Reference Manual Section 7.

0: Calibration
00809-0100-3156 March 2020

7.4 Contacting Conductivity Calibration standard solution. Use this method if the sensor can be easily
removed from the process piping and a standard is
7.4.1 Description available. Be careful using standard solutions having
PLACING A NEW CONDUCTIVITY SENSOR IN SERVICE conductivity less than 100 µS/cm. Low conductivity standards
New conductivity sensors rarely need calibration. The cell are highly susceptible to atmospheric contamination. Avoid
constant printed on the label is sufficiently accurate for most calibrating sensors with 0.01/cm cell constants against
applications. conductivity standards having conductivity greater than 100
CALIBRATING AN IN-SERVICE CONDUCTIVITY SENSOR µS/cm. The resistance of these solutions may be too low for
1. After a conductivity sensor has been in service for a period an accurate measurement. Calibrate sensors with 0.01/cm
of time, recalibration may be necessary. There are three cell constant using method c.
ways to calibrate a sensor.
c. To calibrate a 0.01/cm sensor, check it against a standard
a. Use a standard instrument and sensor to measure the instrument and 0.01/cm sensor while both sensors are
conductivity of the process stream. It is not necessary to measuring water having a conductivity between 5 and 10
remove the sensor from the process piping. The temperature µS/cm. To avoid drift caused by absorption of atmospheric
correction used by the standard instrument may not exactly carbon dioxide, saturate the sample with air before making
match the temperature correction used by the Model 1056. the measurements.
To avoid errors, turn off temperature correction in both the To ensure adequate flow past the sensor during calibration,
analyzer and the standard instrument. take the sample downstream from the sensor. For best
results, use a flow-through standard cell. If the process
b. Place the sensor in a solution of known conductivity and temperature is much different from ambient, keep
make the analyzer reading match the conductivity of the connecting lines short and insulate the flow cell.

THIS SECTION DESCRIBES HOW TO CALIBRATE THE MODEL 1056 WITH AN ATTACHED CONTACTING
CONDUCTIVITy SENSOR. THE FOLLOWING CALIBRATION ROUTINES ARE COVERED.

TABLE 7-3 Contacting Conductivity Calibration Routines

Measure Sec. Menu function: default Description
Contacting 7.4.2 Cell K: 1.00000/cm Enter the cell Constant for the sensor
Conductivity 7.4.3 Zero Cal Zero the analyzer with the sensor attached
7.4.4 In Process Cal Standardize the sensor to a known conductivity
7.4.5 Meter Cal Calibrate the analyzer to a lab conductivity instrument
7.4.6 Cal Factor: 0.95000/cm Enter the Cal Factor for 4-Electrode sensors from the sensor tag

A detailed flow diagram is provided at the end of Sec. 7 to guide you through the calibration routines
To calibrate contacting conductivity:
1. Press the MENU button
2. Select Calibrate. Press ENTER.
3. Select Sensor 1 or Sensor 2 corresponding to S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC

contacting conductivity. Press ENTER. S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC

SN Calibrate?
4. Select Conductivity. Press ENTER.
Conductivity
Temperature
The adjacent screen will appear. To calibrate
Conductivity or Temperature, scroll to the desired item
and press ENTER.

The following sub-sections show the initial display S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
screen that appears for each calibration routine. Use S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
the flow diagram for Conductivity calibration at the SN Calibration
end of Sec. 7 and the live screen prompts for each rou- Zero Cal
tine to complete calibration. In Process Cal
Meter Cal
The adjacent screen appears after selecting Cell K: 1.00000/cm
Conductivity calibration:
Reference Manual Section 7.0: Calibration
00809-0100-3156 March 2020

7.4.2 Entering The Cell Constant

New conductivity sensors rarely need calibration. The
cell constant printed on the label is sufficiently accurate
for most applications. The cell constant should be
entered:
• When the unit is installed for the first time
S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
• When the probe is replaced SN Cell Constant
1.00000 /cm
The display screen for entering a cell Constant for the
sensor is shown. The default value is displayed in bold
type.

7.4.3 zeroing The Instrument

This procedure is used to compensate for small offsets
to the conductivity signal that are present even when
there is no conductivity to be measured. This procedure
is affected by the length of extension cable and should
always be repeated if any changes in extension cable or
sensor have been made. Electrically connect the
conductivity probe as it will actually be used and S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC

place the measuring portion of the probe in air. Be S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
SN Zero Cal
sure the probe is dry.
In Air
In Water
The adjacent screen will appear after selecting zero
Cal from the Conductivity Calibration screen:

The adjacent screen will appear if zero Cal is successful. S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
The screen will return to the conductivity Cal Menu. S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
SN Zero Cal
Sensor Zero Done

The adjacent screen may appear if zero Cal is unsuccessful. S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
SN Zero Cal
Sensor Zero Fail
Offset too high

Press EXIT

7.4.4 Calibrating The Sensor In A Conductivity

Standard (In Process CAL)
This procedure is used to calibrate the sensor and
analyzer against a solution of known conductivity.
This is done by submerging the probe in the sample of
known conductivity, then adjusting the displayed value, if
necessary, to correspond to the conductivity value of
the sample. Turn temperature correction off and use the
conductivity of the standard. Use a calibrated ther- S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC

mometer to measure temperature. The probe must be

S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
SN InProcess Cal
cleaned before performing this procedure. Wait for stable
reading.
The adjacent screen will appear after selecting In
Process Cal from the Conductivity Calibration screen:

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Reference Manual Section 7.0: Calibration
00809-0100-3156 March 2020

The adjacent screen will appear if In Process Cal is suc- S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
cessful. The screen will return to the conductivity Cal S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC

Menu. SN InProcess Cal

Updated cell
constant:
1.00135/cm

The adjacent screen may appear if In Process Cal is S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
unsuccessful. The screen will return to the conductivity S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
Cal Men SN InProcess Cal
Calibration
Error

Press EXIT

7.4.5 Calibrating The Sensor To A Laboratory

Instrument (Meter Cal)
This procedure is used to check and correct the
conductivity reading of the Model 1056 using a laboratory
conductivity instrument. This is done by submerging the
conductivity probe in a bath and measuring the conduc-
tivity of a grab sample of the same bath water with a
separate laboratory instrument. The Model 1056 reading
is then adjusted to match the conductivity reading of the S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
lab instrument. S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
SN Meter Cal
The adjacent screen will appear after selecting Meter Use precision
Cal from the Conductivity Calibration screen: resistors only

After pressing ENTER, the display shows the live value S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
measured by the sensor S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
SN Enter Value
xx.xx kΩ

If the meter cal is successful the screen will return to the S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
conductivity Cal Menu. S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
SN Meter Cal
The adjacent screen will appear if Meter Cal is unsuccessful. Calibration
Error
The screen will return to the conductivity Cal Menu.
Press EXIT

7.4.6 Cal Factor The display screen for entering Cal Factor is shown.
Upon initial installation and power up, if 4-electrode The default value is displayed in bold type. If neces-
was selected for the sensor type in the Quick Start sary after initial installation and start-up, enter the “Cal
menus, the user enters a Cell Constant and a “Cal Factor” as printed on the sensor tag.
Factor” using the instrument keypad. The cell constant
is needed to convert measured conductance to conduc-
S1: 1.234µS/cm 25.0ºC
tivity as displayed on the analyzer screen. The “Cal S2: 12.34pH 25.0ºC
Factor” entry is needed increase the accuracy of the live SN Cal Factor
conductivity readings, especially at low conductivity 0.95000 /cm
readings below 20uS/cm. Both the Cell Constant and
the “Cal Factor” are printed on the tag attached to the
4-electrode sensor/cable.

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