Spectrum Field Scout EC 450 Product Manual

EC 450 Meter

Data Logger

PRODUCT MANUAL

Item # 2220WP

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CONTENTS

This manual will familiarize you with the features and operation
of your new data logging EC 450 meter. Please read this manual

thoroughly before using your instrument. For customer support,

or to place an order, call Spectrum Technologies, Inc.

[phone] or [phone]

between 7:30 am and 5:30 p.m. CST,

FAX [phone],

e-mail: specmeters.com.

www.specmeters.com

Spectrum Technologies, Inc

3600 Thayer Court

Aurora, IL 60504

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 12

Specifications 13

Service and Support 14

Warranty 15

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General Overview

Thank you for purchasing the data logging EC 450
meter from Spectrum Technologies, Inc. This us­er’s guide deals with the features that are unique
to the data logging EC 450 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 EC 450 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 GPS-

COMPATIBLE DATALOGGER AND MAINTAIN-

ING THE EC PROBE. INFORMATION REGARD­ING THE METER’S GENERAL OPERATION,
CALIBRATION PROCEDURE, AND DESCRIP­TIONS OF ERROR MESSAGES ARE DETAILED
IN THE ACCOMPANYING MANUAL.

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The data logger has two modes of operation: Com­munication and Measurement. These modes are

indicated by the PRINT button at the
bottom of the keypad. When the but­ton is flashing, the meter is in Com-
munication mode. When the button
glows steadily, the meter is in Meas-

urement 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 PRINT button 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 Communication mode indefinitely. The meter

must be turned off and then on to change to Meas-
urement mode (see following section).

Measurement Mode

Approximately 10 seconds after turning on the meter,
the PRINT button 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 Measure-
ment mode after turning the meter back on.

Data Logger Operation

PRINT button

5

Calibration

The procedure for calibrating the meter is given in
the accompanying meter instruction manual.

Taking and Data Logging Measurements

Note: Spectrum Technologies installs a GPS-

compatible data logger that is distinct from the data

logger built into the meter. The latter uses the SAVE
button to store values. These values are also re­tained within the meter but cannot be downloaded
with FieldScout software. The GPS-compatible log­ger is operated as follows:

When the probe is inserted in soil or water, the me­ter’s LCD will immediately begin indicating the EC.
When this value stabilizes, the meter

locks on to that value and the LCD

will display READY in the lower left
portion of the screen. To capture this
value with the data logger, press the

ENTER/HOLD button followed by the
PRINT button. The PRINT button is

the illuminated button at the very bot­tom of the keypad.

The PRINT button also indicates whether the data

logger is receiving the GPS signal. See GPS Con-

nection (p. 10) for more details.