Rugged and Reliable Water Quality Meters
If you’re using a YSI handheld water quality meter, you already know the importance of a rugged, durable design for true fieldwork. In fact, we’ve modified our features before in direct response to customer feedback, which has benefited all who use our instrumentation.
One example - our aquaculture customers frequently tie their cable/probes to the end of a long pole so they can drive from pond to pond and extend it into the water to take readings quickly for dissolved oxygen. In doing so, they required cables that could withstand bouncing around on the end of a pole over rough terrain many times a day. We found the right cable, made the change, and now anyone who purchases a Pro Series instrument benefits from a more durable cable designed for some of our specific aquaculture customers.
Some manufacturers want to save costs on their connectors, or sensors, or they even design meters for the lab and tell you that you can take them into the field!
So, How Tough is Your Water Quality Instrument? Let’s Compare.
Story 1
The YSI Pro Plus (now the ProQuatro) was being used at an aquaculture facility with nearly 100 ponds. The ponds were checked multiple times a day so the meter was used continually. The facility used ATV’s to get from pond to pond and one long day, an employee was anxious to get home so he sped off on his ATV after sampling the last pond. The meter happened to bounce off the ATV onto the ground while the cable was attached to a pole secured to the ATV. Needless to say, that poor instrument bounced around behind the ATV for more than half a mile down a gravel road before the driver noticed it. He stopped, shook his head, then simply dusted it off and turned it on to check it. It was scratched up a bit but worked just fine. This image is the actual meter in question.
Pro Plus 1, Gravel Road 0
Story 2
A YSI customer accidentally dropped his Pro Plus off a 40-foot bridge into a raging river below. Since the river was at flood stage, they knew there was no need to head down and look, it was simply too dangerous and that little guy was surely lost. A week later, however, he and his team came back. Using a long pole to scrape the river bottom, they were able to find the cable and then pull it up to locate the still attached meter. They were amazed to find that – after a week submerged in a muddy river bed – their Pro Plus still worked. The Pro Plus wasn’t amazed though, he knows he’s tough.
Pro Plus 1, Muddy River Bottom 0
Story 3
A YSI wastewater customer knocked a Pro Plus into an aeration basin at their water resource recovery facility. Not the best of conditions to take a dip. Seemingly lost for good, he reluctantly moved on. One year later, yes, an entire year later, the tank was drained to complete some minor maintenance. You know where this is going, don’t you? Yep, there lay that rugged ole Pro Plus meter in the bottom of the tank. After a good bit of cleaning, they decided to try to turn it on. Not only did it work, but it’s still being used today!
Pro Plus 1, Bottom of Nasty Old Aeration Basin After One Year 0
Add your YSI meter 'tough' stories in the comments section below. Let us know if Pro Series meter you own is still winning! You could also share your not-so-tough stories of competitive products if you'd like but let's leave the manufacturer names out so we don't have hurt feelings. :-)
Additional Blog Posts of Interest:
Kamchatka Peninsula: Where the Water Run Free and Salmon Thrive
How the Pro Plus Water Quality Meter Saves Time When There's No Time to Spare
Monitoring the Effects of a Forest Invader with a Water Quality Meter
Water Quality Study Near Port-Au-Prince, Haiti