Product Manual

15
Storage of IRROMETERS – When not in use
When IRROMETERS are in continuous use, as with tree crops in moderate climates, they operate
for years with no attention except for routine servicing. The few operating problems that have been
experienced, have almost all occurred with instruments that have
been used intermittently and have been improperly stored.
Therefore, the following recommendations are very important.
1. Remove instruments from the ground immediately at the end
of the growing season. This will prevent deposits of salts on
the ceramic tip and frozen gauges.
2. Never let a ceramic tip partially air dry. Preparing a plastic
container with 4" of fully saturated sand in the bottom
provides for a convenient way of keeping tips wet while
transporting them. Simply stick the instrument tip into the
saturated sand with cap removed. Tips which are allowed to
air dry usually will plug up badly and will require factory
replacement.
3. See “DRY” Storage Instructions (next page). Transport
instruments to shop area and begin by shaking out all fluid in
the tube. Then begin cleaning and flushing operation under
“Dry” storage.
Temporary Storage
When instruments are to be stored for only a few weeks, “Wet”
storage is recommended.
Fill and cap the instruments. Clean the exterior of the ceramic tips
with a moist towel and immerse in IRROMETER Field Solution in
a glass or plastic container.
Do NOT store in rusty or oily container. Maintain the level in the
container high enough to keep the tips completely submerged at
all times. If evaporation takes place add distilled water. This
maintains a uniform concentration of solution as the active
ingredients in IRROMETER Fluid are not volatile.
This method of storage keeps the instruments in operating
condition and ready for immediate installation.
“Dry” Storage (Important)
When instruments are to be out of use for several months, “Dry”
storage as described below is preferable.
1.
Clean the surface of the ceramic tip carefully with a handful of
wet soil or a stiff brush. Wash all plastic surfaces with soap
solution, rinse thoroughly and drain. After cleaning, it is advisable to flush the tip by filling the
IRROMETER with clean water
, with cap removed, and allow water to gravity-flow through the tip.
2. Replace caps loosely. Hang and store in a clean dust-free location which is heated adequately
to avoid freezing temperatures.
3. If a frost-free location is not available, wash and drain the instruments as above, then evacuate
water from the gauges using the hand vacuum pump or other source of vacuum. Hold the
instrument in a horizontal position with the gauge upright. Each gauge holds about a teaspoonful
of water.
Wet Storage
Tip Cleaning