SonTek CastAway-CTD

The SonTek CastAway-CTD is a lightweight, easy-to-use instrument designed for quick and accurate conductivity, temperature, and depth profiles.

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
$7,315.00
Stock 2AVAILABLE
SonTek CastAway-CTD

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
Questions & Answers
How long is the battery life?
With continuous use, battery life is estimated at 40 hours.
How much internal memory do the CTDs have?
The CastAway-CTD has 15 MB internal memory, which translates to ~750 casts.
Are there any service plans available for the CastAway CTD?
No, there are no service plans needed, or available. Both Fondriest and SonTek offer free tech support for the life of the instrument.
What is a CTD?
A CTD measures conductivity and temperature profiles with respect to depth. The acronym CTD stands for Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth. For a CTD, profiling refers to a series of measurements collected as the instrument itself descends from the surface of the water to the bottom and back up again.
What is the difference between conductivity and specific conductance on the CastAway-CTD?
Conductivity is the raw measurement, while specific conductance is this measurement compensated for the influence of temperature.
What is the recommendation for batteries on the CastAway-CTD during long-term storage?
If the CastAway-CTD will be idle for more than one week, remove the batteries before storage to avoid draining them.
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Front view of SonTek CastAway-CTD
CA-CTD
CastAway-CTD conductivity, temperature & depth instrument
$7,315.00
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