Dickson ESx Instruction Manual

Troubleshooting

Problem Solution

Pen & Display do not match • Check dip switch setting & proper chart

• Hysteresis is a naturally occuring machanical discrepancy
up to 2% of range.
Instrument is not responding to key presses • Keypad may be locked, check dip switch #8

• Slower, rmer key presses (may take multiple presses)
Display shows dc and indicator on the • Factory repair is necessary, send to Dickson for repair
left part of the digital display
Display shows E (lower left of digital display • System error or error in calibration, send to Dickson
Out of calibration or Questionable accuracy • Instrument exposed to harsh environments or stressful
conditions, see “CALIBRATION” procedure in manual

• Return to factory for re-calibration
Display won’t light up • Check dip switch #7. Switch should be off
Unit won’t work at all • Check both dip switch #7 & #8. Both should be off
to allow operation

Factory Service & Returns

Universal Input Recorder

We recommend that damaged instruments be
returned to our factory for complete repair. before
returning any instrument or package, please call
for a Return Authorization (RA) number. When
calling please have the following information
available:

1. P.O. number for out-of-warranty units.

2. Serial number of unit.

The Dickson Warranty

Dickson warrants the THDx line of instruments
will be free from defects in material and
workmanship or accidental damage for a period of
twelve months after delivery. In the event of a
claim under this warranty, the product or part must
be returned to the factory for repair or replacement
(shipping prepaid) with a Return Authorization
Number (see repair information above). It will be
repaired or replaced at Dickson’s option without
charge. This warranty does not cover routine

3. Model number of unit.

4. The problem you’re experiencing with unit.

Clearly mark the RA number on the

outside of the package and return the
instrument, shipping prepaid. Delivery
will be refused for packages sent
without RA numbers.

ESx

calibration, pen , chart and battery replacement.
The foregoing warranty and remedy are exclusive
and in lieu of all other warranties either expressed
or implied. dickson shall not be liable for
consequential or incidental damages resulting from
failure or malfunction or its products. Dickson
makes no warranty for products not manufactured
by it or for any products modied by buyer, or
subject to misuse or neglect.

Rev. 3/01

DICKSON

www.dicksonweb.com

930 South Westwood Avenue • Addison, IL 60101-4917

Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail]

Quick Start

Instrument Anatomy

Your ESx recorder has been preset to operate
using the most popular settings.

Recording Time: 7 day
Range: 0.0 to 100.0
Signal: 0 - 5 Vdc

A pens and a chart have already been installed
for your convenience. All you need to do to start
using your ESx recorder with the settings listed
above is follow these quick start instructions:

1. Plug in the AC adapter

2.Hook up your 0 - 5 Vdc transmitter (see
“Instrument Anatomy” on p. 3, Fig. 2)

Specications

Input Ranges (user selectable):

• 0 to 20 mA, 4 to 20 mA

• 0 to 5 Vdc, 1 to 5 Vdc

Output Ranges (user selectable,
including decimal point selectability:

• 0 to 100.0, 0 to 140.0, 0 to 150.0, 0 to

200.0, 0 to 250.0, 0 to 300.0, 0 to 450.0, 0
to 500.0, 0 to 600.0, 40.0 110.0, -10.0 to

10.0, -15.0 to 25.0, -20.0 to 50.0, -20 to

120.0, -30.0 to 50.0 -50 to to 50.0

Accuracy:

• 0.3% of full scale, ± digit (recorder only)

Transmitter Compatibility:

Any powered voltage or current transmitter
with specied recorder input range.

Recording Times: 1, 7, 14 & 31 day

NOTE: Be sure to observe proper polarity
when connecting wires from transmitter.

3. Set the appropriate time by inserting a coin
into the groove in the chart hub and turning
clockwise until the correct hour and day on
the chart is referenced to the timing clip. (see
“Instrument Anatomy” om p. 3, Fig. 1).

4. Remove the protective pen cap from red pen
and insert on Pen Cap Holder.

5. Press the “ON/OFF” key and the pen
will move to the current reading; a powered
transmitter must be used to receive a reading.

Display Resolution:

• .001, .01, .1 or 1 depending on range
selected

Chart Size: 8” diameter (20.3 cm)
Power Supply: AC Adapter with 4 “D”

batteries for back-up power.
Alarms:

High/Low, Audio/Visual and over current
Dimensions:

10.5” x 13.2” x 2.8”
(26.7 cm x 33.5 cm x 7.1 cm)

Weight: Approx. 7 lbs. (3.4 kg) with batteries
Ambient Operating Conditions:

+32 to +122˚F, (0 to +50˚C)
0 to 90% RH (non-condensing)

Average Response Time:
20 seconds full scale

Pen Cap
Holder

Chart Guide
Clip

Pen Lifting
Bar

Chart Hub

Timing Clip

Figure 1

Installation

Wall Mount: Keyhole slots are provided on the back of the ESx for wall mounting.

Operating Information

Transmitter/Sensor:

A powered transmitter is required to operate
the ESx. Any powered transmitter with a 4 - 20
mA, 0 - 20 mA, 0 - 5 Vdc, 1 - 5 DC output
signal may be used. To connect a transmitter
to the recorder, locate the terminal block on the
back of the recorder (see “Instrument Anatomy”
on p. 3, Fig. 2). Connect the positive wire of
transmitter to positive terminal (left) of recorder
and the negative wire of transmitter to negative
terminal (right) of recorder. Tighten screws in
terminal block to hold in transmitter wires.

It is viatally iimportant to be sure the
voltage/milliamp switch in the back of the
unit, together with dip switch #3 properly

corresponds to the transmitter used (i.e. if
using a 4 - 20 mA transmitter be sure the
voltage/milliamp switch in back is on mA
position and dip switch #3 is set in “ON”
position). If the unit is receiving too much

power trom a transmitter, the unit will make a
loud beeping sound. Disconnect the transmitter
immediatle and check switch settings.
Recorder Power Supply
We recommend using AC power with four
“D” batteries installed as a back-up power
source. THis ensures that your recording will not
be inturrupted when there is a power failure. The
AC adapter plugs into the back of the recorder
beneath the alarm.

mA or Voltage
Switch

Terminal
Block

AC Adapter
Jack

Figure 2

Dip Switch Set-Up

To set up the ESx for your specic application
you might need to change some of the dip
switches. The switches are located under the chart
in the lower half of the dial plate. A pointed
object can be used to change the settings. In

battery mode, you may need to push
the up arrow key after establishing
the new dip switch setting. Remember
to install the correct chart to match
corresponding dip switch setting.
Recording Time

The ESx has four different recording time
options: 1 day, 7 day, 14 day and 31 day. Dip
switches #1 and #2 control the recording time.
1 day #1 Off
#2 On
7 day #1 Off
#2 On
14 day #1 On
#2 Off
31 day #1 On
#2 On

Range

You can record different signals with the ESx
by using dip switch #3 in conjunction with V/mA
switch in back of recorder.
0-5V or 0-20mA #3 Off
1-5V or 4-20mA #3 On

Calibration

Your instrument was carefully tested and
calibrated before being shipped from the factory.
for greatest accuracy, we recommend factory
re-calibration every 6-12 months. Call customer
service at 630-543-3747. If you wish to do
calibration yourself, follow these procedures.

1. There are two phases of calibration. One
is the unit calibration which should be
performed using an accurate electronic signal
generator. The second phase is calibrating
the unit in conjunction with the transmitter
to be used. When calibrating with a
transmitter compatible standard should be
used. For example, use a highly accurate
temperature standard to calibrate the ESx
using a temperature transmitter.

2. The calibration procedure is the same
whether calibrating the unit only, using
an electrical signal calibrator, or calibrating
the unit is conjunction with a transmitter.
When calibrating with a transmitter, the

Display Symbols

1. Press the “PEN HOME” key to make the pen
move to the outside of the chart.

2. Press the pen lifting bar to raise the pen.
remove the recorded chart if present.

3. Place the appropriate chart on the chart
hub - being certain that the edge of the
chart slides under the chart guide clips

NOTE: The V/mA switch on the back of your ESx
controls which signal your recorder will read: volts
or milliamps.

Reading Range

The ESx will record in many ranges. Dip switch
#4, #5, #6 and #7 all you to select the range.
#4 #5 #6 #7
0 to 100.0 Off Off Off Off
0 to 140.0 On Off Off Off
0 to 150.0 Off On Off Off
0 to 200.0 On On Off Off
0 to 250.0 Off Off On Off
0 to 300.0 On Off On Off
0 to 450.0 Off On On Off
0 to 500.0 On On On Off
0 to 600.0 Off Off Off On

40.0 to 110.0 On Off Off On

-10.0 to 10.0 Off On Off On

-15.0 to 25.0 On On Off On

-20.0 to 50.0 Off Off On On

-20.0 to 120.0 On Off On On

-30.0 to 50.0 Off On On On

-50.0 to 50.0 On On On On

Keypad Lock

For security purposes it is possible to lock the
keypad with the use of dip switch #8
Keypad Unlocked #8 Off
Keypad Locked #8 On

calibration must be performed using a
separate standard with which to adjust the
unit and transmitter.

3. To activate the calibration mode, turn the unit
off. Now press the “ON/OFF” key and the
up arrow key at the same time (this procedure
is easiest if the unit is lying on its back). The
“UC” symbol will appear in the upper right
hand corner of the display to indicate you are
in the “USER CALIBRATION” mode.

4. To raise the reading press the “UP ARROW”
key. To lower the reading press the “DOWN
ARROW” key. Be careful to wait several
seconds between each key press to give the
unit sufcient time to respond.

5. When calibration is complete simply press the
“ON/OFF” key to save the calibration settings.
Calibration is stored in memory even after you turn
the unit off. User calibration information will not
be lost if AC power fails. NOTE: Voltage and
milliamp ranges must be calibrated independantly.

located at the outside of the chart. Be sure
the chart is appropriate for the output setting
chosen via the dip switches.

4. Set time by inserting a coin into the groove
in the chart hub and turn clockwise until the
correct hour (and day if applicable) on the
chart is referenced to the timing clip.

Pen Installation

When pen replacement becomes necessary, use
the following procedure:

1. Press the “PEN HOME” key to return the pen
to the home position.

2. Gently lift the pen slightly and slide it off the
pen arm.

3. Slide the new pen back on the arm until you
feel the notch in the pen arm seat securely
around the plastic portion of the pen tip.

4. Remove the pen cap. Insert on the “PEN CAP
HOLDER”.

5. Press the “PEN HOME” key to return pen to
recording position.

Calibration

CHARTS

Output 24 hour 7 day 31 day
Range Chart Chart Chart

0 to +10 C420 C498
0 to +100 C410 C412 C409
0 to +1000 C441 C440
0 to +14 C457 C453
0 to +150 C425 C435
0 to +200 C456 C436
0 to +2000 C443 C444
0 to +250 C432 C439 C407
0 to +30 C424 C463
0 to +300 C422 C431
0 to +45 C491 C451
0 to +500 C428 C459 C408
0 to +60 C429 C465
+40 to +110 C476 C477 C481

-.10 to +.10 C495 C405

-150 to +250 C442 C452

-20 to +50 C472 C473 C482

-20 to +120 C415 C417 C480

-30 to +50 C486 C487

-50 to +50 C411 C414 C406
NOTE: If you will be using the 14 day recording time, you can use a 7 day chart in the range desired
and divide up each day by two.

Pens

Replacement Pens (6 red) P222

Accessories

Carrying Case A709
NIST Traceable Certicate of Calibration 1 pt.* N1ESX
NIST Traceable Certicate of Calibration 3 pt. N3ESX
NIST Traceable Certicate of Calibration 3 pt. ULTIMA* N4ESX

*Add one week to delivery time