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4.2 Calibrating nutrient pumps
Bluelab®recommends that pumps are calibrated on initial set up, whenever it is observed that
different quantities of solution are being dosed, when changing nutrient type, and every 30 days.
A pump set as a pH pump cannot be calibrated.
Dose rates of peristaltic pumps can vary for many reasons, including:
• Temperature of solution.
• Temperature of operating environment.
• Vertical mounting distance (height) from stock solutions.
• Age and condition of peristaltic tubes.
• Age and condition of pumps.
• Specic gravity and viscosity of stock solutions.
For these reasons the Bluelab®PeriPod™has a pump calibration feature that is designed to reduce
these effects by providing a user calibration for each pump. Pump calibration is not required,
however it does improve the dosing accuracy of each pump relative to the others, which is important
when accurate dosing of several nutrient stock solutions into the reservoir is required.
The pump calibration is a simple process where equal volumes of solution are pumped through
each nutrient pump. The time taken to deliver this volume of solution is measured by the Bluelab®
PeriPod™which will then adjust each pump’s running time during dosing in order to deliver the same
quantity of solution from each pump.
To complete calibration you will need; an empty transparent container that is able to hold
approximately 300ml / 10oz for M versions, or 3000ml / 100oz for L versions, a marker pen, and a
stop watch or similar.
CAUTION
•If calibrating pumps, ensure ALL pumps in the PeriPod™chain are calibrated.
•To ensure calibration accuracy, the solution used during the calibration of each pump MUST
be the same solution that will be dosed by that specic pump during normal operation.
•Pump calibration should be done with the Bluelab®PeriPod™and inlet tubing fully installed
and primed as it would be during normal operation.
•The maximum running time for a pump during calibration is 3 minutes. If this time is
exceeded the calibration will fail (the PeriPod will display “F” then “A”,”I,” “L”, leave calibration
mode and return to standby). It will not save calibration for that pump. If a pump takes longer
than three minutes to deliver the required amount of solution it is likely there is a problem
with the pump. See Section 5.3 Troubleshooting.
With the Bluelab®PeriPod™and dose tubing fully
installed and primed, and the Bluelab®Pro Controller
in monitor mode (if connected):
Select the rst nutrient pump to be calibrated, remove
the outlet dosing tube from the pump outlet and place
your empty transparent container underneath the
pump outlet tube so that nutrient pumped through the
pump will ow into the empty transparent container
and NOT into the reservoir.
Note: Carefully remove the outlet dosing tube from the
connector to remove for M3 version.
Power up the Bluelab®PeriPod™. The LED Display
should show a dot in the lower left hand corner of the
display indicating it is in standby mode.
1
2
Remove outlet
dosing tube
Power up in
standby mode
Put empty container
under pump outlet tube
