Thermal Profile and Gas Sniffer Combo Probe
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Your windrow profiling probe allows you to measure the temperature profile of a compost windrow, as well as pull a sample of gas from the tip of the probe. A small diameter brass tube runs coaxially between a brass plug in the tip area and the hose connection at the top end. The thermistors are embedded in thermally conductive silicone resin in the brass buttons which have been press fit into the stainless steel thick wall tube at 10 “ intervals. The internal wiring of the thermistors is thus isolated from the compost pile vapors. This probe is designed to be used with a multi-channel, or multi-channel logging printing thermometer. Please read the operating instructions for the meter.
Procedure for Using the Probe:
Carefully insert the probe into the compost windrow so that the tip is at the bottom center of the pile. Please use the probe shaft to push the probe into the windrow and avoid pushing, or pulling, on the box that houses the channel outputs. Do not bend or force the probe when inserting it into a pile. For a large pile, you will be able to ensure that all of the probe’s thermistors (brass buttons) are within the pile. However a small pile where the distance from the bottom center to the upper portion of the pile is less than 35” will require that you carefully plan where you will insert the probe. While waiting for the temperature to come to equilibrium a sample of the gas from the base of the compost pile may be aspirated into a CO2 or O2 gas analysis device.. Please pay special attention to how the individual channel inputs are arranged so that the probe and the meter will match. The probe outputs are numbered 1 through 4 in ascending order from the pointed tip end (Figure 1). Use the four color RCA plug connector cable to attach the thermometer readout unit to the probe.
Attach the input tube of your gas analysis device to the nipple end of the probe. Since the internal tube has a very low volume only 3 pumps of the CO2 or O2 Fyrite Aspirator pump is required to displace all the gas in the tube, filter and bulb assembly. For reference the Fyrite aspirator assembly plus brass tube have an internal volume of 108 ml; the aspirator bulb will displace ~50 ml per squeeze. Therefore 3 or 4 pumps is more than sufficient. Determine the CO2 or O2 by following the printed Fyrite Instruction Booklet.
At this point sufficient time has elapsed so that the temperature of the 4 locations may be printed. Push “print” on the thermometer instrument. Wait for all 4 points to be printed. Write the Pile identification number and the CO2 percentage on the paper tape and proceed to the next pile test area to repeat the measurements.
It is helpful to wear a two pocketed apron to hold the Fyrite tester and the printing thermometer while performing the tests.
Caring For Your Probe:
Keep probe connection box dry and clean when not in use. Make sure that none of the sampled materials accumulate in the holes of the probe tip.
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Temperature Probes and Monitoring 
