pH 110 Meter
PRODUCT MANUAL
Item # 2120
®
CONTENTS
General Overview 3
Data Logger Operation 4
Identifying the Correct Com Port 6
Connecting to a PC 7
Logger Software 8
GPS Connection 10
Data Files 11
Specifications 12
Service and Support 14
Warranty 15
This manual will familiarize you with the features and operation
of your new data logging pH 110 meter. Please read this
manual thoroughly before using your instrument. For customer
support, or to place an order, call Spectrum Technologies, Inc.
(800)248-8873 or (815) 436-4440
between 7:30 am and 5:30 p.m. CST,
FAX (815)436-4460,
e-mail: specmeters.com.
www.specmeters.com
2
Spectrum Technologies, Inc
3600 Thayer Court
Aurora, IL 60504
General Overview
Thank you for purchasing the data logging pH 110
meter from Spectrum Technologies, Inc. This
user’s guide deals with the features that are
unique to the data logging pH 100 meter. Information on general meter operation is contained in
the accompanying Instruction manual.
The integrated data logger allows the user to easily collect field data with the pH 110 meter. The
logger can be used with or without GPS/DGPS.
After a set of data has been collected, it is
transferred to a PC using the included software.
The data is in ASCII text file format and can be
exported into mapping software or popular
spreadsheet software for analysis.
NOTE: THIS BOOKLET CONTAINS INSTRUCTIONS ON OPERATING THE DATALOGGER
AND MAINTAINING THE pH PROBE. INFORMATION REGARDING THE METER’S GENERAL
OPERATION, CALIBRATION PROCEDURE,
AND DESCRIPTIONS OF ERROR MESSAGES
ARE DETAILED IN THE ACCOMPANYING MANUAL.
3
Data Logger Operation
The data logger has two modes of operation: Communication and Measurement. These modes are
indicated by the green LED in the lower left corner of
the meter. When this light is flashing, the meter is in
Communication mode. When the light glows steadily, the meter is in Measurement mode.
Communication Mode
When the meter is turned on, it will be in Communi-
cation mode for approximately 10 seconds. While in
this mode, the green LED will flash. It is only in this
mode that a user can initiate a logger communication
(download or reconfiguration). If communication between the logger and software is attempted during
this 10-second period, the logger will remain in Com-
munication mode indefinitely. The meter must be
turned off and then on to change to Measurement
mode (see following section).
Measurement Mode
Approximately 10 seconds after turning on the meter,
the LED light will glow steadily. This indicates the
logger is in Measurement mode. In this mode, you
can calibrate the meter and record data. When you
are finished collecting data, the meter must be put
into Communication mode by turning it off and back
on (see previous section). If you are collecting data
from several sites and need to turn off the meter between data collection sessions, wait until the meter
transitions from Communication to Measurement
mode after turning the meter back on.
4
Calibration
The procedure for calibrating the meter is given in
the accompanying meter instruction manual.
Taking and Data Logging Measurements
When the probe is inserted in soil or water, the meter’s LCD will immediately begin indicating the pH.
When this value stabilizes, the meter locks on to that
value and the LCD will display READY in the upper
right corner. To capture this value with
the data logger, press the HOLD/
ENTER button followed by the Print
button. The Print button is on the
lower right corner of the keypad next to
Print button
the Range button.
The LED also indicates whether the data logger is
receiving the GPS signal. See GPS Connection (p.
10) for more details.
5
Identifying the Correct
Com Port
The computer
Communications Port to
which the cable is
connected can be
identified by using a
paper clip.
1. Disconnect the serial
cable from the meter.
2. To bring up the Port
Selection screen, click on the Com Port Button, select
the com port to be tested and click the Port Test button.
Click the Test Port Now button. If the message
“Connection OK” is displayed, another device (such as a
modem) is probably connected to that port. If the
message “No Connection” is displayed, this port may be
the one connected to your serial cable and you can
proceed to the next step.
3. Place a paperclip on the end of the serial pin so that it
touches both the tip of the pin and the metal area
between the two black rings. Again click on the Test
Port Now button. If the message “Connection OK” now
appears, this is the com port connected to your serial
cable.
paper clip
or wire
NOTE: The meter does not short-circuit the serial
pin. Therefore, when the Test Port Now button is
clicked while the meter is connected, the “No
Connection” message will be displayed.
6
Connecting to a PC
The pH 110 Meter software comes with a black PC
interface cable. This cable connects to the USB port
of your computer and to the meter’s computer port.
The port is located at the base of the meter (marked
RS-232). The meter’s configuration can be modified
by clicking on the Meter Settings button (see Meter
Settings, p. 8). The Com Port, Meter Type,
Download, Clear Memory and Meter Settings but-
tons are explained in the Logger Software section
(p. 8).
Note: Prior to 2014, the meter was shipped with a
gray cable that connected to a 9-pin serial port. This
cable will still work but may require a USB-to-serial
adapter.
7
Logger Software
Meter Type
The Field Scout software
supports all of Spectrum
Technologies’ portable
data logging meters. Be
sure to select the pH 100
Meter from the Select
Meter Type screen
Meter Settings
Clicking on this button will bring up the Meter Set-
tings screen. This screen allows you to configure
the data logger. The Meter Name will be the title on
the first line of the downloaded files.
If the box below the logger name field is checked,
the logger will store GPS data only if it has been differentially corrected. If the differential correction is
not found, only the pH
reading will be stored
in the data file. A time
zone correction should
be entered in the last
box. Appendix 1 (p.
12) lists time zone corrections for several cities.
8
Download
After clicking the Download button, a progress bar
will confirm that data is being extracted from the log-
ger. When completed, the Save Data As box will
appear. From here you can give the data file a descriptive name and select a folder in which to save it.
The folder selection field on the right allows you to
browse to any folder in your system.
When the file has been saved, the software will give
you the option of immediately viewing the file. The
data file is stored as a comma-delimited text file and
may be viewed in any text editor or spreadsheet software.
Clear Memory
Data is not automatically removed from the logger
memory after a download. The Clear Memory but-
ton clears all data from the memory.
9
GPS Connection
Cable Connections
A GPS/DGPS cable (item # 2950CV5) is required to
connect the pH110 meter to a GPS unit. This cable
has a 9-pin male connection and a stereo pin that
connects to the meter’s data port. You will also need
a cable that allows the GPS unit to connect to a 9-pin
male serial port. If this cable doesn’t come standard
with your GPS unit, it should be available from the
manufacturer. This cable is generally used to upload
information from a computer to the GPS unit. These
components should be connected as shown in the
figure below.
GPS Setting
Your GPS unit must be set for NMEA 0183 input/
output messages. If the meter has trouble receiving
the GPS signal, check that it has the following settings:
Data bits: 8 Stop bits: 1
Baud rate: 4800 bps Parity: None
Timing: 1 second GGA data string
SPAD
pH110
Meter
Meter
GPS
Unit
Spectrum
GPS/DGPS
Cable
10
GPS computer
interface cable
Initial GPS connect
If the meter does NOT detect an incoming GPS signal,
it will flash steadily for 10 seconds and then glow
steadily once it gets into Measurement mode. If it
does detect the GPS signal (satellites found etc..), it
gives a series of 3 rapid flashes before going to the
steady glow for Measurement mode. If a GPS signal
is not found during power-up, the meter will not search
for it when taking readings and no geo-referenced data
will be collected during that sampling session. If the
meter is turned off and back on, it will again search for
the GPS signal. Be sure the meter is in Measurement
mode (see p. 7) before taking any readings.
Taking measurements
If the meter did NOT detect the GPS initially, once in
Measurement mode, the LED will go off and on very
quickly when a measurement is taken.
If it did detect the GPS signal initially, once in Meas-
urement mode, it will look for the GPS signal at the
time of every measurement. There are two possibilities:
1. If it sees the GPS signal at the time of measurement,
the LED will go off for a noticeably longer time and then
come back on as a steady glow. Latitude and longitude values will be added to the data file. The meter is
again ready to take a reading when the LED returns to
a steady glow.
2. If it does NOT see the GPS signal at the time of
measurement (signal lost, batteries die, cable gets
pulled out), the LED will flash briefly and then come
Tip: If you have your GPS unit set properly and
have checked the connection but still are not getting geo-referenced data, uncheck the box requiring the digital correction in Meter Settings (pp. 8 -
9) .
11
Data Files
Sample data showing results of data collected with and
without GPS activated. Note: GPS signal not found when
recording data in lines 12 through 14.
The data is stored in comma-delimited text files. These
files can be opened with text-editing software (e.g. MicroSoft Word) or spreadsheet software (e.g. Excel).
The first two lines of the data file give the logger’s name
and serial number. The third line indicates that latitude
and longitude are referenced to the 1984 World Geodetic
Survey datum. The fourth line shows the column headings for the rest of the data file.
Logging sessions are started and completed by turning
the meter on and off. The start of a logging session is
indicated by the data line “Logger Started.” If a GPS signal was found at the start of a logger session, a time
stamp is included on the “Logger Started” line.
The data is separated into 6 fields: Latitude and Longitude (blank if a GPS unit was not connected), sample
number, EC value, EC units, and temperature. Possible
measurement units for EC are μS/cm, mS/cm or ppm.
The units of temperature match what has been selected
on the meter.
12
Specifications
Measurement Capacity:
- 4,096 data points without GPS
- 1,488 data points with GPS
Operating Environment:
- Weather Resistant
Power:
- 4 x AAA batteries
- Provides 40 hours of logging
Software Requirements:
- Windows 95 or higher
- Field Scout Software v. 3.4 or higher
(included)
13
Service and Support
In the unlikely event that you have a problem with
the hardware or software, please read the following.
Who do I contact?
Contact the company that you bought the
loggers from: Spectrum Technologies, Inc. or a
Spectrum Authorized Dealer.
Before calling, you can evaluate and often solve your
problem if you try the following.
1. Read this manual. It may only take a few moments
to get the answer you need.
2. Write down the events that led to the problem.
Have you changed anything in your computer
recently? Are you doing anything differently?
When Contacting Spectrum Technologies,
Inc.
Support. Be prepared to:
1. Provide details on the hardware and software
configuration of your computer including:
manufacturer, model number, peripherals, and
versions of the operating system.
2. Completely describe the problem. The more
information you provide, the faster and more
accurately we will be able to respond.
please indicate that you need Technical
14
Warr an t y
This product is warranted to be free from defects in material or
workmanship for one year from the date of purchase. During
the warranty period Spectrum will, at its option, either repair or
replace products that prove to be defective. This warranty does
not cover damage due to improper installation or use, lightning,
negligence, accident, or unauthorized modifications, or to incidental or consequential damages beyond the Spectrum product. Before returning a failed unit, you must obtain a Returned
Materials Authorization (RMA) from Spectrum. Spectrum is not
responsible for any package that is returned without a valid
RMA number or for the loss of the package by any shipping
company.
15
This equipment has been manufactured for
Spectrum Technologies, Inc.
3600 Thayer Court
Aurora, IL 60504 USA
The Manufacturer’s DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY is on file at the above
address, and certifies conformity to the following:
Model Number: 2120
Description: Data Logging pH Meter
Type: Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and
Laboratory Use
Directive: 89/336/EEC
Standards: EN 61326 (1997)
EN 55022
EN 61000-4-2/-3
The meter also contains an add-on data logger that has been installed in other
products that have received CE certification.
Douglas L. Kieffer,
Soil/Water Products Manager March 4, 2009
(800) 248-8873 or (815) 436-4440
E-Mail: info@specmeters.com
16
3600 Thayer Court
Aurora, IL 60504
Fax (815) 436-4460
www.specmeters.com
Rev. 2/14
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