LI-COR LI-3000C Instruction Manual

LI-3000C Portable

Area Meter

Instruction Manual

LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

and LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

LI-COR Biosciences

464 7 Superior Street
Lincoln , Nebraska 68 504
Phone: [phone]
Toll free: 800-447- 3576 (U.S. and Canada)
[e-mail]

Regional Offices

LI-CORBiosciences GmbH

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Germany
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[e-mail]

LI-CORBiosciences UKLtd.

St. John ’s Innovation Centre
Cowley Road
Cambridge
CB4 0WS
United King dom
Phone: [phone]
[e-mail]

LI-CORDistributor Network:

www.licor.com/env/distribu tors

Instruction Manual

CE Marking:

Doc. #53-15997-A
June 23, 2016

Part Name Toxic and Hazardous Substances or Elements

(Pb) (Hg) (Cd) (Cr(VI)) (PBB) (PBDE)

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(indicates that the content of the toxic and hazardous substance in at least one Homogeneous

Material of the part exceeds the concentration limit requirement as described in

GB/T 26572).

LI-3000C Portable Area Meter/LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyor Accessory

LI-3000C / LI-3050C

X

O

O

X

X

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

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O

O

X

O

O O O O O O

(

Batteries)

X O O O O O

This product is a CE-marked product. For conformity information, contact LI-COR Support at [e-mail].
Outside of the U.S., contact your local sales office or distributor.

NOTICE

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.

LI-COR MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WITH REGARD TO THIS MATERIAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
LI-COR shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the
furnishing, performance, or use of this material.

This document contains proprietary information which is protected by copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this
document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another language without prior written consent of LI-COR,
Inc.

Printing History

New editions of this manuals will incorporate all material since the previous edition. The manual printing date indicates
its current edition. The printing date changes when a new edition is printed. (Minor corrections and updates which are
incorporated at reprint do not cause the date to change.)

Copyright © 2006-2019, LI-COR, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Publication No. 984-08429
Created on: July 31, 2019

ii

Notes on Safety

LI-COR products have been designed to be safe when operated in the manner described in this manual. The safety of this
product cannot be guaranteed if the product is used in any other way than is specified in this manual. The product is inten­ded to be used by qualified personnel. Read this entire manual before using the product.

Equipment markings:

The product is marked with this symbol when it i s necessary for you to refer to the manual or
accompanying documents in order to protect against injury or damage to the product.

The product is marked with this symbol when a hazardous voltage may be present.

The product is marked with this symbol if a Chassis Ground connec tion is required.

The product is marked with this symbol to indicate the presence of moving parts entanglement risk.

The product is marked with this symbol to indicate a warning not to get hair or clothing caught in
the pulleys and rollers while inserting a leaf.

WARNING Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.

CAUTION Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.

Manual markings:

WARNING Warnings must be followed carefully to avoid bodily injury.

CAUTION Cautions must be observed to avoid damage to your equipment.

NOTE Notes contain important information and useful tips on the operation of your equipment.

How to Use This Manual

This manual contains the operation instructions for both the LI-3000C Portable Area Meter and the LI-3050C Transparent
Belt Conveyer Accessory. If you purchased an LI-3000C but not an LI-3050C, you may wish to skip Section 6, which con­tains information on the LI-3050C.

LI-COR products have been designed to be safe when operated in the manner described in this manual. The safety of this
product cannot be guaranteed if the product is used in any other way than is specified in this manual. The LI-3000C and
LI-3050C are intended to be used by qualified personnel. Read this entire manual before using the products.

iii

iv

Contents

Section 1. General information

System description 1-1
What’s what 1-2

Scanning head 1-2
Readout console 1-3
Standard RS-232 cable 1-3
USB cable 1-3
Spare parts kit 1-3

Theory of operation 1-4
Instrument calibration 1-5

Section 2. Preparations

Operational check 2-1
Recharging the battery 2-2
Using the waist strap 2-3

Section 3. Instrument operation

Power on 3-1
Basic operation 3-1

The display 3-1
An example measurement 3-3
Scanning head button 3-4
Pulling the string too fast 3-4

Making measurements 3-5

Area measurem ent of attached leaves 3-5
Using a transparent sheath 3-8
Hints for various l eaf types 3-9

Storing data in memory 3-9

Structuring files 3-12
Viewing files on the display 3-14
View mode key definitions 3-15
Deleting a range of files 3-16

v

The Menu key 3-17

Memory available 3-18
3050 threshold 3-18
3000 threshold 3-18
Set clock 3-19
Config registers 3-19
Realtime capture 3-20
Delete all files 3-20
Print files 3-21

Data communication 3-22

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

Installing the interface software 4-1
Connecting the LI-3000C to a computer 4-1

USB connection 4-2
Serial connection 4-3

Software basics 4-4
Logging to a new data file 4-5

Transferring stored data files from the LI-3000C to a computer 4-7
Importing a data file to a spreadsheet 4-9

Section 5. LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

Setup and adjustment 5-2
Using Realtime Capture Mode with the LI-3050C 5-6
Storage and maintenance 5-8

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

Cleaning the LED and photodiode windows 6-1
Cleaning the length encoding cord guide 6-1
Length encoding cord 6-1

Knob separation from the length encoding c ord 6-2
Replac ing the length encoding cord 6-2

Battery replacement 6-6
Power on problems 6-7
Instrument storage 6-8
Test menu 6-8
Updating the instrument (embedded) software 6-18

vi

Appendix A. LI-3000C Specifications

Appendix B. LI-3050C Specifications

Appendix C. Warranty

vii

viii

Section 1.

General information

This section introduces the LI-3000C Leaf Area Meter.

System description

The LI-COR Model LI-3000C Portable Area Meter uses an electronic method of
rectangular approximation to measure leaf area on intact plants of many species.
The LI-3000C has two components, the Scanning Head and the Readout Console.
Area data are logged by the Readout Console as the Scanning Head is passed over
the leaf.

The LI-3000C has the following features:

l Displays leaf length, average width, and maximum width in addition to area

and accumulated area.

l Readings can be summed in a secondary summing register at the user's com-

mand. The previous reading added to the register can be subtracted from it.

l Readings can be stored in the console, or output to a computer via Windows®

interface software (RS-232 or USB).

l The console can be used with the LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer Access-

ory.

l Real-time monitoring and data collection is provided with Windows® interface

software.

l A rechargeable lead acid battery provides power for portable operation. The bat-

tery life is approximately 12 hours.

The LI-3000C is designed for field use; however, care should be taken during oper­ation and storage. The instrument is not waterproof, and care should be taken to

1-1LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 1. General information

avoid exposure to excessive moisture. The 3000A-02 Carrying Case is recom­mended.

Optional accessories for the LI-3000C include the 3000A-02 Carrying Case and the
LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer Accessory.

What’s what

If you have just taken delivery of your LI-3000C, check the packing list to verify
that you received everything ordered, including the following items:

Scanning head

The scanning head is calibrated to the readout console at the factory. The cal­ibration routine computes how much current each of the 128 LEDs requires in
order to achieve a uniform brightness. These calibration values are retained in the
memory of the console. Only scanning heads with serial numbers above #196 can
be used with the LI-3000C.

The scanning head is opened by pressing the thumb lever at the top of the handle
(Figure 1-1 below). The open scanning head is placed over the leaf, after which the
length encoding cord is drawn out and held in a fixed position. The scanning head
reset (white) button is pressed once to clear the X register, the scanning head is
closed, and the head is moved over the leaf while the length encoding cord is held
stationary. After the scanning head has passed over the leaf, the length encoding
cord is allowed to rewind into the scanning head.

Figure 1-1. LI-3000C scanning head.

1-2 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 1. General information

Readout console

Area data are logged by the readout console as the scanning head is passed over a
leaf. The console can also be used with the LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer
Accessory. The readout console back panel contains the connections for the scan­ning head and the LI-3050C, as well as for AC power and RS-232 and USB data out­put (Figure 1-2 below).

Part Number:
9975-016)

Part Number:
392-06652

Part Number:
9910-309

Figure 1-2. LI-3000C readout console.

Standard RS-232 cable

The Standard RS-232 Cable is a DTE to DTE cable with 9-pin connectors on both
ends. This cable mates with the RS-232 connector on the readout console back
panel; the other end should be used to connect to your computer’s 9-pin serial port.
If you want to interface to a computer with a 25-pin serial port, then a 9-pin to 25­pin adapter must be used.

USB cable

The 6’ USB cable is terminated with an A and a B type connector. The (smaller) B
type connector plugs into the back of the readout console; the larger A type con­nector is used to connect to your computer.

Spare parts kit

This box contains replacement parts for your LI-3000C. As you become familiar
with the instrument you will learn which items to keep close at hand and which

1-3Readout console

Section 1. General information

items can be stored away. The spares kit contains the RS-232 and USB cables, spare
fuses, and the waist strap assembly, among other items.

Theory of operation

The method by which the LI-3000C measures area is best understood by examining
the technique for manual area measurement. Manual area measurement requires
tracing the outline of the sample on graph paper and methodically counting the
squares where the sample covers fifty percent or more of the area of an individual
grid cell.

The 50% criterion for the acceptance or rejection of grid cells is necessary to main­tain linearity in the measured area. In other words, if the grid cells with fifty per­cent or more area covered were not counted, the result would be inconsistent data
on repeated measurements. Similarly, if a sample were cut into pieces and the indi­vidual pieces summed, the results would likely not equal the measurement of the
whole sample (unless the 50% criterion was used).

The width of the sample at a given point is determined by the number of grid cells
covered across a row. The number of grid cells covered in a column determines the
length. The resolution of this measurement technique is a function of the area rep­resented by each grid cell.

The LI-3000C Portable Area Meter uses electronic methods to simulate a grid pat­tern on the leaf. The scanning head uses a row of 128 narrow band, red, light-emit­ting diodes (LEDs), spaced on 1 mm centers, to examine 128 grid cells across the
width of the leaf. The LEDs are sequentially pulsed (only one LED is lit at a time)
to examine a particular grid cell in the row. The LEDs are located along a line 0.62
cm (0.25 in.) from the edge of the upper section of the scanning head.

The base of the scanning head contains a lens-photodiode system which responds
only to the collimated, pulsed LED light. This design makes the measurements
insensitive to other light sources. These narrow-band red LEDs and associated
digital circuitry provide measurements which are unaffected by leaf transmission
properties.

After each grid cell in the row is scanned, it is necessary to advance to the next row.
Electronically, this is accomplished by pulling the length encoding cord. After each
1 mm of cord travel, a new scan is initiated in which each of the 128 LEDs are

1-4 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 1. General information

sequentially pulsed. The scanning process begins only when the length encoding
cord is pulled.

Since 1 mm of cord travel is equivalent to the side of a grid cell, it is apparent that
the length encoding cord must be pulled perpendicular to the row of 128 LEDs.

When the LED light is blocked by a sample, the unit area (1 mm2) is accumulated
on the display. For example, if a 20 ×100 mm sample is being measured, 20 LEDs
will be masked for 100 scans resulting in a display of 20.00 cm2.

Any LED that is diminished by 50% or more is accumulated as 1 mm2of area.
This criteria is determined by Menu parameters ‘3000 Threshold’ when using the
scanning head in normal operating mode, or ‘3050 Threshold’ when using the LI­3050C Belt Conveyer.

The scanning head accurately measures irregularly shaped leaves or leaves with
holes from insect damage. As a hole in the leaf passes through the scanning head,
the photodiodes sense LED light, and that LED location does not contribute to the
area accumulating on the display until the LEDs are once again masked when the
hole has passed.

The important aspect of this electronic measurement technique is that it requires
that the light emitted from each of the 128 LEDs be uniform in intensity so that
the 50% acceptance/rejection threshold is consistent for each grid cell. This is
accomplished by the autocalibration software during the calibration process.

Instrument calibration

The scanning head is calibrated to the readout console at the factory using the LI­3000C's built-in calibration routine (see Calibrate on page6-13). If a different scan­ning head is to be used, the calibration routine must be performed to calibrate the
head to the console. The calibration routine computes how much current each of
the 128 LEDs requires in order to achieve a uniform brightness. These calibration
values are retained as a table in the memory of the console.

1-5Instrument calibration

Section 1. General information

1-6 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 2.

Preparations

Follow the procedure below when you are getting started.

Operational check

The following procedure can be used to connect the scanning head to the readout
console and verify that the LI-3000C is working properly.

1

Connect the scanning head to the readout console while the ON/OFF switch is OFF. Mate the
cable connector with the connector on the back panel of the readout console, and then push in
and turn the collar clockwise until it locks into place. Switch the ON/OFF switch to ON.

If the symbol "Lo" appears on the display (see Recharging the Battery) when the
readout console is turned on, the internal battery needs charging. The low battery
message is displayed when approximately 1 hour of operational capacity remains in
the battery. If your battery is low, skip down to the information on recharging the
battery found later in this section.

If the message "CALIBRATION LOST PRESS ANY KEY" is displayed when the
instrument is turned on, the calibration table has been deleted. The scanning head
can be calibrated to the console as described in Section 5.

2

Open the scanning head by pressing on the thumb lever on the upper section (Figure 3-2, Section

3). Hold the scanning head inverted and look into the long narrow window near the edge of the
head. Pull the length encoding cord out and retract it. You should be able to see the LEDs as they
rapidly pulse.

NOTE: Retract the cord by holding the knob and allowing the cord to draw into
the head by its own force. The cord should not be allowed to snap back into the
head. Also, do not push the cord and cause slack; internal backlash may result.

If you have been holding the head open while pulling the encoding cord, you will
notice that numbers are being accumulated on the display. This is because the

2-1LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 2. Preparations

photodiodes will only accept the collimated light from the LEDs when the com­ponents are positioned properly. This characteristic was designed into the instru­ment to prevent stray light from affecting normal data collection. With the
scanning head open, the LEDs and the photo- diodes are out of alignment, so area
is recorded as the length encoding cord is moved. If the cord is drawn or retracted
at a rate greater than 1 m/second, an error message is displayed (the error message
can be cleared by pressing the CLEAR X key).

3

Clear any logged area data by pressing the white reset button located on the scanning head
handle.

Recharging the battery

The LI-3000C uses a sealed lead acid battery. This battery is rechargeable, and gives
about 12 hours of use. The symbol Lo appears on the display (as shown below)
when approximately 1 hour of battery life remains. Using the instrument until auto­matic shutoff occurs will cause no damage to the instrument; the last measurement
data may be lost, however.

User data are not lost in the event of battery discharge. To prolong the useful life of
the battery, however, charge continuously or at least every 2 months for 5 or more
hours during long-term storage.

To charge the battery, slide the voltage selector on the readout console connector
panel to the proper voltage. Connect a safety agency approved (rated to at least 1
Amp) power cord (such as supplied by LI-COR), which has a three-prong “ground­ing” plug in good condition, to the readout console, and plug the cord into a prop­erly grounded or ground-fault protected Mains AC source (115/230 VAC, 50-60
Hz).

The battery should normally be charged overnight. An automatic charge rate adjust­ment occurs after 12 hours of charging, to allow the battery to be charged indef­initely. The instrument may be operated while it is charging; however, the time
needed to fully recharge the battery will be increased. Hint: Charging during a

2-2 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

lunch break can add several hours of operational time on a long day of field meas­urements.

In the unlikely event of a charging circuit malfunction in which the charging cur­rent remains at maximum or out of control, a ‘HI’ indicator will appear on the dis­play, and an audible beep will sound every few seconds. If this occurs, disconnect
the power cord and contact technical support at LI-COR. You can continue to use
the instrument until repairs can be made, but should disconnect the power cord
whenever the ‘HI’ message is displayed.

Using the waist strap

An adjustable strap has been provided so that the readout console can be worn
around the waist for portable operation. The waist strap is connected to the console
using the screws found on the right and left sides of the console.

For maximum comfort, the waist strap should be positioned so that the strap is
about the same level as a belt on a pair of pants. In this position the weight of the
console will rest on the pelvic bones and not on the "fleshy" part of the back.

Section 2. Preparations

Figure 2-1. A waist strap is included for portable operation.

2-3Using the waist strap

Section 2. Preparations

2-4 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3.

Instrument operation

The section provides general operating instructions for the LI-3000C and the LI­3050C.

Power on

Before turning on the LI-3000C, make the connections to the scanning head or the
LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer Accessory.

Basic operation

The display

When first turned on, the display of the LI-3000C will be as follows:

Briefly displays the software revision number
(1.0.0 in this example).

Label = AREA
Value = 0.00#
Samples = 0
Accumulator = 0.00

The value displayed on the upper line of the display (the X line) can be AREA
(cm2), LEN (length of sample in cm), AV WD (average width in cm), or MX WD
(maximum width in cm). The label on the left side of the X line identifies the
value on the right side. The value displayed is selected by pressing the AREA, LEN,

AVG WIDTH, or MAX WIDTH keys.

3-1LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3. Instrument operation

Figure 3-1. The LI-3000C front panel.

The area is measured directly from the instrument scanning head. The average
width is computed.

The X value on the right of the display is the instantaneous value. This value
changes in real time as a sample is measured. The Y value is an accumulator that
you can use if you wish. X values can be added to the Y value by pressing ADD.
(Pressing the scanning head button twice in rapid succession has the same effect as
pressing the ADD key.) The SUB key subtracts the last value that was added to the Y
register (useful if ADD is mistakenly pressed). Note that this "last value" is not
necessarily the currently displayed X value, and that the last value cannot be
removed more than once.

3-2 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3. Instrument operation

An example measurement

1

Put a small piece of paper in the scanning head, pull the string out several centimeters, and let it
back. The display will change to something like

Sample area was 158.92 cm2.

2

Press LEN.

Sample length was 27.4 cm.

3

Press AVG WIDTH.

Average sample width was 5.8 cm.

4

Press MAX WIDTH.

Maximum sample width was 5.8 cm.

5

Press AREA to return to the normal display.

Now add the X value to the Y value by pressing ADD.The display will change to
Cleared after ADD. 1 value now in the accumulator.

Note that the X value clears after pressing ADD (this feature can be disabled, as dis­cussed later), and that the sample counter on the bottom left increments by one.

3-3An example measurement

Section 3. Instrument operation

6

Pull the string again to measure another sample.

7

Add the new X value to the Y value by pressing ADD.

8

Pull the string again to measure a third value.

9

Subtract the last value added to the Y register by pressing SUB.

The new sample.

2 values in the accumulator.

The third sample.

The third sample is still displayed.
Note that 120.06 was subtracted.

Because the last value added was 120.06, that was the value subtracted from the Y
value. The X value remains unchanged. If you press SUB again, it will have no
effect, since the last entered value has already been removed.

Scanning head button

The white button on the LI-3000C scanning head has 2 uses. Pressing once will
clear the X register (same as pressing CLEAR X). Pressing the button twice in quick
succession adds the X value to the Y value, just like pressing ADD.

Pulling the string too fast

If you pull the string too fast, the message

3-4 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

will be displayed. When CLEAR X is pressed, the X value will be cleared, and nor-
mal operation will resume. Maximum string speed is about 1 meter per second.

Making measurements

When using the scanning head on attached leaves, observe the following three
important principles:

l Pull the length encoding cord at the same rate as the sample is being pulled

through the scanning head. This is accomplished by holding the length encod­ing knob against a stationary object (stem, etc.) as the scanning head is drawn
over the sample.

l Pull the length encoding cord straight out from (perpendicular to) the front

plane of the scanning head (an angle of 11.5 degrees will cause a 2% error).

l Remove the leaf from the scanning head after pulling it through to prevent

additional area from being accumulated. The encoding wheel does not dis­tinguish between cord travel into or out of the scanning head. Area information
will accumulate when the cord is retracted with the leaf still in the scanning
head.

Section 3. Instrument operation

Area measurement of attached leaves

1

Move the ON-OFF switch to ON.

2

Open the scanning head and position it over a leaf.

The leaf does not have to be detached from the plant to be measured.

3-5Making measurements

Section 3. Instrument operation

3

Close the scanning head over the petiole so that the leaf base is in the scanning head but not
between the LED and photodiode (detector) windows.

For plants such as corn, position the head as near to the leaf base as possible.

4

Draw the length encoding cord to a location where it can be held steady.

The knob can be held against a stem, or in the case of broadleaf plants, the knob
can be held firm by clasping it together with the petiole between the second and
third fingers.

5

Press the scanning head button once to clear the X register before starting the measurement.

6

Draw the closed scanning head over the leaf while the length encoding knob is held stationary.

3-6 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3. Instrument operation

Drawing speed need not be constant.

7

After the scanning head has passed over the leaf, remove the leaf and let the length encoding
cord slowly rewind itself back into the scanning head.

Figure 3-2. Measuring a soybean leaf.

Make sure there is no plant material in the scanning head before allowing the
length encoding cord to retract into the head.

3-7Area measurement of attached leaves

Section 3. Instrument operation

Using a transparent sheath

A transparent sheath (user supplied) can be used to measure detached leaves and
other objects that require sample support. In order to gain proficiency using a trans­parent sheath, measure several objects of known area, such as graph paper cutouts.

If detached leaves are to be measured with a sheath, make the measurements as
soon as possible after harvesting with the samples kept moist to prevent shrinkage
or curling of the leaf margins.

TIP: When measuring samples that are highly irregular or small, such as damaged
leaves, leaves with complex margins, roots, thin grasses, etc., accuracy can be
improved by changing the ‘3000 Threshold’ (see The Menu key on page3-17) to a
value of 80. This compensates for light lost as it passes through the sheath, and sets
the edge counting criteria back to near 50%. Be sure to restore this value to 95
when finished, for normal hand-held measurements.

Measurements with a transparent sheath can be accomplished by following these
steps:

1

Make sure the sheath is clean and then measure the empty sheath to be certain that known spuri­ous area is measured.

2

Place an object in the sheath about 6 cm from one end.

3

Open the scanning head and place the sheath in the head with about 4 cm protruding from the
left edge and allow the head to close.

4

Grasp the length encoding knob with your left-hand thumb and forefinger and hold it stationary
against the sheath.

5

Press the scanning head button once to clear the X value on the display.

3-8 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3. Instrument operation

6

Draw the sheath through the scanning head, simultaneously drawing out the length encoding
cord.

Hints for various leaf types

Many types of leaves cannot be measured without additional support to guide them
through the scanning head. Techniques for several leaf types are discussed below.

l Compound leaves can be measured by either scanning each leaflet, as with the

soybean trifoliate, or by enclosing the entire intact leaf in a transparent sheath.

l Tender leaves such as those developed under low light conditions sometimes

will not easily slide through the scanning head and may actually tear because of
adhesion to the instrument surfaces. In this case a transparent sheath can be
placed over the leaf for support and protection.

l Insect damaged leaves which have protruding fragments or naturally dissected

leaves having fine lobes usually require support by a transparent sheath.

l Small leaves such as those of alfalfa and small grasses can be removed from the

plants and placed in a transparent sheath.

l Elongated, narrow leaves (grasses, etc.) are most accurately measured if they are

passed through the scanning head at an angle to the line of LEDs (instead of
perpendicular).

In many cases the LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer Accessory will be the
method of choice for measuring small objects and detached leaves. The com­bination of the LI-3050C and LI-3000C provides greater accuracy (±1%) than the
LI-3000C alone (±2%).

Storing data in memory

Readings can be stored in memory for later viewing or output to a computer.
Stored readings can be any combination of the X register and the accumulated read­ings in the Y register. When data are stored, they automatically include area,
length, average width, and maximum width.

Stored data are in a file system. A file can be as large or as small as you wish. A file
must be opened before any data are stored. Closing the file precludes adding any
more data to that file. Associated with each file is some header information: a num­ber (assigned by the system), a label (entered by the user), and the time and date
the file was opened (as kept by the system).

3-9Hints for various leaf types

Section 3. Instrument operation

If a file is created, and no data are stored into that file (i.e., neither STORE X or
STORE Y are executed), the file will not be saved when it is closed. The sequential
file number will then be re-used on a subsequent file creation.

When output, a file might look something like this:

FILE: 1
REM: PLOT1
27 APR 2006 10:03:15
ENTRY COUNT AREA LENGTH AV WIDTH MX WIDTH
1 0 42.37 13.10 3.23 5.12
2 5 344.20 120.00 2.87 3.10
3 2 84.48 26.80 3.15 6.02

l FILE: A sequential number assigned by the system that you use to reference the

file.

l REM: A remark entered by the user when the file is first opened.
l ENTRY: Sequential numbers identifying records in the file.
l COUNT: The number of samples represented in the record. When X values are

stored, the count is always 0. Y values will always be an integer greater than 0.
The count represents the number of X values that were added together before
the accumulated Y value was stored in the file.

For accumulated values, the AREA value is the total leaf area of all samples,
LENGTH is the total leaf length, AV WIDTH is the average width of all samples,
and MX WIDTH is the maximum width of all samples.

The following sequence of events could have occurred to make the above file. It
would be a good example to duplicate using your own console, as well.

1

Press FILE to open a file. The display will show

Briefly displayed...

3-10 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3. Instrument operation

2

The remark "PLOT 1" is entered by pressing this sequence of keys:

P ↑L ↑O T ↑SPACE 1 ENTER

To type the alpha characters in the lower left corners of the keys, just press the
desired key. To type the alpha characters (or the space key) in the upper left
corners, press ↑first, then the key. Typing mistakes can be corrected using the back
arrow key (←).

3

Now the display will show

The * indicates that a file is open.

4

Measure a sample...

...and store it by pressing STORE X. The
display will briefly show

followed by

Note the X value clears after pressing
STORE X.

5

Take 5 readings, following each by pressing ADD (or by pressing the scanning head button twice).

5 samples in Y register (accumulator).

Now press STORE Y to store the Y register readings in the file.

3-11Storing data in memory

Section 3. Instrument operation

Displayed briefly...

6

Take two more readings, following each by pressing ADD. Then press STORE Y. Note that the

ADD button changes functionality in Realtime Capture mode (see Using Realtime Capture Mode

with the LI-3050C on page5-6).

7

Close the file by pressing FILE.

Note the Y value clears on STORE Y.

Displayed briefly...

The file is now similar to that shown at the beginning of this example.

Structuring files

Since you have a lot of flexibility on exactly what values to store in a file, it pays to
exercise a little forethought on how to structure your files.

For example, suppose you wish to determine leaf area index in 10 different plots by
measuring leaf areas on 5 plants in each plot. One way to proceed would be to use
a file for each plot, so you'll have 10 files when done. Once a file is opened, meas­ure all leaves on the first plant, pressing ADD (or press the white button on the
scanning head twice) after each leaf. When done with the plant, press STORE Y.
Repeat for the other 4 plants in the plot. When done with the plot, press FILE to
close the file. At this point, you will have 5 entries in the file, each being the total
leaf area of each of the 5 plants sampled. The COUNT column on each line indic­ates how many leaves per plant were measured.

The file for one plot might look something like this:

FILE: 2
REM: TEST PLOT 2

3-12 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3. Instrument operation

27 APR 2006 10:03:15
ENTRY COUNT AREA LENGTH AV WIDTH MX WIDTH
1 7 246.68 45.10 3.23 5.12
2 5 125.20 35.60 2.87 3.10
3 4 84.48 26.80 3.15 6.02
4 9 344.20 120.00 4.67 6.10
5 5 140.69 47.32 3.56 5.72

Another approach is to have one file per plant (giving you 50 files when done).
When measuring a plant, press STORE X and ADD after each leaf measurement.
After the last leaf on the plant is measured, press STORE Y to store the accumulated
leaf area for that plant and then close the file. In order to know which plant goes
with which plot, use the file remarks to record that information. The file for one
plant might look like this:

FILE: 3
REM: PLOT 2 #5
27 APR 2006 10:05:18
ENTRY COUNT AREA LENGTH AV WIDTH MX WIDTH
1 0 42.37 13.10 3.23 5.12
2 0 44.20 12.90 2.87 3.10
3 0 24.48 9.78 3.15 3.67
4 0 29.50 10.20 2.83 2.98
5 0 34.86 11.50 2.32 2.76
6 0 19.33 8.60 2.14 2.56
7 6 194.74 66.08 2.76 5.12

Now assume that you wish to store the leaf area of each individual leaf and the
total leaf area of the whole plant. Two operations need to occur after each leaf is
measured; the individual leaf area data should be stored using the STORE X key and
the individual leaf area data should be added to the Y value to collect the whole
plant leaf area. To accomplish this, set the "CLR X ON STORE" prompt to No and
the "CLR X ON ADD" prompt to Yes. This assumes that you will press STORE X
before ADD. If you wish to press ADD before STORE X set "CLR X ON ADD" to No
and "CLR X ON STORE" to Yes.

Still another approach is to use one file for the entire data set. Begin each plot with
a cleared Y and X register, and press ADD after each leaf. When done with a plot,
press STORE Y. When done, your file will have 10 entries (one for each plot), and
the COUNT for each entry will reflect the total number of leaves measured.

3-13Structuring files

Section 3. Instrument operation

Before you decide on how to structure your data files, you may also want to con­sider the potential of losing some of your data. If the console is switched OFF, or if
it automatically shuts itself off due to inactivity, the current X and Y values will be
lost. Any data stored in a data file (the result of pressing STORE X or STORE Y) is
safe, even if the data file is not closed. The greatest potential for loss occurs when a
large number of measurements are added to the accumulator (Y register) before
they are stored in a data file.

The configuration of the LI-3000C can be changed to facilitate rapid data storage.
This is accomplished using the CONFIG REGISTERS routine that is discussed in
The Menu key on page3-17.

Viewing files on the display

The VIEW key allows you to look at the contents of any stored file. When the VIEW
key is pressed, you will be prompted for the file number of the file to be viewed.
Enter the file number to be viewed:

If you enter a number for which there is no file, the display will show:

Otherwise, you will be shown the header of the selected file. For a typical file the
display would show:

File 1 has 3 entries.

3-14 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3. Instrument operation

Press the ↓key to see the next part of the file header, which is the date and time the
file was created.

Press the ↓key again to view the first of the 3 entries.

Entry 1 of 3 has 0 counts (e.g., it was stored from the X register).

The top line displays the ENTRY number (1), the total entries (3), and the
COUNTS for that entry (0, indicating that it is an X value). The bottom line dis­plays AREA, LEN, AV WD, or MX WD depending upon which has been selected
using the AREA, LEN, AVG WIDTH, or MAX WIDTH keys. Try pressing these keys
before proceeding.

Pressing ↓again will change to the second entry:

Entry 2 of 3 has 5 counts.

View mode key definitions

While viewing a file, these keys perform the following actions:

↑and ↓: Scroll up or down through a file.

VIEW: Prompts for a new file to view.

DEL: Deletes the file currently displayed. When DEL is pressed, the user is promp-

ted:

3-15View mode key definitions

Section 3. Instrument operation

To delete the file press the ↑key to change the N to a Y, then press ENTER. After
deleting the file, View Mode is exited. To continue without deleting the file, just
press ENTER.

AREA, LEN, AVG WIDTH, or MAX WIDTH: Selects the data column to be viewed.

All other keys will cause view mode to be exited.

Deleting a range of files

When DEL is pressed from normal operating mode (as opposed to the file view
mode), the user is prompted for a range of files to delete:

Enter the starting value.

Starts deleting at file number 10. Enter the ending value.

Each file in the range that is deleted is shown on the display.

Counts through a range, or resumes area display if not found.

To exit the file delete routine, enter 0 (or press ENTER without making an entry)
for either the FROM or THRU file numbers. Each file in the specified range will be

3-16 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

sequentially “stepped” through, even if the files do not exist, so it is best to use this
function only with a known range of files. To delete all files, it is best to use the
Delete All Files function (see The Menu key below).

The Menu key

The MENU key accesses a list of software routines.

Use the ↑and ↓keys to scroll through the list, and press ENTER to perform the
routine. Press any other key to exit the menu list, and return to normal operation.
The list of routines is:

Section 3. Instrument operation

Memory
Available

3050
Threshold

3000
Threshold

Set Clock Sets time and date.
Config

Registers
Realtime

Capture
Delete All

Files
Print Files Outputs a user selected range of files to the serial and USB ports.

Shows % of memory available for data storage.

Defines when a pixel is considered ‘leaf’ or not when using the LI-3050C
Belt Conveyer. Normal default value is 80.

Defines when a pixel is considered ‘leaf’ or not. Normal default value is

95.

Can set auto clear on ADD, STORE X, and STORE Y.

Toggles realtime capture mode on.

Deletes all stored files.

To exit the MENU list, press any key except ENTER, ↑, or ↓.

3-17The Menu key

Section 3. Instrument operation

Memory available

Displays % of available memory. Press any key to return to the help menu.

The LI-3000C has approximately 2.15MB of storage space available for data files.
The actual number of files or area entries that can be stored is highly dependent on
how the data are stored, as indicated in the table below. When the memory is full
the message "NOT ENOUGH MEM" will be displayed when you try to store data
into a file.

Measurements Total #
Per File # Files Measurements
1 (min.) 2039 2039
32 2039 65248
. . .
7488 (max.) 17 127296

3050 threshold

Defines when a pixel is considered ‘leaf’ or not when using the LI-3050C Belt Con­veyer. When an LED is read, it is compared to this value; if the LED value is lower
than or equal to the threshold value it is considered ‘leaf’. If the LED value is
greater than the threshold, it is not considered ‘leaf’. Modifying the 3050 Threshold
and 3000 Threshold (below) is done primarily for diagnostic purposes; decreased
accuracy can result from changing these values. The normal default value is 80.

The LI-3000C automatically detects when the LI-3050C is attached, and uses the
3050 Threshold value instead of the 3000 Threshold value.

3000 threshold

Defines when a pixel is considered ‘leaf’ or not. When an LED is read, it is com­pared to this value; if the LED value is lower than or equal to the threshold value it
is considered ‘leaf’. If the LED value is greater than the threshold, it is not con­sidered ‘leaf’. The normal default value is 95.

3-18 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3. Instrument operation

Set clock

Time is displayed on a 24 hour clock (e.g. 14:32:10 = 2:32:10 p.m.)

Pressing ENTER without making any entries will leave the date or time unchanged.
To enter a new date or time, type in the appropriate characters to match the indic­ated NEW= format.

Valid entries for the months January through December are 01-12, respectively.

Config registers

The user can choose whether the X value is automatically cleared when the ADD
key is pressed (or the white button double pressed), when the STORE X key is
pressed, or whether the Y value is automatically cleared when the STORE Y key is
pressed.

3-19Set clock

Section 3. Instrument operation

These prompts are used to facilitate rapid data collection and storage. For example,
if you wish to store only accumulated measurements of all leaves on a plant, set
"CLR X ON ADD" to Y so that the X value is cleared after the area of each leaf is
added to the Y value. This eliminates having to press the white scanning head but­ton or the CLEAR X key in between each leaf measurement.

Now assume that you wish to store the leaf area of each individual leaf and the
total leaf area of the whole plant. Two operations need to occur after each leaf is
measured; the individual leaf area data should be stored using the STORE X key and
the individual leaf area data should be added to the Y value to collect the whole
plant leaf area. To accomplish this, set the "CLR X ON STORE" prompt to No and
the "CLR X ON ADD" prompt to Yes. This assumes that you will press STORE X
before ADD. If you wish to press ADD before STORE X set "CLR X ON ADD" to No
and "CLR X ON STORE" to Yes.

Normally it is advantageous to have the "CLR Y ON STORE" prompt set to Yes.
However, you may find a need to store an accumulated value (such as whole plant
leaf area) and continue to add new measurements afterward.

Realtime capture

The Realtime Capture mode causes data from the LI-3000C to be transmitted
through the LI-3000C console, and into the Windows Application Software. Data
are not stored in the LI-3000C; this mode is most commonly used in combination
with the LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer Accessory, where large numbers of
leaves are measured and captured directly with the LI-3000C Application Software.
A more complete description can be found in Using Realtime Capture Mode with the
LI-3050C on page5-6.

Delete all files

3-20 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 3. Instrument operation

Pressing ↑(to change the N to a Y) followed by ENTER will clear all files from
memory.

Print files

This routine prompts the user for a range of files to be transmitted out the RS-232C
and USB ports. These files can be transferred and stored on the host computer
using the Transfer Files function in the Windows Application Software (see Section
4, Transferring Stored Data Files From the LI-3000C to the Computer). Entering 0
or pressing ENTER in response to either the FROM or THRU prompts will abort
this routine.

Press ENTER.

Enter starting file number.

Enter ending file number. If a file is not found, the LI-3000C display shows

File number three was not found.

3-21Print files

Section 3. Instrument operation

NOTE: If you do not know the upper limit of files that you want to print, you
can enter a larger number that will encompass all possible files; when you
observe that the last file has been sent, you can press any key to escape out of the
Print Files routine.

Data communication

Although each data file can be viewed on the display, RS-232 and USB interfaces
have been provided to transfer data to a computer for analysis, storage, or printing.

Sending data to a computer

In order to transfer data to a computer, two things are needed; a communications
cable (the 9975-016 RS-232 cable or 392-06652 USB cable included), and the 3000­500 software that writes the incoming data into a data file (see Section 4, Using the
Windows Interface Software).

The LI-3000C communication parameters are fixed at 38400 bps, 8 data bits, 1 stop
bit, no parity, and hardware handshaking on.

Files are printed using the PRINT FILES routine which is accessed by pressing the

MENU key and scrolling to the software routine.

3-22 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 4.

Using the LI-3000C Windows software

The 3000-500 Windows® interface allows the use of a computer to monitor and
record data generated by the LI-3000C. The 3000-500 software features:

l Display of individual area, leaf length, average width, and maximum width.
l Readings can be stored in a data file. Elements of the data file include: indi-

vidual area, maximum width, average width, length, and a running subtotal for
area. The user can also enter optional remarks for each logged area value. The
resulting data file can be opened by most common text editor or spreadsheet
programs.

l Supports serial and USB connections.

Installing the interface software

The 3000-500 software in on the CD that ships with the LI-3000C. It also can be
downloaded from licor.com/env/support. The software will run on most versions of
the Windows operating system. Both serial and USB connections are supported by
the software. You will need to install USB drivers if you are connecting via USB.

Connecting the LI-3000C to a computer

Two connection methods are available: RS-232 Serial or USB. Both are described
below.

4-1LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

USB connection

To connect with USB, you'll install the drivers and connect with the instrument.
Although the connection is with a USB cable, your computer will treat it as a
COMport, as described below.

1

Acquire the driver software from licor.com/documents/1yfmqsrgmaikvzhzrzh9q3ferzmptpha and
install the application called li3x00_driver_install on your computer.

2

Open the Device Manager.

Press the Windows key ( ), type Device Manager, and press Enter.

3

In the Device Manager, expand the entry called Ports (COM and LPT).

4

Power on the LI-3000C and install the USB cable between the instrument and the computer.

Your computer should assign a communications port number to the LI-3000C

5

In the Device Manager, make note of the COM port number beside LI-3000C Area Meter.

6

Connect to the area meter

A

In the LI-3000C Portable Area Meter Windows software, click the connect button.

B

Select Serial and enter the COM port number identified previously.

C

Click Connect.

4-2 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

Serial connection

The RS-232 serial cable included has 9-pin connectors on both ends; either end
plugs into the serial connector on the back panel of the LI-3000C. Use this cable to
connect to your computer's 9-pin serial port or a serial-to-USB adapter.

Turn on the LI-3000C. Click on the LI-3000C program icon to start the program.
The LI-3000C main window appears. Select Connect from the Connection menu,
or click on the connect icon in the toolbar beneath the Connection menu. A con­nection dialog box will appear (Figure 4-1 below). Check Serial, select the proper
communication port number, and click Connect. Commonly, the PC's serial port
is assigned to COM 1.

Figure 4-1. Connect dialog box.

If the instrument is connected properly (and the instrument is in Realtime Capture
mode), data will appear in the counter window when a leaf is passed through the
scanning head.

4-3Serial connection

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

Software basics

The main window of the software features a real-time display of area. The software
also calculates maximum width, average width, and total length of samples passed
through the area meter scanning head. These values are shown in the window to
the left of the area counter.

The PC area counter can be reset by the user by pressing the Reset Counter button -
this also resets calculated values for width and length. Pressing the button on the
LI-3000C scanning head or on the LI-3050C also resets the PC software counter.

Figure 4-2. LI-3000C software, main window.

The main window also contains the menu bar, a toolbar with shortcuts for com­monly used tasks, and a grid where the log file can be viewed as it is being created.

To disconnect the PC software from the LI-3000C, choose Disconnect from the
Connection menu. As an alternative, the Disconnect icon in the toolbar can be
used.

A toolbar with shortcuts to commonly used tasks is located beneath the menu bar.

4-4 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

The toolbar shortcuts are as follows:

l Connect – opens the Connect dialog, where you can choose to connect to the

LI-3000C via serial or USB connection.

l Disconnect – terminates communication with the LI-3000C.
l Create new data file – allows you to configure logging options and create a new

data file into which data are logged.

l Close data file – stops writing to the data file.
l Transfer files – causes the application software to “wait” for data files to be trans-

ferred from the LI-3000C console.

Logging to a new data file

The logging feature writes data to a text file that can be opened by a text editor, or
by a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel. To create a data file, select Create
new data file... from the Logging menu, or click on the New Data File icon in the
toolbar beneath the File menu.

To log data to a file, the LI-3000C must be placed into Realtime Capture mode; in
most cases, the LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer Accessory is used, as well. See
Using Realtime Capture Mode with the LI-3050C on page5-6.

A dialog box appears that prompts for a file name and path. Comments to be placed
in the file header are optional. The user may choose to be prompted for up to three
remarks each time an area value is logged to the file. Columns for observation
number, subtotal (of area), maximum width, average width, length, and average
area may also be enabled. When your preferred options have been selected, click on
the Create button to open the data file.

4-5Logging to a new data file

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

Figure 4-3. LI-3000C software, New Data File window.

The main window of the LI-3000C program contains a grid where a log file can be
viewed as it is being created. Pressing the Log Data button will prompt the user for
remarks (if enabled) and append a new row of data to the log file.

Enable the ‘Zero values after data is logged’ check box to reset all values to zero
after the data are logged.

Maximum width, average width, and length are calculated for the area of objects
passed through the meter since the last time values were zeroed. You can choose to
zero the area counter and calculated values for width and length each time the Log
Data button is pressed by checking the ‘Zero values after Record’ check box. Or, val­ues can be manually zeroed by pressing the Reset Counter button under the soft­ware area counter.

The Subtotal column represents an accumulated value of all area values logged to
the data file. The Average Area column shows the average for the last "n" area
observations, selectable by the user in the New Data File dialog box.

4-6 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

Figure 4-4. Grid on main window of the LI-3000C software, populated by data logged to
an open log file.

To close the log file, select Close data file from the Logging menu, or click on the
Close Data File icon in the toolbar beneath the File menu. The file is saved to the
directory specified in the New Data File dialog box.

Transferring stored data files from the LI-3000C to a computer

Data files collected and stored on the LI-3000C console can be transferred to the
PC application software for viewing and/or storage. When this function is enabled,
the PC application software will “wait” until files are sent from the LI-3000C,
using the Print Files routine.

Select Transfer Files from the Transfer menu, or click on the shortcut in the tool­bar. The File Transfer dialog appears:

4-7Transferring stored data files from the LI-3000C to a computer

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

The destination path where the files will be transferred is shown; click on the

Browse button to change the path.

Enable the “Place all transferred files into the same file” check box to create a
single data file containing all records sent from the LI-3000C. When this check box
is enabled, you can enter the file name. Note that when placing all records into a
single data file the data are formatted differently; the time stamp and remarks are
replicated for each data entry.

Click OK. The application software will display “Waiting”, and the grid in the main
window will change to show a preview of the file transfer. Use the Print Files
routine in the LI-3000C to send the desired files; when finished, a message will
appear stating the file transfer is complete. The files have now been transferred to
the path specified above. The transferred data files can also be searched by clicking
the Search button and entering the search text. Click Close Preview to return to
realtime capture mode.

4-8 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

The file transfer routine can be cancelled by choosing Cancel Transfer from the
Transfer menu while the application software is waiting for files to be sent from
the LI-3000C; note, however, that once files have started to be sent, the routine can­not be stopped until all files are transferred.

Importing a data file to a spreadsheet

The data file can be imported into a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel using the
Text Import Wizard. Excel will open a wizard dialog box when the LI-3000C data
file is opened with the Excel program. The wizard prompts you for information
about the text file being opened. Be sure to indicate that the file is Tab Delimited.

4-9Importing a data file to a spreadsheet

Section 4. Using the LI-3000C Windows software

4-10 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 5.

LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

The LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer Accessory allows the LI-3000C to be used
for measuring area of large numbers of detached leaves. The two instruments are
coupled by sliding the LI-3000C scanning head into the LI-3050C, such that the
upper and lower belts pass through the scanning head. In this mode, the conveyer
belts move at a constant speed to provide the encoded length information to the LI­3000C (the length encoding cord is not used).

WARNING: The LI-3050C contains moving parts that can present a crush hazard.

AVERTISSEMENT: Le LI-3050C contient des pièces mobiles qui peuvent présenter un
risque d'écrasement.

WARNING: The LI-3050C contains moving pulleys that can entangle hair or clothing dur­ing insertion of the leaf.

AVERTISSEMENT: Le LI-3050C contient des poulies qui peut embrouiller les cheveux ou
les vêtements lors de l'insertion de la feuille en mouvement.

Samples are placed on the lower transparent belt and allowed to pass through the
LI-3000C scanning head. Accumulated area is shown on the LI-3000C display as
the sample(s) passes through the scanning head. Area can also be displayed in the
Windows Application Software by enabling Realtime Capture mode on the LI­3000C, as described later in this section.

The LI-3050C replaces the older LI-3050A; the LI-3050A cannot be used with the
LI-3000C, as the motor in the LI-3050A will not receive power (contact LI-COR for
upgrade information). The LI-3050C, however, is compatible with older LI-3000
and LI-3000A consoles.

5-1LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 5. LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

Setup and adjustment

WARNING: There are no user-serviceable parts inside the LI-3050C. Unplug the power
cord before opening the rear cover of the LI-3050C; failure to do so can result in a
severe shock hazard.

AVERTISSEMENT: Il n'y a pas de pièces réparables par l'utilisateur à l'intérieur du LI­3050C. Débranchez le cordon d'alimentation avant d'ouvrir le capot arrière de la LI­3050C, à défaut de le faire peut entraîner un risque de choc grave.

NOTE: An instructional video that demonstrates how to replace the upper and
lower transparent belts can be viewed at: http://www.licor.com/3050C-belt

The LI-3050C ships without the two transparent belts installed. To install the belts,
loosen the two knobs (Figure 5-1 below, labeled 'A') on both sides of the upper pul-
ley assembly and allow the upper assembly to lower itself. Slide a transparent belt
onto the upper pulley assembly from the front, over the pulleys at the locations
indicated by ‘F’ in Figure 5-1 below. Center the belt on the pulleys, lift at the knobs,
and tighten when the desired belt tension is obtained.

Figure 5-1. LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer Accessory front panel.

5-2 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 5. LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

A

Upper pulley assembly knobs

B

Lower pulley assembly idler arm

C

Scanning head support block knob

D

Reset button

E

Upper pulley assembly hex screws for belt tracking adjustment

F

Upper pulley assembly

G

Lower pulley assembly hex screws for belt tracking adjustment

H

Sample tray

Lift the weighted lower pulley assembly (Figure 5-1 on the previous page, label ‘B’),
and support with a piece of foam rubber to hold it up. Slide a transparent belt onto
the lower pulley assembly from the front. Remove the foam support and center the
belt while lifting the lower pulley. When the belt is centered, release the lower pul­ley. The weight automatically provides the proper tension. When mounting the
lower belt, it may be useful to place a sheet of paper under the lower surface of the
upper belt to prevent cohesion as the lower belt is put into place.

NOTE: Place the belts so that the edges and seams of one are slightly misaligned
with the other. When the edges are aligned, background counts can occur.

Turn the knob on the front of the lower pulley assembly (Figure 5-1 on the previous
page, label ‘C’) counterclockwise to lower the scanning head support blocks. Open
the scanning head and slide it into the LI-3050C (Figure 5-2 on the next page).
When the scanning head is inserted fully, so that about 1/8" is protruding from the
front of the

LI-3050C (Figure 5-3 on the next page), raise the scanning head support blocks by
turning the knurled knob (Figure 5-1 on the previous page, label ‘C’) clockwise
until it rests against the right hand stop.

5-3Setup and adjustment

Section 5. LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

Figure 5-2. Insert the LI-3000C scanning head through the opening in the LI-3050C back
panel.

Turn the support block knob left or right to lower or raise the support blocks.

Figure 5-3. When the scanning head is fully inserted, turn the support block knob clockwise
to raise the blocks and secure the scanning head.

5-4 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 5. LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

Do not lower the scanning head support blocks while the belts are moving. Only
lower the scanning head support blocks when the scanning head is going to be
removed.

Note that the LI-3050C has its own power cable; it has no power switch, however,
but is powered on using the on/off switch on the LI-3000C console back panel. To
power the LI-3050C, follow these steps:

1

Turn the LI-3000C off, or unplug its power cable.

2

Connect the bulkhead connector on the end of the LI-3050C cable into the connector labeled ‘LI­3050C’ on the LI-3000C console back panel.

3

Check the 115/230 voltage selection switches before connecting the AC cords or turning on the LI­3000C.

4

Connect the AC power cord to the LI-3050C, and plug the other end into a power outlet. Use only
safety agency approved (rated to at least 1 Amp) power cords (such as supplied by LI-COR) with a
three prong “grounding plug”, and plug into a properly grounded or ground-fault protected Mains
AC source (115/230 VAC, 50-60 Hz.)

5

The LI-3000C can be powered by either battery or AC power. Use the power switch on the LI­3000C console back panel to turn on both the LI-3000C and LI-3050C.

Reset the system by pressing the white reset button (Figure 5-1 on page5-2) located
above the LI-3050C sample tray. Pressing the reset button has the same effect as
pressing CLEAR X on the LI-3000C keypad.

Allow the 10 cm2calibration disk (in the spares kit, p/n 6512-095) to pass through
the scanning head to see if the belts are tracking correctly. Catch the disk as it
passes out of the conveyer, or place a protective pad on the LI-3050C base plate. Fail­ure to do this can cause damage to the finish.

Calibration accuracy of the LI-3050C is maintained by the relationship between the
parameters ‘Cal Target’ (190), ‘3000 Threshold’ (95), and ‘3050 Threshold’ (80). If
the LI-3000C scanning head is calibrated using these values, the specified LI-3050C
accuracy should be achieved, and can be verified with the calibration disc(s).

The purpose of the ‘3050 Threshold’ parameter is not to calibrate out spurious
counts on the belt system, but rather to provide 1% accuracy on a clean belt. If the
belt is dirty (resulting is spurious counts), it is preferable to clean the belt rather
than adjust the ‘3050 Threshold’ parameter.

5-5Setup and adjustment

Section 5. LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

If the belts do not track acceptably, loosen the hex screws (Figure 5-1 on page5-2,
label ‘E’) on the front of the instrument with a 5/32” hex key, and twist the upper
pulley assembly. To produce inward belt travel, apply clockwise pressure to the
upper pulley assembly (Figure 5-1 on page5-2, label ‘F’). The opposite procedure is
used for the lower pulley assembly; loosen the 3 hex screws on the lower pulley
assembly (Figure 5-1 on page5-2, label ‘G’). Do not remove the screws; loosen them
only enough so that they remain finger tight. Retighten the screws and observe the
belt track. Adjust as needed.

Using Realtime Capture Mode with the LI-3050C

The Realtime Capture function causes data from the LI-3000C to be transmitted
through the LI-3000C console, and into the Windows Application Software.

Data are not stored in the LI-3000C; this function is most commonly used in com­bination with the LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer Accessory, where large num­bers of leaves are measured and captured directly with the LI-3000C Application
Software. Bypassing the LI-3000C console can save time, as files do not need to be
transferred to the computer after collection; because the files are not stored on the
LI-3000C, they do not occupy memory in the instrument.

Connect the LI-3000C scanning head and LI-3050C as described earlier in this sec­tion. Connect the RS-232 or USB cable to the computer, and start the 3000-500
Windows Application Software. Choose Connect from the Connection menu, and
choose USB or Serial. On the LI-3000C keypad, press the Menu key, and scroll
down to Realtime Capture. Press Enter.

Press any key to exit Realtime Capture mode.

As leaves pass through the LI-3050C and LI-3000C scanning head, data are sent dir­ectly to the Windows Application Software, where it can be viewed, saved, and/or
printed.

5-6 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 5. LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

Figure 5-4. Data are sent directly to the Windows Application Software when in Realtime
Capture mode.

When in Realtime Capture mode, data shown in the main window of the Applic­ation Software can be cleared in a number of different ways:

1

Clicking the reset button on the LI-3000C scanning head one time (when the LI-3050C is not con­nected).

2

Clicking the reset button on the LI-3050C.

3

Pressing the Clear X key on the LI-3000C keypad.

4

Clicking the Reset Counter button in the main window of the Application Software.

Similarly, the current data can also be logged in a variety of ways:

1

Clicking the reset button on the LI-3000C scanning head two times (when the LI-3050C is not con­nected).

2

Pressing the Add key on the LI-3000C keypad.

3

Clicking the Log Data button in the main window of the Application Software.

Note that when in Realtime Capture mode, clicking the Add button on the LI­3000C keypad, and double-clicking the button on the scanning head provide dif­ferent functionality than when the LI-3000C is operating in its normal mode of
operation.

5-7Using Realtime Capture Mode with the LI-3050C

Section 5. LI-3050C Transparent Belt Conveyer

Storage and maintenance

When the LI-3050C is not in operation, place a block under one edge of the lower
pulley assembly to remove tension from the lower belt. Release tension from the
upper belt also by loosening the upper pulley assembly knobs. This prevents excess­ive belt stretching.

If the storage area is not very clean it is best to remove the belts prior to idle periods
of more than a few days. Wrap the belts in paper towels in a manner that prevents
cohesion (e.g. the belt surfaces don’t adhere to one another).

The transparent belts can be cleaned with warm water and hand dish-washing deter­gent.

Do not lubricate the drive gears. This will interfere with the optical switch which
encodes the sample length.

5-8 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6.

Maintenance and calibration

Important: Battery replacement, described on Battery replacement on page6-6,
should be performed only by qualified Service personnel.

Cleaning the LED and photodiode windows

As debris collects on the scanning head windows (insects, dirt, pollen, etc.), spuri­ous numbers will accumulate on the display when the length encoding cord is
drawn. This is detected by moving the cord when no sample object is located in the
scanning head. Clean the quartz windows with a moist paper towel or cloth. A cot­ton swab is useful for cleaning the corners at each end of the windows. Wiping the
windows with a finger is usually adequate for field use.

Cleaning the length encoding cord guide

A dust trap is located within the length encoding cord guide (the plastic grommet
through which the cord passes). This trap reduces dust passage into the scanning
head as the cord is retracted. The cord guide should be unscrewed from the upper
scanning head section and the felt trap cleaned or replaced. Do not overtighten the
cord guide when reinstalling. The service frequency should be determined by exper­ience under the most prevalent usage conditions. The interval will range from sel­dom under laboratory conditions, to daily in dusty or heavily pollinating crops.

Length encoding cord

If the length encoding cord becomes lodged, the problem is likely backlash. This
seldom occurs even if the cord is released and allowed to retract rapidly. If the

6-1LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

operator tends to "push" the cord into the head more rapidly than the system will
retract, then a slack cord occurs and backlash is more probable. This is corrected by
loosening the cord guide and removing the seven screws on top of the scanning
head. The upper housing is then raised straight upward. The cord is rewound and
threaded according to Figure 6-1 below. When the upper housing is replaced, do not
use force. If the cord is broken, see instructions below at ‘Replacing the Length
Encoding Cord’.

Figure 6-1. The length encoding cord passes from the take-up reel and around the encoding
wheel.

Caution: When replacing the upper housing, do not allow contact with the pro­truding edge of the LED scanner. High temperature vacuum grease is used as a
seal between the upper housing and the base plate. The grease is forced into the
joint after the cover is attached.

Knob separation from the length encoding cord

The length encoding cord will retract completely into the scanning head if the
knob is removed. The cord is retrieved by opening the upper housing. Thread the
cord back through the knob and tie a number of knots on top of each other to
secure the knob. Avoid continuous application of sharp angles at either end of the
scanning head cord.

Replacing the length encoding cord

In rare instances the length encoding cord may need to be replaced if it becomes
damaged or broken. There is a 4 ft. (1.22 m) length of cord in the spares kit (p/n
214-17616) that is used for replacement. This type of cord is specific for use with

6-2 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

the LI-3000C; cords of other compositions will not work in the scanning head. If
you need extra replacement cord, please contact LI-COR. The procedure for repla­cing the length encoding cord is given below. Note that this procedure can be a bit
difficult; if possible, we recommend returning the sensor head to the factory for
repair. Follow these steps to replace the length encoding cord:

1

Remove the 7 screws on the scanning head top lid with a small flat head screwdriver. Lift the top
lid off.

2

Thread one end of the new length encoding cord through the black knob. Tie a number of knots on
top of each other and pull on the cord until the knots lie in the recessed area of the knob and
don’t protrude outside of the knob.

NOTE: It can be difficult to thread the cord through the knob; it may help to
thread the cord through a common sewing needle first, and then thread the needle
through the knob.

Figure 6-2. Length encoding cord insertion into LI-3000C scanning head.

6-3Replacing the length encoding cord

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

3

Unscrew the length encoding cord guide (the black plastic grommet) from the outer side of the
scanning head top lid. Thread the free end of the cord through the cord guide, and then through
the hole in the side of the scanning head top lid.

There is another small round plastic grommet on the inside of the scanning head,
opposite the length encoding cord guide. Thread this grommet over the free end of
the length encoding cord, on the inside of the top lid. The red fiber dust trap is
split, and will be put over the cord at the end of this procedure.

4

Thread the free end of the cord through the hole in the black bar on the inside of the scanning
head, as shown in Figure 6-2 on the previous page. Note that Figure 6-2 on the previous page
shows the final path of the length encoding cord; the cord is not wrapped around the encoding
wheel or take-up reel until a later step.

Note that there is a small hole on the upper edge of the take-up reel. There is a cor­responding hole below it, on the inner lip of the take-up reel. The free end of the
length encoding cord is inserted through the lower hole; insert the cord from the
top of this hole and tie it off with a knot (see Figure 6-3 below).

Figure 6-3. Insert the cord through the lower hole in the take-up reel, from the top down, and tie
off.

There is a flat metal spring coil under the take-up reel that provides the tension to
take up the length encoding cord automatically. This spring can be irreversibly
damaged if the take-up reel is turned in the wrong direction. The take-up reel is
turned clockwise (without wrapping the length encoding cord around it) until the
spring is tight; after the spring is fully tightened, it will automatically wind the
cord around the take-up reel.

6-4 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

5

Use one hand to turn the take-up reel clockwise – you will need to keep pressure on the top of
the wheel while you wind it, to prevent the spring from uncoiling. Hold the slack length encoding
cord in your other hand while you wind the take-up reel, and keep it from winding around the reel.

Figure 6-4. Turn the take-up reel clockwise with one hand, keeping pressure on it to prevent the
inner spring from uncoiling.

6

Keep winding the take-up reel until you feel the spring tighten and resist any further turning.
Don’t overtighten. Now, hold the cord loosely in one hand, and slowly ease the pressure on the
take-up reel; it will automatically uncoil and wind the cord around itself as it turns. Guide the cord
around the reel as you release pressure on the take-up reel.

7

Turn the take-up reel slightly to create a bit of slack in the cord, and pull the cord from the left
edge of the take-up reel, over the encoding wheel.

6-5Replacing the length encoding cord

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

Figure 6-5. Take the cord off the take-up reel, and draw it over the encoding wheel.

8

Pull on the knob and release a few times to see if the take-up reel is operating properly, and
providing the proper tension. Slide the red fiber dust trap over the length encoding cord, ahead of
the inner grommet, as shown in Figures 5-2 and 5-5. There is a small recessed area on the inside
of the upper lid; slide the inner grommet and dust trap forward into this recessed area. Turn the
lid over and place over the scanning head. Tighten the length encoding cord guide, and replace
the 7 screws on the top lid.

Battery replacement

WARNING: Unplug the power cord from the LI-3000C console before replacing the bat­tery. Failure to do so can result in severe electric shock. Battery replacement should be
performed only by qualified Service personnel.

AVERTISSEMENT: Débranchez le cordon d'alimentation de la console LI-3000C avant de
remplacer la batterie. Ne pas le faire peut entraîner un choc électrique grave. Rem­placement de la batterie doit être effectuée uniquement par du personnel qualifié.

As the internal battery ages, the battery life will diminish (12 hours is normal).
Eventually the battery will fail to hold a charge and should be replaced. If the bat­tery is faithfully recharged when depleted, it should last a number of years. It is not
recommended that a replacement battery be ordered until the battery life of the first

6-6 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

battery starts to change noticeably. If a replacement battery is ordered it should be
installed immediately to prevent it from deteriorating in storage. Battery replace­ment instructions are included with the new battery.

Power on problems

If nothing happens when the LI-3000C is turned on, turn the instrument off, plug
in the AC power cord and turn it on again. If the LI-3000C is still unresponsive,
check the AC fuse on the outside of the instrument.

The fuse holder is located on the back panel of the console. Turn the cap coun­terclockwise to open the holder and inspect the fuse. The fuse is a ¼ x 1 ¼ glass
cartridge style; there are spare fuses in the spare parts kit. The 0.2A fuse (p/n 438-

08266) is used for 115 VAC; the 0.1A fuse (p/n 438-08267) is used for 230 VAC.

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

Figure 6-6. Turn the cap counterclockwise and remove the fuse holder.

A blown fuse may show scorch marks on the inside glass, and/or a break in the
wire element, as shown below left. In some cases, however, a blown fuse may not
exhibit any of these symptoms, and can appear to be operational.

Blown Fuse Replac ement (good) fuse

Check the voltage selector switch. If replacing the AC fuse still does not cause the
instrument to function properly, turn off the instrument and disconnect the power

6-7Power on problems

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

cord for 3 minutes. Reconnect the power cord and turn the instrument back on. If
the battery was deeply discharged, the LO indicator may be displayed for several
minutes.

Instrument storage

The internal battery should always be fully charged before storage. For long term
storage, charge the battery continuously or at least every 2 months for 5 hours or
more. Temperatures between 0 and 35 °C are preferable during charging. Battery
life will be severely shortened by long exposure to high temperatures even if
charged as recommended.

The LI-3000C should be stored in an area that is within the temperature range - 20
to 55 °C and has a relative humidity of 5 to 95% non-condensing.

Test menu

The TEST key accesses a list of technician test and calibration routines.

These routines are generally used during the technician check-out of the LI-3000C.
The list does, however, contain the calibration routine used to calibrate a scanning
head to the LI-3000C console.

Test:keyboard Tests that all keys are working correctly.
Print Cal Output the calibration to the RS-232 or USB port.
Edit Cal Used to change the calibration data.
View Cal View the calibration data.
Calibrate Sensor head calibration routine.
Cal Target Defines the target brightness for the LEDs. Normal value is 190.
Master Reset Clears all data, time, date, calibration.
Test:speedup Allows checking of string pulling speed.
Test:battery Displays low battery symbol if battery is low, and a high symbol is an

overcharging condition is occurring.

6-8 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

Test:RS-232
out

Test:clock Displays date and time continually.
Test:ram Shows memory size, and does a checksum test.
Test:flash Tests the flash memory.
Test:display Cycles through the character set.

To exit the TEST menu press any key except ENTER, ↑, or ↓.

Tests the output of the UART.

Test: keyboard

The message 'keytest' is momentarily displayed, then the display will be blank.
When you press a key, the display will show the row number and the column num­ber of the pressed key. The ↑key is 0,0 and the STORE Y key is 3,5.

3rd row down, 5th from the right. This is the "6" (or V) key.

To exit this mode, press any key three times, or press all of the keys. If a single key
is pressed three times in succession, the display will show ‘THREE TIMES’, and the
test will abort.

Print Cal

The Print Cal function outputs the calibration file (via the RS-232 or USB port) to
the LI-3000C Application Software. The file is displayed in a Calibration File View
window. The file can then be saved from this window.

Press Enter to output the calibration file to the LI-3000C Application Software.

6-9Test menu

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

Figure 6-7. Calibration File View window.

A sample calibration table is shown below. Note that in the example below, LEDs
72 and 73 failed to reach their target values, indicated by ‘FF f’.

6-10 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

LI-3000C Calibration
HEAD SR #1611
REMARK: XXX XXX XXX 2006-02-14 14:32:02
CAL MAX VAL: 91
CAL MIN VAL: 52
LED DEC HEXVARLED DEC HEXVAR
1: 79 4F 3.7 65: 52 34 2.2
2: 64 40 3.5 66: 56 38 7.2
3: 66 42 6.2 67: 52 34 3.5
4: 69 45 4.0 68: 55 37 3.2
5: 66 42 12.5 69: 65 41 1.2
6: 65 41 1.7 70: 84 54 4.5
7: 63 3F 4.7 71: 61 3D 0.5
8: 70 46 6.7 72: 255 FF f 6553.5
9: 67 43 16.7 73: 255 FF f 6553.5
10: 89 59 9.0 74: 67 43 6.5
11: 67 43 5.7 75: 81 51 2.2
12: 58 3A 2.5 76: 67 43 10.2
13: 67 43 2.2 77: 59 3B 2.2
14: 59 3B 1.7 78: 67 43 7.0
15: 52 34 2.2 79: 56 38 1.2
16: 57 39 2.5 80: 58 3A 4.2
17: 56 38 6.7 81: 59 3B 3.5
18: 60 3C 8.7 82: 57 39 1.7
19: 58 3A 5.0 83: 75 4B 2.5
20: 77 4D 2.5 84: 91 5B 2.7
21: 72 48 18.7 85: 85 55 4.5
22: 72 48 8.7 86: 69 45 11.5
23: 60 3C 1.5 87: 65 41 6.5
24: 76 4C 1.2 88: 63 3F 6.7
25: 58 3A 9.5 89: 60 3C 5.0
26: 73 49 5.7 90: 67 43 1.7
27: 83 53 13.5 91: 67 43 3.7
28: 76 4C 14.0 92: 61 3D 6.2
29: 69 45 2.0 93: 57 39 13.7
30: 67 43 0.7 94: 65 41 2.0
31: 62 3E 5.2 95: 62 3E 3.5
32: 56 38 8.2 96: 61 3D 7.5
33: 88 58 2.7 97: 82 52 4.5
34: 64 40 8.2 98: 57 39 6.2

6-11Test menu

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

35: 68 44 0.7 99: 65 41 1.5
36: 81 51 3.7 100: 67 43 3.7
37: 77 4D 8.5 101: 62 3E 3.0
38: 62 3E 0.7 102: 73 49 13.7
39: 73 49 3.7 103: 60 3C 0.7
40: 69 45 8.5 104: 60 3C 7.7
41: 70 46 3.5 105: 65 41 14.5
42: 68 44 0.5 106: 68 44 6.2
43: 61 3D 3.5 107: 70 46 5.2
44: 73 49 3.2 108: 67 43 3.2
45: 75 4B 5.0 109: 61 3D 5.5
46: 73 49 3.5 110: 64 40 11.7
47: 63 3F 6.2 111: 56 38 2.2
48: 64 40 5.5 112: 57 39 1.0
49: 61 3D 22.0 113: 55 37 16.5
50: 61 3D 3.5 114: 57 39 8.5
51: 61 3D 6.5 115: 52 34 3.5
52: 74 4A 6.5 116: 61 3D 5.0
53: 72 48 5.7 117: 53 35 4.2
54: 73 49 0.7 118: 67 43 12.2
55: 72 48 1.2 119: 69 45 3.7
56: 65 41 0.5 120: 65 41 10.5
57: 71 47 1.0 121: 66 42 9.5
58: 78 4E 2.5 122: 61 3D 12.2
59: 62 3E 0.7 123: 62 3E 3.5
60: 72 48 0.7 124: 65 41 16.5
61: 77 4D 4.2 125: 66 42 6.0
62: 62 3E 4.5 126: 86 56 1.0
63: 59 3B 1.7 127: 74 4A 12.2
64: 58 3A 4.7 128: 81 51 4.5

Edit Cal

The Edit Cal routine (technician function only) allows the scanning head cal­ibration data to be changed. Normally the calibration should never need to be
manually changed. This routine may be of use in special cases if the head fails the
autocalibration routine and the user wants to temporarily get the instrument work­ing. If the instrument fails the autocalibration routine with clean windows, then it
does have a problem and should be returned to LI-COR for repair.

6-12 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

The accuracy of the instrument will generally be degraded after the calibration file
is edited. This is especially true if the edge of the leaf is near the edited LED. (See
Section 1, Theory of Operation. The leaf/no leaf decision will no longer be at 50%
for that LED).

The code to access this routine is FP7. After a number is edited, an "e" will appear
next to that number in the table. The edited calibration data can only be used until
the instrument is turned off. A "CAL FILE LOST" message is displayed if the instru­ment is turned off and back on, and the autocalibration routine must be used to
recalibrate the head.

View Cal

Use ↑and ↓to scroll through the file.

The last LED (128) is set to a value of 81. The entire possible range is 0 to 255,
while the acceptable range is from 6 to 249.

The ↑and ↓keys will scroll through the 128 calibration values. Press any other key
to return to the menu.

Calibrate

The calibration routine must be done if a different scanning head is to be used
with the LI-3000C.

Before proceeding with this test, make sure the scanning head is cleaned, and that
nothing is blocking any of the LEDs.

6-13Test menu

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

Enter the sensor head serial number. Press Enter when done.

The serial number entered at this prompt is used in the start-up message ("Cal­ibrated for Head #xxxx") given when the LI-3000C is turned on.

Enter any remarks. Press

Enter when done.

The display will cycle through all 128 LEDs.

The current of each LED is increased until its brightness matches the Cal Target
value. Each LED is calibrated 4 times and then averaged.

An error message will be displayed if a problem occurred during calibration. Error
messages are discussed below.

The calibration was successful and it passed its performance check.

Error Messages

Acceptable settings for the LEDs are between 6 and 249. If an acceptable value is
not achieved, one or more error messages may occur, as shown below. When the

6-14 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

calibration is completed, the calibration is saved to FLASH memory, even if one or
more LEDs have failed to reach their target value. If an error message occurs,
power the LI-3000C off, then back on. Re-check the scanning head to be sure it is
cleaned and free of any debris. Then do the calibration routine again. If the error
message persists, contact LI-COR.

One or more LEDs failed to achieve the target value.

Make sure the scanning head windows are clean and repeat the Calibrate test.

Insufficient FLASH memory to store the calibration. Try deleting some data files to
free up memory and retry.

Cal Target

The Cal Target function allows the user to manually set the target value for each
LED individually. The normal default value is 190. This is primarily a technician
function, and should not be changed.

Enter an integer value between 6 and 249.

Master Reset

Clears all data, the time, date, and scanning head calibrations. The instrument is
restarted after the Master Reset. Default values for the Cal Target, 3000 Threshold

6-15Test menu

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

and 3050 Threshold are implemented. A calibration routine must be performed
after the Master Reset, as well.

Test: speedup

S (slow) or F (fast).

Tests the speed of the string pull. When the string is being pulled faster than 1/2
meter/second, an F (fast) should appear. When the instrument is in fast mode it
may no longer try to update the display. Instead, it may concentrate only on count­ing area. The data is still reliable, and the newest data are displayed once the string
speed slows down. To terminate the test, press any key.

Test: battery

The low battery symbol (lo) will appear if the battery is low, or the high battery
symbol (hi) will appear if the battery voltage is too high. Report a high battery con­dition to LI-COR.

Press any key to return to the menu.

Test: RS-232 Out

This test transmits the character set out the RS-232 and USB ports. A computer
must be connected. Press the ← key to abort the test if problems occur. A simple
terminal program (e.g. Hyperterminal) can be used to test the RS-232 output by fol­lowing these steps:

1

Connect the LI-3000C to your computer with the RS-232 cable included.

2

Open Hyperterminal. On most Windows® machines, Hyperterminal is located in Start>Pro­grams>Accessories>Communications.

6-16 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

3

Enter a connection name in Hyperterminal.

4

In the ‘Connect Using’ dialog, choose COM1 from the drop-down menu.

5

Click OK.

6

In the COM1 Properties dialog, set the communications parameters as follows:

Bits per second (bps): 38400

Data bits: 8 Parity: None Stop bits: 1

Flow Control: Hardware

7

Click OK.

When RS-232 OUT is displayed in the Test menu, pressing Enter will cause a char­acter set to be output and captured in Hyperterminal. During this test, the bottom
line of the LI-3000C display shows the character(s) being sent. Press any key to
return to the menu, or wait until the test ends automatically.

Test: clock

Displays current date and time. Time is displayed using a 24 hour clock.

Press any key to return to the menu.

Test: ram

This routine shows the size of the memory, and gives it a test.

128K bytes memory. Displayed after a few seconds.

If an error occurs during this test, the bottom line of the display will show
‘ERR:AAAAAA, xxxx’, where AAAAAA is the address of the failure, and xxxx is the
test pattern. Report this error to LI-COR. Press any key to return to the menu.

6-17Test menu

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

Test: flash

This routine does a checksum test on the flash memory.

Flash memory passed the test.

Press any key to return to the menu.

Test: display

The console will automatically cycle through the display's character set. If you want
to quit before it finishes, press any key.

Note that the first symbol displayed is the up arrow key (↑).

Updating the instrument (embedded) software

The LI-3000C internal instrument software is programmed into the instrument’s
flash memory; it can be updated using the Update3000C program available from
LI-COR’s web site at http://www.licor.com/env/support. LI-COR may periodically
provide updates to the instrument software; follow the instructions below to install
the instrument (embedded) software.

Note that the following operation requires only 3-4 minutes to complete. We
recommend that you connect the console to AC power before installing the soft­ware; if you are using battery power, make sure that you have sufficient charge to
operate the LI-3000C for 5 minutes or more. Follow these steps to update the instru­ment software:

1

Turn the LI-3000C off. Make sure the computer and the LI-3000C are connected via the serial
cable included.

6-18 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

There is a hardware jumper inside the LI-3000C console that must be moved tem­porarily to allow the software update. Remove the 4 screws on the top lid and slide
the lid off. There is a set of 3 jumpers stacked at the lower righthand side of the
main circuit board, at locations LK5, LK6, and LK8, as shown in Figure 6-8 below.
Note that the jumper at position LK8 covers only the rightmost pin (out of 2). This
jumper needs to be moved over to the left, so that it covers both pins.

Figure 6-8. Move the jumper at location LK8 (left) so it covers both pins (right).

2

Move the jumper, and place the lid back on the LI-3000C.

3

Locate the Update3000 program, and double-click on the icon to start the program. Alternatively,
select Run from the Windows Start menu, and locate the update3000.exe program.

4

Choose the serial port on your computer to which the LI-3000C is connected using the arrow keys
in the Update Window.

5

Turn the LI-3000C on.

6

Click the Update Software button. Note that if a connection cannot be established, you may need
to reboot the computer.

The update will begin. A message will appear in the window when the update has
been completed, as shown in Figure 6-9 on the next page.

6-19Updating the instrument (embedded) software

Section 6. Maintenance and calibration

Figure 6-9. Click the Update Software button and wait until the Status field displays
‘Update Successful’.

7

Wait for the message ‘Update Successful’ to appear.

8

Close the Update Window.

9

Turn the LI-3000C OFF. Wait 10 seconds, replace the jumper at position LK8 from Step 2 above,
and then power the LI-3000C back ON.

10

Wait a few seconds for the LI-3000C to initialize. The instrument is now ready to use.

6-20 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Appendix A.

LI-3000C Specifications

Resolution: 1 mm2(1 mm x 1 mm scanning area).
Accuracy: Within ± 2% for samples > 50 cm2.
Display Capacity

Area: 9,999,999.99 cm2,
Length: 99,999,999.9 cm,

Width: 12.8 cm
Display: 2 line x 16 character LCD
Keyboard: Sealed, 24 key tactile response.
Real Time Clock: Year, month, day, hour, minute, second. Accuracy: ± 3 minutes

per month (0-55 °C).
Internal Memory: More than 2.1 MB of non-volatile FLASH. Measurement data are

maintained even in absence of power.
Memory Capacity: From 65,000 to 125,000 individual leaf area measurements.

Communications: USB 1.1 Compliant, Full Speed, Bus rate @ 12 Mbps; RS-232

DTE, N, 8, 1, Baud rate fixed at 38,400 bps, hardware flow control.

Sample Dimensions

Width: 127 mm maximum, 1 mm minimum.

Thickness: 8 mm maximum.

Length: 1 meter maximum.
Scanning Speed: Up to 1m/s. Length encoding cord drawing speed need not be

constant. Error message indicates if encoding cord is drawn too fast.
Power Requirement: Internal rechargeable 6V lead-acid battery, 2.5Ah; or 115/230

VAC, 50/60 Hz, 20 watt maximum.
User-Replaceable Mains Fuse: 2/10 amp type T for 115 VAC, 1/10 amp type T for

230 VAC, ¼ x 1 ¼ glass cartridge style.

Battery Capacity: Typically 12-15 hours of continuous operation.
Recharging Time: 5-8 hours, instrument off. Charging circuitry built-in.

A-1LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Appendix A. LI-3000C Specifications

Battery Voltage Sensor: Low battery warning occurs approximately 1 hour before

automatically shutting off the instrument. Over-voltage warning occurs if bat-

tery becomes over-charged. Data are stored in FLASH memory, and is secure in

either of these conditions.

Scanning Head

LED Light Source: 6.4 mm from outer edge.

Size: 30.5 cm overall length (12.0").

Weight: 680 g (1.5 lb.).
Readout-Control Unit

Size: 19.8 cm L ×15.5 W ×10.1 D (7.8" ×6.1" × 4.0").

Weight: 2.0 kg (4.4 lb).
Operating Temperature: 0 to 55 °C, 5 to 95% RH (non-condensing).
Storage Temperature: -20 to 55 °C, 5 to 95% RH (non-condensing). Long term

storage at high temperatures will shorten the life of the internal battery.

A-2 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Appendix B.

LI-3050C Specifications

Resolution: 1 mm2(1 mm x 1 mm scanning area).
Accuracy: Within ± 1% for samples > 10 cm2.
Sample Dimensions

Width: 127 mm maximum, 1 mm minimum.

Thickness: 7.5 mm maximum.

Length: unlimited.
Conveyer Belt Speed: 6.3 cm/s at 60 Hz; 5.4 cm/s at 50 Hz.
Transparent Belts: Rugged clear vinyl.
Power Requirement: 20 Watts maximum, 115/230 VAC, 50/60 Hz.
User-Replaceable Mains Fuse: 2/10 amp type T for 115 VAC, 1/10 amp type T for

230 VAC, ¼ x 1 ¼ glass cartridge style.

Operating Temperature: 0 to 55 °C. 5 to 95% RH (non-condensing).
Storage Temperature: -20 to 55 °C. 5 to 95% RH (non-condensing).
Size: 27.9 cm H ×27.9 W ×38.1 L (11.0" ×11.0" ×15.0")
Weight: 7.7 kg (17.0 lb).

B-1LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Appendix B. LI-3050C Specifications

B-2 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Appendix C.

Warranty

Each LI-COR, Inc. instrument is warranted by LI-COR, Inc. to be free from defects
in material and workmanship; however, LI-COR, Inc.'s sole obligation under this
warranty shall be to repair or replace any part of the instrument which LI-COR,
Inc.'s examination discloses to have been defective in material or workmanship
without charge and only under the following conditions, which are:

1

The defects are called to the attention of LI-COR, Inc. in Lincoln, Nebraska, in writing within one
year after the shipping date of the instrument.

2

The instrument has not been maintained, repaired or altered by anyone who was not approved by
LI-COR, Inc.

3

The instrument was used in the normal, proper and ordinary manner and has not been abused,
altered, misused, neglected, involved in an accident or damaged by act of God or other casualty.

4

The purchaser, whether it is a DISTRIBUTOR or direct customer of LI-COR or a DISTRIBUTOR'S cus­tomer, packs and ships or delivers the instrument to LI-COR, Inc. at LI-COR Inc.'s factory in Lincoln,
Nebraska, U.S.A. within 30 days after LI-COR, Inc. has received written notice of the defect.
Unless other arrangements have been made in writing, transportation to LI-COR, Inc. (by air
unless otherwise authorized by LI-COR, Inc.) is at customer expense.

5

No-charge repair parts may be sent at LI-COR, Inc.'s sole discretion to the purchaser for install­ation by purchaser.

6

LI-COR, Inc.'s liability is limited to repair or replace any part of the instrument without charge if
LI-COR, Inc.'s examination disclosed that part to have been defective in material or workmanship.

There are no warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to any
implied warranty of merchantability of fitness for a particular purpose on
underwater cables or on expendables such as batteries, lamps, thermocouples,
and calibrations.

C-1LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

Appendix C. Warranty

Other than the obligation of LI-COR, Inc. expressly set forth herein, LI-COR,
Inc. disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular pur­pose. The foregoing constitutes LI-COR, Inc.'s sole obligation and liability with
respect to damages resulting from the use or performance of the instrument
and in no event shall LI-COR, Inc. or its representatives be liable for damages
beyond the price paid for the instrument, or for direct, incidental or con­sequential damages.

The laws of some locations may not allow the exclusion or limitation on implied
warranties or on incidental or consequential damaged, so the limitations herein
may not apply directly. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may
already have other rights which vary from state to state. All warranties that apply,
whether included by this contract or by law, are limited to the time period of this
warranty which is a twelve-month period commencing from the date the instru­ment is shipped to a user who is a customer or eighteen months from the date of
shipment to LI-COR, Inc.'s authorized distributor, whichever is earlier.

This warranty supersedes all warranties for products purchased prior to June 1,
1984, unless this warranty is later superseded. To the extent not superseded by the
terms of any extended warranty, the terms and conditions of LI-COR’s Warranty
still apply.

DISTRIBUTOR or the DISTRIBUTOR's customers may ship the instruments dir­ectly to LI-COR if they are unable to repair the instrument themselves even though
the DISTRIBUTOR has been approved for making such repairs and has agreed with
the customer to make such repairs as covered by this limited warranty.

Further information concerning this warranty may be obtained by writing or tele­phoning Warranty manager at LI-COR, Inc.

C-2 LI-3000C Portable Area Meter

LI-COR Biosciences

464 7 Superior Street
Lincoln , Nebraska 68 504
Phone: [phone]
Toll free: 800-447- 3576 (U.S. and Canada)
[e-mail]

Regional Offices

LI-CORBiosciences GmbH

Siemensstraße 25 A
613 52 Bad Homburg
Germany
Phone: [phone]
[e-mail]

LI-CORBiosciences UKLtd.

St. John ’s Innovation Centre
Cowley Road
Cambridge
CB4 0WS
United King dom
Phone: [phone]
[e-mail]

LI-CORDistributor Network:

www.licor.com/env/distribu tors

984 -084 29 • 08/19