4/9/98
A-10 Application of the Hygrometer (900-901D1)
Aluminum Oxide Probe Maintenance (cont.)
4. Remove the sensor from the distilled water and soak it in the 
clean container of hexane or toluene for ten (10) minutes. 
Again, avoid all contact with the bottom and the walls of the 
container!
5. Remove the sensor from the hexane or toluene, and place it 
face up in a low temperature oven set at 50°C ±2°C (122°F 
±4°F) for 24 hours.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 for the protective shield. During this process, 
swirl the shield in the solvents to ensure the removal of any 
contaminants that may have become embedded in the porous 
walls of the shield.
7. Carefully replace probe’s protective shield, making sure not to 
touch the sensor.
8. Connect the probe cable to the probe, and record the dew point 
of the ambient air, as in step 1. Compare the two recorded dew 
point readings to determine if the reading after cleaning is a 
more accurate value for the dew point of the ambient 
atmosphere.
9. If the sensor is in proper calibration (±2°C accuracy), reinstall 
the probe in the sample cell and proceed with normal 
operation of the hygrometer.
10. If the sensor is not in proper calibration, repeat steps 1-9, 
using time intervals 5 times those used in the previous 
cleaning cycle. Repeat this procedure until the sensor is in 
proper calibration.
A trained laboratory technician should determine if all 
electrically conductive compounds have been removed from the 
aluminum oxide sensor and that the probe is properly calibrated. 
Probes which are not in proper calibration must be recalibrated. It 
is recommended that all moisture probes be recalibrated by GE 
Panametrics approximately once a year, regardless of the probe’s 
condition.