Felix Storch F-950 Operation Manual

Operations Manual

F-950

Three Gas Analyzer

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

Manufacturer:

CID Bio Science, Inc.
Felix Instruments – Applied Food Science
1554 NE 3rd Ave
Camas, WA 98607

Declares that the CE-marked Product:

Product Models (s):

Model F-950

Complies With:

89/336/EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive
73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive

Compliance Standards:

EN 55027 RF Emissions Information

Technology Equipment

EN 50082-1 EMC Immunity Standard

EN 60950 Safety of Information
Technology Equipment
Including Electrical
Business Equipment

October 23, 2014 Leonard Felix
President

Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................. 1

Features .................................................................................... 3

Specifications ........................................................................... 4

Unpacking the F-950 .................................................................... 5

Operating Instructions ................................................................. 6

Loading the Battery .................................................................. 6

Basic Operation ........................................................................ 8

Measurement Modes ............................................................... 9

Interfering Gases ........................................................................11

PolarCept ................................................................................12

Measure .....................................................................................16

Continuous Mode ...................................................................16

Controls ..............................................................................17

Trigger Mode ..........................................................................18

Fixed Volume Mode ...............................................................20

Auto-Escape Feature ..............................................................24

Setup ..........................................................................................25

Setup Mode ............................................................................25

Setup Calibration ....................................................................26

Setup Set Zero ........................................................................27

Setup Date and Time ..............................................................29

Setup RH Conversion ..............................................................30

Setup GPS ...............................................................................31

Setup Language ......................................................................31

Setup Factory Settings............................................................31

File .............................................................................................. 32

File Select ............................................................................... 33

File New ................................................................................. 34

File Delete .............................................................................. 34

File Review ............................................................................. 35

Data Files on the Computer ................................................... 36

Firmware Update ....................................................................... 38

Installing the F-950 Driver ..................................................... 38

Updating the Firmware .......................................................... 40

F-950 Menu System Diagram ..................................................... 45

Appendix I: F-950 Controller Software and Sensor Calibration . 46

Appendix II: Sampling from a Jar ............................................... 56

F-950 Production Test Check Sheet ........................................... 58

FELIX INSTRUMENTS HARDWARE WARRANTY .......................... 60

Warranty Registration Card ....................................................... 63

F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16

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Introduction

Congratulations on the purchase of your new F-950 Three Gas
Analyzer!

The new F-950 Three Gas Analyzer measures 3 critical gases:
ethylene (C2H4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2), to
maintain optimum produce quality at every phase.

The F-950 is used to:

 Inspect storage and packing environments
 Verify ethylene mitigation efficacy
 Optimize ripening storage atmosphere conditions
 Quality assure MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging)

for ethylene-sensitive products

Ethylene affects ripening, aging, and spoilage in produce. The F­950 measures levels of ethylene, CO2 and O2 in the atmosphere,
and can be scaled to many environments, from cold storage to
warehouse to transportation container.

Simple to operate and weighing less than a kilogram, the F-950
uses an electrochemical cell to measure ethylene between 0­200 ppm in air. It records date, time, relative humidity,
temperature, and coming soon GPS location. The F-950 is ideal
for measuring ethylene production across a wide range of fruit
or floral types and is especially suitable for managing ethylene
emissions from perishable cut produce products.

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The F-950 is ideal for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)
applications. Most MAP gas analyzers are only equipped to
measure CO2 and/or O2 concentrations. Quality assurance for
perishable cut produce demands a more comprehensive
analysis. The F-950 makes it possible to respond to the change
in ripening gases to ensure longer shelf-life and higher quality
commodities.

We hope you enjoy using your F-950 Three Gas Analyzer.

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Features

 Portable, lightweight and easy to operate.

Rapid response time, with data points saved every second.

 Repeatable, precise measurements.

 Three versatile modes of operation

Measure in Continuous, Fixed Volume, or Trigger mode depending on

your application.

 True sunlight readable transflective display.

The contrast of the display increases under brighter sunlight.

 Removable, re-chargeable standard sized batteries.

Included stand-alone battery charger enables charging one battery

set while using another. Two sets of batteries are included with the

device. Additional button-top 19670 (or protected 18650) batteries

can be purchased from your preferred battery vendor.

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Specifications

F-950 Specifications

Air Sampling Rate

70 mL/min

Measuring Rate

Automated; 1 sec intervals

Data Storage

Removable 4 GB SD card

Display

Sunlight visible transflective LCD

Operating environment

0°C - 45°C (0-90% humidity non­condensing)

Battery Capacity

7 hours

Dimensions

18 x 13.5 x 5.5 cm

Weight

0.95 Kg

Enclosure

Powder coated aluminum

Warm-up time

< 3 minutes

Sensors

Ethylene Sensor

Electrochemical

Nominal Range

0 – 200 ppm

Lower Detection Limit

0.5 ppm

Resolution

0.1 ppm

Accuracy

5% ±0.5 ppm Continuous mode
±10% Fixed Volume mode

Carbon Dioxide
Sensor

Infrared Sensor, Pyroelectric detector

Nominal Range

0 – 20% (200,000 ppm)

Full scale resolution

0.01%

Accuracy

±5% Continuous mode
±10% Fixed Volume mode

Oxygen Sensor

Electrochemical

Nominal Range

0-100%

Resolution

0.1%

Accuracy

±5% Continuous mode
±10% Fixed Volume mode

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Unpacking the F-950

The F-950 arrives with a hard-sided carrying case, two sets of
batteries and a charger, a removable 4 GB SD card, and several
accessory parts. The unit comes with an external conditioning
chamber and potassium permanganate (KMnO4), used to scrub
the air entering the system. A sampling port with needle is
included for fixed volume samples from packaging and an
external PolarCept filter for reducing interfering gases. The
sampling port is pictured below, connected to the intake.

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Operating Instructions

WARNING: Do not store the F-950 without batteries! Charged

batteries must be present in the instrument to maintain the
accuracy of the sensors, even when the unit is powered off.

If the batteries of the F-950 discharge during storage, replace
with charged batteries and allow the instrument to stabilize 48
hours before use. There is a small internal battery to maintain
the bias voltage for the ethylene electrochemical sensor. This
small internal battery will last for 1 day without the main
batteries before sensor sensitivity is affected by losing its bias
voltage. The calibration parameter data is intact with or without
batteries.

Fully charged main batteries allow for storage time of over 1
year. For long-term storage, consider attaching the potassium
permanganate (KMnO4) external conditioning chamber to the
inlet and outlet of the F-950 (see image below).

Aged batteries or batteries that started
out with less charge will reduce the
storage time available. The Li-ion
batteries have little self-discharge and a
life of about 3 years.

Loading the Battery

The F-950 uses 18650 Li-ion 3.7V
3100mAh rechargeable batteries. For longer lifespan, charge
the batteries at 0.25A. For a faster charge, charge at 1A. The
batteries must be removed from the F-950 to be charged.

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To remove the batteries, twist the battery compartment cap,
located on the bottom of the case. The cap can be twisted with
fingers or a screw-driver to tighten or loosen. Take care when
removing batteries, as the cap is spring loaded. Both batteries
should be inserted into the unit positive (+) side first (towards
intake or top). The battery compartment and exhaust port are
pictured below.

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Basic Operation

To turn the instrument on, press the green power button. The
Felix Instruments logo will flash, followed by the main menu.
The top of the display reads Felix Instruments, and the current
version of firmware the unit is running is displayed in the lower
left hand corner. The battery meter is listed on the lower right
hand side of the display.

For information on the latest firmware version, please visit the
F-950 support webpage (www.felixinstruments.com/support/f-

950-support).

The main menu displays the following options: Measure, Setup,
and File. If the green power button is pressed, the display will
prompt for confirmation before shutting off the F-950.

To scroll between menu items in the list, use the Up and Down
arrows. To select an option from the menu list, use the Right
arrow. To exit, use the Left arrow.

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Measurement Modes

Three measurement modes are present on the F-950:
continuous, trigger and fixed volume. To change measurement
mode go to Setup > Mode from the main menu (page 25).

In fixed volume and trigger mode, the instrument reports values
in terms of VOC (volatile organic compounds). VOC’s are
aromatic compounds like ethylene, esters and alcohols. Their
production increase with produce aging and spoilage. The F-950
ethylene sensor cannot distinguish ethylene from many other
VOC’s. PolarCept was designed to optimize and improve the
accuracy of ethylene measurements. PolarCept is an external
water filter, which reduces the signal from interfering gases
reaching the ethylene sensor. PolarCept is recommended in
Fixed Volume and Trigger mode. PolarCept dramatically reduces
the amount of interfering gases like alcohols and esters that are
present in a sample, allowing ethylene to pass through to the
sensors. For more information on PolarCept, see page 11.

Continuous measurement mode measures the air entering
through the input of the instrument. The controls default to

Loop “Open” and Pump “On”. Continuous mode can be used

with or without the sample port attached to the front of the
instrument. The data is saved every one second in continuous
mode.

Trigger measurement mode begins with the valve closed and
the pump off. To start taking a measurement, press the square
start button on the key-strip of the F-950 to initiate a new
measurement. The pump will run and air will enter the F-950

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until a stable reading has been reached for all sensors, or until
the user stops the measurement by pressing the start button

again. The final values will be displayed under the word “last” in

the graph and saved to the SD card. The pump will then turn off
until the user initiates a new measurement.

Trigger mode can be used with or without the sample port
attached to the front of the instrument. The instrument will
detect and report total VOC’s present in the sample.

Trigger mode should be used in place of continuous mode if
expecting high ethylene concentrations. Trigger mode allows a

purge of the internal volume of gas in the instrument between
samples and will help protect the ethylene sensor from over­saturation.

Fixed Volume measurement mode draws in a sample of a small,
set volume of gas (default 15 mL). The sampling port with the
needle attachment is required for Fixed Volume mode and
MAP applications. The instrument will detect and report total
VOC’s present in the fixed volume sample.

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Interfering Gases

No analytical method is completely specific. Gases present in

the environment, other than the “target” gas of a

measurement, may affect instrument response. Interferences
are not necessarily linear, and may also exhibit time dependent
characteristics. The following table details the approximate
cross-sensitivity of the ethylene sensor to several common
interfering gases. A 20% cross sensitivity means that 100 ppm of
the interfering gas would read the same as 20 ppm of the target
gas (ethylene). Therefore, 20 ppm H2S should read <40 ppm on
the F-950: 10 ppm NO2 should read <5 ppm: 10 ppm Cl2 should
read -0.1 ppm.

Gas

Interfering gas (ppm)

Cross-Sensitivity (%)

H2S

20 ppm

< 200

NO2

10 ppm

< 50

Cl2

10 ppm

< -1

NO

50 ppm

< 80

SO2

20 ppm

< 50

CO

400 ppm

< 30

H2

400 ppm

< 0.5

C2H4

80 ppm

< 100

NH3

25 ppm

< 0.1

HCHO

4 ppm

90

CO2

50000 ppm

< 0.1

Ripening fruit emit a complex mixture of hydrocarbons,
including ethylene. Oxidation of these other gases in the
electrochemical sensor cannot be readily distinguished from
ethylene. This causes the ethylene value to be falsely high in the
presence of interfering gas.

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Felix Instruments has tested a method to absorb some of the
competing gases and provide better ethylene measurements.
This method, PolarCept, uses distilled water in an external
chamber and has been shown to filter out some polar
hydrocarbons and alcohols to produce less interference.

PolarCept

It is recommended to use the external PolarCept filter when
measuring a mixture of gas (such as when sampling fruit) or
interfering gases may be reported by the instrument. The
external filter can be used with any of the three measurement
modes, and is recommended for Fixed Volume and Trigger
Modes. PolarCept should only be used with 1.5 mL of distilled

or deionized water.

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The PolarCept filter consists of a plastic molded part,
hydrophobic filter and O-ring. It is also used with the “fixed
volume tubing” and sample probe needle. A small plastic
syringe is used to fill and empty PolarCept. Once the
hydrophobic filter and O-ring are in place, it should be very
difficult to remove it, creating a leak-proof seal. Additional
hydrophobic filters are included as replacements, when the
filter is soaked with water or damaged during removal.

Eventually the water in the PolarCept filter will become
saturated with trapped interfering gases and should be replaced
with fresh distilled water. Saturation rates will depend on the
measurement mode and amount of interfering gases present in
the sample environment. The table below shows example
saturation times when measuring headspace of bananas (with a
maturity index of 5) in Continuous Mode. This sample contains
various mixed hydrocarbons, ethylene and VOCs. The total VOC
in ppm listed is the signal reported by the C2H4 sensor in ppm.

VOC concentration

PolarCept saturation (min)

3 ppm

20

100 ppm

1

To fill the PolarCept filter, attach an empty syringe to the
hydrophobic filter. The plunger of the syringe should be
completely depressed. Lower PolarCept over a cup of distilled
water and draw in 1.5 mL with the syringe. Attach the sample
needle and fixed volume tubing to stop leaks. To empty
PolarCept, re-attach the syringe and push the water out the
sample needle end.

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To properly use PolarCept, keep the sample needle pointed
downwards while measuring, as seen in the example below on

the left. The water in the filter should “bubble” as the gas

sample is pulled through it, causing some of the interfering
gases to be trapped.

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See the following graph of measured ethylene concentration by
the F-950 with and without using PolarCept, measuring the
same headspace of bananas. After about 20 minutes, the water
becomes saturated, and the signal beings to rise with PolarCept.

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Ethylene (ppm)

Time (min)

F-950 PolarCept

No Polarcept Polarcept

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Measure

From the main menu, press the right arrow when the word
Measure is highlighted, to enter the measurement display
screen. All measurement variables are saved to the SD card
every 1 second in continuous mode. When the SD card is not
present, the data will not be saved.

If sampling very high concentrations followed by very low
concentrations, allow the instrument time to purge internal gas
for the most accurate measurements.

Continuous Mode

When in continuous mode, a graph of the concentration of each
gas can be viewed over time. The default graph shown is the
ethylene (C2H4) concentration in ppm. To view the graph of the
other gases, simply use the up and down arrows to scroll
through them. The current gas being graphed is shown on the
top of the screen with the concentration in large font as shown
below.

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The x-axis of the graph is time. The y-axis of the graph displays
the range of the concentration (in ppm for ethylene and % for
CO2 and O2), and the dynamic range is labeled at the top. The y­axis scale is set by the highest value shown in the buffer. This
range will scale vertically, dependent on the highest
concentration of gas measured. If the concentration is small,
the dynamic range will reflect this.

The graph begins on the left side and moves towards the right
as more data points are added. Once the line reaches the right
side of the display, the data will begin moving towards the far
left, keeping the current time at the far right. The total
measurement time is displayed below the graph.

Current Oxygen (% O2), Carbon Dioxide (% CO2) are listed on the
right side of the graph when ethylene is being graphed. This
data changes slightly when displaying the graph of other gas
concentrations. The flowrate (mL/m) is displayed at the bottom.
If Relative Humidity (% RH) and Temperature (degrees Celsius)
are not seen on the display, go to Setup>RH Conversion and
enter the actual temperature of the measurement gas (see page

30).

Controls

From the measurement display screen, press the right arrow to
view and change the controls. Access to the controls is only
available in Continuous and Trigger measurement modes.

The internal volume inside of the instrument, or “Loop” can be

Open or Closed. When the loop is open, the instrument is
sampling air from the input at the top of the instrument and
exhausting air through the output at the bottom of the
instrument. When the loop is closed, air is circulated internally

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through the tubes and valves to the input and output are
closed.

From the control screen, the Pump can be turned On or Off.
When the pump is on, the unit will flow at 67 mL per minute,
which is the default flow rate. When the pump is off the flow
will drop to 0 mL per minute.

Trigger Mode

A measurement in trigger mode begins with the valves closed
and the pump off. To begin, press the square start button as
prompted, to measure. Use the longer probe- the Trigger Mode
Probe- (seen below) to take Trigger Mode measurements. This
will turn on the pump and the ethylene sensor will stabilize
before drawing in sample gas. Trigger mode will take longer to
stabilize if the concentration is in a different range from the last
sample (30 sec-1.5 min).

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Once adequate sample has been collected, press the square
button to stop the measurement and view the results. The
maximum sample volume in this mode is 41 mL. The results will
be saved to the SDcard.

Press the square start button to begin another measurement.
Press the Left arrow to exit to the main menu.

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Fixed Volume Mode

To begin, the unit should be disconnected from the sample of
interest while the sensors purge, stabilize and equilibrate to the
ambient environment. The instrument will purge for 5 seconds
to remove the previous sample from the internal tubing of the
instrument. If additional time is required, press the Right arrow
to start the purge cycle again. Once stable, the instrument will
prompt the user to connect the sample and press start to begin
measuring.

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Assemble the probe by connecting the “Fixed Volume Needle
Probe” black tubing to the intake of the F-950. Next, twist on a

hydrophobic filter to the end of the tubing. The filter will
prevent any moisture or debris from being sucked into the
instrument. Finally, attach a sterile needle to the filter.
Depending on the application, needles can be re-used.

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After the start button has been pressed, the pump will run until
the sample volume (default: 15 mL) has been drawn into the F­950, and then the loop will close while the sample is analyzed.
Maximum sample volume in fixed volume mode is 18.5 mL.
Minimum sample volume is 10 mL for 5-10% accuracy.

When the loop is closed the F-950 system should be
disconnected from the sample. The unit will read “Processing…
after the fixed volume is drawn inside the unit. Once processing
is seen on the display, disconnect from the sample while the
sensors analyze the fixed volume sample and provide the
results.

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The final result is then displayed on a new screen. The values
listed are the concentrations of C2H4, CO2, and O2 present in the
sample. To the right of the concentrations, are the relative
humidity, temperature, volume of sample, and duration to
collect and analyze sample.

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Press the start button to return to the measurement screen.
Connect to the next sample and press the start button to begin
another measurement.

Auto-Escape Feature

An upper limit auto-escape feature acts as a safety feature of
the unit. This safety feature is always on. If the sensor detects
over 200 ppm ethylene, the F-950 will auto-escape from
monitor mode to prevent poisoning the electrode in the
ethylene sensor. This will stop the measurement.

If the sensor becomes poisoned, it will continually auto-escape
with the error message "sensor out of bounds". If this message
appears, connect the external conditioning tube filled
completely with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) to the
inlet/outlet of the F-950. Allow time with the instrument
powered on (Continuous Mode) to remove the high
concentration of ethylene in the instrument.

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Setup

Use the right arrow to enter the Setup Menu from the Main
Menu screen.

The F-950 has a number of utility functions that allow the user
to manage the instrument’s capabilities. Five setup functions
are available: Mode, Calibration, Set Zero, Date & Time and RH
Conversion, GPS and Factory Setup.

Setup Mode

Setup Mode allows the user to change the measurement mode
of the instrument between Continuous, Trigger, and Fixed
Volume mode. To change the mode, highlight Measure and use
the right arrow to highlight the mode. Then use the Up/Down
arrows to cycle through the mode options. Use the left arrow to
highlight Measure once the correct mode has been selected.
Then press the left arrow again to exit to the main menu.

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USB mode should be set to Mass Storage. Virtual COM is the
other mode, and should only be used to update the firmware if
instructed by a Felix Instruments technician.

Setup Calibration

Setup Calibration lists the C2H4 Offset, C2H4 Gain, Internal
Volume, Fixed Volume, and Flow Rate. The C2H4 Offset, C2H4
Gain, Internal Volume values are set during calibration at Felix
Instruments, and should not be changed unless instructed by a
Felix Instruments technician. At the factory, the ethylene sensor
is calibrated at 0 ppm and 20 ppm, then verification at 10 ppm.

The Fixed Volume and Flow Rate may be changed to
accommodate various applications, but this may affect the
accuracy of the device. Flow rate is adjustable from 40-120
mL/min. Fixed volume sample size is adjustable up to 18.5 mL.

The default Fixed Volume is 15 mL. The default Flow Rate is 67
mL/min.

Calibration

C2H4 Offset 0001672
C2H4 Gain 0000545
Internal Volume 016.2
Fixed Volume 15.0
Flow Rate 067

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For additional information on gas calibration of the F-950 using
the controller software, navigate to the FAQ on the F-950
support webpage:

https://felixinstruments.com/support/F-950/

and select How do I calibrate the instrument?

Or refer to Appendix I in this manual.

Setup Set Zero

Setup Set Zero sets a new baseline, or zero, for the C2H4 sensor
only. This should be done daily for the C2H4 sensor. To set a new
zero, first connect the external conditioning tube filled
completely with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) to the inlet
and use the “male to male adapter” to connect to the outlet of
the F-950. Then use the right arrow to enter Set Zero.

Always allow the instrument adequate time to warm up (3 min)
with the KMnO4 attached before setting the zero.

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Always store the KMnO4 air tight by connecting the ends of the
tubing. Replace the cotton ball filters at either end of the
external conditioning tube each time the KMnO4 is replaced
(color indicator turns from purple to brown when it expires).

The instrument will run an automated process that sets a new
baseline for future measurements. A reminder to use connect
the potassium permanganate appears.

After the Set Zero routine is finished, it will exit to the Setup
menu. Next, verify the set zero calibration by measuring the
KMnO4 (0 ppm). Run the set zero calibration again if verification
is not successful.

To set zero for CO2 and O2 (every 6 months), you will need to
use Controller Software. This process is outlined in the How do I
calibrate the instrument? Support section linked on the previous
page.

Zero C2H4 Sensor

Use KMnO4 filter

C2H4 offset…..1349.1

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Setup Date and Time

Use the Right and Left arrows to move between
Month/Day/Year and Hour/Minute/Second and use the Up and
Down arrows to change the values. To exit, use the left arrow to
back out of the screen and return to the Setup menu.

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Setup RH Conversion

The Setup RH Conversion menu is used to correct for the
temperature sensor being inside F-950 housing. This causes the
temperature sensor to reflect the temperature of the F-950 and
not the ambient temperature. The temperature is usually
several degrees above ambient. The Relative Humidity is
calculated based on temperature.

Enter the correct ambient temperature in degrees Celsius,
measured from an external temperature sensor, to have the F­950 use for calculating the relative humidity (RH %). To use the

entered temperature for RH, “use sample T” should be set to
“Yes.”

The current (internal RH) and corrected (sample RH) relative
humidity are displayed at the bottom of this screen.

RH Conversion
Enter Sample T(C) 20.0
Use Sample T Yes
(for measurements)

Internal RH (%) 43.6
Sample RH (%) 21.3

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Setup GPS

The GPS sensor inside of the F-950 can be used to record
latitude and longitude to within 10 meters. The instrument
should be operated outside, without overhead obstruction for
best GPS performance. It may be difficult to acquire a fix on GPS
satellites indoors. The Setup>GPS menu turns on or off the GPS
sensor and show the current GPS data. Data is also saved to the
SDcard .csv file.

Setup Language

The F-950 Three Gas Analyzer now has options for Spanish and
Portugues languages for firmware 1.5.7.5 and above, to update
your firmware refer to the Firmware Update portion of this
manual.

Setup Factory Settings

The Setup > Factory Settings menu is used to back up or restore
the factory defaults for the calibration parameters for all of the
sensors (C2H4, CO2 and O2) on the device. The calibration
parameters can also be modified using this menu. It is
recommended to always back up the current parameters before
making any modifications.

Setup GPS

Enable GPS Yes/No

Acquiring GPS data…..

Longitude 122.558

Latitude 45.59

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To modify calibration parameters:

1. Back up the current parameters (Setup>factory

settings>back up)

2. Make the modification in the .cfg fil

3. Import the .cfg file (Setup>factory settings>restore) to

apply the changes

File

The File Menu is accessed by highlighting “File” on the Main

Menu and pressing the right arrow key. Here, the user can
manipulate files on the F-950. The F-950 remembers the last
open file and will being saving data into it when it is powered
back on.

In the main file menu, four options are available: Select, New,
Delete and Review. All files created by the F-950 are .csv
(comma separated value) files.

To view data on a computer, simply insert the SDcard into the
computer’s SDcard reader. The computer should automatically
detect the SDcard as a new storage device and mount the drive
so that measurement data will be accessible by any computer
application. The mini-USB port can also be used to establish a
USB connection with a computer to transfer data from the F-

950.

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File Select

File Select displays a list of .csv files that exist on the F-950 SD
card. Use the Up and Down arrows to move between files, and
the right arrow to select a file to which new data will be saved.
If the unit is powered on and no file is selected, the data will be
default saved to the file “data.csv”. In the file, each data point is
labeled with time and date for easy sorting.

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File New

Pressing the Right arrow when File New is selected will create a
new file according to the naming scheme programmed on the
instrument, XX_XX_XX_X or Year_Month_Date_Ordinal. For
example, the first file created on September 8, 2014 will read
14_09_08_0 and subsequent files will increase the last
placeholder numerically. After pressing the right arrow, go to
File Select to see the list of files on the SDcard. There will be a
new file in the list with the current date.

File Delete

File Delete displays a list of files that exist on the F-950 SDcard.
Use the Up and Down arrows to scroll between files and use the
right arrow to display the option to delete the selected file. A
message will appear that reads “Delete File?” Press the Left
arrow for No, leaving the file intact. Press the Right arrow for
Yes, deleting the file.

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File Review

File Review displays a list of files that are on the SD card and
allows you to view the data in the files. Use the Up and Down
arrows to scroll between files and the right arrow to enter the
selected file. The data.csv file is the default file, which data will
be saved into if no other files are created.

After selecting a file name, the measurement mode with time of
the measurement and ethylene concentration will appear for
Fixed Volume or Trigger mode readings. Use the Up and Down
arrows to highlight a measurement and the Right arrow to enter
the measurement and see the more detailed data, including
CO2, O2, Temperature, Relative Humidity and Flow Rate.

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Data Files on the Computer

Open the data files saved on the SDcard on the computer using
Microsoft Excel or Notepad. Data files are saved as .csv
(commas separated value). The following figure is an example
data spreadsheet. Data values included are the date and time of
the measurement, the measurement mode, the ethylene level
in parts per million (ppm), the CO2 concentration in percent, the
O2 concentration in percent, the temperature of the gas stream
in degrees Celsius, the relative humidity (RH) of the gas stream
in percent, and the flow rate of the gas stream in milliliters (mL)
per minute.

REMEMBER: Always save the data files to the computer before

making changes or starting analysis.

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Example spreadsheet data of an F-950 measurement.

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Firmware Update

For the latest version of firmware, update software, and
instructions, visit the F-950 Support webpage
(http://www.felixinstruments.com/support/f-950-support).

To update the firmware, you will need:

1. F-950_Package_Setup32.exe (or F-

950_Package_Setup64.exe, under Windows 64 bit)

2. Firmware code file: FW_950_v.X.X.X.X.dfu

3. Mini-USB to USB cable to connect to F-950 to PC.

Installing the F-950 Driver

1. Launch F-950_Package_Setup.exe.

2. Set up device by powering on the F-950 and connecting

it to computer via USB port. Go to Setup>Mode>USB
menu and select Virtual COM.

3. Install will prompt for DfuSe tool (required for firmware

upgrade).

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4. Click Next, then enter your information into the window

below. Click Next in the next several steps.

5. If Windows prompts the following message, select

“Install this driver software anyway”:

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6. Device drivers and Software package installation is

completed. Under Windows’s Start menu, you should

be able to find shortcuts for Device’s Controller and

Firmware Upgrade Program.

7. F-950 Controller software requires Java runtime

environment. Installer will check for appropriate version
on your computer. Please download and install Java at

http://www.java.com/ if requested.

Updating the Firmware

1. Download latest firmware (.dfu file) from Felix

Instruments website:

https://felixinstruments.com/support/F-950/software/

2. Open the F-950 Firmware Upgrade software on your pc.

3. With the unit powered off, connect the F-950 to the

computer using the mini-USB to USB cable.

4. Hold the Down Arrow button down on the F-950, then

press the Power button, then release both buttons. This
puts the F-950 in DFU mode.

5. On the DFU software, from the drop down menu under

“Available DFU Devices”, select “STM Device in DFU
Mode”. Note: when connecting device to your

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computer for the first time, it may take a minute for the
device to show up in the drop down menu.

6. At the bottom of the transfer software screen, click

“Choose…”.

7. A dialogue box labeled open will appear. Navigate to

the desktop of your computer and select the new .dfu
firmware file to download.

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8. Click “Upgrade”. A dialogue box will appear- click “Yes”

to proceed.

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9. The device is now being updated with the newest

firmware. The green bar at the bottom of the screen
tracks the progress of the upgrade. When the green bar
reads “Upgrade successful” the process is complete.

10. Near the top of the DFU program, click “Leave DFU

mode” to return the device to its normal mode of

operation.

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11. Power on the F-950. In the lower right hand corner of

the device screen, the new version of firmware will
appear.

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F-950 Menu System Diagram

Below is a map of the F-950 ethylene analyzer menu system.
Press the right arrow to enter a menu and the left arrow to exit.

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Appendix I: F-950 Controller Software and
Sensor Calibration

The F-950 Controller software offers real-time monitoring,
controlling as well as calibrating multiple F-950/F-900 devices
from standard USB connection.

Instructions:

1. Open the F-950 Controller software

2. Connect the F-950 to the computer using the mini-USB

to USB cable.

3. In F-950 device Setup>Mode>USB menu, select

Controller mode.

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4. In Controller software, the device series should show up

in the device list at top-left corner. Click on the device
series to select device. Note: when connecting device to

your computer for the first time, it may take a minute
for the device to show up in the left panel.

5. Monitoring information from your device should display

in monitor tab.

6. For more information on using the controller software

to calibrate the F-950, navigate to the FAQ page on the
F-950 support webpage:

https://felixinstruments.com/support/F-950/

and select How do I calibrate the instrument?

Ethylene (C2H4) PPM Sensor Calibration

Setting the Zeroes (Offset) with Potassium Permanganate
(KPMnO4) *daily

Takes approximately 5 minutes

1. Place fresh potassium

permanganate (KMnO4) in the
external conditioning tube

2. Connect the conditioning tube to

the intake and outake of the F-950
utilizing Viton tubing (see photo)

3. Power on the F-950 and when

‘Measure’ is selected, right arrow

key and allow to run for 3 minutes
to stabilize

4. Navigate back to the main menu and select Setup > Set

Zero, press the right arrow key to initiate.

5. When the instrument has set zero, a beep sounds and

the word ‘OK’ appears.

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Ethylene (C2H

4

) Sensor Set Span *6 months

1. Connect the high resolution flowmeter, Ethylene

calibration gas, and 950 intake ports together using a T­junction of tubing. If a sample bag of ethylene is being
used, make a connection from the 950 intake port to
the bag using the huber needle.

2. On the 950, begin measure mode.

3. Scroll through the graphs on the 950 (use the up and

down arrow keys) so that it is displaying the C2H4
concentration graph.

4. Set the flowrate on the C

2H4

gas tank so that the flow

meter reads roughly 70 mL/min. If the 950 gives a “Flow
Blocked” error, then increase the flow on the meter by

10 mL/min and begin measure mode on the 950 again.
If the error persists, contact tech support. If a sample
bag is being used, skip this step.

5. Let the 950 read the gas for three minutes.

6. In the controller software, in the C2H4 field, set the

concentration to the value of the calibration gas being
used. Then hit the “Set Span” button.

7. The concentration on the 950 should now read the

same as the calibration gas within 5% ± .5 ppm.

Ethylene (C2H

4

) Sensor Verification *After Setting the Span

Perform this process immediately after calibrating (set span) the
ethylene sensor on the 950

1. Connect the high resolution flowmeter, Ethylene

verification gas, and 950 intake ports together using a T­junction of tubing. If a sample bag of ethylene is being

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used, make a connection from the 950 intake port to
the bag using the huber needle.

2. On the 950, begin measure mode.

3. Scroll through the graphs on the 950 (use the up and

down arrow keys) so that it is displaying the C2H4
concentration graph.

4. Set the flowrate on the C

2H4

gas tank so that the flow

meter reads roughly 90 mL/min. If the 950 gives a “Flow
Blocked” error, then increase the flow on the meter by

10 mL/min and begin measure mode on the 950 again.
If the error persists, contact tech support. If a sample
bag is being used, skip this step.

5. Let the 950 read the gas for three minutes.

6. The 950 should read the same value as the verification

gas within 5% ± .5 ppm. If it does not, repeat the

“Ethylene Sensor Calibration” section above.

Carbon Dioxide (CO

2

) PCT Sensor Calibration

Setting the Zeroes (Offset) with Nitrogen Gas (N2) *6 months

Perform the set zero before the set span process. *User also has
the ability to zero the sensor utilizing Soda Lime on closed loop
and connecting to the controller software the same way.

1. Connect the high resolution flow meter, N

2

gas, and 950
intake ports together using a T-junction of tubing. If a
sample bag of N2 is being used, make a connection from
the 950 intake port to the bag using the huber needle.

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2. On the 950, begin continuous measure mode.

3. Set the flowrate on the N

2

gas tank so that the flow

meter reads roughly 90 mL/min. If the 950 gives a “Flow
Blocked” error, then increase the flow on the meter by

10 mL/min and begin measure mode on the 950 again.
If the error persists, contact tech support. If a sample
bag of N2 is being used, skip this step.

4. Let the 950 read the gas for five minutes

5. In the controller software, select CO2 in the “Zero

sensors” field, then click the “Set Zero” button

6. The 950 should now read 0 for the CO

2

sensor

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) PCT Sensor Set Span *6 months

Perform the set zero before the set span process.

1. Connect the high resolution flow meter, CO

2

calibration
gas, and 950 intake ports together using a T-junction of
tubing. If a sample bag of CO2 is being used, make a
connection from the 950 intake port to the bag using
the huber needle.

2. On the 950 begin measure mode.

3. Scroll through the graphs on the 950 (use the up and

down arrow keys) so that it is displaying the CO2
concentration graph.

4. Set the flowrate on the CO

2

gas tank so that the flow

meter reads roughly 90 mL/min. If the 950 gives a “Flow
Blocked” error, then increase the flow on the meter by

10 mL/min and begin measure mode on the 950 again.

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If the error persists, contact tech support. If a sample
bag is being used, skip this step.

5. Let the 950 read the gas for three minutes.

6. In the controller software, in the CO2 field, set the

concentration to the value of the calibration gas being

used. Then hit the “Set Span” button.

7. The concentration on the 950 should now read the

same as the calibration gas within 5%.

Carbon Dioxide (CO

2

) PCT Sensor Verification *After Set Span

Perform this process immediately after calibrating the carbon
dioxide sensor on the 950

1. Connect the high resolution flow meter, CO

2

verification
gas, and 950 intake ports together using a T-junction of
tubing. If a sample bag of CO2 is being used, make a
connection from the 950 intake port to the bag using
the huber needle.

2. On the 950 begin measure mode.

3. Scroll through the graphs on the 950 (use the up and

down arrow keys) so that it is displaying the CO

2

concentration graph.

4. Set the flowrate on the CO

2

gas tank so that the flow

meter reads roughly 90 mL/min. If the 950 gives a “Flow
Blocked” error, then increase the flow on the meter by

10 mL/min and begin measure mode on the 950 again.
If the error persists, contact tech support. If a sample
bag is being used, skip this step.

5. Let the 950 read the gas for three minutes.

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6. The 950 should read the same value as the verification

gas within 5%. If it does not, repeat the “Carbon Dioxide
Sensor Calibration” section above.

Oxygen (O

2

) Sensor Calibration

Setting the Zeroes (Offset) with Nitrogen Gas (N2) *6 months

1. Connect the high resolution flow meter, N

2

gas, and 950
intake ports together using a T-junction of tubing. If a
sample bag of N2 is being used, make a connection from
the 950 intake port to the bag using the huber needle.

2. On the 950, begin continuous measure mode.

3. Set the flowrate on the N

2

gas tank so that the flow

meter reads roughly 90 mL/min. If the 950 gives a “Flow
Blocked” error, then increase the flow on the meter by

10 mL/min and begin measure mode on the 950 again.
If the error persists, contact tech support. If a sample
bag of N2 is being used, skip this step.

4. Let the 950 read the gas for five minutes

5. In the controller software, select O2 in the “Zero

sensors” field, then click the “Set Zero” button

6. The 950 should now read 0 for the O

2

sensor

Oxygen (O2) Sensor Set Span *6 months

1. Connect the high resolution flow meter, O

2

calibration
gas, and 950 intake ports together using a T-junction of

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tubing. If a sample bag of O2 is being used, make a
connection from the 950 intake port to the bag using
the huber needle.

2. On the 950 begin measure mode.

3. Scroll through the graphs on the 950 (use the up and

down arrow keys) so that it is displaying the O2
concentration graph.

4. Set the flowrate on the O

2

gas tank so that the flow

meter reads roughly 90 mL/min. If the 950 gives a “Flow
Blocked” error, then increase the flow on the meter by

10 mL/min and begin measure mode on the 950 again.
If the error persists, contact tech support. If a sample
bag is being used, skip this step.

5. Let the 950 read the gas for three minutes.

6. In the controller software, in the O2 field, set the

concentration to the value of the calibration gas being
used. Then hit the “Set Span” button.

7. The concentration on the 950 should now read the

same as the calibration gas ± 5%.

Oxygen (O

2

) Sensor Verification *After Set Span

Perform this process immediately after calibrating the oxygen
sensor on the 950

1. Connect the high resolution flow meter, O

2

verification
gas, and 950 intake ports together using a T-junction of
tubing. If a sample bag of O2 is being used, make a
connection from the 950 intake port to the bag using
the huber needle.

2. On the 950 begin measure mode.

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3. Scroll through the graphs on the 950 (use the up and

down arrow keys) so that it is displaying the O

2

concentration graph.

4. Set the flowrate on the O

2

gas tank so that the flow

meter reads roughly 90 mL/min. If the 950 gives a “Flow
Blocked” error, then increase the flow on the meter by

10 mL/min and begin measure mode on the 950 again.
If the error persists, contact tech support. If a sample
bag is being used, skip this step.

5. Let the 950 read the gas for three minutes.

6. The 950 should read the same value as the verification

gas ± 5%. If it does not, repeat the “Oxygen Sensor
Calibration” section above.

Continuous Mode Verification *After Set Span

The following procedure is to check whether the sensors were
calibrated to read within spec of the actual gas value.

It is highly recommended that this step be performed after
one full day has passed since the calibration was performed. If
this step is not performed, accuracy of the calibration cannot

be verified.

Repeat the verification sections from above for each gas and
record the results here after three minutes (at least) of measure
time. If any of the values are out of specification, check your
procedure and recalibrate the sensor again.

Gas

950
Results

± 5% of standard
gas

Air (Air is ~20.9%
O2)

□Yes □No

CO

2

Verification Gas

□Yes □No

O

2

Verification Gas

□Yes □No

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Gas

950
Results

5% ± .5 PPM of

standard gas

C2H4 PPM
Verification Gas

□Yes □No

For information on sourcing known gases required for
calibration, please refer to the following website to inquire
about your region:

https://www.airliquide.com/group/where-we-operate

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Appendix II: Sampling from a Jar

The following photos utilize a glass jar customized with the
addition of a Vacutainer® septum.
The F-950 can draw and analyze a headspace gas sample from a
rigid jar by incorporating an input probe and output flow into
the septum to compensate for removed airspace, thus
preventing a vacuum from occurring.

Instructions:

1. With the F-950 in Fixed Volume Mode, allow the

instrument to purge and stabilize in ambient air before
inserting the fixed volume probe into the sample jar
septum.

2. Once stabilization is complete, insert the fixed volume

needle probe connected to the F-950 inlet into the jar
septum.

3. To prevent a vacuum, insert another probe from the

outlet (bottom) of the F-950 into the septum. There are
now two needle probes inserted into the septum.

4. Press the square button above the name of the

instrument to initiate the Fixed Volume measurement.
The pump inside of the F-950 will activate and draw
headspace gas into the unit.

5. Remove both needle probes during each purge to allow

the instrument to properly purge the internal tubing in
the F-950.

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1 3 5

*If you receive a Clogged probe? error, check that your needle is
not bent and that the needle has penetrated through the
septum and into the sampling space.
For larger sampling jars, consider incorporating an internal fan
to improve circulation within the sample space. Carbon dioxide
gas can sink to the bottom portion of the jar, rendering a non­representative reading to occur. Placing the jar on a long side
helps to mitigate this from affecting the sample draw and more
evenly distributes the internal gas.

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F-950 Production Test Check Sheet

SERIAL NUMBER:

Firmware Version:

C2H4 CALIBRATION PARAMETERS

C2H4 Offset

C2H4 Gain

Internal Volume

Fixed Volume

Flow Rate

NOTES:

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FELIX INSTRUMENTS HARDWARE
WARRANTY

Important: Please Read!

Seller’s Warranty and Liability: Seller warrants new equipment

of its own manufacturing against defective workmanship and
materials for a period of one year, of a single shift operation,
from date of receipt of equipment - the results of ordinary

wear and tear, neglect, misuse, accident and excessive
deterioration due to corrosion from any cause is not to be
considered a defect. Any defect must be called to the attention

of Felix Instruments, Camas, Washington, USA, in writing, within
90 days after receipt of the unit.

Seller’s liability for defective parts is limited to the repair or

replacement of any part of the instrument without charge, if
Felix Instruments’ examination discloses that part to have been
defective in material or workmanship, and in no event shall
exceed the furnishing of replacement parts F.O.B. the factory
where originally manufactured. No equipment may be repaired
or altered by anyone not authorized by Felix Instruments.

Material and equipment covered hereby, which is not
manufactured by Seller, is to be covered only by the warranty of
its manufacturer. Seller shall not be liable to the Buyer for loss,
damage, or injury to persons (including death), or to property or
things, whatsoever, including, but without limitation, products
processed by the use of the equipment; or for damages of any
kind or nature (including, but without limitation, loss of
anticipated profits), occasioned by or arising out of installation,
operation, use, misuse, nonuse, repair, or replacement of said

F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16

1554 NE 3rd Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA 61
Phone: [phone]

[e-mail]
www.felixinstruments.com

material and equipment, or out of the use of any method or
process for which the same may be employed. The purchaser is
to pack, ship, or deliver the instrument to Felix Instruments, in
Camas, Washington, USA, within 30 days after Felix Instruments
has received written notice of the defect at the customer’s
expense. No other arrangements may be made unless
otherwise approved in writing by Felix Instruments.

The use of this equipment constitutes Buyer’s acceptance of the

terms set forth in this warranty. There are no understandings,
representations, or warranties of any kind, express, implied,
statutory, or otherwise (including, but without limitation, the

implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose), not expressly set forth herein.

F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16

62 1554 NE 3

rd

Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA

Phone: [phone]

[e-mail]

www.felixinstruments.com

F-950 Instruction Manual rev. 10/17/16

1554 NE 3rd Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA 63
Phone: [phone]

[e-mail]
www.felixinstruments.com

Warranty Registration Card

1554 NE 3rd Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] Web: www.felixinstruments.com

PRODUCT REGISTRATION CARD

Please complete and return this form to Felix Instruments within 30 days to validate your Warranty on Parts & Labor.

Registration
Information:

Your Name:____________________________________ Title:__________________

Company/University:___________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________

City:____________________________ State:__________ Zip:__________________

Country:__________________________Email_______________________________

Phone:______________________________ Fax:____________________________

Felix Instruments Serial Number(s):__________________________________________________

Purchase Date:_____________________Purchase Price:_____________________

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□ Product Features □ Product Design
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3. Where did you first learn of this product?

□ Advertisement in ________________________________ □ Representative
□ Friend/Colleague □ Exhibit
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5. Comments/Suggestions:

______________________________________________________________________

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