Vernier Go Direct, GDX-MLT User Manual
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6. Click or tap Done to enter datacollection mode.
Connecting the Sensor
See the following link for up-to-date connection information:
www.vernier.com/start/gdx-mlt
Using the Product
Connect the sensor following the steps in the Getting Started section of this user
manual.
1. Load a small portion of a solid substance into a capillary tube.
2. Carefully place the capillary tube of solid into one of the three slots in the
aluminum heating block of the Melt Station. You can tilt the Melt Station
toward you slightly for a better look at the heating block.
3. Tilt the Melt Station up or down slightly to get the best view of the solid
sample through the viewing lens.
4. Click Collect to begin data collection. On the Melt Station, turn the control
knob to the Rapid Heat area. The red LED will come on, indicating the Melt
Station is heating. Rapid Heat will warm your solid sample at a rate of
>10°C/min.
5. Observe the temperature vs. time graph. When the temperature is within
about 10°C of the expected melting temperature of your solid sample, turn
the control knob to that temperature, slowing the heating rate to ~1.5°C/min.
6. Carefully observe your sample. At the first indication of the solid melting,
note and record the temperature. When the entire solid has melted, note and
record the temperature. The examine line can be used to help mark these
spots while monitoring the substance melting. Text can be added using the
Text Annotation feature in Graphical Analysis.
7. Stop data collection. The run is automatically stored. On the Melt Station,
turn the control knob to the Fan/Cooling setting. The blue LED will come
on, indicating that the Melt Station is cooling.
8. Prepare a second solid sample to test. Observe the temperature of the heating
block in the meter. After the heating block cools to a suitably low
temperature, you can begin heating the Melt Station again.
Care and Maintenance
Cleaning Outside Surfaces
Clean the outside metal surfaces of the Melt Station with a cloth dampened with
a mild detergent solution. Do not use organic solvents to clean the Melt Station.
Removing Broken Capillary Tubes
Follow the steps below to remove a broken capillary tube from the Melt Station.
Caution: Do not handle a broken capillary tube with your fingers. Wear safety
glasses or safety goggles.
Go Direct®Melt Station
(Order Code GDX-MLT)
The Go Direct Melt Station is a sensor used to measure the
melting temperature of solid substances.
Note: Vernier products are designed for educational use. Our
products are not designed nor are they recommended for any
industrial, medical, or commercial process such as life support,
patient diagnosis, control of a manufacturing process, or
industrial testing of any kind.
What's Included
l Go Direct Melt Station
l Package of 100 capillary tubes, each with a closed end
l ACpower supply
l Micro USBCable
Compatible Software
See www.vernier.com/manuals/gd x-mlt for a list of software compatible with the
Go Direct Melt Station.
Getting Started
Please see the following link for platform-specific connection information:
www.vernier.com/start/gdx-mlt
Bluetooth C onnection USB Connection
1. Install Graphical Analysis 4 on
your computer, Chromebook™, or
mobile device. See
www.vernier.com/ga4 for software
availability.
2. Turn on your sensor by plugging
in the AC power and turn the
temperature knob to the cooling
fan. The Bluetooth®LED will
blink red.
3. Launch Graphical Analysis 4.
4. Click or tap Sensor Data
Collection.
5. Click or tap your Go Direct sensor
from the list of Discovered
Wireless Devices. Your sensor's ID
is located near the barcode on the
sensor. The Bluetooth LED will
blink green when it is successfully
connected.
1. Install Graphical Analysis 4 on your
computer or Chromebook. If using
LabQuest 2, make sure LabQuest
App is up to date. See
www.vernier.com/ga4 for software
availability or
www.vernier.com/downloads to
update LabQuest App.
2. Plug the sensor into AC power and
turn the temperature knob to the
cooling fan.
3. Connect the sensor to the USB port.
4. Launch Graphical Analysis 4 or turn
on LabQuest 2. You are now ready
to collect data.
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l Check the temperature of the heating block before inserting a capillary tube
of solid sample.
l The heating block can remain hot for a short period of time after use, even
when off.
l Use the Melt Station in a well-ventilated room.
l The Melt Station is not designed for liquids or wet environments.
l The Melt Station is not designed or intended for use with samples that could
explode or ignite by heat, friction, or spark.
l While some routine maintenance can be performed on the Melt Station,
these tasks should be performed only by qualified personnel.
l Do not use the Melt Station if any malfunction is suspected.
l Do not modify or install additional parts to the Melt Station.
l Unplug the Melt Station before storing.
Safety Automatic Shut Off
An important safety feature of the Melt Station is the Automatic Shut Off. After
you turn the control knob to heating, an internal timer starts a 60-minute
countdown. After 60 minutes have elapsed, the Melt Station will automatically
turn off the heating element and the yellow LED will come on. To reset the
Melt Station, simply turn the control knob to the cooling position or the Off
position.
Specifications
Dimensions Base–13 cm × 15 cm × 1.5 cm, Body–9 cm × 9 cm ×
24 cm
Melt Station weight 1.0 kg (2.2 lbs.)
Melt Station + AC adapter weight: 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs.)
Range Ambient to 260°C
Temperature sensor Class A, Platinum Resistance Temperature Detector
(RTD)
Resolution 0.10°C
Accuracy ±0.31 + 0.0006T, where T is the temperature in
Celsius
Typical ±0.4°C (<200°C); ± 0.5 deg C (>200°C)
Calibration Factory calibrated
Power 24VDC to unit,universal AC adapter 100–
240 VAC 50–60 Hz input
Power consumption 40W max., < 0.5A @ 110V
Safety shut down Heating block is automatically powered down after
approximately sixty minutes of heating
1. Turn off the Melt Station and allow it to cool to room temperature. Unplug
the power cord from the device.
2. Place the Melt Station unit on its back side so the capillary tube slots are as
close to horizontal as possible. This will make it easier to safely remove the
glass shards.
3. Remove the two threaded screws holding the lens panel in place. Set the
screws and the viewing lens aside.
4. Use a 3/32 inch hex key to remove the two screws holding the metal spring
fingers in place. Set the screws and spring fingers aside. Use the same hex
key to loosen the screw holding the glass window in place. Slide the glass
window up to remove it, and set it aside. Caution: The edges of the glass
may be sharp.
5. Use an appropriate tool to carefully remove the broken capillary tube from
its slot and deposit it in a glass waste container. If the capillary tube is loose
in the slot, you can very carefully tip the Melt Station over to slide the tube
into a waste container.
6. Replace the glass window, metal fingers, and viewing lens. Carefully tighten
the screws to be snug rather than extremely tight. Remember that you may
want to remove these pieces again in the future.
Safety
The Melt Station is designed for use in an academic laboratory. Its intended
purpose is to determine the melting temperature of a solid substance in the
temperature range between ambient and 260°C. The safety guidelines listed
below must be followed strictly during the operation of this device. Failure to
comply with these guidelines violates the standards of safety set forth in this
document and the standards expected as good laboratory practice.
l Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses when using the Melt Station.
l Do not use the Melt Station for any purpose other than its intended use,
which is to measure the melting point of a solid substance.
l Use the Melt Station under the supervision of a qualified chemistry
instructor.
l Place the Melt Station on a clean, level surface.
l Make sure the Melt Station is a safe distance from solvents, containers of
liquid or gaseous substances, and sources of water.
l Do not use the Melt Station with flammable liquids or gases.
l Do not allow the device to become wet. If it does, disconnect power to the
device immediately and allow it to thoroughly dry.
l Do not leave the device unattended while heating; monitor temperature at
all times.
l Turn off the Melt Station immediately after all testing is completed.
l Do not alter or remove the protective metal walls that surround the heating
block of the Melt Station.
l The Melt Station is designed to operate in an upright position.
l Do not touch the heating block while it is hot.
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