Difference between revisions of "EPU452 Manual"

Revision as of 11:13, 3 August 2015

Introduction

Figure 1. Front and back panels of the EPU452 Quad MF isoPod. Note the four input connectors on the front panel labelled Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, and Ch 4. The back panel has a USB port for connection to a computer or USB hub, power socket (5 V DC) and on/off button.

The Quad MF isoPod (model number EPU452) is a four–channel, miniature amplifier/interface that connects to a Windows XP or later computer via a USB port or hub. Each of its four channels (Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, and Ch 4, Figure 1) can be independently configured to one of seven possible functions:

1. mV, a general purpose high impedance millivolt monitor;
2. pH, a pH meter mode. Also suitable for ion selective electrodes (ISE's) and oxidation/reduction potentiometric (ORP) electrodes.
3. Conductivity, for two-electrode solution conductivity probes.
4. RTD, precalibrated for 1000 ohm platinum RTD temperature probes
5. Thermistor, precalibrated for 30 kohm thermistor temperature probes
6. dO2, for Clark–style polarographic oxygen electrodes.
7. Biosensor, for amperometric sensors, incuding enzymic peroxide sensors.

This manual also describes the operation of:

• the MF Configurator software, used to set up the system, and

• the embedded serial protocol, which is required if you intend to write your own data acquisition and display software, or interact manually with the isoPod by issuing typed commands using terminal emulation software.

Please see the separate Pod-Vu software manual to learn about collecting and displaying signals without any additional programming!

Checking the Instrument

Before you begin working with the device, you should check:

• that the contents of the package you received match the packing list

• for any sign of physical damage that might have occurred during transit.

If you find a problem, please contact your eDAQ distributor or agent immediately.

Quick installation

1. Install the MF Configurator and Pod-Vu application software on your computer using the USB memory stick provided. This will also ensure the correct software drivers are installed.
2. See the Help menu of the application for directions to any software updates.
3. Power the MF isoPod by connecting it to the 5 V DC mains adaptor supplied.
4. Connect the MF isoPod unit to the computer using the USB cable provided.
5. For first use, run the MF Configurator software to select the function and set the parameters of each channel.
6. Attach appropriate sensor probes to each of the isoPod channels.
7. You can now run the Pod-Vu software to collect and display data, or start writing your own data recording software.

CAUTION: Make sure that only a compatible sensor is attached to each channel. Placement of the wrong sensor on a channel (eg connecting a pH electrode to a dO2 recording channel) may damage the probe. Both the MF Configurator software utility and Pod-Vu recording software will display the device configuration.

System Description

Figure 2. Block diagram of the EPU452 Quad MF isoPod.

This system consists of four independently isolated, reconfigurable, signal conditioning and measuring circuits connected to a microprocessor which communicates with a Windows XP or later computer via a USB port Figure 2. Sensors are connected using the front panel low–leakage BNC input connectors. The signal on each channel is converted to a digital data stream by a precision 24 bit analog to digital converter (ADC). The data is passed to a master microprocessor across an electrical isolation barrier for processing and transmission via a USB port to the computer for display and storage. Each of the four channels input can be independently configured as:

• Voltmeter (mV)

• pH/mV and Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) meter

• Solution Conductivity meter

• RTD Temperature meter (0 – 450°C)

• Thermistor Temperature meter (0 – 75, or 0 – 125°C)

• Dissolved Oxygen meter (dO2)

• Biosensor meter (for amperometric/polargraphic probes)

by use of the MF Configurator software (included).

Operating Software

The system is provided with two support applications:

• Pod-Vu software which enables Windows computers to calibrate, collect, and display signals. Up to eight isoPods channels (i.e. two Quad MF isoPod units can be connected simultaneously for monitoring eight probes) can be graphically displayed at speeds up to 1 sample per second. Data can be copied and pasted to other software applications for further analysis or reporting, or saved in text format which can be read by spreadsheet or word processor software. Channels need to be configured to suit user requirements using the MF Configurator prior to use with Pod-Vu. The operation of Pod-Vu is described in the separate Pod-Vu manual.

• MF Configurator software utility is provided with the system and enables channel functions to be configured and sensors tested and calibrated. This utility must be installed prior to using the Quad MF isoPod. Once the channels are configured the isoPod will remember the settings and perform in this mode every time the system is subsequently powered up, until the system is reset by using the MF Configurator.

MF Configurator Software

Menu Items File: Open – this opens a folder containing previously named saved configurations Save – this saves the current configuration for future use. Save as.. – this saves a configuration with a new name Help: User Manuals Software update options Check for updates- checks to see if you are running the latest version of software. About…. Describes the version of MF Configurator software installed Unit Set-Up Screen The unit setup screen allows three important actions to be performed:

• Assign a function, from those available, to each Channel

• Select the range, decimal places and calibration for each channel function.

• Display sensor data for checking and calibration purposes.

Paul D– should we add a description of each different range/calibration panel? No but you do need one for each function (pH, conductivity etc) (PD)

Serial Protocol

This serial protocol is stored within the isoPod unit and can be used with any suitable terminal emulation software (for example Tera Term) to communicate with the EPU452. With a terminal program installed and set up correctly with the EPU452 connected via the USB port to the PC, the system will respond to a set of commands described in here.

Establishing serial communications

With the ER452 connected and powered up communication with the computer can be established. A suitable terminal emulation software application must be installed. Serial Ports 1 and 2 on Windows computers are reserved for the mother board. It is therefore common to find that the EPU452 or other serial devices are assigned automatically to serial port 3 (COM3) or greater. Use your Terminal software to configure the virtual serial port as shown below (based on the use of Tera Term). Serial port item is then selected from the Tera Term Settings menu item in order to setup the serial port.

Select COM port to which the ER452 is connected.

The virtual serial port should then be configured as:

• 115200 baud

• 8 bits

• 1 stop bit

• parity set to none

• Flow control set to NONE

Commands

Once the serial port is set up, type in a ? to get a listing of the available commands listed in Appendix X. An ‘enter’ will produce an ER452> prompt requesting one of the protocol commands.

This protocol can also be used by other applications such as:

• LabVIEW™

• WinWedge®

• Tera Term or

• with your own software written in Visual Basic, or C++, etc.

General Commands

Note: Channel can be abbreviated to c

Voltmeter (mV) commands

pH and Ion Selective meter commands

Conductivity commands

Thermistor commands

RTD commands

dO2 commands

Biosensor commands

Advanced settings commands

A number of advanced commands are available to users providing their own operating software. Contact eDAQ for support.

Note 1 The "s" sample command will show readings at 1Hz (the default), or a rate that you can optionally specify • There are a limited number of sampling rates available (get rates lists available rates for channel) • The valid rates available may depend on what functions and ranges are assigned to the channel. • Conductivity is special case, in that sampling rates also depend on the range being used • Sampling can only occur at a speed common to all channels. • Maximum sampling rate is 100s/Sec.

An example, showing the different rates available for mV compared to mid-range conductivity: 

 EPU452> set c 4 func mv 
 Channel 4 configured as mV 
 EPU452> get rates 
 EPU452 Rates 1 2 4 5 8 10 20 25 40 50 100 

 EPU452> set c 4 func cond 
 Channel 4 configured as Cond 
 EPU452> set c 4 range 0.02 
 Channel 4 range 0.02 
 EPU452> get rates 
 EPU452 Rates 1 2 4 5 10 20 

If multiple functions are active, then only the lowest common sample rate that all the channels "agree upon" will be used. In the example above if conductivity channel is chosen to operate at 10 samples per second then the mV channel will also operate at 10 /s.

Specifications

• Number of Channels: 4

• Input connectors: Teflon insulated BNC connectors on front panel.

• Available configurations:

• Voltmeter (mV)

• pH and Ion Selective Electrode meter

• Conductivity meter

• RTD Temperature meter

• Thermistor Temperature meter

• Oxygen meter (dO2)

• Biosensor Amperometric meter

• Channel function individually configurable with software

• Operating Temperature: -10°C to 50°C

• Protection: +/-15V

• Isolation: Minimum 2500V isolation from system ground all channels individually isolated from ground and from each other.

• Maximum input voltage: 250 V @ 50 or 60 Hz

• Maximum sampling rate: 100 s/s on each channel

• ADC resolution: 24 Bits

• Digital connection: USB with virtual serial port

• COM port setting: 115200 baud; 8 bits; 1 stopbit; no parity; flow control NONE

• Operating temperature: 0 – 45°C

• Power: 5 V DC external power, <100 mA at start up, <500 mA in operation.

• Dimensions w x h x d: 130 x 35 x 185 mm

• Weight: 500g

• Indicators:

• Power On LED Blue,

• Online/active Green/flashing green LED

Voltmeter - mV

• Voltage Input ranges:

±2000 mV with Gain error 0.01%

±200 mV Gain error < 0.2%

±20 mV with Gain error < 0.2%

• Input impedance: >10¹² ohms || 4 pF

• Input leakage current: <30 fA @25°C

• DC temperature drift: <5 µV/°C

• DC Offset Error: < 1 mV

• Resolution: < 10 uV

• Noise: < 5 uV RMS at 10 /s

pH– Ion Selective electrodes

• pH Input range:

> 0 - 14 pH on ±2000 mV range with Gain error < 0.01%

3.6 – 10.4 pH on ±200 mV range with Gain error < 0.2%

• Input impedance: > 10¹³ ohms || 4 pF

• Input leakage current: < 30 fA @ 25°C

• DC temperature drift: < 5 µV/°C

• DC Offset Error: < 1 mV

• Resolution: < 10 µV or 0.0001 pH

• Noise: < 5 uV RMS at 10 /s

Conductivity

• Conductivity ranges: 200 mS, 20 mS, 2 mS, 200 µS 20 µS, 2 µS

• Gain error:

< 1% FS on 200 mS and 2 uS ranges

< 0.1% on other ranges.

• Excitation source: Square Wave 0 - 200 mV_p-p 10 Hz to 10 kHz

• Noise: < 0.01% at 1 /s

• Temperature drift: < 0.01%/°C Negligible compared to solution temperature TC.

RTD Temp

• Temperature probe: 1000 Ohm Pt RTD eg. ET021

• Temperature range: -20 to 500°C

• Accuracy: ±(0.10 + n/600)°C, where n = temperature in °C

• Resolution: 0.001°C

• Offset error: < 0.1% of FS

• Noise: < 0.1% of FS at 1 /s

• Temperature drift: <0.01% of FS/°C

Thermistor

• Temperature probe: 30 kohm Thermistor eg. ET020

• Temperature ranges: -10 to 75°C and -25 to +125°C

• Accuracy: ±0.2°C

• Resolution: 0.001°C

• Offset error: <0.1% of FS

• Noise: <0.1% of FS at 1 /s

• Temperature drift: <0.01% of FS/°C

dO2

• Current Input Range: 20uA,2uA,200nA,20nA

• Resolution: >1:1,000,000

• Polarization Range: -1000 mV

• Polarization resolution: 1mV

• Offset Range: +/-20µA

• Noise: <1pA RMS at 1 /s

Biosensor

• Current Input Range: 20uA, 2uA, 200nA, 20nA

• Resolution: >1:1,000,000

• Polarization Range: –2000 to +2000 mV

• Polarization resolution: 1mV

• Offset Range: +/-20µA

• Noise: <1pA RMS at 1 /s

Legal and Warranty

Trademarks and Copyright

isoPod, Quad MF isoPod, Pod-Vu, and MF Configurator are trademarks of eDAQ Pty Ltd. Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. This document is Copyright © July 2015. This document, or sections thereof, may be copied by the owners or users of an eDAQ Quad MF isoPod for their private use. Otherwise no part of this document may be reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of eDAQ Pty Ltd.

Responsibilities

You and any others using any eDAQ product agree to use it in a sensible manner for purposes for which it is suited, and agree to take responsibility for their actions and the results of their actions. If problems arise with an eDAQ product, eDAQ will make all reasonable efforts to fix them. This service may incur a charge, depending on the nature of the problems, and is subject to the other conditions in this Agreement.

Hardware Warranty

eDAQ Pty Ltd warrants this product, to be free of defects in material and workmanship for three years from the date of purchase. eDAQ Pty Ltd will repair or replace defective equipment as appropriate. To obtain a warranty repair/replacement you must first notify us before return of the instrument and we will issue you with a RAN (return authorisation number). You must ship the defective product at your expense. We will pay return shipping. The product should be packed safely (preferably in its original packaging) and have the RAN on the shipping label. Returns sent without a RAN may be refused delivery.

This warranty does not cover hardware that has:

• been modified by the user in any way;

• been subjected to unusual physical, electrical, or environmental stress. This includes damage due to faulty power sockets, inadequate earthing, or power spikes or surges;

• been damaged because of incorrect wiring to ancillary equipment, or because of substandard, connectors or cables; or

• had the original identification marks removed or altered.

Software License

You have the non-exclusive right to use the supplied eDAQ software (Pod-Vu, MF Confiurator etc). Your employees or students, for example, are entitled to use it, provided they adhere to this agreement.

computers, more than two copies must not be used simultaneously. Departmental/company licences are available if you wish to run more than two copies simultaneously.

Technical Support

Please register your unit to receive technical support.

Technical assistance is available via email. Please describe the problem with as much detail as possible. Include a small example data file, if appropriate. Please also state:

• the model and serial number of your EDAQ system.

• the type of computer and operating system being used (for example Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8, or 10)

• the software version you are using (for example Chart v5.5.2)

We endeavor to answer all your questions, but in some cases, for example where the problem relates to the other equipment that you are using, a nominal fee may be charged.

Jurisdiction

eDAQ Pty Ltd is bound by the laws of New South Wales in Australia, and any proceedings shall be heard by the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Australia.

Disclaimer

eDAQ reserves the right to alter specifications of hardware and software without notice. No liability can be accepted for consequential damages resulting from use of eDAQ products.