This is a condensed version of the manual for quick reference.
If not turning on, check the battery. Only use Standard 9 Volt DC alkaline battery. Battery should always be removed when storing.
The operational buttons consist of three (3) menu selection keys and four arrow keys to make adjustments to menu
functions.
Press the Power button to turn the LCD display.
After a few seconds, the main menu screen appears. The program flow is organized into three (3) menu groups.
The selectable options are: Run โ used to set up and take measurements, Data โ allows access and downloading of data files, and System โ used to set up functional features of the meter and view system diagnostics.
The device requires a calibration when taking the first measurement after powering on the unit. Calibration is
not required between measurements. Verify the sample chamberโs optical path is clear and hold down the measuring arm until the Release Arm message is displayed.
Now ready to begin sampling.
The default setting are for a 1-point no averaging to be recorded. Other options include Multi-point averaging and Multi-point standard deviation - available through the Run -> Setup option.
Place the sample under the measuring head making sure the entire measuring area is covered by the sample. Hold
down the arm until the screen displays DONE. Release the arm and the screen updates with the measured value.
When saving the first measurement to a data table, one of three (3) screens will appear, depending on the
test type selected. If the data file already holds existing data, the following message will appear. Select Overwr to
overwrite the existing data in the data file or Append to add the next set of measurements to the existing data file.
Select Cancel to close the menu and start over.
This is a condensed version of the manual for quick reference.
If not turning on check battery. Only use CR2320 battery. The positive side (designated by a โ+โ sign) should be facing out from the meter circuit board.
Press the Power button to activate the LCD display. After two minutes of non-activity, the meter will revert to sleep mode and the display will shut off to conserve battery life.
Press the Mode button to access the main menu, where the appropriate calibration (sunlight or electric light) and manual or automatic logging are selected, and where the meter can be reset.
Press the Sample button to log a reading while taking manual measurements.
Press the up button to make selections in the main menu. This button is also used to view and scroll through the logged measurements on the LCD display.
Press the down button to make selections in the main menu. This button is also used to view and scroll through the logged measurements on the LCD display.
The LCD display consists of the total number of logged measurements in the upper right-hand corner, the real-time PPFD value in the center, and the selected menu options along the bottom.
Calibration: To choose between sunlight and electric light calibration, push the mode button once and use the up/down buttons to make the appropriate selection (SUN or ELEC). Once the desired mode is blinking, press the mode button three (3) more times to exit the menu.
Logging: To choose between manual or automatic logging, push the mode button once and use the up/down buttons to make the appropriate selection (SMPL or LOG). Once the desired mode is blinking, press the mode button two more times to exit the menu. When in SMPL mode press the sample button to record up to 99 manual measurements (a counter in the upper right-hand corner of the LCD display indicates the total number of saved measurements). When in LOG mode the meter will power on/off to make a measurement every 30 seconds. Every 30 minutes the meter will average the sixty 30 second measurements and record the averaged value to memory. The meter can store up to 99 averages and will start to overwrite the oldest measurement once there are 99 measurements. Every 48 averaged measurements (making a 24 hour period), the meter will also store an integrated daily total in moles per meter squared per day (mol m-2 d-1).
Reset: To reset the meter, in either SMPL or LOG mode, push the mode button three (3) times (RUN should be blinking), then while pressing the down button, press the Mode button once. This will erase all of the saved measurements in memory, but only for the selected mode. That is, performing a reset when in SMPL mode will only erase the manual measurements and performing a reset when in LOG mode will only erase the automatic measurements.
Review/Download Data: Each of the logged measurements in either SMPL or LOG mode can be reviewed on the LCD display by pressing the up/down buttons. To exit and return to the real-time readings, press the sample button. Note that the integrated daily total values are not accessible through the LCD and can only be viewed by downloading to a computer.
Acronyms
PAR measures the number of moles of photons emitted between 400 nm and 700 nm.
PAR is Photosynthetically Active Radiation.
PPFD is the density, i.e. moles per square-meter per second.
PPFD is Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density.
PPFD measures the amount of PAR that actually arrives at the plant.
CCI is Chlorophyll Content Index.
CCI calculates a ratio between transmission of radiation at 931 nm divided by transmission of radiation at 653 nm.
There are four (4) keys on its splashproof keypad. The common keys are ON/OFF, HOLD/ENTER, CAL, and MODE.
ON/OFF: Powers meter on and off. Meter starts up in the mode that you last switched off from.
MODE/INC: Selects measurement mode for Ion, mV, pH, and Temperature. Increment button for mV calibration.
CAL: Allows calibration for Ion, pH, mV or Temperature, or to abort calibration and return to measure without confirming a value.
HOLD: Freezes the measured reading for easy viewing.
ENTER: Confirms calibration value.
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Condition the pH electrode before use or if it has not been in use for a long time by soaking it into a container filled with pH 4 buffer solution for at least one (1) hour and rinse before use.
Calibrated using a three-point calibration of fresh buffer solutions of pH 4, 7, and 10.
Dip the pH electrode and temperature probe into the solution. Swirl gently and wait for reading to stabilize (approx. 30 seconds depending on your electrode condition).
Press CAL to enter pH calibration mode. CA displays momentarily before the display flashes the current un-calibrated reading.
If needed, press CAL to abort calibration and resume measurement.
Allow reading to stabilize if necessary. Press ENTER key to confirm calibration. CO displays momentarily before reverting to pH measurement mode.
For highest accuracy, perform a multiple-point calibration. Repeat step 1 with additional pH buffer calibration standard solutions.
Always rinse the probes with clean water before and after each calibration/sample measurement to avoid cross-contamination.
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The pH of the deionized (DI) water is taken before starting (~pH 7) as a baseline.
If in lab DI water in unreliable, obtain from store-bought gallon jugs.
Dip and stir the probe gently into an aqueous test sample, swirl gently and wait for the reading to stabilize. Note the reading. Freeze the displayed if desired.
To freeze or hold your displayed reading momentarily, press HOLD key once. The LCD displays HO annunciator to indicate the HOLD function is activated.
Batteries need to be removed for long term storage.