RAE Systems AutoRAE Lite Operating Manual
AutoRAE Lite
User’s Guide
Rev. C
June 2014
P/N T01-4007-000
© Copyright 2014 RAE Systems Inc.
AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
Contents
1 Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Standard Kit ..................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Mounting The AutoRAE Lite On A Wall ...................................................................................... 4
3 Powering The AutoRAE Lite .......................................................................................................... 5
3.1 AC Adapter Power..................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Battery Power ............................................................................................................................ 5
4 Connecting Calibration Gas ........................................................................................................... 6
5 Air Filter ........................................................................................................................................... 6
6 SD Memory Card ............................................................................................................................ 7
7 Bump Testing & Calibration .......................................................................................................... 9
7.1 Status LED Explanation .......................................................................................................... 10
8 Transferring Data .......................................................................................................................... 11
8.1 Transferring Data From The SD Card To A Computer ............................................................ 11
8.2 After Transferring Data From The SD Card ............................................................................ 14
9 Using AutoRAE Lite With The AutoRAE Lite Utility Program ............................................... 15
9.1 Computer Setup And AutoRAE Lite Utility Program Installation .......................................... 15
9.2 Configuring The Port For The AutoRAE Lite Utility Program ............................................... 17
9.3 AutoRAE Lite Utility Program User Interface ........................................................................ 19
9.3.1 Menu Bar ........................................................................................................................ 20
9.3.2 Toolbar ........................................................................................................................... 21
9.4 Using The AutoRAE Lite Utility Program In User Mode ....................................................... 21
9.4.1 Without A ToxiRAE 3 In The Dock ............................................................................... 21
9.4.2 With A ToxiRAE 3 In The Dock .................................................................................... 23
9.4.3 Getting Events Data From A ToxiRAE 3 ....................................................................... 25
9.5 Saving Configuration Files ...................................................................................................... 28
9.5.1 Saving A ToxiRAE 3 Configuration ............................................................................... 28
9.6 Using The AutoRAE Lite Utility Program In Administrator Mode ....................................... 29
9.6.1 Entering Administrator Mode ......................................................................................... 29
9.6.2 AutoRAE Lite Screen ..................................................................................................... 31
9.6.3 ToxiRAE 3 Screen .......................................................................................................... 32
9.6.4 ToxiRAE 3 Sensor Screen .............................................................................................. 34
9.6.5 Configuring Multiple ToxiRAE 3 Monitors ................................................................... 35
9.7 Using Saved Configuration Files ............................................................................................. 36
10 Updating The AutoRAE Lite Firmware ...................................................................................... 38
11 Formatting An SD Card................................................................................................................ 41
11.1 Checking Whether An SD Card Needs Formatting ............................................................ 41
11.2 Formatting An SD Card ...................................................................................................... 42
12 Maintenance ................................................................................................................................... 46
13 Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................................. 47
14 Support ........................................................................................................................................... 48
15 RAE Systems Contacts .................................................................................................................. 49
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
WARNINGS
Read Before Operating
This manual must be carefully read by all individuals who have or will have the responsibility of
using, maintaining, or servicing this product. The product will perform as designed only if it is used,
maintained, and serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Proper Product Disposal At End Of Life
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive (2002/96/EC) is
intended to promote recycling of electrical and electronic equipment and their
components at end of life. This symbol (crossed-out wheeled bin) indicates separate
collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment in the EU countries. This product
may contain one or more Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), Lithium-ion, or Alkaline
batteries. Specific battery information is given in this user guide. Batteries must be
recycled or disposed of properly.
At the end of its life, this product must undergo separate collection and recycling from general or
household waste. Please use the return and collection system available in your country for the disposal
of this product.
Make Sure Firmware Is Up To Date
For best operation, make sure your monitors and AutoRAE Lite are running the latest firmware.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
Calibration
gas gauge
Instrument dock
Status LEDs
Bump and calibration
activation buttons and
function indicator LEDs
Gas cylinder dock
SD Card port
SD Card port cover
USB port
Air inlet
1 Overview
The AutoRAE Lite is an automated bump testing/calibration station designed for performing bump
tests and calibration of ToxiRAE 3 monitors. It can be used on a tabletop (or other flat surface) or
mounted on a wall. Wall-mounting instructions are included in this guide. In addition, it can be
powered by either an AC adapter or four alkaline C-cell batteries.
Front View (gas cylinder removed)
Bottom View, showing ports
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
Standard Kit
The AutoRAE Lite is shipped with the following:
AutoRAE Lite, as specified, P/N T01-0901-000
USB cable for PC connection, P/N 410-0086-000
12-volt power supply, P/N 500-0036-100
Demand-flow regulator, P/N 490-0053-000
SDHC memory card, P/N 550-0301-000
Quick Start Guide, P/N T01-0901-000D
Inlet filter, P/N 002-3022-000*
CD-ROM, P/N 000-0T01-000. This disc includes:
Operation Manual
Drivers
Utility Software
* Replacement filters are sold in packages of 5, P/N 002-3022-005.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
2 Mounting The AutoRAE Lite On A Wall
The AutoRAE Lite can be used on a flat surface, or it can be mounted on a wall. This requires drilling
four holes into the wall and inserting screws to hold the AutoRAE Lite.
Important! Make sure the wall is strong enough to support the weight of the AutoRAE Lite and a
cylinder of calibration gas. If necessary, mount a piece of plywood or use other reinforcement for the
wall.
Note: This diagram is not a full-scale template. It is only intended to provide measurements for
drilling and clearances.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
Remove door
Push up on tab
Pull up
on door
Place 4 C-size
batteries inside.
1
2
3
4
3 Powering The AutoRAE Lite
The AutoRAE Lite can be powered by its AC adapter or by four C-size alkaline batteries.
3.1 AC Adapter Power
The jack for the AC adapter connection is in the recess on the underside of the AutoRAE Lite.
Caution: Never use the AutoRAE Lite or its AC adapter in wet or damp environments. Do not use
outdoors in unprotected locations.
3.2 Battery Power
You may use four C-size batteries instead of the AC adapter. Always use high-quality alkaline
batteries.
The battery compartment is located on the end of the AutoRAE Lite. Open and remove the door by
pulling up on the latch and lifting. When inserting the batteries, be sure to follow the polarity
markings indicated in the compartment. After all four batteries are installed, replace the cover.
Important! Rechargeable batteries can be used instead of alkaline batteries, but they cannot be
recharged by the AutoRAE Lite. They must be recharged in an external charger.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
Insert calibration
gas cylinder
Screw-tighten
cylinder in place
Cylinder in place
1
2
4 Connecting Calibration Gas
Installing a cylinder of calibration gas is a simple operation. Place the cylinder in the gas cylinder
dock and then turn it clockwise until it is snug.
Once the cylinder is attached, the gauge should immediately give a reading. The reading should be
equal to or greater than 50 psi (approximately 345 kPa or 3.45 bar). If the reading is lower, then the
tank may not have sufficient contents. When it is empty, or calibration cannot be performed due to low
pressure, it should be replaced..
Note: The AutoRAE Lite is designed to accommodate a 58L cylinder of calibration gas. It can also
accommodate a 34L cylinder, but an adapter sleeve is recommended in order to keep the cylinder
securely docked in the AutoRAE Lite.
5 Air Filter
In order to ensure that fresh air is uncontaminated by dust or other materials, use a filter on the
AutoRAE Lite’s fresh air inlet. The inlet is located on the bottom of the AutoRAE Lite, to the left of
the USB and SD card ports. The filter’s part number is 002-3022-000 (sold in packs of 5, part number
002-3022-005 with 5 metal connectors). Inspect the filter periodically and replace it as necessary.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
SD port cover closed.
SD port cover opened.
Inserting SD card into slot.
Service Req.
LED glows red
Bump and Cal.
LEDs go dark
Press SD
card into
slot until
it clicks
6 SD Memory Card
The AutoRAE Lite electronically stores records of all bump tests and calibrations on an SD memory
card (RAE Systems part number 550-0301-000).
IMPORTANT!
The SD card that comes with the AutoRAE Lite is pre-formatted and ready for use. If you purchase
additional SD cards or SDHC cards from other sources, they may need to be formatted before they can
be used in the AutoRAE Lite. Refer to Formatting An SD Card on page 41 for details.
Note: The SD card inside AutoRAE Lite can only be used for AutoRAE Lite recording. Do not save
other files to the SD card.
Transferring records from the SD card to a PC on a regular basis is recommended. This enhances data
security and speeds the data-transfer process.
IMPORTANT!
The AutoRAE Lite cannot perform a bump test or calibration without an SD card in its slot.
Inserting an SD card. Press the SD card into the slot with the angled notch on the right. Press until it
locks into place, making a “click” sound.
Removing an SD card. Press the SD card and release it. It will make a click and push part of the way
out of the slot.
When an SD card is in the slot, the Service Request LED is off. When the ToxiRAE 3 is placed in the
AutoRAE Lite, the Bump and Cal. LEDs glow green. If no SD card is in the slot, the AutoRAE Lite’s
Service Request LED glows red.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
Unlocked SD Card
Locked SD Card
Lock
Tab
Lock
Tab
Lock
Tab
If the SD card is locked, the Service Request LED glows orange and blinks. The AutoRAE Lite cannot
write data to a locked SD card. Remove the SD card and unlock it by moving the lock tab; then
reinsert the SD card.
If remaining space for data on the SD card is very low, the “Service Request” LED glows orange and
blinks or glows red continuously. Replace the SD card with another with more space on it, or offload
the data to a computer. Then erase the data from the card, using your computer, and reinsert the SD
card back into the AutoRAE Lite.
IMPORTANT!
Keep SD port cover closed whenever an SD card is not being inserted or removed. This helps to keep
the reading mechanism and the SD card clean, especially in dusty environments.
Keep SD cards and the lower portion of the AutoRAE Lite away from magnets. Magnets can corrupt
the data on an SD card.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
7 Bump Testing & Calibration
Before using the AutoRAE Lite, do the following checkout:
• Make sure the calibration gas cylinder is attached and that the pressure gauge reads >50 psi.
• Make sure the power LED is glowing green.
• Make sure the air inlet is not blocked, and that a filter is attached.
1. Turn on the ToxiRAE 3: Press and hold its [MODE] button.
2. After the ToxiRAE 3 has started and displays a reading, press the [Y/+] button until its display
shows “Ir.”
3. Firmly press the ToxiRAE 3 face-down in the dock on the AutoRAE Lite.
The two LEDs above the buttons should glow green. If not make sure the ToxiRAE 3 is firmly
seated.
4. Press “Bump” to perform a bump test, or press “Cal.” to perform a calibration.
Note: During a bump test or calibration, the LED above the button turns off and the Bump status or
Cal. status LED blinks and is orange.
You will be alerted when the bump test or calibration is complete. When the two indicator LEDs
above the buttons glow green, remove the ToxiRAE 3 from the dock.
Pass: A green LED indicates the bump test or calibration was successful.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
LED
Red
Green
Solid
Orange
Blinking Orange
Power
Battery low, no external
power
External
power or
battery OK
N/A
N/A
Bump
Fail
Pass
N/A
Processing
Cal.
Fail
Pass
N/A
Processing
Service
Request
No SD card, or
communication failure, or
SD card space is very low
N/A
N/A
SD card is locked or needs
to be formatted, or SD
card space is very low
Fail: A red LED indicates the bump test or calibration failed.
If a bump test or calibration fails, check the calibration gas pressure and try again. If it fails again, it is
possible the sensor is depleted and must be replaced.
7.1 Status LED Explanation
Whenever a bump test or calibration is performed, the buzzer and LEDs on the ToxiRAE 3 are tested.
If the instrument passes the tests for the buzzer and LEDs, then there is no special indication.
However, if either the buzzer or LEDs test fails, the Bump LED glows green and the Service LED
glows red.
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8 Transferring Data
Pry up the corner of
the protective cover
and open it.
Press the
card and
release it.
After the card ejects,
pull it out of the slot.
Place the SD
card into an
adapter and
plug it into the
USB port of a
computer.
1
2
3
4
Bump test and calibration data is collected each time a ToxiRAE 3 is bump tested or calibrated. The
AutoRAE Lite collects this data and event data and stores it on an SD Card, providing a convenient
means of storage and easy data transfer.
8.1 Transferring Data From The SD Card To A Computer
The data stored on the SD card in the AutoRAE Lite is in standard ASCII text format, making it easy
to import into most spreadsheet and word-processing programs. In addition, it is in CSV (commaseparated value) form, so that it can be easily put into existing spreadsheets (such as Microsoft
Excel®) or into columns in word-processing programs.
Important! In order for AutoRAE Lite to work correctly, it is recommended that you clear the SD
card’s (30 days maximum).
Some computers and external hard drives have ports that accept SD cards directly. For computers that
do not have an SD port, inexpensive converters designed to accept an SD card and plug into a USB
input are widely available (at electronics stores, camera stores, etc.).
Follow this procedure for removing the SD card from the AutoRAE Lite and connecting it to a
compute for data transfer:
WARNING!
Do not remove the SD card from the AutoRAE Lite during a bump test or calibration. After the two
LEDs above the buttons glow green, it is safe to remove the SD card.
AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
Once the SD card is in the adapter and connected to the computer, it should show up as an external
device or a drive.
1. Double-click the Computer icon on your desktop.
When it opens, you should see a list of drives, including your C:, where most programs reside, and the
external device holding the SD card.
2. Double-click on the name of the device to open its directory.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
3. You now see three folders containing files created each time the AutoRAE Lite was turned off or
the SD card was inserted.
4. Create a new folder on your desktop or elsewhere on your computer.
5. Drag the file(s) from the SD card into the folder on your computer:
6. Open the folder to make sure the files have transferred correctly.
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AutoRAE Lite User’s Guide
Inside each folder is a file with an 8-character name that starts with the letter of the type of file (bump
test, calibration data, or events). The first two digits indicate the year, the second two digits indicate
the month, and the ending of “_V1” is a reserved tag. For example, an events file appears like this:
E0802_V1
This indicates that it is an event log from the year 2008, and the month February.
Note: Once the files are transferred from the SD card to your computer, you may change the name of
the file to suit your needs. For instance, you may want to append the date and/or time to the name (for
example, “E0802_V1_February12_08:15,” to indicate that it was offloaded on February 12 at
8:15AM).
8.2 After Transferring Data From The SD Card
Once you have transferred the files from the SD card to your computer, you can open them in a
spreadsheet program (such as Microsoft Excel) or in a word-processing program (such as Microsoft
Word). You should open them as soon as possible to make sure that all of the data transferred properly
and was not corrupted.
You can place the SD card back into the AutoRAE Lite and resume collecting data from bump tests
and calibrations. New files will not overwrite old ones.
If the SD card is full, or you want to retain it as a physical archive for future reference or backup, you
can replace it with any SD card. Typically, 1GB is a good minimum size. When keeping an SD card
for longterm storage, it is a good idea to lock the card (move the tab on the left side of the card to the
“locked” position). This ensures that if it is put into a computer or AutoRAE Lite, data cannot be
written to it.
Another option is to erase the SD card. To erase the data, follow these steps:
1. Make sure the locking tab on the SD card is in the “unlocked” position.
2. Insert it into the computer or the adapter (and plug that into the computer).
3. Once the SD card is in the adapter and connected to the computer, it should show up as an
external device or a drive.
4. Double-click the Computer icon on your desktop.
5. When it opens, you should see a list of drives, including your C: and the SD card (shown as a
device).
6. Double-click on the name of the device to open its directory. You now see a list containing files.
7. Select and drag all the files to the trash. Alternatively, you can select the files, right-click with
your mouse, and select Delete.
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