All about ICO sensors calibration

Why calibrate ICO sensors ?

Calibration of your ICO's probes is necessary to ensure the reliability of the measurements sent to your application. If it is not done regularly, the pH measurements and disinfection rate (ORP) will become inaccurate may drift over time which can lead to inappropriate use of products (over or under dosing) and alter your bathing experience in your pool.

The calibration of the probes is therefore essential to keep the water healthy.

Specific case with new sensor

If you replace a sensor with a new one, it is not necessary to calibrate it. However, you must regenerate your new sensor with KCl liquid then reset the sensor in the application at the time of installation. This procedure must be carried out as soon as your new sensor is installed, and before the next calibration. It enables your ICO to take into account the factory settings. For more information, please refer tohow to replace an ICO sensor.

When calibration is needed ?

When you receive a new ICO, the probes are already calibrated. So you can start the season with your probes without having to calibrate them. The first calibration of your sensors should be carried out within 6 months (if you use your pool or spa all year round) OR at the start of the next season (for seasonal use).

After six months' use of your ICO (or 1 season), calibration proceeds at the following rate:

- Seasonal use (pool and spa): calibrate your sensors once a year at the beginning of the season.

- Annual use (pool and spa): calibrate your sensors twice a year, at the beginning of each semester.

Finally, calibration should always be carried out at the beginning of the season, not before wintering.

How to calibrate probes ?

The necessary material

The ICO sensor calibration kit includes :

- pH4 buffer solution
- pH7 buffer solution
- 470 mV ORP buffer solution
- KCl regeneration solution
- a calibration stand

Buy a calibration kit on Ondilo shop.

Before calibrating ICO

At the start of the season

- Charge the ICO battery for 8 hours

- After switching on ICO, access the sensors by unscrewing the bottom part of your device.
- Sensor regeneration: Soak pH and ORP sensors in KCl solution for at least 1 hour, pouring the liquid over the sponges in the black caps. Rinse the sensors with demineralized water.
- Calibration: move on to the sensor calibration stage.

Preliminary instructions:

- Perform the calibration in a room at room temperature (recommended temperature is 25°C / 77°F).

- Place your ICO next to your smartphone

- If you want to perform a full calibration, start with the pH calibration and finish with the ORP calibration. The ORP solution is acidic. If you start with the ORP calibration, this will interfere with the pH calibration.

You can follow the instructions on the application or watch this video:

Open the ICO app. Click on "remote control"

Image de l'application qui montre la page d'accueil avec son tableau de bord et l'ensemble des données

- you can find a video tutorial, the pH probe calibration buttons and ORP probe calibration.

Image de l'application qui montre l'étape et le bouton pour redémarrer ICO

Restart ICO

- When you are on the Remote Control page, click on the Restart icon

pH calibration

Calibrating the pH sensor is tricky because it requires 2 measurements, with a change of solution. When you have completed the 2 steps, ICO checks the consistency of the measurements and may give you an error message if they differ. In this case, ICO will ask you to repeat all the calibration steps.

Calibration of the pH4 probe

- Click on the icon pH probe calibration

Calibration starts with the pH4 solution

Image de l'application qui montre l'étape de la calibration de la sonde pH 4 d'ICO

- Rinse the probes thoroughly with clean water and dry them carefully with a soft cloth

- Pour the pH4 solution into the base

- Clic on Start

- Place ICO on the cradle and start the calibration

Calibration takes about a minute, so make sure you keep your phone close to ICO.

Image de l'application qui montre l'étape de calibration de la sonde ph

Image de l'application qui montre l'étape de calibration une fois terminée

Important note: We recommend that you store the pH4 solution in another container until the calibration has been validated, if you need to recalibrate.

Calibration of the pH7 probe

- Rinse the probes thoroughly with clean water and dry them carefully with a soft cloth

- Do the same for the solution base

- Pour the pH7 solution into the base and continue the calibration procedure

- Click on Continue and then on Start

Image de l'application qui montre l'étape de la calibration de la sonde pH 7 d'ICO

Calibration takes about a minute, so make sure you keep your phone close to ICO.

Then click on Register

Image de l'application qui montre l'étape ou l'on peux si on le souhaite enregistrer nos nouveaux paramètres capteur redox

Error message from pH sensor calibration

In some cases, your ICO device may report that the calibration of your probe did not work. Here are the cases that may explain this message:

- ICO probes are not sufficiently hydrated, which is why it is important to leave ICO and the probes in water for at least 24 hours before calibration.

- Les conditions de calibration ne sont pas bonnes : le socle de calibration doit être lavé et séché, les sondes rincées à l’eau du robinet et séchées

Image de l'application qui montre l'étape ou le message "la mesure semble incorrecte" apparaît

- ICO was not restarted prior to calibration

If, despite these recommendations, calibration has still not worked, carry out the mineral water test..

ORP calibration

Calibration of the ORP probe

Before calibrating the ORP probe, rinse the probes thoroughly in clean water, then wipe them dry with a soft cloth. Do the same with the solution base

To calibrate the ORP probe :

- Pour the 470 mV ORP solution into the holder and place the ICO

- Click on the ORP probe calibration icon and start the probe calibration procedure

- Then click on Start

Image de l'application qui montre l'étape de la calibration de la sonde ORP d'ICO

The ORP probe calibration also takes a minute, so make sure you always keep your phone close to the ICO

- Save the results, ICO is calibrated!

Image de l'application qui montre l'étape ou l'on peux si on le souhaite enregistrer nos nouveaux paramètres capteur ph

Rinse the probes again and dry them, then replace the probe cover.

Error message from ORP probe calibration

- Make sure ICO has been in water for at least 24 hours before calibration

- Make sure the probes and the calibration vessel are clean

- Turn on ICO before calibration

- If the measurement is not taken, restart ICO before trying again

If, despite these recommendations, the calibration has still not worked, contact our support department.