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 ACpower supply
l Micro USBCable

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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[e-mail] or call 888-837-6437. Support specialists will work with
you to determine if the unit needs to be sent in for repair. At that time, a Return
Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number will be issued and instructions will
be communicated on how to return the unit for repair.

Accessories/Replacements

Item Order Code

Micro USBCable

CB-USB-MICRO

Warranty

Vernier warrants this product to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of five years from the date of shipment to the
customer. This warranty does not cover damage to the product caused by abuse
or improper use. This warranty covers educational institutions only.

Disposal

When disposing of this electronic product, do not treat it as household waste. Its
disposal is subject to regulations that vary by country and region. This item
should be given to an applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical
and electronic equipment. By ensuring that this product is disposed of correctly,
you help prevent potential negative consequences on human health or on the
environment. The recycling of materials will help to conserve natural resources.
For more detailed information about recycling this product, contact your local
city office or your disposal service.

The symbol, shown here, indicates that this product must not be disposed of

in a standard waste container.

Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to compl y with the limi ts for a Clas s B digi tal device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules.
These li mits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful i nterference i n a residential ins tallation. This equipment
generates, uses and c an radiate radio frequency energy and, if not install ed and used i n ac cordance with the ins tructions, may c ause
harmful interference to radio communicati ons. However, there i s no guarantee that i nterference will not oc cur in a particular ins tallation. If
this equipment does cause harmful i nterference to radio or televis ion reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and
on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receivi ng antenna.

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

Connect the equi pment into an outlet on a ci rcuit different from that to which the recei ver is c onnected.

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technici an for hel p.

FCC Caution

This devi ce complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. O peration is s ubject to the following two conditi ons:

(1)thi s device may not c ause harmful interference and

(2)thi s device must accept any interference received, includi ng interference that may c ause undes ired operation

RF Exposure Warning

The equipment compl ies with RF ex posure li mits set forth for an unc ontrolled envi ronment.The antenna(s)us ed for thi s transmitter must
not be co-located or operating in conjuncti on with any other antenna or transmitter. You are cauti oned that changes or modificati ons not
expressly approved by the party responsibl e for c ompliance could void your authority to operate the equipment.

IC Statement

This devi ce complies with Industry Canada lic ense-exempt RSS s tandard(s).Operation is subj ect to the fol lowing two conditi ons:

(1)thi s device may not c ause i nterference, and

Capillary tubes 1.4–1.8 mm outside diameter, 100 mm length

Capillary tube slots 3

Viewing lens 27 mm diameter (functional), 30 mm (actual)

Lighting of capillary
slots

3 white LEDs

Lighting of control dial Red LED (indicates heating mode), blue LED

(indicates cooling mode with cooling fan running),
yellow LED (safety shut off activated)

How the Sensor Works

The Melt Station contains an aluminum heating block. There are three slots for
capillary tubes in the heating block. A capillary tube containing a solid
substance is placed in the heating block and the block is heated by an
embedded element. An RTD-based temperature sensor, also embedded in the
heating block, measures the temperature of the heating block and therefore the
capillary tube of substance. The temperature sensor connects to Vernier data­collection software. The substance to be melted is viewed through a 6X lens.

The temperature control on the Melt Station is divided into three regions.

l The first area, next to the Off position, is for cooling the heating block after

you have completed a melting temperature run. When you turn the control
knob to the cooling position, the fan and the blue LED will come on.

l The second area is divided into specific temperature settings. These

temperatures correspond to the expected melting temperature of the
substance. You will choose one of these settings when the Melt Station has
warmed to within about 10°C of the expected melting temperature of your
solid sample. The warming rate will slow to ~1.5°C/min at each of these
settings.

l The third area is Rapid Heat. In Rapid H eat, the Melt Station will warm at a

rate of >10°C/min.

Calibration

The temperature sensor embedded in the aluminum heating block of the Melt
Station will never need to be calibrated. The sensor is carefully calibrated before
it ships, and this unique calibration is stored on a smart chip in the sensor. Note:
There is no method to perform a calibration of this sensor in any of our software
programs.

Troubleshooting

For troubleshooting and FAQs, see www.vernier.com/til/3852

Repair Information

If you have followed the troubleshooting steps and are still having trouble with
your Go Direct Melt Station, contact Vernier Technical Support at

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(2)thi s device must accept any interference, includi ng interference that may cause undesired operation of the dev ice.

Industry Canada - ClassB This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B l imits for radio noise emissi ons from digital apparatus

as s et out in the i nterference-causing equipment standard entitl ed “Digital Apparatus,” ICES-003 of Industry Canada. O peration is subj ect
to the following two conditi ons: (1)thi s device may not c ause i nterference, and

(2)thi s device must accept any interference, includi ng interference that may cause undesired operation of the dev ice.

To reduce potential radio i nterferenceto other users, the antenna type and its gain should be so c hosen that the equiv alent isotropicall y
radiated power (e.i.r.p.)i s not more than that permitted for s uccess ful communication.

RF exposure warning: The equi pment compli es with RF exposure limits s et forth for an uncontrolled environment. The antenna(s) used

for this transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conj unction with any other antenna or transmitter.

Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d’Industrie Canada applicabl es aux appareils radio exempts de li cence. L’exploi tation es t
autorisée aux deux conditions sui vantes :

(1)l ’appareil ne doit pas produire de brouill age, et

(2)l ’appareil doit ac cepter tout i nterférence radioélectrique, même s i cela résulte à un brouillage suscepti ble d’ en compromettre le
fonctionnement.

Cet appareil numérique respecte les l imites de bruits radioélec triques appli cables aux appareils numériques de Classe B prescrites dans
la norme s ur le matériel i nterférant-brouilleur: “Appareils Numériques,”NMB-003 édic tée par i ndustrie Canada. L’ utilis ation es t s oumise
aux deux condi tions suivantes:

(1)c et appareil ne peut causer d’interférences, et

(2)c et appareil doit accepter toutes interférences, y c omprises c elles sus ceptibles de provoquer un dis fonctionnement du disposi tif.

Afin de réduire les i nterférences radio potentiell es pour les autres util isateurs, le type d’ antenne et s on gain doiv ent être choi sie de tel le
façon que l’équiv alent de puis sance isotrope émis (e.i.r.p) n’est pas plus grand que celui permis pour une c ommunication établie.

Avertissement d’exposition R F: L’équipement es t conforme aux l imites d’expos ition aux RF établies pour un env ironnement non

supervisé. L’antenne (s) uti lis ée pour ce transmetteur ne doit pas être jumel és ou fonctionner en conjonc tion av ec toute autre antenne ou
transmetteur.

Note: This product is a sensiti ve measurement device. For best results, use the cables that were provided. Keep the devi ce away from

electromagnetic noi se s ources, s uch as mi crowaves, monitors, electric motors, and applianc es.

Vernier Software & Technology

13979 SW MillikanWay • Beaverton, OR 97005-2886

Toll Fr ee (888) 837- 6437 • (503) 277- 2299 • F ax ( 503) 277-2440

[e-mail] • www.vernier.com

Rev. 04/ 02/ 18

Go Direct, Graph ical Analys is, LabQuest , and oth er marks shown are ou r t rademarks or regist ered t rademarks i n
the United States . All ot her marks not own ed by us that appear herein are the p roperty of their respective
owners, who may or may not be affiliated wit h, con nected to, o r sp onso red b y u s.

The Bl uetoo th®word mark and logo s are reg ist ered trademarks own ed by th e Bluet oot h SIG, Inc. and any u se o f
such marks b y V ernier Soft ware & T echnol ogy is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are t hos e of
their respectiv e ow ners.