DATA LOGGING
VOC METER
HARDWARE MANUAL
VOC08
99 Washington Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Phone 781-665-1400
Toll Free 1-800-517-8431
Visit us at www.TestEquipmentDepot.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 –4
What's in the Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 –6
Setup Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 –7
Install Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 –7
Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 – 10
Standalone Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 – 10
Data Logging Mode
(see VOC08 Software Manual on mini-disc
or online at generaltools.com)
Calibration Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 – 11
VOC Zero Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 – 11
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 – 12
Operating & Maintenance Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 – 14
Offsetting Sensor Drift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 –14
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 – 15
Return for Repair Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
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INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing General Tools & Instruments’
VOC08 Data Logging VOC Meter. Please read this user’s
manual carefully and thoroughly before using the product.
The VOC08 is an easy-to-use handheld instrument for making
ballpark measurements of mixed-gas volatile organic
compound (VOC) levels as part of an indoor air quality (IAQ)
maintenance program. Examples of VOCs include cigarette
smoke, ammonia, ethanol, and the low levels of toluene
produced during wood finishing and construction products.
Why does the VOC08 lack a VOC accuracy specification?
Because it can only measure the
contributed by multiple gases, rather than the concentration
of a single gas. VOC meters that use photo-ionization
detection (PID) technology and ultraviolet lamps to break
down single-gas VOCs into ions are faster and more accurate
than the VOC08, but they cost at least 10 times more. The
VOC08 is therefore a much more suitable solution for home
inspectors and facilities managers who only need to spotcheck concentrations of mixed-gas VOCs.
total concentration of VOCs
KEY FEATURES
• Metal-oxide semiconductor sensor within vented ball
housing detects ammonia, toluene, ethanol, hydrogen
sulfide (H2S) and cigarette smoke
• Makes ballpark measurements of total VOC concentration
as well as accurate measurements of ambient temperature,
relative humidity (RH), dew point and wet bulb
temperatures
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• Logs up to 32,000 data points. The entire capacity can be
devoted to VOC readings, or devoted one-third each to VOC,
ambient temperature and RH readings.
• Powerful data logging software that downloads readings to
a PC for display/printing as table or graph. Software
supports four data logging modes—including starting and
stopping recording without a PC.
• Adjustable high VOC concentration audible alarm
• Min/Max memory (for all measured parameters) and
data hold
• Automated VOC zero adjustment procedure
• Manually offsettable temperature and RH sensor drift
• Large backlit dual-readout LCD
• 15-minute Auto Power Off (can be disabled)
• Low battery indication
• Tripod mount
• Powered by (6) “AAA” batteries (not included) or AC adaptor
(included)
• CE and RoHS approved
• 2-year limited warranty
WHAT’S IN THE PACKAGE
The VOC08 instrument, a PC-compatible data logging
program on disc, a USB cable, an AC adaptor and this
hardware user’s manual come in a soft pouch inside a white
box.This hardware manual is also provided as a printable pdf
file on the disc, along with a pdf file of the VOC08 software
manual.
4
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Fig. 1 shows all controls, indicators and physical structures of
the VOC08. Fig. 2 shows all possible indications on the LCD.
Familiarize yourself with the locations and functions of the
control buttons and the meanings of the display icons before
moving on to the Setup and Operating Instructions.
1. VOC and temp-RH sensors inside vented ball housing
2. LCD with upper and lower readouts
3. Control buttons
• HOLD. Pressed briefly, freezes both
readouts. Also used to raise VOC high
alarm threshold. Pressed at same time
as PWR button with meter off, disables
15-minute APO function. Pressed and
held, clears stored Min and Max session
values.
• MODE. Pressed briefly, selects
value(s) shown on lower readout:
Ambient temperature alternating with
RH; Dew Point (DP) temperature; or
Wet Bulb (WB) temperature. Also shifts
flashing digit one position to the left in
VOC high alarm threshold setting mode.
• PWR. Pressed briefly with meter off,
powers meter on. Pressed and held
with meter on, powers meter off.
Pressed briefly with meter on, arms/
disarms high VOC concentration alarm.
• MAX/MIN. Pressed briefly, displays
on the upper readout the highest or
lowest concentration detected since the
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Fig. 1.
The controls,
indicators
and physical
structures
of the VOC08
1
2
3
7
4
5
5
meter was last powered on. Also shifts flashing digit one
position to the right in VOC high alarm threshold setting
mode.
• SET. Pressed and held, enters VOC high alarm threshold
mode; also saves changed VOC alarm threshold settings
and temperature/RH offset values.
• UNIT. Selects °F or °C unit for ambient, DP and WB
temperatures.
• BKLT. Pressed briefly, turns backlight on and off. Also
used to lower VOC high alarm threshold. Pressed and held
in Key Start or Rollover mode (see Software Manual),
starts/stops data logging without a USB connection to a PC.
4. Battery compartment (on back)
5. Threaded tripod mounting screw hole
(on bottom)
6. Jack for AC adaptor (on side)
7. Micro USB jack
Fig. 2. All possible
display indications
SETUP INSTRUCTIONS
INSTALL BATTERIES
The VOC08’s battery compartment (Fig. 1, Callout 4) is located
on the lower back of the meter.
Obtain six “AAA” batteries. To install them:
1. Open the battery compartment by using your thumb to
slide its cover down and away from the meter.
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2. Install the batteries in series in the compartment, observing
the polarity markings inside.
3. Close the battery compartment by sliding the cover back
up on its track until it snaps shut.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
STANDALONE MODE
To power on the VOC08, press the PWR button. The LCD will
illuminate and immediately begin scrolling “0s” across the
five positions on the upper readout to indicate that it is
warming up. During the warmup period, the meter will burn
off any dust on the VOC sensor inside the vented ball. If this
is the first use of the meter or if it has not been powered on
in a long while, the warmup period may last as long as
several hours. Normally, it takes 1 to 15 minutes until the
scrolling stops and the upper readout stabilizes.
If you need to make ballpark measurements of mixed-gas
VOC levels over a period longer than 15 minutes (the meter’s
Auto Power Off triggering time), you must disable the APO
function.
To power on the VOC08 and simultaneously disable the
APO function while running on battery power, with the
meter off first press and hold the HOLD button, and then
(without releasing HOLD) press and hold the PWR button.
Doing this will cause a small n to briefly appear on the LCD
before the meter powers up with both readouts visible. There
is no permanent on-screen indication that the APO function
has been disabled. So if you disable APO, realize that the
batteries will discharge within an hour or two if you forget to
manually power off the meter after a measurement session.
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Once the meter has been powered on and the values on both
readouts have stabilized, the VOC08 automatically begins
operating in real-time measurement mode. In this mode
you can:
1) Turn the display backlight on and off by briefly pressing
the BKLT button.
2) Freeze both readouts by pressing the HOLD button.
3) Change the temperature unit to/from °F and °C by briefly
pressing the UNIT button. The VOC08 will “remember” the
unit in use when the meter powers off and will resume
using that unit for ambient, DP and WB temperatures when
it is powered on again.
4) Change the values shown on the lower readout by
pressing the MODE button. The options available by
pressing the button repeatedly are (in order): Ambient
temperature alternating with RH; Dew Point (DP)
temperature; or Wet Bulb (WB) temperature.
Using the MODE button
to change the value(s)
shown on the lower
Ambient temp
alternating
with RH
쑺
DP temp
쑺
WB temp
쑺
readout
5) Adjust the high VOC concentration audible alarm
threshold. To enter threshold adjustment mode, press and
hold the SET button. This will produce a display showing
35.00 ppm (the default alarm threshold) on the upper
readout, with the “5” flashing. Using the MODE and
MAX/MIN buttons to shift the flashing digit to the left and
right, respectively, press the HOLD and BKLT buttons as
many times as necessary to increment and decrement the
value of each digit until the desired concentration threshold
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is displayed. Then, press and hold the SET button to save
the setting and return to real-time measurement mode.
6) Arm and disarm the high VOC concentration alarm.
a. To arm the alarm, briefly press the PWR button until the
icon appears in the upper left corner of the LCD.
b. To disarm the alarm (turn off the beeper), briefly press
the PWR button until the icon disappears.
c. To cancel the alarm when it sounds, briefly press the
PWR button.
7) Display maximum and minimum session values of all
measured parameters by using the MAX/MIN button. A
measurement session is the period of time during which
you measure VOC levels at multiple locations. The session
begins when you power on the VOC08; it typically ends
15 minutes after you finish making measurements with the
activation of the APO function. Max and Min readings are
automatically and continuously updated.
You can extend a measurement session beyond
15 minutes by pressing any front-panel button or by
disabling the APO function (see page 7) by powering the
VOC08 through the included AC adaptor.
The value of being able to quickly determine where the level
of VOCs is highest and lowest in a facility should be obvious.
To display the highest VOC concentration recorded during
a measurement session, press the MAX/MIN button once
with the meter operating in real-time measurement mode.
The maximum reading will appear on the upper readout,
with the term MAX above it on the top line of the LCD.
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To display the lowest VOC concentration recorded during
a measurement session, press the MAX/MIN button twice.
The minimum reading will appear on the upper readout,
with the term MIN above it on the top line.
The figure at right
shows both session
parameters in their
Real-
time
mode
MAX
session
쑺
values
쑺
MIN
session
쑺
values
selection sequence
relative to real-time measurement mode.
To clear the stored (and continually updated) values of Min
and Max from the instrument’s short-term (volatile) memory,
press and hold the HOLD button with the meter operating in
Max/Min mode. The letters Clr on the bottom line of the LCD
will confirm the clearing.
CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
VOC ZERO ADJUSTMENT
To make this temporary calibration procedure worthwhile, be
sure the ambient environment is well-ventilated and shows
no sign of VOC gases, as evidenced by a 0.00 reading on the
meter’s upper TVOC ppm readout.
To initiate the process, press and hold the MODE button for at
least five seconds. Initially, five zeroes and the term CAL will
appear and flash for about 20 seconds (left image on next
page). Then the zeroes will stop flashing, with CAL continuing
to flash (middle image). When calibration has finished, the
display will confirm that result by displaying End (right
image). The meter will respond by resuming operation in
real-time measurement mode with the calibration point back
at the factory default setting.
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Alternatively, you can recalibrate the meter using a standard
VOC gas. But be aware that attempting to recalibrate the
meter without a standard gas may actually lower the meter's
accuracy. For best results, send the meter out for calibration
to a qualified laboratory recommended by your distributor.
SPECIFICATIONS
VOC Measurement Range / Resolution: 0 to 50 ppm / 0.01 ppm
VOC Warmup Time: 10 minutes first use, 2 minutes thereafter
VOC Sensor Type / Longevity: Metal-oxide semiconductor /
5 years (typical)
Temperature Measurement Range: 14° to 122°F
(-10° to 50°C)
Temperature Measurement Accuracy / Resolution: ±1.2°F
(0.6°C) / 0.1°
RH Measurement Range: 10 to 90%RH
RH Measurement Accuracy / Resolution: ±5% of reading
@77°F (25°C); ±7% of reading elsewhere in range /
0.1%RH
Dew Point Measurement Range: -99.22° to 118°F
(-72.9° to 47°C)
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Wet Bulb Measurement Range: 12.2° to 118.8°F
(-11° to 48.2°C)
Data Logging Capacity: 32,000 points
Display Type / Size: Dual readout LCD / 2 in. (51mm) diagonal
Auto Power Off Trigger: 15 minutes of front-panel inactivity
(can be disabled)
Operating Temperature: 32° to 122°F (0° to 50°C)
@ 0 to 95%RH, non-condensing
Dimensions: 8.3 x 2.4 x 1.0 in. (210 x 60 x 25mm)
Weight: 7.2 oz. (204g), including batteries
Power Source: (6) “AAA” batteries (not included) or included
110VAC adaptor
OPERATING & MAINTENANCE TIPS
When the low battery indicator appears in the upper left
corner of the LCD, install fresh batteries immediately,
following the instructions on pages 6 and 7 of this manual.
The metal-oxide semiconductor VOC sensor is as powerhungry as it is sensitive. General recommends using the
included AC adaptor if you expect to routinely conduct
measurement sessions lasting more than 15 minutes.
Remove the batteries if you don’t expect to use the VOC08 for
an extended period of time (months or years).
Abrupt temperature changes will cause condensation and
possible vapor penetration. Clean the LCD after the vapor
evaporates. Blow off loose particles with compressed air.
Gently brush remaining debris away with a lens hair brush.
Never use a solvent or an abrasive cleaner on the VOC08.
To clean the housing, use a soft, damp cloth.
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Do not drop or disassemble the meter or immerse it in water.
The VOC08 may display the following two sensor error
messages on its bottom readout:
E- 1: The VOC, temperature or RH sensor is damaged, or
communication with any of the sensors has failed.
E- 2: The VOC, temperature or RH level is beyond the
range of its sensor.
If the LCD persistently shows a value of 00000 for VOC, that
usually means that a logging session was initiated before the
VOC sensor was fully warmed up.
OFFSETTING SENSOR DRIFT
The meter uses a capacitive RH sensor and a thermistor
temperature sensor whose accuracy may drift over the long
term. Following is a procedure that you can perform to offset
these drifts and maximize the meter’s measurement
accuracy.
1) With the meter powered off, press and hold the MODE
and BKLT buttons with fingers of your left hand while
pressing and holding the MAX/MIN and PWR buttons with
fingers of your right hand.
2) When the LCD shows 0.0°C and SET, release all four
buttons.
3) To select °C or °F as the temperature offset unit, press the
UNIT button.
4) Press the HOLD button once for each 0.1° of temperature
offset you wish to add, or the BKLT button once for each
0.1° of temperature offset you wish to subtract.
5) To offset RH drift instead of, or in addition to, temperature
drift, briefly press the SET button. This will change the
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displayed unit °C or °F to %. Then repeat Step 4. Each
press of the HOLD or BKLT button increases or decreases
the amount of RH offset by 0.1%.
6) When you are satisfied with the offset value(s) you have
entered, press and hold the SET button to save the
settings. After the bottom line of the LCD shows SAVE for
two seconds, press and hold the PWR button to power off
the meter with the offsets in place.
NOTE: To apply the maximum amount of temperature offset
(+9.9° or -9.9°) or RH offset (+9.9% or -9.9%), press and
hold the HOLD and/or BKLT buttons to quickly increase or
decrease the values.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
This product from General Tools & Instruments (General) is
warranted to the original purchaser to be free from defects in
material and workmanship for a period of two years. Subject
to certain restrictions, General will repair or replace this
instrument if, after examination, the company determines it
to be defective in material or workmanship.
This warranty does not apply to damages that General
determines to be from an attempted repair by non-authorized
personnel or misuse, alterations, normal wear and tear, or
accidental damage. The defective unit must be returned to
General Tools & Instruments or to a General-authorized service
center, freight prepaid and insured.
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Acceptance of the exclusive repair and replacement remedies
described herein is a condition of the contract for purchase
of this product. In no event shall General be liable for any
incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages,
or for any cost, attorneys’ fees, expenses, or losses alleged
to be a consequence of damage due to failure of, or defect
in any product including, but not limited to, any claims for
loss of profits.
RETURN FOR REPAIR POLICY
Every effort has been made to provide you with a reliable
product of superior quality. However, in the event your
instrument requires repair, please contact our Customer Service
to obtain an RGA (Return Goods Authorization) number before
forwarding the unit via prepaid freight to the attention of our
Service Center at this address:
Remember to include a copy of your proof of purchase, your
return address, and your phone number and/or e-mail address.
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General Tools & Instruments
GeneralToolsNYC
99 Washington Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Phone 781-665-1400
Toll Free 1-800-517-8431
Visit us at www.TestEquipmentDepot.com
Specifications subject to change without notice
NOTICE - WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS.
©2015 GENERAL TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS
VOC08 User’s Manual
MAN# VOC08
4/15/15
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