General DPH230SD User Manual

DPH230SD

USER’S MANUAL

pH METER WITH DATALOGGING SD CARD

Please read this manual carefully and thoroughly before using this product.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 –4

Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 – 12

What’s in the Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 –5

Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 –7

Calibrating the pH Electrode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 –8

Normal Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 –9

Holding and Storing Measurements. . . . . . . . . . 9

Automatic vs. Manual Datalogging . . . . . . . . . 10

Transferring Data from an

SD Card to a Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 – 12

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Maintenance & Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Optional Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Return for Repair Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing General Tools & Instruments’ DPH230SD pH Meter with Datalogging SD Card. Please read this user’s manual carefully and thoroughly before using the instrument.

The DPH230SD is a general-purpose handheld instrument suitable for measuring the pH and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of a solution. Using optional probes with a BNC connector, the meter can measure pH from 0 to 14 and ORP from -1999 mV to +1999 mV. The meter also accepts an optional automatic temperature compensation (ATC) probe that configures the pH electrode to measure solutions whose temperature is between 32º and 150ºF (0º and 65ºC). For measuring the pH of solutions at temperatures between 32º and 212ºF (0º and 100ºC), the temperature compensation can be set manually. pH electrodes must be calibrated for pH 4, pH 7 and pH 10 using buffer solutions.

Among the applications and environments suitable for the DPH230SD are water conditioning, wastewater monitoring, beverage production, aquaculture (fish farming), aquariums, pulp and paper processing, electroplating, and photography.

The DPH230SD has the performance and features needed to satisfy the most demanding aspects of the above applications. A front-panel pushbutton enables rapid switching between the two measurement modes. Measurement accuracies are ± (0.02 pH units + 2 digits) for pH readings and ± (0.5% of the reading + 2 digits) for ORP readings.

Because it is microprocessor-based, the DPH230SD can make full use of the portability, reliability and large storage capacities that SD memory cards offer. Measurements can be made automatically at any sampling rate between one second and nine hours. After timestamping and storing the measurements on an SD card plugged into the instrument (a process called datalogging), the user can remove the card and plug it into a laptop or desktop computer either directly or via a USB card reader. The data logs are stored on the card as files with the .xls extension, which can be opened by Microsoft’s Excel application.

The DPH230SD has a backlit 2-1/2 in. diagonal display and is powered by six “AA” Alkaline batteries or an optional 9-VDC AC adapter.

KEY FEATURES

• Measures pH and ORP using optional electrodes

• Measured parameter can be changed by pressing front-panel button

• Optional ATC temperature probe automatically calibrates pH electrode to pH 4, pH and pH 10

• Displays maximum and minimum readings

• Performs real-time automatic datalogging at sampling time settable from 1 second to 9 hours

• Also supports manual logging and changing of card storage location

• Outputs Excel-compatible data logs

• Accepts SD memory cards of up to 16 GB capacity

• Big (2.5 in. diagonal) front-panel green backlit LCD is easy to read

• Auto power off function

• Powered by six “AA” batteries or optional 9V AC/DC adapter

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

WHAT’S IN THE CASE

The DPH230SD comes fully assembled in a carrying case along with a 2 GB SD memory card and this user’s manual.

Optional accessories available from General Tools & Instruments include pH electrodes, a probe that enables automatic temperature compensation (ATC) of pH electrodes, an ORP electrode, pH 4 and pH 7 buffer solutions, and a 9VDC adapter for a 110V power supply. See the Optional Accessories section of this manual for more details.

Figure 1 shows all of the controls and indicators on the front, back, top, bottom and right side of the DPH230SD. Familiarize yourself with the positions and functions of these controls, indicators and connectors before moving on to the setup procedure.

TOP

FRONT

BOTTOM

RIGHT

SIDE

BACK

Fig. 1. The DPH230SD’s controls and indicators and other physical features

1-1 Liquid-crystal display 1-2 POWER button 1-3 HOLD/ESC button 1-4 REC/ENTER button 1-5 ▲ button 1-6 ▼ button 1-7 TIME button 1-8 LOGGER SET button 1-9 Kickstand

1-10 Battery compartment cover 1-11 Battery compartment cover screws 1-12 Tripod attachment nut 1-13 Socket for ATC temperature probe 1-14 Socket for pH electrode 1-15 Socket for 9VDC AC adapter 1-16 Reset button 1-17 RS232 output jack 1-18 SD card socket

SETUP

1. Choose the power source. Before using the DPH230SD, be sure it is powered by fresh batteries or an optional 9VDC AC adapter plugged into the bottom jack on its right side (callout 1-15).

To remove the battery compartment cover, remove the two screws holding it in place (callout 1-11). Then install six “AA” batteries in the correct orientation, using the polarity marks on the inside of the compartment as a guide. Replace the cover by replacing the two screws.

2. Install an SD card. To prepare for setup, also install the supplied 2 GB SD memory card or another card with a capacity from 1 GB to 16 GB in the socket on the bottom of the DPH230SD (callout 1-18). When installing the card, make sure its gold contacts are facing front and push the card into the socket until you hear a click. To remove the card, push it in until you hear a click and the card pops out.

Now power on the instrument by pressing the POWER button (callout 1-2) to generate a short beep. (To power off the DPH230SD, press the POWER button and hold it until the instrument responds with a long beep.)

When the meter powers on, a series of transient startup screens will briefly appear. Once the display has stabilized, perform the following eight setup steps in the order presented.

3. Format the SD card. LOGGER SET button (callout 1-8) and hold it for at least five seconds, until “Sd-F” appears in the lower half of the display. Quickly (within three seconds) press the REC/ENTER button.

(If you press buttons too slowly in setup mode, the screen will revert to the normal display. To return to the setup sequence, press and hold the LOGGER SET button again. To move ahead to the next field in the sequence or to the next parameter, press the HOLD/ESC button.)

Pressing the REC/ENTER button causes the word “no” or “yES” to appear over the term “Sd-F”. Press the ▼ button to make a selection. Choose “yES” whenever a new SD card is being used, or when a used card is being repurposed (from use with another SD card instrument or a camera, for example) and all data on it is to be erased. Choose “no” to preserve any data on a card previously used with this instrument.

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