Environmental Exposure
Whilst the rugged unit is environmentally protected, there are limits to this protection that must be observed to avoid damaging the device.
Boreas is only protected when its connectors are mated (or sealed with the blanking caps). If any of these connections are not tightened to the recommended torque, the unit will not achieve its rated protection.
Spanners or tools should never be used to tighten the connectors. Use your fingers to firmly tighten the connectors.
OEM units offers limited environmental protection. Care should be taken in choosing a suitable mounting location.
Temperature
The unit should not be subjected to temperatures outside of its operating range. Subjecting the unit to temperatures outside of the specified operating range can affect the factory sensor calibration, potentially causing a permanent reduction in performance or premature failure.
Water
The rugged unit complies with IP67 standard, which means that it can be submersed in water to a depth of up to 1 m deep for a maximum of 30 minutes. Submersion to depths beyond 1 metre can cause water entry and destruction of the internal electronics, and the sealing is not designed for prolonged or repetitive immersion. Do not direct streams of water directly at the unit even at low pressure. For cleaning the unit, ensure that no pressure is used.
Note: Connectors must be installed or blanking caps must be used if the unit is likely to be exposed to water.
Salt
The rugged unit housing is made from hard-anodized marine-grade aluminium and stainless fittings to provide good corrosion resistance, however cannot tolerate extended periods of time in salt water environments. After any contact with salt water or salt spray, Boreas should be rinsed with distilled or RO water.
Dirt and Dust
The rugged unit is completely sealed against dirt and dust entry whenever all connectors are mated. When disconnecting the connectors, any dirt or dust should be rinsed or wiped off with fresh water and then dried to minimise the chance of contaminants entering the connectors or plugs.
pH Level
Environments with acidic or alkaline water or atmospheres can cause the Boreas enclosure to corrode or discolor. If Boreas comes into contact with these environments it should be rinsed in fresh water as soon as possible. It is not recommended to operate Boreas in non-neutral pH environments.
Shocks
Boreas is a rugged piece of equipment that can withstand reasonable amounts of shock. However, continuous shocks may cause premature failure as a result of materials fatigue, and may also affect the sensor calibration resulting in degraded performance.
Shocks applied directly to the Boreas enclosure can affect the unit. Therefore, care should be taken when handling the unit prior to mounting. When mounted in a vehicle, the effect of most operating shocks is negligible.
Atmospheres
Hydrogen-rich atmospheres may damage the MEMS. Boreas is not rated for use where explosive gases may be present.