Product details
Self-Cleaning Suspended Solids & Turbidity Probe — Wiper Equipped
The InstroDirect IDTB-SS-W Suspended Solids / Turbidity Probe with Self-Cleaning Wiper is a heavy-duty suspended solids and turbidity probe designed for activated sludge and process water where a non-wiping optical sensor would foul within hours. A mechanical wiper sweeps the optical window on a user-configurable cycle (typically every 15 minutes), so the probe delivers drift-free readings in MLSS up to 30 g/L without daily manual cleaning.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Measurement parameters | Turbidity, temperature (also available: TSS / MLSS variants) |
| Measurement method | Infrared scattering method |
| Range | 0 – 100 / 500 / 2000 / 4000 NTU; Temperature: 0 – 60 °C |
| Accuracy | ≤ ±2% |
| Repeatability | ≤ 1% |
| Resolution | 0.01 NTU |
| Response time | ≤ 5 s |
| Drift | ≤ ±3% F.S. |
| Calibration cycle | 6 months |
| Protection level | IP68 |
| Cleaning method | Mechanical brush automatic cleaning |
| Communication | RS485 Modbus RTU, max baud 115200 bps |
| Power supply / Consumption | 12 / 24 VDC, < 0.5 W (non-cleaning mode) |
| Material | stainless steel, POM |
| Size | 205 mm × Φ 40 mm |
| Weight | 0.5 kg |
Typical Australian Applications
- Activated sludge MLSS monitoring in aeration basins
- Secondary clarifier sludge blanket measurement
- Digester feed solids control
- Industrial wastewater suspended solids compliance
- Pulp and paper process water
- Mining tailings and slurry monitoring
- Food & beverage effluent screening
Why Integrators Choose the IDTB-SS-W
- Mechanical wiper eliminates the weekly manual cleaning cycle that every non-wiping probe demands in activated sludge
- Dual-range firmware outputs both turbidity (NTU) and suspended solids (mg/L) on separate Modbus registers
- 30 g/L upper range covers even the heaviest MLSS in digester feeds
- 316 stainless body and sapphire windows survive WWTP chemistries long-term
Installation & Calibration
Submerge in the aeration basin or install through a 3/4″ NPT pipe boss in a process line. Configure the wiper interval based on fouling observations (start at 15 minutes and adjust). Calibrate both turbidity and SS channels on-site against a grab-sample laboratory TSS analysis. Replacement wiper blades are a 60-second swap without removing the probe from service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I need to replace the wiper blade?
Typically every 6–12 months depending on duty cycle and water abrasiveness. Blade swap is a 60-second on-site procedure.
Can this replace a laboratory TSS analysis?
For process control and trending, yes. For regulatory compliance reporting, calibrate the probe against lab TSS regularly (monthly) and treat the probe as a continuous monitoring instrument backed by lab verification.
Is there a lower-cost version without the wiper?
Yes — see IDTB-IL-316 (Inline Optical Turbidity Sensor) for clean-water applications without fouling.
Will it work in primary sedimentation tanks?
Yes, but at the upper end of the range (10–30 g/L). Position the probe at a stable depth in the sludge layer and configure the wiper to 5-minute intervals during high-flow events.
Australian Technical Support, Calibration & Consumables
- Brisbane-based phone & email technical support from field engineers with 20+ years automation experience
- On-site calibration service across QLD, NSW, VIC with calibration certificate
- Trade pricing for integrators, councils, water utilities, pool & spa contractors
Request a Trade Quote
Panel builders, system integrators, council water departments, water utilities, and food & beverage engineers get volume trade pricing. Submit a quote request and we’ll respond within one business day with stock, pricing, and lead time.
Why InstroDirect vs Endress+Hauser or HACH in Australia
InstroDirect supplies the same grade of water-quality sensor that Australian councils, WWTP integrators, pharma plants, and food & beverage operators specify from Endress+Hauser and HACH — at a significantly lower landed cost and without vendor lock-in.
| Factor | InstroDirect | Endress+Hauser / HACH |
|---|---|---|
| Digital protocol | Open RS485 Modbus RTU — integrates with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Schneider, Beckhoff, or any SCADA | Proprietary (E+H Memosens / HACH SC digital) — locked to the vendor’s transmitter |
| Technical support | Australian field engineers with 20+ years automation experience | Remote support via offshore ticket queues |
| On-site calibration | InstroDirect technicians available across QLD, NSW, VIC with formal calibration certificate | Third-party authorised service network, longer turnaround |
| Price | Parallel-import model — no distributor margin stack, typically 30–50% below equivalent brand pricing | Premium brand pricing with tiered distributor markup |
| Replacement parts | Standard consumables ordered on demand from InstroDirect | Proprietary cartridges and cells, tied to the brand |
Moving away from Memosens or SC digital protocols frees you to mix and match sensors with any Modbus-capable transmitter or PLC. InstroDirect probes drop straight into an existing control system without a new proprietary transmitter.
