Extech VB500 Operating Manual
User's Guide
4-Channel Vibration Datalogger
Model VB500
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Extech VB500 Vibration Datalogger. The VB500 can
display four (4) channels of simultaneous vibration measurements taken from remote vibration
sensors. This meter displays and stores vibration readings of Acceleration, Velocity and
Displacement. Supported measurement units are meters/s
Logged data readings are stored on an SD card for transfer to a PC. This meter is shipped fully
tested and calibrated and, with proper use, will provide years of reliable service.
2
, ft/s2, g, mm/s, cm/s, in/s, mm and inch.
Meter Description
1. BNC adaptors
2. Vibration pickup input jacks
3. Side compartment (detailed below)
4. Sensors
5. Magnetic mount
6. SET and Clock
7. MAX-MIN key
8. ENTER and LOG key
9. ▼ / Function key / Max. Reset / Zero
10. ▲ / ACC-VEL-DISP key
11. Power ON-OFF
12. HOLD and Backlight
13. Backlit LCD (Detailed below)
Note: The
battery compartment and tilt stand are located on the rear of the instrument
key
key
key
13
12
11
10
9
6 7 8
5
4
1
2
3
2 VB500-en-GB_ v1.4 6/15
Display Description
1. Battery status
2. HOLD mode icon
3. Record MIN MAX Mode active
4. MAX display
5. MIN display
6. Peak Hold mode
7. Data Hold mode
8. RMS measurement
9. Channel 1 reading
10. Channel 2 reading
11. Date and Time
12. Channel 3 reading
13. Channel 4 reading
14. Datalogging active
15. Units of measure and function icons detailed below:
ACC ‘Acceleration’ measurement mode
VEL ‘Velocity’ measurement mode
DISP ‘Displacement’ measurement mode
2
m/s
Meters per second squared
mm/s Millimeters per second
2
ft/s
Feet per second squared
g G-force
inch/s Inches per second
cm/s Centimeters per second
mm Millimeters
inch Inches
P-P Peak-to-Peak
9
10
11
Side Compartment Description
1. SD Memory Card slot
2. 9V Power Adaptor jack
3. RESET button
4. Audio output jack
12 3 4 5 6 7 8
14
15
1
AUDIO OUT
2
3
12
13
4
3 VB500-en-GB_ v1.4 6/15
Getting Started
Power ON-OFF
Power the meter by pressing and holding the power button
Press and hold the power button for at least 3 seconds to power OFF the meter.
This meter is powered by eight (8) 1.5V ‘AA’ batteries or by AC adaptor. If the meter will not
switch ON please check that fresh batteries are installed in the rear battery compartment or, in
the case of the AC adaptor, check that the adaptor is connected correctly to the meter and to an
AC source.
Display Backlight
To turn the display backlight ON or OFF, press and hold the backlight
meter will beep when switching the backlight ON or OFF unless the beeper is disabled.
Vibration Sensor
Connect a vibration pickup to the cable supplied. Make sure it is firmly attached.
Connect the cable to the meter by attaching it to a connector at the top of the meter.
If the surface to be tested is magnetic, attach the magnetic base to the vibration pickup and
attach the pickup to a flat surface.
If the surface to be tested is not magnetic, hold the pickup against the surface. Do not hold the
cable while making measurements.
Units of Measure
The currently selected unit of measure is shown on the meter’s LCD. To change the unit of
measure, press and hold the ACC/VEL/DISP (up arrow) button until the desired unit of measure
appears and then release the button. The meter begins scrolling through the available units of
measure after the button has been depressed for 3 seconds. The saved units will become the
default power-on unit of measure.
UNIT DISPLAY INDICATOR
ACC m/s2
g
VEL mm/s
cm/s
DISP p-p mm
ACC ft/s2
VEL In/s
DISP p-p inch
for 3 seconds.
button for 3 seconds. The
4 VB500-en-GB_ v1.4 6/15
Function Selection
The currently selected function is shown on the meter’s LCD. To change the function, press and
hold the FUNCTION button until the desired function appears, then release the FUNCTION button.
The available functions are:
RMS: Typical selection for Acceleration and Velocity
PEAK: Displays the peak value of the vibration
MAX HOLD: Displays and holds the max value measured
MAX HOLD Reset
Press and hold the ▲ and ▼ buttons for 3 seconds to clear the Max. Hold reading.
Data Hold
To freeze a displayed reading on the LCD, momentarily press the HOLD button (the HOLD icon will
appear above the reading). To exit HOLD, press the HOLD button again.
ZERO Adjustment
The ZERO function is used to remove any small offset caused by temperature changes or other
environmental changes. The zero will only work for a display of 10 or less digits.
1. Connect the vibration sensor to the meter
2. Set the measurement function to Acceleration
3. Make sure the sensor is motionless and not subject to any vibrations
4. Select the desired channel by pressing and hold the up and down arrows buttons until the
beeper sounds and the CH1 icon flashes. Then use the SET button to scroll to the desired
channel.
5. Press and Hold the ▼ and ▲buttons for 3 seconds and the meter will zero the selected
channel.
6. Use the SET button to step out of this mode.
Max-Min Reading Record
For a given measurement session, this meter can record the highest (MAX) and the lowest (MIN)
readings for later recall.
1. Press the MAX-MIN button momentarily to access this mode of operation (REC icon appears)
2. The meter is now recording the MAX and MIN readings.
3. Press the MAX-MIN button again to view the current MAX readings (MAX icon appears). The
readings on the display are now the highest readings encountered since the REC icon was
switched on (when the MAX-MIN button was first pressed).
4. Press the MAX-MIN button again to view the current MIN readings (MIN icon appears). The
readings on the display are now the lowest readings encountered since the REC icon was
switched on (when the MAX-MIN button was first pressed).
5. To exit the MAX-MIN mode, press and hold the MAX-MIN button for 3 seconds. The meter will
beep, the REC-MAX-MIN icons will switch off, the MAX-MIN memory will clear, and the meter
will return to the normal operating mode.
5 VB500-en-GB_ v1.4 6/15
Loading...