Decagon WP4-T User manual
WP4
Dewpoint PotentiaMeter
for models WP4 and WP4-T
Operator’s Manual
Ve r s i o n 2 . 1
Decagon Devices, Inc.
Decagon Devices, Inc.
950 NE Nelson Court
Pullman WA 99163
tel: (509) 332-2756
fax: (509) 332-5158
www.decagon.com/wp4
Trademarks
“WP4 Dewpoint PotentiaMeter” is a
registered trademark of Decagon Devices, Inc.
©1998-2003 Decagon Devices, Inc., All rights reserved.
WP4PotentiaMeter
Table of Contents
i
Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
About this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Note to our WP4 Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Seller’s Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2. About the WP4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
WP4 Models and Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
WP4 and Water Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
How the WP4 works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
WP4 and Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
3. Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Components of your WP4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Choosing a Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Preparing the WP4 for Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Portability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
4. The Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
The Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Changing Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Normal sampling mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Continuous mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
System configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Sample Equilibration Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
5. Calibration and Verification . . . . 25
Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Verification Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
WP4PotentiaMeter
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When to Verify Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
How to Verify and Calibrate the WP4 . . . . . . . . .27
6. Sample Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Preparing the Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Dry Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Samples and Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
7. Taking a Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
How WP4 takes Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Increasing your Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
8. Computer Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Using Hyperterminal in Windows 98
and Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
9. Theory: Water potential . . . . . . . . 44
Water potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Measuring Water Potential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Effect of Temperature on Water Potential . . . . . .46
10. Cleaning and Maintenance . . . . . 48
Tools Needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Cleaning the Block and Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Checking Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
11. Repair Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Shipping Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Repair Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Loaner Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
12. Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Problems and Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
WP4PotentiaMeter
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Component Performance Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
13. Further Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
References: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Application Notes: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Appendix A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Preparing Salt Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
WP4PotentiaMeter
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WP4PotentiaMeter
Introduction
1
1. Introduction
Welcome to Decagon’s WP4 Dewpoint PotentiaMe-
ter, the research standard for measuring water
potential. WP4 is the fastest, most accurate, and
most reliable instrument available for measuring
water potential using the chilled-mirror dewpoint
technique. Whether you are a scientist or a student,
WP4 will suit your needs. It is easy to use and pro-
vides fast, accurate results. We hope you find this
manual informative and helpful in understanding
how to maximize the capabilities of your WP4.
About this Manual
This manual is for use with the standard model WP4
and the temperature-controlled model WP4-T.
Included in this manual are instructions for setting
up your WP4, calibration, and maintaining and car-
ing for your instrument. Please read these instruc-
tions before operating WP4 to ensure that the
instrument performs to its full potential.
Customer Service
If you ever need assistance with your WP4, or if you
just have questions, there are several ways to con-
WP4PotentiaMeter
Introduction
2
tact us:
Phone:
Our toll-free customer service number is available
to our customers in the US and Canada, Monday
through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific
time at 1-800-755-2751.
For our customers outside of the US and Canada,
our regular telephone number is (509) 332-2756.
Fax:
Our fax number is (509) 332-5158.When you fax
us, please include your WP4’s serial number, your
name, address, phone and fax number along with a
description of your problem.
E-mail:
If you need technical support, you can send us mes-
please include as part of your message your WP4’s
serial number, your name, address, phone, fax num-
ber, and return e-mail address.
If you have a question about your application with
WP4, please send your message with the above
information to wp4@decagon.com.
Warranty
WP4 has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a one-
WP4PotentiaMeter
Introduction
3
year warranty on parts and labor. To validate your
warranty, simply contact us with the information on
the warranty card included with this manual. You
can return your warranty information by fax, e-mail,
phone or by mailing the postage-paid card. Please
include all the information requested on the card. It
is necessary for Decagon to have your current mail-
ing address and telephone number in case we need
to send updated product information to you.
Note to our WP4 Users
This manual is written to aid the end user in under-
standing the basic concepts of water potential,
enabling them to use our instrument with confi-
dence. Every effort has been made to ensure that
the content of this manual is correct and scientifi-
cally sound.
Seller’s Liability
Seller warrants new equipment of its own manufac-
ture against defective workmanship and materials
for a period of one year from date of receipt of
equipment (the results of ordinary wear and tear,
neglect, misuse, accident and excessive deteriora-
tion due to corrosion from any cause are not to be
considered a defect); but Seller’s liability for defec-
tive parts shall in no event exceed the furnishing of
replacement parts F.O.B. the factory where origi-
nally manufactured. Material and equipment cov-
WP4PotentiaMeter
Introduction
4
ered hereby which is not manufactured by Seller
shall be covered only by the warranty of its manu-
facturer. Seller shall not be liable to Buyer for loss,
damage or injuries to persons (including death), or
to property or things of whatsoever kind (including,
but not without limitation, loss of anticipated prof-
its), occasioned by or arising out of the installation,
operation, use, misuse, nonuse, repair, or replace-
ment of said material and equipment, or out of the
use of any method or process for which the same
may be employed. The use of this equipment con-
stitutes Buyer’s acceptance of the terms set forth in
this warranty. There are no understandings, repre-
sentations, or warranties of any kind, express,
implied, statutory or otherwise (including, but with-
out limitation, the implied warranties of merchant-
ability and fitness for a particular purpose), not
expressly set forth herein.
This manual suits for next models
1
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