. This warm-up period is also referred to as the self-test procedure. Each time the device is powered on, it must run through an internal check list for verifying calibration. The warm-up period should last a few seconds before the display illuminates, signaling that the meter is ready for measurements.
- 2
  Place the meter̵7;s probe into the liquid sample. Depending on the liquid sample, the probe should be completely submerged so that its sensory area can obtain the most accurate reading. For example, a field reading of a flowing river could require the probe to be placed a full meter into the water.
- 3
  Shake the probe while it is still within the liquid sample. This movement forces air bubbles attached to the probe to dissipate. The air bubbles can easily alter a measurement, providing inaccurate results. The probe should touch the water sample only for the best measurement.
- 4
  Save the measured value by pressing the save or enter key, depending on the S-C-T meter̵7;s design. Typically, numerous measurements can be recorded and saved within the meter for future analysis.
- 5
  Remove the probe from the liquid sample and dry it off. Make sure to write down all the measurement readings before erasing any data. Some meters have the ability to download the measurement values into a computer̵7;s hard drive, allowing fast retrieval of the information.

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