SonTek CastAway-CTD
Features
- Can be used for sensor verification, speed of sound profiles, thermocline profiling, and more
- Sampling rate and sensor response of 5 Hz with 1m per second free fall design
- Designed for CTD profiling down to 100m
- Free ground shipping
- Expedited repair and warranty service
- Lifetime technical support
- More
Overview
The SonTek CastAway-CTD conductivity, temperature, and depth sensor incorporates modern technical features which allow fine spatial resolution and high accuracy. The CastAway-CTD uses a six electrode flow-through conductivity cell with zero external fields and a rapid response thermistor to attain high measurement accuracy. The instrument is simple to deploy, does not require a pump, and is hydrodynamically designed to have a free fall rate of 1 m/s.
Built-in GPS Reciever
Each CastAway-CTD cast is referenced with time and location using its built-in GPS receiver. Latitude and longitude are acquired both before and after each profile. Plots of conductivity, temperature, salinity and sound speed versus depth can be viewed immediately on the CastAway's integrated color LCD screen in the field. Raw data can be easily downloaded via Bluetooth to a Windows computer for detailed analysis and export at any time.
Other Features
- Salinity Accuracy: 0.1 PSU
- Temperature Accuracy: 0.05°C
- Small size
- Integrated GPS position
- Real-time display screen
- Wireless data transfer
- 5 Hz sampling rate
Parameter Specifications | Range | Resolution | Accuracy | Method |
Conductivity | 0 to 100,000 µS/cm | 1 µS/cm | 0.25% ±5 µS/cm | Measured |
Density• | 990 to 1035 kg/m3 | 0.04 kg.m3 | ± 0.02 kg/m3 | EOS80•• |
Depth | 0 to 100 m | 0.01 m | ±0.25% FS | EOS80•• |
GPS | - | - | 10m | - |
Pressure | 0 to 100 dBar | 0.01 dBar | 0.25% of FS | Measured |
Salinity | Up to 42 | 0.01 | ±0.1 | PSS-78† |
Sound Speed | 1400 –1730 m/s | 0.01 m/s | ±0.15 m/s | Chen-Millero‡ |
Specific Conductivity§ | 0 to 250,000 µS/cm | 1 µS/cm | 0.25% ±5 µS/cm | EOS80•• |
Temperature | -5 to +45°C | 0.01°C | ±0.05°C | Measured |
•Based on temperature resolution and accuracy.
••International Equation of State for seawater (EOS-80).
†1978 Practical Salinity Scale
‡ Chen-Millero, 1977. Speed-of-sound in seawater at high pressures.
§ Based on 100,000 µS/cm at -5°C.
- (1) CastAway-CTD with polyurethane jacket
- (3) Magnetic stylus pens
- (1) Bluetooth adapter
- (2) Carabiners
- (1) 15m casting line
- (4) AA batteries
- (1) Maintenance pack (includes cleaning brush, lubricant, o-ring)
- (1) USB flash drive with CastAway Windows software and documentation
- (1) Quick Start Guide
- (1) Hard plastic storage/shipping case
In The News
CastAway Doubts about Conductivity, Depth and Temperature Monitoring
The Sontek CastAway-CTD is a castable device that measures conductivity, temperature and depth. The instrument has been used in the field for over a decade by oceanographers, limnologists, divers, fishers and educators. There have been few changes since the first iteration in 2010, showing that the instrument is durable and accurate without requiring new models. 
 
 The CastAway is the first conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) instrument of its kind. While other CTDs are large and cumbersome to deploy, with cages and isolated sensors, the CastAway is a small, lightweight and easy-to-use instrument. Typical CTDs utilize pumps to ensure water flows over the sensors during deployment.
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