See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/250020055

An Inexpensive, Low-Maintenance, Precision Amplifier, Dissolved Oxygen

Sensor, and Miniature Data Logger System Designed for Long-Term
Deployment in Riverine Systems

Article  in  Transactions of the American Fisheries Society · March 2010

DOI: 10.1577/T08-011.1

CITATION READS

1 3,159

2 authors:

Lawrence Keenan Steven J. Miller

St. Johns River Water Management District St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka Florida
13 PUBLICATIONS   152 CITATIONS    44 PUBLICATIONS   517 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

st. johns river water supply View project

St. Johns River Restoration View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Steven J. Miller on 21 November 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 139:593–597, 2010
Ó Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 2010
DOI: 10.1577/T08-011.1
An Inexpensive, Low-Maintenance, Precision Amplifier, Dissolved
Oxygen Sensor, and Miniature Data Logger System Designed for
Long-Term Deployment in Riverine Systems
LAWRENCE W. KEENAN
Division of Environmental Sciences, St. Johns River Water Management District,
4049 Reid Street, Post Office Box 1429, Palatka, Florida 32177, USA
Abstract.—The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is a
dynamic water quality variable that is critical to fisheries. To
obtain simultaneous DO data at 15-min intervals over long
periods (i.e., months) at a number of points along a river, a
simple, inexpensive (,US$40) differential voltage amplifier
circuit was developed to provide an interface between a
galvanic DO probe and a miniature data logger. The circuit is
designed around precision, micropower, single-voltage supply
operational amplifiers and consumes less than 3 W while
isolating and amplifying the output of a galvanic DO probe.
The circuit is efficient and rapid enough to be powered by the
data logger’s 2.5-V, 1-mA, 18-ms-read sensor trigger signal.
The complete unit, including the enclosure and floats, was
constructed for less than $700. Fourteen were deployed in the
upper portion of the St. Johns River, Florida, over an 18-
month period. The units remained continuously deployed for
4- to 6-month periods 82% of the time, and 93% of the
collected data passed quality assurance tests.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the most biologically
relevant water quality measurement of lakes and
streams because it is fundamental to the metabolism
of aerobic aquatic organisms (Wetzel 2003). However,
developing a detailed understanding of the temporal
and spatial dynamics of DO in aquatic systems is often
difficult because of equipment and personnel limita-
tions. To collect DO data at multiple locations, a
relatively simple, inexpensive DO recording unit is
needed that can collect measurements at relatively
frequent intervals (e.g., every 15 min) and be deployed
for extended intervals with minimal maintenance. The
unit needs to be portable, have low power consump-
tion, and be able to withstand demanding environmen-
tal conditions. This paper describes the design,
construction, calibration, and performance of such a
DO recording apparatus and provides information on
the precision and accuracy of measurements on the
basis of laboratory as well as long-term field
deployments.
* Corresponding author: lkeenan@sjrwmd.com
Received January 16, 2008; accepted October 22, 2009
Published online February 8, 2010
593
[Note]
AND STEVEN J. MILLER
Methods
Design and construction.—The DO recording de-
vice consists of a DO probe, a miniature data logger, a
signal conditioning circuit, and rugged waterproof
housing. A Mackereth-type galvanic, or self-polarizing,
DO probe was chosen because it requires no external
power source and produces a voltage signal linearly
proportional to the partial pressure of oxygen in
solution (Mackereth 1964). Specifically, the Sensorex
DO-7000T (Sensorex Corp., Garden Grove, California)
DO probe was chosen because it is designed for long
deployment in harsh environments. This probe is
commonly used in wastewater, industrial process, and
aquaculture settings. The probe has an internal
thermister to provide automatic temperature compen-
sation for membrane permeability and requires only a
single-point calibration. This model probe has been
discontinued but Sensorex’s DO-6400T probe, with a
slightly different housing, has the same electrochemical
specifications and would serve as a direct replacement
in this system.
The HOBO U12–008 (Onset Computer Corp.,
Pocasset, Massachusetts) data logger was chosen for
this project because of its low cost, high resolution,
weather resistance, and simplicity of use. The data
logger has four 12-bit analog-to-digital (A–D) channels
that will accept a selection of Onset sensors or a DC
input of 0–2.5 V. Direct connection of the DO probe to
the data logger was not feasible because the maximum
output voltage from the probe at oxygen saturation is
so low that it extends over less than 2% of the data
logger’s measurement range. To achieve greater
resolution of the DO concentration, a high-precision,
linear signal conditioning circuit was designed to
increase the probe’s voltage output by approximately
50-fold.
The signal conditioning circuit was developed to
meet the following criteria: (1) the output signal should
use the full measurement range of the HOBO U12 data
logger; (2) the voltage and amperage requirements
should be completely met by the data logger’s sensor
activation signal output; (3) the signal should be
stabilized before the beginning of the data logger’s read
594 KEENAN AND MILLER
FIGURE 1.—Schematic diagram of the sensor signal conditioning circuit using LM1077 operational amplifiers (picofarad).
cycle; (4) the circuit should not interfere with other
sensors connected to the data logger; (5) the circuit
should be stable over long periods and large temper-
ature ranges; (6) the circuit should be small enough to
fit inside the data logger’s weather-resistant case; and
(7) the circuit should be easily assembled out of readily
available, inexpensive parts.
An integrated circuit operational amplifier (Op Amp)
is an appropriate choice to begin design of a stable,
linear, floating differential amplification circuit. We
chose a precision Op Amp LT-1077 (Linear Technol-
ogy Corp., Milpitas, California) for various suitable
characteristics, particularly its ability to be powered by
the data logger’s 2.5-V sensor read signal and its ability
for output to swing from nearly 0 to 2.5 V, almost the
entire measurement range of the data logger. Two Op
Amps were used to meet the impedance and amplifi-
cation requirements. A schematic of the amplification
circuit is supplied (Figure 1). All resistors were metal-
film–type rated at 0.125 W (accuracy, 61%). All parts
were readily available by order from Digi-key
Corporation (www.digikey.com).
The circuit design is relatively simple and layout of a
circuit board from the schematic should be easy for
anyone with moderate electronics experience. We used
free layout software from ExpressPCB, Inc. (www.
expresspcb.com), which greatly simplified the task.
This software also allowed direct Internet ordering of
custom-printed circuit boards with predrilled holes for
component mounting, an epoxy solder mask, and silk-
screened labeling for parts placement. Using a custom
layout and a solder mask allowed the entire circuit to be
constructed on a compact 1.1 cm 3 6 cm board that fit
within the data logger’s weather-resistant housing on
top of the its circuit board. An electronic copy of the
circuit layout file used in our work can be obtained by
contacting either author. This copy can be submitted
directly to ExpressPCB, Inc., to order finished circuit
boards ready for parts placement. The completed
circuit boards are tested by measuring output voltage
with an input of approximately 40 mV and with the
inputs shorted. Because of the small power require-
ments, the voltages needed to power the circuit and run
the tests can be developed using a rheostat and a 3-V
battery to power the circuit and another rheostat to
produce the 40-mV input. The 40-mV input should
read approximately 2 V or about 50 times the actual
input voltage. The output should read approximately 16
mV with the input shorted. If either reading is
incorrect, check for solder tracks between component
solder joints, poorly soldered joints, and misplaced
components. These problems are the cause of nearly
every failure and are easily repaired.
The sensor wires were sealed by using the watertight
compression glands provided with the data logger
enclosure. The DO sensor-circuits were connected to
channel 4 of the data loggers. This can be hardwired
directly or by way of a 2.5-mm stereo plug, the wiring
order being trigger signal, positive output, and ground
from tip to base of plug. Detailed color pictures of
hardwire attachment points for channel 4 can be
obtained from either author by e-mail. The data loggers
were also set to record temperature on channel 1, using
temperature sensors strapped to the side of each DO
sensor housing (TMx-HD Soil/Water temperature
sensor; Onset Computer Corp.).
For field applications, DO sensors equipped with
signal conditioning circuits and connected to data
loggers were deployed as anchored floating units in the
upper reaches of the St. Johns River, Florida, USA.
 NOTE 595

These field units had loggers installed into 20.3 cm 3

20.3 cm polyvinyl chloride (PVC) electrical boxes, and
the DO and temperature sensors were threaded through
PVC pipe extending down approximately 50 cm. Next,
a 1-m section of 5.08-cm PVC electrical conduit was
attached to the back of the data logger housing and two
styrene-foam crab floats were bored out to fit over the
conduit (Figure 2). The 5.08-cm PVC conduit on back
of the unit was fit over 3.0-cm PVC water pipe driven
into the sediments at each sampling site. The crab
floats provided buoyancy and maintained the DO and
temperature sensors at a constant depth during rising
and falling water levels. The DO sensors were angled
slightly (;158) off vertical to minimize trapping
bubbles against the sensor membrane. Wave action
provided small-amplitude vertical movement of the DO
sensor. This, combined with careful site selection
within river flow, provided the flow across the DO
sensor membrane needed to obtain accurate readings.
The wide temperature operating range of the compo-
nents and watertight packaging of the circuit made it
suitably rugged for field use over a wide range of
weather conditions.
Calibration.—Only a single-point calibration was
needed. Calibration began by placing the DO sensor in
moisture-saturated air at ambient temperature for
several hours. The DO saturation concentration for
the recorded probe’s temperature was calculated by
using an equation for DO saturation concentration
(Weiss 1970). The voltage recorded from the equili-
brated probe circuit unit was reduced by 16 mV (the
average 0-V input offset), and the calculated DO
saturation concentration was divided by the reduced
voltage, which yielded a conversion factor for the unit.
Later readings were reduced by the 16-mV offset and
multiplied by the conversion factor to calculated
observed DO concentration.
Air calibration is typical of commercial DO meters
and is recommended before each use. Calibration
checks typically are performed at the end of each
sampling effort for all units. Calibration is critical after
membrane or electrolyte replacement or after storage in
air. Aside from these standard calibration procedures,
no special steps beyond calculating conversion factors
are needed for these units. Further details on proper
calibration and theory are available (APHA et al.
1998).
FIGURE 2.—Dissolved oxygen data logger enclosure for
Temperature and flow regime tests.—Temperature deployment.
response was conducted with DO and temperature
probes suspended in a common insulated 12-L plastic
cooler with constant mixing and aeration provided by
an aquarium air pump and an air stone. Measurements
were taken in oxygen-saturated water over tempera-
596 KEENAN AND MILLER
tures ranging from 58C to 338C with units previously
calibrated at 218C.
The sensitivity of the DO sensors to flow was
assessed by operating four units simultaneously with a
YSI multiparameter sonde (Yellow Springs Instru-
ments, Yellow Springs, Ohio) in the laboratory. Tests
were conducted with the DO and temperature sensors
and the YSI sonde suspended in a 113-L aquarium. The
sensitivity to flow was compared in three different flow
regimes: a vigorous mixing regime in the tank
maintained by a 120-V AC submersible fountain pump
rated for 150 L/min; a mild mixing regime using only
an aquarium air pump and an air stone; and a stagnant,
no-flow regime. The vigorous flow regime had
minimum observed flows between DO sensors esti-
mated at 5 cm/s and maximum flows near the bottom
of the tank greater than 30 cm/s. The mild mixing
regime had flows visually estimated at 4 cm/s in the
immediate vicinity of the bubble stream but only
between 0.5 and 0.1 cm/s next to the DO probes.
Visual measurement of the velocity of particulates in
the water could not reliably discriminate by better than
0.5–0.1 cm/s. In the static flow test, no water
movement was visible in the tank.
Field tests.—Several long-term deployments were
completed between 2003 and 2007, generally in pairs
at seven major locations. All deployments used 15-min
intervals for measurements. Several included simulta-
neous deployment of YSI recording sondes. Data were
downloaded and the probe’s membrane was wiped
clean every 2 weeks. During each service visit, the DO
was measured independently with a freshly calibrated
YSI sonde. The units were retrieved after 4 to 6 months
to replace the desiccant and battery in the data logger
and the membrane and electrolyte in the DO probe.
Results
Temperature and Flow Regime Tests
Less than a 1% difference from expected values was
observed between for temperatures between 118C and
338C. At temperatures below 148C, DO measurements
began to underestimate the expected values, differing
by more than 3% at 88C and by more than 5% at 68C.
Differences less than 0.5% were observed as temper-
atures exceeded 308C
In all flow regimes, the constructed DO units had
nearly identical responses. However, in the stagnant
regime, the YSI with its flow-insensitive pulsed DO
probe, measured DO concentrations nearly 2 mg/L
higher than the constructed units. This probably
resulted from the constant consumption of oxygen by
the galvanic probes and the development of an oxygen-
depleted zone at the membrane surface of the probes.
With vigorous mixing, the YSI measured DO at
approximately 0.1 mg/L higher than the constructed
units did. With only mild mixing using the air pump,
measured DO differed by less than 0.1 mg/L between
any of the instruments. Although flows in the mild
mixing regime were so low they were hard to observe
or accurately measure, this was apparently enough to
allow accurate DO measurements, even though the
manufacturer stipulates a 2 cm/s minimum flow. The
DO probes may be more sensitive to low flows with
low DO concentrations or high temperatures but this
was not tested in the laboratory.
Field Tests
Measurements between constructed units, YSI
recording sondes, and spot checks during service visits
generally showed good agreement. Constructed units
had a operational period of at least 4 months 82% of
the time with approximately 93% of the data passing
initial quality assurance requirements. Units rarely had
differences larger than 0.25 mg/L DO for data that
passed quality assurance.
Discussion
Dissolved oxygen measurements over wide temper-
ature ranges generally are not recommended by meter
manufacturers because of inaccuracy under those
conditions. Calibration near the expected sample
temperature is recommended. Still, the results for our
units indicate that they are broadly, if not universally,
applicable used with simple linear calibrations tech-
niques. Because less than a 1% difference from
expected values was observed between 118C and
338C in the temperature tests, we found that application
of a simple linear conversion factor at local observed
water temperatures from 138C to 348C provides a good
prediction of DO levels in our system. Still, the use of
this design in rivers where temperatures fall below
108C may require additional calibration.
The sensitivity of the DO probe to flow varies with
temperature and oxygen concentration. The effective-
ness of bulk water flow past a probe is affected by the
probe’s shape and orientation and by nearby structures.
Our trials indicated probe results in very low flow
could be effective, but this might be very site-specific.
Furthermore, we believe that having the units moored
as a floating platform allowed even small surface
waves to reduce the sensitivity to low flow by
providing vertical movement.
A 4–6-month service interval is likely to be similar
for all situations when 15-min readings are taken;
however, the membrane cleaning and data downloads
are more site-specific. Our units, which were in waters
with high organic loads, would build up organic
coating on the Teflon membranes over a period of
 NOTE
several weeks. Additionally, given the potential effects
of alligator bites, boat strikes, the occasional hurricane,
and rafts of floating vegetation, we were reluctant to
chance losing more than 2 weeks worth of data. Service
intervals could be much longer under less demanding
circumstances. Because the units were fairly inexpen-
sive to construct, they could be deployed in pairs;
problems with a unit were immediately obvious when
the measurements from the two units differed from
each other or from the spot check measurement taken at
the service interval.
In conclusion, this design provides an inexpensive
(,$700) alternative to commercial units for collecting
frequent and remote recorded DO measurements. It is
easy to construct Even persons with little electronics
knowledge can easily construct this device, which is
easy to calibrate, rugged, and dependable and requires
little maintenance during long deployments in harsh
environments. In addition, because two A–D channels
remain unused on the data logger after DO and
temperature sensors are attached, use of additional
sensors such as light sensors may be possible (Phillips
View publication stats
597
and Bond 1999). Limitations include the need for
complicated temperature compensation techniques in
coldwater systems and the addition of a stirrer or
agitator for very-low-flow or still waters, which would
entail significantly greater costs.
References
APHA (American Public Health Association), American
Water Works Association, and Water Environment
Federation. 1998. Standard methods for the examination
of water and wastewater, 20th edition. APHA, Wash-
ington, D.C.
Mackereth, F. J. H. 1964. An improved galvanic cell for
determination of oxygen concentrations in fluids. Journal
of Scientific Instruments 41:38–41.
Phillips, N., and B. J. Bond. 1999. A micropower precision
amplifier for converting the output of light sensors to a
voltage readable by miniature data loggers. Tree
Physiology 19:547–549.
Weiss, R. 1970. The solubility of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon
in water and seawater. Deep-Sea Research 17:721–35.
Wetzel, R. G. 2003. Limnology, lakes, and river ecosystems,
3rd edition. Academic Press, San Diego, California.