Maintenance
Source: Intuition-6 Instruction Manual Rev. H, Page: 102 Regular maintenance ensures accurate measurements and reliable control. The primary maintenance tasks involve sensor cleaning and calibration.Maintenance Schedule
| Task | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor cleaning | Weekly to monthly | Depends on water quality |
| pH/ORP calibration | Monthly | Or when readings drift |
| Conductivity calibration | Quarterly | Or when readings drift |
| Disinfection sensor calibration | Weekly | Process calibration recommended |
| Membrane replacement (disinfection) | 3-6 months | Per sensor manual |
| Visual inspection | Monthly | Check for leaks, damage |
| Fuse inspection | Annually | Replace if discolored |
| Battery replacement | 5-7 years | Real-time clock backup |
Electrode Cleaning
Use these procedures to restore sensor accuracy and prevent fouling-related drift.Contacting Conductivity Electrodes
Graphite Electrodes (Cooling Tower):- Remove from process
- Rinse with clean water
- Brush gently with soft brush to remove deposits
- For heavy scaling, soak in dilute acid (10% HCl) for 15 minutes
- Rinse thoroughly before reinstalling
- Remove from process
- Rinse with clean water
- For scale, soak in dilute phosphoric acid
- For oil/grease, clean with mild detergent
- Rinse and reinstall
Electrodeless Conductivity Sensors
- Remove from process
- Rinse with clean water
- Use soft cloth to wipe sensing surfaces
- For stubborn deposits, use appropriate chemical cleaner based on deposit type
- Rinse thoroughly and reinstall
pH Electrodes
Routine Cleaning:- Remove from process
- Rinse with clean water
- Soak in pH electrode cleaning solution for 15 minutes
- Rinse with clean water
- Store in pH 4 buffer or KCl storage solution if not reinstalling immediately
- Soak in 0.1 M HCl or pepsin solution
- Follow with standard cleaning procedure
- Soak in dilute EDTA solution
- Rinse thoroughly
Never wipe pH glass bulb with dry cloth—this generates static charge that affects readings. Always rinse with water.
ORP Electrodes
- Remove from process
- Rinse with clean water
- Clean platinum surface with soft cloth
- For stubborn deposits, polish with aluminum oxide slurry
- Rinse and reinstall
Disinfection Sensors
Membrane-Style Sensors:- Remove flow cell from process (close isolation valves)
- Remove sensor from flow cell
- Rinse sensing surface with clean water
- Check membrane for tears or deposits
- Replace membrane cap if damaged or per schedule
- Follow manufacturer-specific cleaning procedures
- May require electrolyte replacement
Sensor Evaluation
Use these checks to determine whether sensors need cleaning or replacement.Evaluating Conductivity Electrodes
Contacting Conductivity:- Measure resistance between electrode terminals with multimeter
- Compare to expected values:
- 0.01 cell: Higher resistance
- 10.0 cell: Lower resistance
- Clean if readings are inconsistent
- Check Installation Factor after calibration
- Should be between 0.5 and 1.5
- Values outside range indicate coating or positioning issues
Evaluating pH/ORP Electrodes
pH Electrode Tests:- Calibrate with two buffers
- Check slope value:
- Good: 54-62 mV/pH
- Marginal: 48-54 mV/pH (consider replacement)
- Failed: Below 48 mV/pH (replace)
- Check response time (should stabilize within 60 seconds)
- Place in ORP standard solution
- Compare reading to expected value
- Check response time
- Replace if response is slow or reading is significantly off
Replacing the Powered Relay Fuse
The six powered relays share a common 6.3 A fuse.If the fuse blows repeatedly, check for short circuits in connected equipment. Total relay load must not exceed 6 A.
Battery Replacement
The BR2032 lithium coin cell maintains the real-time clock during power outages. Symptoms of Low Battery:- Date/time resets after power cycle
- Time drifts significantly
- Disconnect power
- Open front panel
- Locate battery on main controller board
- Remove old battery, note polarity
- Insert new BR2032 battery
- Reassemble and power on
- Set correct date and time
Calibration Frequency Guidelines
| Sensor Type | Typical Frequency | Increase If… |
|---|---|---|
| Contacting Conductivity | Quarterly | Heavy scaling, coating |
| Electrodeless Conductivity | Quarterly | Coating, temperature swings |
| pH | Monthly | Aggressive chemistry, high temperature |
| ORP | Monthly | Low residual applications |
| Free Chlorine | Weekly | Varying water quality |
| Total Chlorine | Weekly | High organic load |
| Temperature | Annually | Critical applications |
| 4-20 mA Transmitters | Per transmitter manual | Drift observed |
Preventive Maintenance Checklist
Use these checklists to keep the controller and sensors in good working order.Monthly
- Check all sensor readings for reasonableness
- Verify flow through sample lines
- Clean sensors if needed
- Review alarm history
- Check chemical tank levels
- Verify relay operation (put in Hand mode briefly)
Quarterly
- Calibrate conductivity sensors
- Clean and calibrate pH sensors
- Calibrate ORP sensors
- Verify flow meter calibration
- Check all wiring connections for tightness
- Inspect enclosure seals
Annually
- Calibrate temperature sensors
- Calibrate 4-20 mA transmitters
- Inspect and test fuse
- Check battery voltage
- Verify all relay operations under load
- Review and update control settings
- Export configuration to USB for backup
Spare Parts
Keep these items on hand for quick repairs:| Part | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Replacement sensors | Minimize downtime during failures |
| pH buffer solutions (4, 7, 10) | Regular calibration |
| Conductivity standards | Calibration verification |
| Flow cell o-rings | Seal replacement during cleaning |
| Membrane caps (disinfection sensors) | Scheduled replacement |
| Fuses (6.3 A) | Relay fuse replacement |
| BR2032 battery | RTC backup |
Sources
Intuition-6 Instruction Manual Rev. H
Page 102 • February 2024