Spectrum Technologies SPAD 502DL Plus Instruction Manual

SPAD 502DL Plus

Chlorophyll Meter

DATA LOGGER MANUAL

Item # 2900PDL

This manual will familiarize you with the features and

operation of your new data logging SPAD meter. Please read

this manual thoroughly before using your instrument. For

customer support, or to place an order, call Spectrum

Technologies, Inc.

(800)248-8873 or (815) 436-4440

between 7:30 am and 5:30 p.m. CST,

FAX (815)436-4460,

e-mail: [email protected].

www.specmeters.com

Spectrum Technologies, Inc

12360 S. Industrial Dr. East

Plainfield, IL 60585

General Overview 3

Identifying the Correct Com Port 4

GPS Connection 6

Data Logger Operation 7

Logger Software 10

Specifications 12

Appendix 1: Time Zone Corrections 13

Service and Support 14

Warranty 15

Data Files 8

CONTENTS

General Overview

Thank you for purchasing the data logging SPAD

502Plus Chlorophyll meter from Spectrum

Technologies, Inc. This operation manual deals

with the features that are unique to the internal

data logger. Information on general meter opera-

tion is contain in the accompanying Instruction

manual.

The integrated data logger allows the user to eas-

ily collect field data with the SPAD chlorophyll

meter. The logger can be used with or without

GPS/DGPS. After a set of data has been

collected, it is transferred to a PC using Field

Scout software. The data is in ASCII text file

format and can be exported into mapping software

or popular spreadsheet software for analysis.

The computer Communications Port to which the

PC-3.5 serial cable is connected can be identified by

using a paper clip

1. Disconnect the meter from the serial cable.

2. Click on the Com Port button on the main

software screen. This will bring up the Port

Selection screen.

3. Select the Com port to be tested and click on the

Port Test button. In the Port Test screen, click the

Test Port Now button.

Identifying the Correct

Com Port

4. If the “Connection OK” message box (see fig. 1) is

displayed, another device (such as a modem) is

probably connected to that port. This is not the port

you will be using with your meter. If the “No

Connection” message box (see fig. 2) is displayed,

this port may be the one connected to your serial

cable and you can proceed to the next step.

5. Place a paperclip on the end of the serial pin so

that it touches both the tip of the pin and the metal

area between the two black rings (see fig. 3). Again

click on the Test Port Now button. If the message

“Connection OK” now appears, this is the Com port

connected to your serial cable.

paper clip

or wire

Figure 3

Figure 1 Figure 2

Note: If you are using a USB-Serial adapter, it is

necessary to install the driver that accompanies the

hardware. When the adapter is plugged in, it will

create the necessary Com Port.

GPS Connection

The data logger searches for a GPS signal when the

meter is powered up. When a signal is detected, the

meter’s flash pattern will change from simply blinking

on and off to a pattern of 3 quick flashes separated

by a short pause. If a signal is found, latitude and

longitude values will be added to the data file (see p.

8). If a GPS signal is not found when powering up,

the meter will not search for it when taking readings.

If the meter is turned off and back on, it will again

search for the GPS signal. Be sure the meter is in

Measurement mode (see p. 7) before taking any

readings.

When taking a geo-referenced data measurement,

the LED will turn off while collecting the GPS signal.

The meter is again ready to take a reading when the

LED returns to a steady glow. If the data logger

loses the GPS signal, the LED will flash briefly be-

fore returning to Measurement mode. In this case,

check the GPS battery status as well as the connec-

tion to the data logger.

GPS Settings

Your GPS unit should be set to NMEA 0183 input/

output messages. This standard requires your unit

be set to the following:

GGA data string 4800 baud rate

Timing - 1 second 8 data bits

No parity 1 stop bit

Tip: If you have your GPS unit set properly and

have checked the connection but still are not get-

ting geo-referenced data, uncheck the box re-

quiring the digital correction in “Meter Settings”

screen (pp. 10 - 11) .

Data logger operation

The data logger has two different modes of opera-

tion: Communication and Measurement. These

modes are indicated by the green LED at the base of

the meter. When this light is flashing, the meter is in

Communication mode. When the light glows stead-

ily, the meter is in Measurement mode.

Communication Mode

When the meter is turned on, it will be in Communi-

cation mode for approximately 10 seconds. While in

this mode, the green LED will flash. It is only in this

mode that a user can initiate a logger communication

(download or reconfiguration). If communication be-

tween the logger and software is attempted during

this 10-second period, the logger will remain in Com-

munication mode indefinitely. The meter must be

turned off and then on to change to Measurement

mode (see following section).

Measurement Mode

Approximately 10 seconds after turning on the meter,

the LED light will glow steadily. This indicates the

logger is in Measurement mode. In this mode, you

can calibrate the SPAD meter and record data.

When you are finished collecting data, the meter

must be put into Communication mode by turning it

off and back on (see previous section). If you are

collecting data from several sites and need to turn off

the SPAD meter between data collection sessions,

wait until the meter transitions from Communication

to Measurement mode before resuming.

Calibration

The procedure for calibrating the meter is given in

the accompanying meter instruction manual.

Data Files

Data File Structure

The data is stored in comma-delimited text files.

These files can be opened with text-editing software

(e.g. Microsoft Word) or spreadsheet software (e.g.

Excel). When opened in a spreadsheet (see fig. 4),

it is possible to manipulate the data based on your

own application.

The first two lines of the data file give the logger’s

name and serial number. The third line indicates

that latitude and longitude are referenced to the 1984

World Geodetic Survey datum. The fourth line

shows the column headings for the rest of the data

file.

Figure 4: Sample data showing results of data collected

with and without GPS activated. Note: GPS signal not

found when recording data in lines 11 through 15.

The data is separated into 4 fields: Latitude and Lon-

gitude (blank if a GPS unit was not connected),

SPAD and Other Info. The last 2 fields are the data

value and reading number respectively.

Relationship between the SPAD buttons and the

data logger

Logging sessions are started and completed by turn-

ing the meter on and off. The start of a logging ses-

sion is indicated by the data line “Logger Started.” If

a GPS signal was found at the start of a logger ses-

sion, a time stamp is included on the “Logger

Started” line.

The data logger captures two pieces of information.

The data records sent by the SPAD meter following

a measurement and the accompanying GPS coordi-

nates (if the receiver has been correctly connected

and located, see p. 6). The SPAD data record con-

sists of only the sample number and the measure-

ment value. Pressing the AVERAGE button does

not prompt the SPAD meter to send a data record.

Pressing the 1 DATA DELETE button causes the

SPAD meter to move the sample number back to the

previous value. Only the most recent data point can

be deleted. The 1 DATA DELETE button does not

erase anything from the data file itself. However,

data points that have been deleted can be identified

by locating consecutive data records that have the

same sample number (see lines 13 and 14 in fig. 4).

Pressing the ALL DATA CLEAR button simply sets

the sample number back to 1. No data will be

cleared out of the data file as a result of hitting this

button.

Logger Software

Meter Type

The Field Scout software

supports all of Spectrum

Technologies’ portable

data logging meters. Be

sure to select the SPAD

Meter from the Select

Meter Type screen

Connecting to your Computer

To communicate with the data logger, connect the

gray interface cable to the SPAD meter’s RS-232

port. The port is located at the bottom of the meter

and is covered by a black cap. Open the software

and turn on the meter so it is in Communication

mode (see Data Logger Operation, p. 7). In order to

communicate through your computer, the COM port

assigned to your serial port must be selected. For

most machines with a hard wired serial port, this will

be COM 1. If you are having trouble connecting, try

selecting another COM port or performing the Port

Test (pp. 4-5). The Com Port can be selected by

clicking the COM port toolbar button or by clicking

“Select Comm Port” from the File menu.

Meter Settings

Clicking on this button

will bring up the Meter

Settings screen. This

screen allows you to

configure the data log-

ger. The Meter Name

will be the title on the

first line of the

downloaded files.

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