ZAHNER Zennium-X, Zennium-ECW, Zennium, Zennium-E, Zennium-P600 Installation & Getting Started

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Installation

Getting Started

Installation & Getting Started - 2 -

Welcome

Dear Zahner User,

Thank you very much for choosing a Zahner Workstation of the Zennium family. You made your decision for an instrument which is known for its reliability, accuracy and exceptional performance. As Zahner R&D is always in touch with scientists and engineers at universities and industry, our products are practice-oriented and user-friendly.

An electrochemical workstation is a complex instrument with a multitude of methods and functions. Therefore, it is very important to read this manual carefully. Only this way you can be sure to get the most out of your instrument. The Manual gives you an introduction into electrochemistry and into all methods provided by the Thales software. If there are questions open still, you are welcome to contact your Zahner distributor or the Zahner service team with specialists in battery & fuel cell research, photo-electrochemistry, corrosion research, and many other fields of electrochemistry. We are sure to be able to help you with your instrument as well as with your application.

We wish you much success with your new Zahner workstation.

Your Zahner Team

Installation & Getting Started - 3 -

1. General Safety Information ......................................4

2. Unpacking..................................................................7

3. Hardware Installation................................................8

3.1 Switch Mains Voltage and Mains Fuses......................................8

4. Software Installation.................................................9

4.1 ThalesXT Installation ....................................................................9

4.2 Installation of the Calibration Data ............................................13

4.3 Installing USB Driver manually..................................................14

5. Configuring & Starting the ThalesXT Software....15

5.1 ThalesXT Main Menu...................................................................16

6. Classic Mode ...........................................................18

6.1 Menu Structure in Classic Mode................................................20

6.2 Pull-Down Menu ..........................................................................20

6.3 Tooltips & Online Help System ..................................................21

6.4 Scalable Thales Window.............................................................22

6.5 Mouse........................................................................................... 22

6.6 Special Keys ................................................................................23

6.7 Input Boxes..................................................................................23

6.8 Hardcopy......................................................................................24

Installation & Getting Started - 4 -

1. General Safety Information

Before installing the instrument, please read this information carefully for your safety and for the safety of your system. In the following, we refer to the workstations Zennium-X, Zennium-pro, Zennium, Zennium-E and Zennium-P600 as Zennium-ECW (ElectroChemical Workstation). In case only one of these models is addressed, we refer to its name explicitly.

Only authorized personnel is allowed to open Zahner devices! There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Non-insulated parts under voltage inside may cause an electric shock when touched.

Front panels must not be removed while the instrument is connected to mains power. Before removing a front panel, switch off the device and disconnect it from mains. Extension cards are

installed to the extension slots to the right-hand side to the Signal Processor module. Do not install extension cards to the left of the Signal Processor module.

Signal Processor Module Expansion Card Slots

Please strictly follow all instructions written on the Zennium-ECW case, on tags attached to the case and in the manuals for your own safety and for the safety of your system. Especially, strictly observe the following:

! Connect the Zennium-ECW only to the mains voltage shown on the mains plug/fuse

holder on the backside of the instrument cabinet!

! If the system is not used for a longer time, the mains should be disconnected!

! The system must be protected from water, any liquid and humidity above 65%!

! Do not operate the instrument at environmental temperature higher than 40°

! Never place the system close to a heat source!

! Always place the system in a position which allows sufficient ventilation through all

ventilation openings. Never place the system on top of a soft base!

! Do not clean the system with aggressive agents or with hard objects!

! In case of communication problems deactivate all power-safe modes (usb, harddisk,

screen, etc.) and screen-safers on the instrument computer!

! Do not open the devices. There are no user-serviceable parts inside.

Installation & Getting Started - 5 -

This device consumes, produces and radiates electric energy. Improper installation may cause electric disturbances on radio transmitters and receivers. Vice versa, strong emitters of electric fields may cause noise and artifacts to the instrument measurements.

IMPORTANT !

1.1 Electrostatic Discharge

Zennium-ECW are very sensitive instruments measuring currents down to the range of fA and aA. For this purpose they are equipped with high-precision and high-sensitive inputs. These inputs are well protected against over-voltage. Of course this can only be done to a degree which does not affect the sensitivity of the inputs.

At dry conditions, the user can get charged electrostatically by rubbing two different materials, e.g. show sole and floor, trouser material and chair cover material, etc. You can feel, see and hear the discharge when touching a metallic part. An electrostatic charge on a human body can reach several thousand Volts. From such high voltages the instrument inputs cannot be protected. Therefore, the user needs to take care of not being charged when touching the input connectors or the ends of the connected electrode lines. Discharging can be done by touching a grounded metal surface. The best solution is a grounding pad beneath your Zennium-ECW system which you touch before you touch the electrode inputs or electrode cables. The pad has to be grounded e.g. at the mains ground.

! Electrostatic discharge on the Zennium-ECW inputs can destroy the input amplifiers!

! Before touching electrode connectors or electrode cables, make sure that you

discharged yourself by grounding.

! Defects caused by electrostatic discharge are not covered by warranty!

DUTs can be left connected while turning off or restarting the ECW. Also switching measurement device from main to EPC42 potentiostats can be done without reconnecting the DUTs.

Connect the electrode lines only in the following sequence:

1. Working electrode (WE)

2. Working electrode sense (WE sense)

3. Reference electrode (RE)

4. Counter electrode (CE)

Installation & Getting Started - 6 -

1.2 Grounded/Floating Mode & Active Shielding

In Grounded Mode the Working Electrode WE is connected to ground. This provides the best signal-to-noise ratio and therefore is recommended for most applications. In this mode you have to take care that your sample is not grounded. Otherwise you can create a ground-loop which is adding artefacts to your signal. In Floating Mode no electrode is connected to ground. This allows to measure on grounded samples without creating ground loops. The electrode outlets and cables are shielded actively. That means, the phase-shifted signal is applied to the shielding. This is done in order to minimize capacitive artefacts caused by core and shielding of the cables. Therefore, always use the original cables shipped with the workstation and never connect the shielding of an electrode jack to ground. This deactivates the active shielding and may damage the hardware.

Use the TestBox only in Grounded Mode. You will get erroneous data when measuring the TestBox in Floating Mode.

Installation & Getting Started - 7 -

2. Unpacking

All Zahner products are carefully produced, calibrated, and tested so that they achieve their high quality standard. Also assembling of accessories and packing are done with utmost care. Nevertheless, the system may get broken during shipment. Therefore, we recommend checking all parts of the shipment directly after receipt for completeness. If there are obvious damages, please immediately contact Zahner or your Zahner distributor.

The shipment contains the following parts:

Zennium-ECW

• Zennium-ECW

• TestBox

• U-buffer (only Zennium and Zennium-E)

• Cell cable set:

4 BNC/clips cables (0.1 m) 4 BNC/banana cables (1 m)

• USB connection cable Zennium-ECW Ù PC

• 3-button mouse

• Power cord

• DVD with ThalesXT software suite and drivers (manual cover inside)

• CD-ROM with calibration data (manual cover inside)

• This manual

Installation & Getting Started - 8 -

3. Hardware Installation

For controlling a Zennium-ECW system a Windows computer is needed. We recommend to use the 3button-mouse shipped with the system.

For connecting the hardware proceed as follows:

1. Connect Zennium-ECW and the computer to mains

2. Connect Zennium-ECW port to a free USB port of the computer

3. Connect optional devices to the Zennium-ECW as described in the manual of the optional device.

4. Switch on the computer and the Zennium-ECW.

mains jack mains switch fuse holder with

mains voltage display

3.1 Switch Mains Voltage and Mains Fuses

Push snap-in nose to release fuse bracket.

Fuses for 115V: 2x 4A T (slow) Fuses for 230V: 2x 2A T (solw)

The selected mains voltage is visible at the fuse holder bottom

Pull tray to switch input voltage corresponding to the mains voltage (115V / 230V)

Installation & Getting Started - 9 -

4. Software Installation

ThalesXT Software Suite is especially designed for controlling Zennium-ECW and analyzing the data created by the workstation. It is running under Windows7/8/10 in 32 and 64 bit versions.

! Make sure that you have full administrator access to the computer. Especially, you

need access to c:\flink, c:\thales and c:\windows

! Make sure that all energy management tools are deactivated.

! In case an IMPC was shipped with the Zennium-ECW workstation, do NOT install the

software! The complete software suite is pre-installed and configured on the IMPC computer hard drive. In this case Thales CD is used as backup only.

! Thales can handle only 12 drive letters of your PC file system. If you have got more, the

first 12 drive letters are accessible whereas the rest will be ignored. You can access floppy disk, hard drive, DVD/CD-ROM and network drives.

4.1 ThalesXT Installation

Insert the ThalesXT DVD to the DVD drive. If “autorun” is active on your computer the setup will start automatically. Otherwise, run setup.exe from the root directory of the DVD.

The first window lets you select the optional functions you want to have installed. Select the options with the check boxes.

Interface settings (do not change)

Create Thales software icons on your desktop

Start the installation procress…

Select software modules to be installed

Additional information

• PP Inspector: Windows-based control software for stand-alone use of a PowerPotentiostat

• Thales View Extension: Shows graphs of Thales measurement files in the Windows Explorer

• Acrobat Reader: Needed for displaying online-help

• ZMan: Additional EIS analysis software (one free license per workstation)

After selecting all options you would like to be installed, click on the Installation button.

Installation & Getting Started - 10 -

Follow the instructions on the screen as follows:

During installation the folders c:\flink and c:\thales are created and files will be copied from DVD to the c:\ partition of the PC.

USB device drivers will be installed.

After Thales software installation

Hardcopy software is installed.

Hardcopy is a useful tool for printing

and copying screens, windows and screen areas at a mouse-click.

After installation of Hardcopy software Thales View Extensions are installed, if selected.

Select file types for comment preview

Select graph type for model and impedance data preview

Select graph type for

Select file types for thumbnail preview

Select size and quality of thumbnails

Cancel setting polarization data preview

Installation & Getting Started - 11 -

Online help function requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.0 or higher. If selected, Adobe Acrobat Reader

8.1.0 will be installed. Follow the installation guide and finish installation of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Save settings and proceed installation process

If selected, the installation wizard of ZMAN2.0 will start. Follow the installation instructions and w few seconds after it is finished.

The Tha fi

nished.

In case ZMAN2.0 was install n

eed to restart your PC now.

In order to do so, click on Yes. If you want to restart later press No.

les software installation is

ait a

ed you

Installation & Getting Started - 12 -

The ThalesXT installation creates the following folders on your hard drive:

c:\flink c:\thales c:\Programs\Zive Lab\ZMAN 2.x\ZMAN.exe (if selected) c:\Programs\National Instruments (if selected) c:\Programs\International Light (for CIMPS-options ABS or EMIT only) The USB device drivers are installed to c:\Windows.

The installation software creates the folder ThalesXT in your Windows Start Menu containing the following links and folders:

• Thales

• ZEdit (if selected)

• ZTrace USB

• Online Display (if selected)

• Folder: Zive Lab containing ZMan (if selected)

• Folder: SpectrILight III (for CIMPS-options ABS or EMIT only)

If selected, the installation software creates the following icons on your desktop:

ThalesXT Software Suite – Main Software

Thales Text & Programming Tool

Diagnostic tool for Thales – refer to manual

Windows-based software for stand-alone operation of PowerPotentiostats (if selected)

“Diagnostics and Troubleshooting”

Installation & Getting Started - 13 -

4.2 Installation of the Calibration Data

The calibration data are individual for each device. Therefore, they cannot be stored on the Thales DVD. They come on a CD labelled “Calibration Data” plus the serial number of your workstation. You can find it on the inside manual cover. The CD contains the calibration data for the complete system including Zennium-ECW and all optional devices like external potentiostats, light sources (CIMPS), HiZ probe, etc. you ordered with the workstation. For installation insert the CalDat CD into your optical drive. If autostart is activated on your computer the installation starts automatically. If not, start the installation manually by running CaliData.exe from the CD root path.

! The installation of the CalDat CD is required to achieve the accuracy specified for the

workstation and its options. If you miss installing the calibration data you will lose accuracy and get artefacts!

The installation is complete now!

Installation & Getting Started - 14 -

4.3 Installing USB Driver manually

Under Windows 7/8/10 the USB device driver is installed automatically during the Thales installation process. You do not need to install it manually.

If for any reason the drivers have to be installed separately, please proceed as follows. The USB drivers are digitally signed and available for the following operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows XP, 32-Bit

• Microsoft Windows XP, 64-Bit

• Microsoft Windows Vista / 7, 32-Bit

• Microsoft Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10, 64-Bit

• Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10

After connecting the Zennium-ECW to the PC the AMOS USB IFC drivers will be installed automatically.

! If necessary the latest WHQL-ceritified FTDI driver will be downloaded from Microsoft

If the computer is not connected to the internet the standard driver can be installed from C:\Thales\USB\FTDI manually.

Installation & Getting Started - 15 -

5. Configuring & Starting the ThalesXT Software

In order to start the ThalesXT application click/double-click on the

When starting ThalesXT software for the very first time the windows firewall will ask you for permission for the term131.exe task. This is required for communication between ThalesXT applications.

icon.

The ThalesXT window will show the start-up screen:

After loading all data the screen will change to the ThalesXT main menu:

Installation & Getting Started - 16 -

5.1 ThalesXT Main Menu

In the ThalesXT main menu you can

1. Create, delete and edit Thales-Projects

2. Select your application field

3. Select your preferred techniques

4. Select the method you want to work with

5. Set the parameters for the selected method

6. Start a measurement with the selected method

7. Switch to Classic Mode

8. View last result

9. Switch to analysis software

3. 5.

7. 8. 9.

Projects

In Thales-Projects you can handle your favourite methods and settings. You are free to dedicate a Thales-Project to a person, to an application, to system-setup, a date or to anything else. In a ThalesProject, a method with all its settings is saved.

Applications & Techniques

For selecting a method, ThalesXT provides two filters. “Applications” filters all methods which normally are used in a certain application. If you e.g. set the “Applications” filter to “Batteries”, under “Methods” only methods are listed which are relevant for battery research. “Techniques” allows you to select a category of methods such as AC-techniques, static DC-techniques and dynamic DC-techniques. The filer makes the selection of a method easier and clearer.

Installation & Getting Started - 17 -

Methods

From this menu you select the method of your choice. If you set the “Application” filter to “All Applications” and the “Techniques” filter to “All Techniques”, all available methods will be shown in this list.

Parameter List

Left to the selection area the parameters of the selected method are listed for editing. The inputs can be done either by entering a numerical value of your choice or by selecting one item from a pull-down list. When entering numerical values, all standard formats are allowed. If you e.g. want to enter a value of 0.01 you can alternatively enter 10m or 1e-2. When ENTER is pressed or you set the cursor to another parameter the entered parameter is checked for consistency with the hardware and with related parameters. If the check is passed the value is displayed in blue colour. If an erroneous value is entered, the closest valid value will set instead.

Start

Clicking on this button start a measurement of the selected method using the previously defined parameters. The dedicated Acquisition Windows will open where you can control and watch the measurement progress. The example shows the EIS online windows.

Classic Mode

Not all methods and parameters can be accessed by the ThalesXT user-interface. Furthermore, there may be users who got acquainted to the classical Thales user-interface. Therefore, we still provide this “blue” version of Thales on request. You access the Classic Mode by clicking on this button.

Last result

You will get into situations where you want to have a look at the previous results. This can be done clicking on this button.

Analysis

This button switches to the Analysis Section of the Thales software.

Installation & Getting Started - 18 -

6. Classic Mode

You can change into Classic Mode by clicking on the Classic Mode button in the ThalesXT main menu. This gives access to more methods and in some cases more details. If you selected a method before entering Classic Mode, ThalesXT will directly jump to the corresponding Classic Mode page. If you would like to work in Classic Mode every time you start ThalesXT, open the file c:\flink\usb.ini and change the parameter “simple” to “0”. “simple = 1” selects the ThalesXT mode.

In Classic Mode you will get the following main menu:

This menu is leading you to the main pages of the methods implemented. By pointing (not clicking) on the icons some of them are showing up a sub-menu with additional icons. Clicking on an icon will bring you to the appropriate software section. The following program section are available:

Main icon Sub-menu icon Program section

- Testsampling, Check Cell Connections

- Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) Measurements

- Series EIS Measurements

Current/Voltage Curves

Cyclic Voltammetry

Polarization

Multi-Cell Current/Voltage Curves

Capacity/Voltage Measurements

Capacity/Voltage Analysis

Installation & Getting Started - 19 -

Measurement of Electrochemical Noise (only with NPROBE)

Analysis of Electrochemical Noise

Time Domain Measurements

Not Available

High-Current-Interrupt-Measurements (only with HCI option)

Fast Time Domain Measurements (only with TR8M or HCI option)

Setup of Additional Measurement Channels (only with optional TEMP/U, DIO, DA4, etc.)

Online-Display of Additional Measurement Channels

Frequency Response Analysis

Polarography Methods

Simulation & Fitting Software

Import of Data Measured by Third Party Hardware

Script Sequencer

Execution of Special Software

Zahner Text Editor

File Manager

Online-Calculator

Notepad

Setting Time and Date

General System Setup

Installation & Getting Started - 20 -

Graphics Software

6.1 Menu Structure in Classic Mode

Also the Classic Mode of the ThalesXT software (here called Thales) provides an easy-to-handle userinterface. Step by step it guides the user through all necessary settings. If you are familiar with your application, you are able to use the Thales software without a special training. Due to the variety and complexity of the field of electrochemical measurements and analysis as well as due to the powerful and very helpful functions of Thales, we strongly recommend to read this manual carefully, anyway.

6.2 Pull-Down Menu

The Thales pull down menu lets you access your applications faster and clearer.

Click on the Thales icon in the title bar to open the pull down menu.

The first entry is a variable button for the last called pull down function and is also available when using the middle mouse button after escaping from a software page.

You can easily navigate through the most common used applications and access them directly by one click.

During a measurement you can only start external software modules. The pull down menu shows only the available options.

Installation & Getting Started - 21 -

When pointing the mouse cursor to an active button, a small

Windows

information will pop-up after a short delay.

tooltip

6.3 Tooltips & Online Help System

Full information about a function or button can be accessed by clicking the secondary mouse button.

The standard Adobe

Reader

opens the PDF manual according to the software function.

Recommended Adobe

Reader

configuration for best navigation through the Thales Software manuals.

Show ‚Previous View’ and ‚Next View’ Tools

Show ‚Page Navigation’ toolbar

Installation & Getting Started - 22 -

6.4 Scalable Thales Window

The Thales window is proportional scalable from 80% to maximum screen resolution in steps of 80 pixels (width). Zoom in with CTRL + + and zoom out with CTRL + - or use minimize and maximize window buttons.

Minimize Thales window (100%)

Maximize

Thales window

(depends on

screen resolution)

6.5 Mouse

The Thales software mainly is handled by means of the mouse as you know it from Windows. When you are pointing with the mouse cursor on a “button”, it will change its color and/or its shape so that you easily can identify buttons by leading the mouse cursor through the Thales window. To activate the function of a button, left-click on it.

With the middle mouse button you have one of three similar functions depending on the context:

- you reach the next higher menu level

- you terminates a running process

- you escapes from a dialog without accepting the changes made.

It is equal to a click on the close button of a window

The right mouse button is used in some pages to call a help window (e.g. in SIM). In other contexts (e.g. directories, selecting curves), it is used to select/unselect (toggle) an entry. If you input numerical values, a right-click will replace the input number by a default value or clear the input default.

The mouse cursor in many situations is guided. That means it is placed automatically to the position it is needed most likely. This function helps to save a lot of mouse movements and time.

or pressing the ESC key.

Installation & Getting Started - 23 -

6.6 Special Keys

Some keys have special functions when handling the user interface of the Thales software:

ESC

With the ESC key you have one of three similar functions depending on the context:

- you reach the next higher menu level

- you terminates a running process

- you escapes from a dialog without accepting the changes made.

Space

The space key can be used to select or deselect (toggle) items such as directory entries, curves etc. In this context it has the same functions as the right mouse button.

6.7 Input Boxes

All inputs are done in blue input boxes. This guarantees that all inputs can be done in the same way and by using the same tools. An input box has got three symbols at the upper right end which are shown only when the mouse curser comes close to the upper end of the input box.

⇒

In the Thales environment, all input-boxes accept not only pure values but also the following technical

multiplier prefixes (engineer’s units):

prefix meaning multiplier

f p n u

k, K

M G

T P E

atto 10

femto 10

pico 10

nano 10

mikro 1/1000000

milli 1/1000 Kilo 1.000

Mega 1.000.000

Giga 10 Tera 10 Peta 10

Exa 10

-18

-15

-12

-9

You need not input the unit (V, Hz, A, etc.). This is done by the software automatically (exception: amplitude in pseudo-galvanostatic (V) and galvanostatic (A) mode).

Examples:

0.1 = 100m = 1e-1 1000 = 1k = 1K = 1e3 1000u = 1m = 0.001 = 1e-3

If you click on one of these symbols the following actions will be carried out:

Closes the box accepting the input Closes the box rejecting the input Calls the Thales Calculator

Installation & Getting Started - 24 -

An input box may have one or more lines for one or more parameters or texts to be input. You finish a line by pressing the key. If the box only had one line or you edited the last line, the box will close then and the new value is accepted. If the box has more than one line and you did not edit the last line, you will come to the next line. No matter in which line you are, clicking on the close

buttons will close the box accepting the new value(s)

In more-line-boxes you can also position the text cursor to a specific line by clicking with the mouse onto the line. If you do want to reject the new value, click the middle mouse button, press the

ESC

key or click on the close button

ENTER

or rejecting it .

of the input box.

6.8 Hardcopy

Every page displaying curves provides a hardcopy button. Clicking on it will produce either a print-out of the recent page or a copy of the graphic in the Windows clipboard. The printout is done on the “Windows Standard Printer” installed under Windows. Most of the Windows compatible printers will also work with Thales. There may be printer models which do not work properly with Thales although they work under Windows. Those problems do not lie in our responsibility. Please use a different printer model in that case. Please try a printer also with Thales before you buy it.