Sper Scientific 300038 User Manual

PROGRAMMABLE REFRACTOMETER

300037

SOFTWARE INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Table of Contents

Page

COMPUTER INTERFACE

RS232 Cable Connection

Software Installation

Serial Port Configuration

OPERATING YOUR REFRACTOMETER
VIA THE SOFTWARE

Set Test Parameters

Calibration

Measurement Procedure

CUSTOM SCALES

Create Your Key-Values

Enter Your Key-Values into the Software

Load and manage Custom Scales

Search within a Custom Scale

Print a Custom Scale Graph

Transfer Custom Scales to Your Refractometer …………………………………... 17

…………………………………... 3

…………………………………... 3

…………………………………... 3

…………………………………... 5

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…………………………………... 6

…………………………………... 8

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Measure with a Custom Scale

Modify Custom Scales

…………………………………... 17

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COMPUTER INTERFACE

This section will guide you through the process of connecting Programmable Refractometer 300037 to your PC.

RS232 Cable Connection

CAUTION – DO NOT CONNECT OR DISCONNECT THE RS232 CABLE WHILE THE REFRACTOMETER IS ON!

1. Turn your Refractometer off.

2. Connect the male-end of the provided RS232 cable to the refractometer and the female-end to your PC’s
serial port.

3. For continuous use, connect the AC power adapter to the refractometer (or use the internal 9V battery for
portability).

Software Installation

4. Please review this documentation before starting the software installation and configuration.

5. Insert the 300037 software CD into your PC’s CD-ROM drive. The software should auto-run. If it does
not please navigate to “My Computer” and open your CD ROM drive then double-click on the
SETUP.EXE file.

6. Press the yellow ON/OFF button to turn on the refractometer. The refractometer will momentarily display
“PC,” before reverting to the standard display. Please note that the refractometer’s keypad is now
disabled and remains so while connected to the software.

7. Locate and double-click on the Refractometer icon on your desktop to start the software application.

Serial Port Configuration

8. Browse to the Setting menu and click on Serial Port Setting OR click on the Serial Port Setting icon
located on the Toolbar.

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9. The software will automatically attempt to detect the available Serial (COM) Ports on your PC.
The default Baud Rate, Data bit, Parity Check and Stop bit are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

10. Click  to select the appropriate Serial Port (COM 1-8). If you are not sure which serial (COM) port to
use consult either the Microsoft Window’s Device Manager or your system administrator.

11. Next check that the software can obtain a measurement from the refractometer using the serial (COM)
port you selected.

12. Place any test solution on the refractometer prism and close the black cover.

13. Browse to the Function menu and click on Measurement OR click on the Measurement icon
located on the Toolbar.

At this point you should see a Value and Temperature displayed in the Refractometer software application.
(See Figure 4)

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OPERATING YOUR REFRACTOMETER VIA THE SOFTWARE

The following section with explain how you may use the software in place of the Refractometer’s keypad to
calibrate and operate with your Refractometer. If you have not already done so, you need to select several
parameter settings prior to operating your Refractometer.

Set Test Parameters

1. Browse to the Setting menu and click on the Parameter Setting OR click on the Parameter Setting icon

located on the Toolbar.

2. Chose to enable or disable Automatic Temperature Compensation, Fahrenheit or Celsius Temperature
readings, high and low alarms and Record data. Figure 2 shows the default settings.

Figure 2

3. If you have enabled a high or low alarm limit, enter the values in the space provided. When your alarm limit is
exceeded the appropriate indicator on your computer will flash red and yellow:

Calibration

Check calibration status by clicking the Zero Status

The display will indicate either Zero Point Deviation or Zero Point Normal as shown below.

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icon.

If calibration is required:

4. Gently clean the prism with a soft cloth.

5. The refractometer is designed to be calibrated against pure distilled water. Place a few drops on the prism
(enough to cover it) and close the black cover.

6. Browse to the Function menu and click on Zero Calibration OR click on the Zero Calibration icon
located on the Toolbar.

The status bar will indicate when calibration is complete:

Measurement Procedure

Your refractometer software setup is now complete. The unit is configured and calibrated. You are now ready to
take measurements.

7. Place the solution to be measured onto the refractometer prism (see Figure 3) and close the prism cover.
(Outside light can affect measurement)

Figure 3

8. Browse to the Function menu and click on Measurement OR click on the Measurement icon located
on the Toolbar.

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Figure 4 shows a typical display reading.

Figure 4

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CUSTOMS SCALES

Your Programmable Refractometer comes preloaded with the commonly used Brix and nD (refractive index) scales. In
addition you may purchase many application-specific scales from your Sper Scientific Ltd. dealer or create your own
custom scales. An unlimited number of scales can be stored in the software’s database. Transfer these from your
computer to the three numbered display positions on Programmable Refractometer using the using the built-in RS232
computer interface. Once a scale is loaded onto your refractometer you will be able to conduct measurements in it,
independent of a computer. Scales can be loaded and unloaded from your database to your refractometer at any time.

Figure 5

Create Your Key-Values

Before creating your custom scale, you need to gather refractive index data for key-values. Generally, all custom scales start
with a refractive index value of 1.3330 nD (refractive index) for the zero point. The nD at other points varies depending on
the solution you wish to measure. Many refractive index charts are available for known concentrations of pure substances
dissolved in water. Refer to the relative literature for the arithmetic used to convert these nD values to values for your
solution. If you are unable to locate a chart for the solution you wish to measure you can create one by preparing solutions
of known concentrations to acquire the nD of the zero point, mid-range, and maximum point. These three points are
essential when generating a custom scale. Although only three key-values are necessary, you may use up to 21 key­values to define your custom scale. The more key-values entered, the greater the precision of your Custom Scale. We
recommended entering values that are proportionally divided. Figure 6 illustrates sample key-values for a scale of 0-26%
sodium chloride by weight.

Refractive Index Value (nD) of NaCl (% by weight)

0% = 1.3330
5 % = 1.3418
10% = 1.3505
15% = 1.3594
20% = 1.3684
26% = 1.3795

Figure 6

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There are several available dimensions (units of measure) used for taking Refractometer measurements, depending on
the application and type of substance being measured. A common unit of measure is percentage (%) by weight. Use a
high resolution digital balance to produce solutions at various concentrations and equate them to the percentage of
dissolved solids by weight. For example:

1ml of H2O is weights approximately 1g. A solution of 9g of water and 1g dry solids produces a 10%
concentration. Pure distilled water (0% dissolved solids) is 1.3330nD. A 10% solution (NaCl) is 1.3505nD.

After creating your concentrations, measure them with the nD scale, and collecting the results, the next step is to enter these
key-values into the software.

Enter Your Key-Values into the Software

1. Click on the Custom Scale icon on the Toolbar.

Note: To open Custom Scale, the Refractometer must be connected to the computer and turned on. If errors
occur, verify the serial port settings (see: Serial Port Configuration above)

2. The Custom Scale screen is divided into a functions and chart section.

Figure 7

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Figure 8 shows the function side of the Custom Scale screen with an explanation of each function under the Parameter
tab.

Scale Name: Choose the name you wish to appear in both the
“Custom Scale Database” and “Switch Scale” lists.

Select Dimensions (Unit of Measure): You may choose either
% (Percentage) or ° (Degrees) symbol and under Select

Dimension type in the name of the solution as you wish it to
appear on your measurement results screen (see figure 4
above) i.e. Sodium Chloride. Under Scale Name type in the
name of your solution as you wish it to appear in your scale
database, i.e. NaCl.

Scale Range Min: The minimum nD value of your custom scale
range. In the case of our example from Figure 1, 1.3330

Scale Range Max: The maximum nD value for your custom
scale range. In this example, 1.5318

Scale Value Min: The minimum numeric user value for your
custom scale range. In this example 0.

Scale Value Max: The maximum numeric user value for your
custom scale range.

Decimal Place: Choose the resolution that your custom scale
computes and displays.

Display Position: Specify Custom Scale 1, 2 or 3 display
positions on your refractometer

Figure 8

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You will use the following concentration table to practice creating a custom sodium chloride (NaCl) scale.

NaCl

% by weight nD

0% 1.3330

5% 1.3418

10% 1.3505

15% 1.3594

20% 1.3684

26% 1.3795

3. Type in the following information in the Parameter section for the sample Custom Scale using the values from the
above table.

Figure 9

4. Click the Next button to continue to the Input Data section.

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5. Enter the nD (refractive index) values and user values (in this case %) from our sample table above.

Figure 10

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6. Click on the OK button and the software will plot the curve for your custom scale. Once the software after the software
has computed the curve you should see the following graph:

Figure 11

7. Click on the Save button to add the scale to your Custom Scale Database.

Now that you have created and saved a new custom scale to your database you can measure a solution with it via your
computer, transfer it to your Refractometer, export it to a backup file, search on it for specific points or print out the graph.

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Loading and Managing Custom Scales

The top section of the 'Parameter' tab provides buttons for loading, deleting, importing, and exporting your Custom Scale
Database. The drop down menu lists the names of custom scales in your database. These will include all scales
purchased and downloaded from a Sper Scientific Custom Scale Software 300038 disk, as well as those you created
using this software. For purchased scales: Enter the serial number provided with your Custom Scales 300038 (see Figure

13). Serial numbers are not necessary for custom scales you have created.

Figure 13

Figure 12

Select a scale from the list and click Load (see Figure 14) to view the scale’s parameters, or Delete to remove it from
your database. Export enables you to send a copy of your custom scales to a backup file you can create on your
computers hard drive. Import enables you to import the custom scales back from your computer’s hard drive to
Programmable Refractometer 300037 software, (should you, for example, need to reinstall the software on another
computer). Import also enables you to bring new scales purchased on a Custom Scale 300038 disk into the software.

Figure 14

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The Scales box (see Figure 15) contains a list of custom scales in your database. The box on the right box lists the scales
you have selected for Import or Export. Use the [>>] and [<<] buttons to transfer scales between the two boxes.

Figure 15

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Search within a Custom Scale

The Search tab (Figure 16) provides a tool for searching your custom scale for the equivalent User Value for a particular
Refractive Index value of your solution. Enter an nD value (within the range of your custom scale) and the results will appear in
the table on the left. All Search points are noted on the chart. To remove a search point from the data table, click on the Delete
button.

Figure 16

Print a Custom Scale Graph

Configure your custom scale chart’s orientation, margins, resolution and rendering, then click on Print

Figure 17

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Transfer Custom Scales to Your Refractometer

Click on the Transfer button to load your custom scale to your Refractometer. A status indicator will show the progress as the
software transfers the Custom Scale.

Figure 18

Measure with a Custom Scale

Close the Custom Scale window, click on the X in the upper right corner.

Browse to the Function menu and click on Switch Scale.

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Once the Switch Scale dialog box appears, select NaCl and click on OK. (See Figure 19)

Figure 19

Now that you have switched to the new Custom Scale, you can measure your test solution of 10% NaCl (by weight) by
using the “MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE” (see Page 6) or measure directly on your Programmable Refractometer.

Figure 20

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Modify Custom Scales

To Modify or to Delete custom scale data from the Refractometer, Browse to File menu and click on Scale Data.

Use the [◄] and [►] buttons (see Figure 21) to cycle through all scales including 'Custom Scale' display positions: 1, 2 or 3.
The status indicator displays the progress of the Delete operation. Note: Only custom scales can be modified or deleted.
Brix and nD scale data is permanent.

Figure 21

CAUTION: Do not turn off the Refractometer while transferring or deleting a Custom Scales.

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