{"id":20499,"date":"2024-05-20T14:20:08","date_gmt":"2024-05-20T21:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/?p=20499"},"modified":"2025-07-24T13:57:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T20:57:44","slug":"go-direct-salinity-sensor-troubleshooting-and-faqs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/20499","title":{"rendered":"Go Direct Salinity Sensor Troubleshooting and FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-salinity-sensor\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Salinity Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-SAL<\/nobr>)<\/h3>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"\/manuals\/GDX-SAL\">Specifications and User Guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/product.gdx-sal.final._hero.001.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><strong>Some versions of this sensor support Remote Data Logging.<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"\/til\/23335\/\">Which sensors are equipped with the remote data logging feature?<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<p><strong>General: <\/strong>Press the power button on the sensor to turn it on. Connect your sensor as described in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/get-started\/go-direct\">Getting Started instructions for your device<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Primary Test:<\/strong> Place the sensor in distilled water. The reading should be at or near 0 ppt. Place the sensor in a 35 ppt salinity standard solution. The reading should be at or near 35 ppt. <\/li>\n<li><strong>Secondary Test:<\/strong> Place the sensor in distilled water and then move the sensor to a container of tap water. The readings should change from 0 ppt to a salinity value that is appropriate for your region of the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/1399\/\">Can I use Vernier water quality sensors in salt water or in a salt water aquarium?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/11516\/\">What is the difference between salinity and conductivity?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>REMOTE DATA LOGGING<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/23335\/\">Which sensors are equipped with the remote data logging feature?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/23278\/\">Is there a way to update Go Direct sensors with the remote data logging feature?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/23256\/\">Remote Data Logging Troubleshooting and FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/23325\/\">How long will my battery last for my remote data logging experiment?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/23339\/\">How do I configure multiple channels of my Go Direct device for remote data logging?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/23343\/\">How do I start a remote data logging experiment on a triggering event?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/23640\/\">How do I check the status of my sensor during a remote data logging experiment?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/23647\/\">How do I bring remote logging data from multiple devices or multiple runs into a single Graphical Analysis file?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specifications<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sensor: dip type, epoxy body, parallel platinum electrodes<\/li>\n<li>Range of Salinity Sensor: 0 to 50 ppt (0 to 50,000 ppm)<\/li>\n<li>Accuracy (factor calibration)<br \/>\u26ac below 35 ppt: \u00b11.5 ppt<br \/>\u26ac above 35 ppt: \u00b15 ppt<\/li>\n<li>Accuracy (user calibration)<br \/>\u26ac \u00b10.5 ppt within user-calibrated range<\/li>\n<li>Response time: 90% of full-scale reading in 1 s.<\/li>\n<li>Temperature compensation: automatic from 5 to 35 \u00b0C (can be turned off)<\/li>\n<li>Temperature range (can be placed in): 0 to 80 \u00b0C<\/li>\n<li>Dimensions: 12 mm OD and 150 mm length<\/li>\n<li>Sensor units<br \/>\u26ac Salinity: ppt, ppm, mg\/L, \u03bcS\/cm, dS\/m<br \/>\u26ac Temperature: \u00b0C, \u00b0F, K<\/li>\n<li>Connections:<br \/>\u26ac Wireless: Bluetooth<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> v4.2 (wireless range 30 m unobstructed) <br \/>\u26ac Wired: USB 2.0 full speed<\/li>\n<li>Battery: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vernier.com\/gdx-bat-300\">300 mA Li-Poly<\/a><br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (single, full charge): ~24 hours continuous data collection<br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (lifetime): 2 \u2013 5 years (typical)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calibration<\/h3>\n<p>Calibrate? For many experiments, calibrating the Salinity Sensor is not required. We store a calibration equation on each sensor before shipping it, which is used as a default by our software.<\/p>\n<p>For the most accurate measurements with this sensor above 35 ppt, we recommend calibration. It is a simple process that takes only a few minutes. For instructions for Salinity Sensor calibration, see <a href=\"\/til\/4011\/\">How do I calibrate my sensor?<\/a><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>CALIBRATION SOLUTION<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>If you choose to calibrate the Salinity Sensor, you will want an accurate standard solution. Vernier sells a 35 ppt <a href=\"\/product\/salinity-standard\/\">Salinity Standard<\/a> (<nobr>SAL-ST<\/nobr>). If you prefer to prepare your own 35 ppt standard solution using solid NaCl, use a container with accurate volume markings (e.g., volumetric flask). Add 33.03 g reagent grade NaCl to enough distilled water to make one liter of solution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><strong>Note: <\/strong>The Practical Salinity Scale 1978 was developed relative to a KCl solution. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater states that \u201cA seawater with a conductivity at 15\u00b0C equal to that of a KCl solution containing a mass of 32.4356 g in a mass of 1 kg of solution is defined as having a practical salinity of 35.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battery Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sensor can be turned on when connected by USB but not when disconnected from USB, the battery either needs charging or has reached its end of life and can no longer hold a charge. <\/span><br \/>\u26ac <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, try charging the sensor for several hours. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sensor still won\u2019t turn on when disconnected from USB, try swapping the battery with a working sensor to see if the problem follows the battery or stays with the sensor.<\/span><br \/>\u26ac If the problem stays with the sensor, the battery is probably not the issue.<br \/>\u26ac If the problem follows the battery, <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the battery has likely reached its end of life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you intend to use this sensor wirelessly, its battery will need replacing<\/span>.<br \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>See <a href=\"\/til\/15056\/\">How do I replace the battery in a Go Direct Wand-Style Sensor?<\/a> for more information (including a <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/BRLhaOUjmaI\">video<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Rechargeable batteries are covered by a one-year warranty.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>Batteries <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should last two to five years in typical use. <\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Products<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/salinity-standard\/\">Salinity Standard<\/a> (<nobr>SAL-ST<\/nobr>) \u2013 35 ppt<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-to-usb-c-cable\/\">Micro USB to USB-C Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-C-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-charge-station\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Charge Station<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-CRG<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/electrode-support\/\">Electrode Support<\/a> (<nobr>ESUP<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-sensor-clamp\/\">Go Direct&reg; Sensor Clamp<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-CLAMP<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-conductivity-probe\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Conductivity Probe<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-CON<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/salinity-sensor\/\">Salinity Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>SAL-BTA<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replacement Parts<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-cable\/\">Micro USB Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Specifications and User Guide Some versions of this sensor support Remote Data Logging. Troubleshooting General: Press the power button on the sensor to turn it&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11015,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[720,1744,1746,1747],"class_list":["post-20499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-maintil","tag-sal-bta","tag-salinitymain","tag-salmain"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11015"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20499\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}