Field Service Bulletins
Field Service Bulletins
This page contains links to alerts on product problems that may cause injury to people, damage to equipment, or loss of data.
| Field Service Bulletin Number & Date | Product | Brief Description |
| #20 -- April 2010 | SBE 55 ECO Water Sampler | SBE 55 frames shipped through March 2010 may have a dimension out of tolerance, resulting in the potential for cracks in the latch assembly. Sea-Bird is supplying a shim package to use with the retrofit instructions in this field service bulletin. |
| #19 -- April 2010 | SEACAT -- SBE 16plus V2 | SBE 16plus V2s with firmware version 2.0 through 2.1 require firmware updates to eliminate a bug related to the use of the delayed logging feature (StartDateTime= and StartLater). |
| Argo Float Druck Pressure Sensor Micro-Leak Problem and Warranty Replacement | SBE 41 and 41CP Argo Float CTD | There is a micro-leak problem in some Druck pressure sensors used on SBE 41 and 41CP CTDs for Argo floats. |
| #18 -- April 2009 | PN 90402 SBE 45 Power, Navigation, & Remote Temperature Interface Box | A wiring error prevents some Interface Boxes from functioning if providing DC input power. The error is easily fixed by the customer, or the Box can be returned to Sea-Bird for repair if desired. |
| #17 -- September 2008 | SBE 37-SI and 37-SIP with RS-232 Interface | A firmware bug causes the MicroCAT to not store data in FLASH memory. Sea-Bird has updated the firmware to eliminate the problem. |
| #16 -- August 2008 (revised March 2009) |
SBE 11plus, 33, and 36 Deck Units; PN 90488, 90545, 90158, and 90204 Interface Boxes |
Some newer NMEA navigation devices output latitude and longitude minutes to 7 or more digits to the right of the decimal place (i.e., xxx.xxxxxxx). These Sea-Bird Deck Units and Interface Boxes do not correctly decode latitude and longitude data with more than 6 digits to the right of the decimal place, resulting in NMEA data with incorrect and unpredictable fractional minutes for latitude and longitude. Sea-Bird has updated the firmware to eliminate the problem. |
| #15 -- revised August 2008 | SBE 37-SM, 37-SMP, 37-IM, 37-IMP, 37-SI, 37-SIP, and 49 with Plastic Housing | MicroCATs and FastCATs with plastic housings require more care and caution in handling than those with titanium housings. A few MicroCATs with plastic housings have been returned to Sea-Bird with cracks around battery end cap screw holes. Sea-Bird plans to modify the existing end cap screw holes and screws in all plastic MicroCAT and FastCAT housings, to reduce the potential for cracks caused by over-torqueing. |
| #14 -- March 2008 | SBE 39 and 39-IM | SBE 39s with firmware version 3.0 or 3.0a and SBE 39-IMs with digital firmware version 1.02, 1.03, or 1.04 require firmware updates to eliminate a bug related to the leap year. |
| #13 -- December 2007 | SBE 9plus, 16 (not plus), 17plus, 17plus V2, 19 not plus), 21, 25, 26, 26plus, 32 (all versions), 52-MP, 53, and 54, and AFM | Jackscrew in jackscrew kit used for removing end cap to access electronics may be slightly over-sized, and may seize in end cap. |
| #12 -- May 2007 | SBE 39 | SBE 39s with firmware version 2.0 through 2.2 require modification to eliminate the potential for a short between battery + and - power, causing premature battery failure. We are aware of only one battery failure caused by this problem. |
| #11 -- December 2006 | SBE 37-IMP, 37-SMP, 37-SIP | When deployed in very turbid waters, pumped MicroCATs oriented with the intake/exhaust plumbing in an upright U-shape can become clogged with sediment; this results in poor flushing, causing poor quality data. Sea-Bird now recommends that the MicroCAT be oriented with its intake / exhaust in an inverted U-shape. A minor design modification allows trapped air to escape; a retrofit kit allows the customer to easily implement the change. |
| #10 -- December 2006 | SBE 39 | Retrofit kit provides better battery support (strong repetitive motions can cause the battery to vibrate; battery movement can crack PCB). Very few customers have had problems with battery vibration causing damage. |
| #9 -- November 2006 | SEACAT -- SBE 16plus, 16plus-IM, 19plus, and 21 | SEACATs store data incorrectly after a Flash Initialize command is sent, if logging is started before sending the Initialize Logging command. It is anticipated that very few customers will have a problem with this bug. |
| #8 -- December 2005 | SBE 26plus | SBE 26plus with firmware version 5.2, 6.0, and 6.0a require firmware upgrade to use a wave sample duration other than 0.25 seconds/sample. |
| #7 -- September 2005 | SBE 39 | SBE 39s with firmware version 2.0 and 2.0a require firmware upgrade to take full advantage of 4 MB memory. |
| #6 -- August 2004 | SBE 9plus | Modification required to prevent 9plus damage if 9plus used with alkaline-powered SBE 17plus SEARAM |
| #5 -- November 2003 | SBE 41 / 41CP CTD Sensors for ARGO floats | Handling precautions to prevent Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) damage |
| #4 -- August 2003 |
SBE 19plus (with optional cage, shipped before August 1, 2003) |
Retrofit kit strengthens the connection of the SBE 19plus to the cage (connection failure could lead to loss of the instrument) |
| #3 -- April 2001 |
SBE 37 (-IM, -SM, and -SI with Paine pressure sensor, full scale pressure < 1500 psi, and serial number < 1789) |
Retrofit kit prevents intrusion of salt water into the pressure sensor cavity (which could lead to corrosion) |
| #2 -- March 1997 | SBE 25 (shipped before March 1997) | Modification at Sea-Bird required to prevent potential for sensor damage from transient over-voltage condition |
| #1 -- August 1997 |
Opto-Isolated Junction Boxes (with external fuse holder, shipped before August 1997) |
Product Recall -- A potentially dangerous condition may exist |
For bugs that may prevent the equipment and/or software from functioning as expected (but that cannot cause injury or damage), go to the Known Bugs page.
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Sea-Bird Home Phone: (+1) 425-643-9866 Fax: (+1) 425-643-9954 E-mail: seabird@seabird.com