PCE Instruments PCE-EM 880 Users guide

© PCE Instruments

PCE-EM 880 Air Quality Meter

User Manual

User manuals in various languages (français,

italiano, español, português, nederlands, türk, polski,

русский, 中文) can be found by using our

product search on: www.pce-instruments.com

Last change: 4 November 2022

v1.0

English

© PCE Instruments

Contents

1 Safety notes ........................................................................................... 1

2 Specifications ........................................................................................ 2

3 Delivery scope ....................................................................................... 2

4 Device description ................................................................................ 3

5 Switching the meter on and off ........................................................... 4

5.1 Lowest, highest and average reading ............................................................................... 4

5.2 Settings ............................................................................................................................ 5

6 View measured values .......................................................................... 8

7 Exporting the measurement data ........................................................ 9

8 Contact ................................................................................................... 9

9 Disposal ................................................................................................. 9

© PCE Instruments

1

1 Safety notes

Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time. The
device may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments personnel.
Damage or injuries caused by non-observance of the manual are excluded from our liability and
not covered by our warranty.

• The device must only be used as described in this instruction manual. If used otherwise,
this can cause dangerous situations for the user and damage to the meter.

• The instrument may only be used if the environmental conditions (temperature, relative

humidity, …) are within the ranges stated in the technical specifications. Do not expose

the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme humidity or moisture.

• Do not expose the device to shocks or strong vibrations.

• The case should only be opened by qualified PCE Instruments personnel.

• Never use the instrument when your hands are wet.

• You must not make any technical changes to the device.

• The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use only pH-neutral cleaner,

no abrasives or solvents.

• The device must only be used with accessories from PCE Instruments or equivalent.

• Before each use, inspect the case for visible damage. If any damage is visible, do not

use the device.

• Do not use the instrument in explosive atmospheres.

• The measurement range as stated in the specifications must not be exceeded under

any circumstances.

• Non-observance of the safety notes can cause damage to the device and injuries to
the user.

We do not assume liability for printing errors or any other mistakes in this manual.
We expressly point to our general guarantee terms which can be found in our general terms of

business.

© PCE Instruments

2

2 Specifications

Measuring function

Measurement range

Resolution

Accuracy

HCHO

0.00 ... 5.00 mg/m³

0.01 mg/m³

±5 % of range

TVOC

0.00 ... 9.99 mg/m³

0.01 mg/m³

±5 % of range

Temperature

0 ... 50 °C
32 ... 122 °F

0,1 °C
0,1 °F

±2 °C
±4 °F

Humidity

0 ... 100 % RH

0.1 % RH

±3.5 % (at 20 ... 80 % RH)
±5 % (at 0 ... 20 %)
±5 % (at 80 ... 100 %)

Alarm

Visual alarm when limit value is exceeded

Interface

Micro USB

Power supply (battery)

3.7 V, 1500 mAh

Power supply (mains adaptor)

5 V DC, 1 A

Operating conditions

0 ... 45 °C / 32 ... 113 °F, <90 % RH

Storage conditions

-10 ... 55 °C / 14 ... 131 °F, <90 % RH

Dimensions

54 x 215 x 34 mm / 2.1 x 8.4 x 1.3"

Weight

143 g / 5.0 oz

3 Delivery scope

1 x air quality meter PCE-EM 880
1 x Micro USB cable
1 x user manual

© PCE Instruments

3

4 Device description

No.

Description

1

HCHO and TVCO sensor

2

Temperature and humidity sensor

3

LC display

4

Left key (interaction with the function shown on the display)

5

Right key (interaction with the function shown on the display)

6

On and off key

7

Enter and record key

8

Back key

9

Ventilation slot

10

Tripod holder

11

Micro USB interface

© PCE Instruments

4

5 Switching the meter on and off

To switch on the meter, press and hold the on/off key for two
seconds. The HCHO sensor needs a warm-up time of 10
seconds after switching on before it can measure. The TVOC
sensor requires a warm-up time of 90 seconds. After that, the
meter is ready for measurement.
To switch off the meter, press and hold the on/off key again for
two seconds. The meter switches off.

5.1 Lowest, highest and average reading

To display the lowest, the highest and the average measured
value, press the right key in the measurement window to select
MAX, MIN, AVG. The lowest, the highest and the average
measured value are now displayed for each measuring
function.

Now press the left key repeatedly to display the desired
measurement function. Use the right key to pause and resume
the evaluation. Press the back key to return to measuring
mode.
Note: The evaluation is reset as soon as you return to normal
measuring mode.

© PCE Instruments

5

5.2 Settings

To access the settings,
press the right key in the
measurement window. This
takes you directly to the
settings.
The left and right keys can
be used to select between
the individual menu items
and to change parameters.
The enter key opens the
setting item and the set
parameter is accepted. The
back key takes you back
one level.

The menu is organised as follows:

Setting option

Description

Language

Setting the menu language
Chinese and English are available

Unit

Setting the temperature unit to °C or °F
Setting the unit for HCHO and TVOC to ppm or mg/m³

Datalogger

Setting the data logger

Auto-off

Setting automatic power off

Alarm

Setting the alarm limit value

Brightness

Setting the display brightness

Date/Time

Setting the date and time

5.2.1 Setting the language

To set the language of the meter, go to the menu, to the item
"Language". Here, you can change the menu language to
Chinese or English.

5.2.2 Setting the units

To set the units, go to the settings, to the item "Unit". From
there, the unit of temperature can be changed to °C or °F. The
unit of HCHO and TVOC can be changed to ppm or mg/m³.

© PCE Instruments

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5.2.4 Setting the data logger

To set the data logger, go to the menu, to the item "Data
logger".Here, the data logger can be set.
Note: The data logger is always active.

The options are:

5.2.4.1 Setting the storage rate

To set the storage rate, select "Sampling rate" in the data
logger settings. Here, the storage rate can be set to 1 minute,
15 minutes or 1 hour.

5.2.4.2 Setting the recording time

To set the recording time, select "Duration" in the data logger
settings. You can select "None", 1 hour, 24 hours or 7 days.
If "None" is selected, recording will continue until the meter
switches off automatically or the battery is discharged.

5.2.4.3 Switch off display automatically

To switch off the display automatically, select "Sleep mode"
in the data logger settings. If this function is active, the meter
switches itself off within 2 minutes.

Setting option

Description

Sampling rate

Setting the storage rate

Duration

Setting the recording time

Sleep Mode

Setting whether or not the meter switches off the display when
no entries are made.

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5.2.5 Automatic power off

To set the automatic power off, go to "Auto-off" in the settings.
Here, you can choose between "None", 2 and 10 minutes or
one hour.
If "None" is selected, automatic power off is permanently
deactivated.

5.2.6 Set alarm limits

To set the alarm limit values, go to the settings and to the item
"Alarm". Here, an alarm limit value can be set for each
measuring function. To change the parameter, use the right or
left key. To move to the next measurement function, press the
enter key repeatedly until you reach your measurement
function.
If an alarm limit is exceeded, the measured value is displayed
in red.

5.2.7 Set display brightness

To adjust the display brightness, go to "Brightness" in the
settings. Here, the brightness of the display can be adjusted.

© PCE Instruments

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5.2.8 Setting the date and time

To set the date and time, go to the settings, to the item "Data
/ Time". Here, the date and time can be set with the left and
right keys. With the enter key, you can jump to the next item.

6 View measured values

To view the measured values, press and hold the record key
in measurement mode. All saved files are now displayed. The
file name is named and sorted according to the storage date.
Select the desired file with the left or right key and open it
with the enter key.

Now select the desired measuring function from the file. The
measured values are then displayed directly.

The left and right keys can then be used to select and read
each individual measured value.
In addition, the lowest, the highest and the average measured
value are displayed.

Note: The saved measured values can only be deleted via
the PC.

© PCE Instruments

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7 Exporting the measurement data

To export the measurement data to a PC, first switch off the meter and then connect it to a PC.
The PC recognises the meter as a mass data storage device. From there, the measurement data
are saved as a CSV file. Measurement data can be deleted from here.

8 Contact

If you have any questions, suggestions or technical problems, please do not hesitate to contact
us. You will find the relevant contact information at the end of this user manual.

9 Disposal

For the disposal of batteries in the EU, the 2006/66/EC directive of the European Parliament
applies. Due to the contained pollutants, batteries must not be disposed of as household waste.
They must be given to collection points designed for that purpose.

In order to comply with the EU directive 2012/19/EU we take our devices back. We either re-use
them or give them to a recycling company which disposes of the devices in line with law.

For countries outside the EU, batteries and devices should be disposed of in accordance with
your local waste regulations.

If you have any questions, please contact PCE Instruments.

© PCE Instruments

10

PCE Instruments contact information

Germany France Spain

PCE Deutschland GmbH PCE Instruments France EURL PCE Ibérica S.L.
Im Langel 26 23, rue de Strasbourg Calle Mayor, 53
D-59872 Meschede 67250 Soultz-Sous-Forets 02500 Tobarra (Albacete)
Deutschland France España
Tel.: [phone] Téléphone: [phone] Tel. : [phone]
Fax: [phone] Numéro de fax: [phone] Fax: [phone]
[e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]
www.pce-instruments.com/deutsch www.pce-instruments.com/french www.pce-instruments.com/espanol

United Kingdom Italy Turkey

PCE Instruments UK Ltd PCE Italia s.r.l. PCE Teknik Cihazları Ltd.Şti.
Unit 11 Southpoint Business Park Via Pesciatina 878 / B-Interno 6 Halkalı Merkez Mah.
Ensign Way, Southampton 55010 Loc. Gragnano Pehlivan Sok. No.6/C
Hampshire Capannori (Lucca) 34303 Küçükçekmece - İstanbul
United Kingdom, SO31 4RF Italia Türkiye
Tel: [phone] Telefono: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Fax: [phone] Faks: 0212 705 53 93
[e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]
www.pce-instruments.com/english www.pce-instruments.com/italiano www.pce-instruments.com/turkish

The Netherlands United States of America Denmark

PCE Brookhuis B.V. PCE Americas Inc. PCE Instruments Denmark ApS
Institutenweg 15 1201 Jupiter Park Drive, Suite 8 Birk Centerpark 40
7521 PH Enschede Jupiter / Palm Beach 7400 Herning
Nederland 33458 FL Denmark
Telefoon: [phone] USA
[e-mail] Tel: [phone]
www.pce-instruments.com/dutch Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.pce-instruments.com/us