LX-8809A Data-logging Light Meter Manual Introduction This digital light meter is a precision i n s t r u m e n t used to m e a s u r e l u m i n a n c e by lux or f o o t c a n d l e . It m e e t s the C I E photopic spectral r e s p o n s e a n d is v e r y c o m p a c t , d u r a b l e and e a s y to u s e . T h e light s e n s o r u s e d with this m e t e r is a v e r y h a r d w e a r i n g s e n s o r , with a long-life silicon photo diode a n d spectral r e s p o n s e filter. Features > > > > > > > > > M e a s u r i n g levels for Lux r a n g e f r o m : OLux ~ 400Lux, 400Lux ~ 4KLux, 4KLux ~ 40KLux, 40KLux ~ 400KLux. M e a s u r i n g levels for F o o t c a n d l e range f r o m : 40FC ~ 400FC, 400FC - 4KFC, 4KFC 40KFC. High a c c u r a c y a n d rapid r e s p o n s e . D a t a hold function to f r e e z e the current reading. E a s y to interrupt L C D s c r e e n , w i t h s y m b o l s , units etc. A u t o m a t i c z e r o i n g , to e n s u r e you a l w a y s obtain the best results. Short rise and fall t i m e s . P e a k - h o l d function w h i c h will tell y o u t h e highest m e a s u r e m e n t d e t e c t e d . Selectable units in Lux scale or FC scale. 2 > > > > > > S e l e c t a b l e a u t o - p o w e r off after 15 minutes or m a n u a l p o w e r on/off. Maximum and minimum hold. Relative readings. U S B o u t p u t for c o n n e c t i n g t h e meter to a computer. S p a c e for 9 9 records that c a n be stored a n d v i e w e d o n the meter. M o r e t h a n 16,000 readings c a n be recorded using t h e data logger f u n c t i o n . > O p e r a t i n g t e m p e r a t u r e a n d humidity: 0 ° C ~ 4 0 ° C a n d 0%rh ~ 8 0 % r h . > S t o r a g e conditions: - 1 0 ° C - 5 0 ° C and 0 % r h ~ 70%rh. P o w e r Source: 1 9 V battery. L e a d length on light s e n s o r : 150cm. Light s e n s o r d i m e n s i o n s : 115L x 8 0 W x 2 0 H (mm). D i m e n s i o n s of the m e t e r : 170L x 8 0 W x 4 0 H (mm). W e i g h t of unit: 3 9 0 g A c c e s s o r i e s include: c a r r y case, instruction m a n u a l and battery. > > > > > > Specifications > > > > > > > A 3 to 4 digit display w i t h a high speed 4 0 s e g m e n t bar g r a p h . M e a s u r i n g levels for Lux r a n g e f r o m : OLux ~ 400Lux, 400Lux - 4KLux, 4KLux ~ 40KLux, 40KLux ~ 400KLux. M e a s u r i n g levels for F o o t c a n d l e range f r o m : 40FC - 400FC, 400FC ~ 4KFC, 4KFC 40KFC. If w r o n g r a n g e is selected ' O L ' will show o n the L C D screen. C I E s p e c t r a l response A c c u r a c y : ± 3 % rdg ± 0 . 5 % f.s. ( < 1 0 , 0 0 0 L u x ) ± 4 % rdg ± 1 0 d . ( > 1 0 , 0 0 0 L u x ) S a m p l i n g rate of 1.5 t i m e s per second ( s e l e c t a b l e rate for data l o g g i n g ) . 3 1. Name and Functions (1) P o w e r on/off button. (2) L C D Display: L a r g e a n d clear d i s p l a y that will s h o w y o u the r e a d i n g s detected by t h e light s e n s o r , a bar g r a p h a n d other useful information 4 U n i t s B u t t o n : This a l l o w s y o u to change t h e units f r o m Lux to f o o t c a n d l e , or vice versa w h e n taking m e a s u r e m e n t s w i t h the meter. 1 F C = 10.76Lux B a c k l i g h t a n d L o a d B u t t o n : T o work the back light press the button o n c e for a s e c o n d a n d a blue light will illuminate the display. T h i s can be t u r n e d off by p r e s s i n g the button a g a i n . For m e m o r y , hold d o w n t h e load button for a b o u t 4 / 5 s e c s and MEM01 will appear in t h e right h a n d corner, indicating that there is no data in t h e m e m o r y . R E C a n d S e t u p Button: T o record a reading press t h e record button o n c e a n d MEM will a p p e a r a g a i n in the right h a n d corner with a n u m b e r next to it, i.e. 37. T h i s number indicates how many r e a d i n g s are stored in t h e meter a n d will change e v e r y time the record button is pressed. S e t u p will allow you to enter t h e setup m o d e to c h a n g e the date, t i m e , a n d s a m p l i n g rate a n d e n a b l e or disable auto p o w e r off. P e a k Hold Button: This button shows you the h i g h e s t and lowest p e a k detected in the readings. Hold B u t t o n : By pressing this button you can f r e e z e t h e current reading o n the display for m a n u a l recording. (8) (9) (10) R a n g e Button: A l l o w s y o u to c h a n g e t h e r a n g e to suit your application. Max/Min B u t t o n : T h i s button will a l l o w y o u to v i e w the m a x i m u m a n d m i n i m u m r e a d i n g d e t e c t e d since t h e m e t e r w a s turned o n . It is not stored in the m e m o r y , so it will automatically refresh every time the m e t e r is turned on. R E L Button: A l l o w s y o u to view relative readings. 2. Operating Instructions (1) T o turn the meter o n u s e the yellow 0 p o w e r button on t h e b o t t o m of the unit. If a u t o p o w e r off is d i s a b l e d , press t h e b u t t o n a g a i n w h e n r e c o r d i n g has finished to t u r n the m e t e r off. (2) S e l e c t the a p p r o p r i a t e unit for your m e a s u r e m e n t s to be t a k e n in, by u s i n g t h e u n i t s ' button. (3) It is very important t h a t the black plastic cover, protecting the w h i t e d i o d e is r e m o v e d b e f o r e u s e . Otherwise, t h e m e t e r will c o n t i n u o u s l y s h o w '0' until the s e n s o r is e x p o s e d to t h e light source being m e a s u r e d . 6 (4) T o d i s a b l e or enable a u t o p o w e r off. Hold d o w n R E C / S e t u p button a n d R a n g e / A P O Q) b u t t o n until this s y m b o l , appears or d i s a p p e a r s . If this s y m b o l is present o n t h e b o t t o m , left hand side of t h e L C D display, t h e n a u t o p o w e r off h a s be e n a b l e d and t h e m e t e r will turn off after a p p r o x . 15mins. If this s y m b o l is no longer visible, the meter can o n l y b e t u r n e d off manually. (5) B e f o r e using the meter it is best to set the t i m e , d a t e and s a m p l i n g rate for recording a n d s t o r i n g your m e a s u r e m e n t s . T o enter this s e t u p m o d e , hold d o w n t h e R E C / S e t u p b u t t o n a n d the U N I T S button s i m u l t a n e o u s l y for a f e w s e c o n d s , until t h e w o r d ' T i m e ' a n d the h o u r digit/s are f l a s h i n g . Y o u a r e n o w in the s e t u p m o d e and t h e first t h i n g y o u will set is t h e t i m e . T h e hour digit is a l r e a d y flashing, so this will be the first digit y o u will c h a n g e , using t h e MAX/MIN or H O L D b u t t o n . T o c h a n g e t h e m i n u t e s press R E L a n d c h a n g e the digit u s i n g M A X or H O L D . R e p e a t this procedure to c h a n g e the s e c o n d s , t h e s a m p l i n g rate, t h e d a y , m o n t h and year. Y o u c a n scroll back t h r o u g h to check the i n f o r m a t i o n . To save this d a t a , press R E C / S e t u p and UNITS simultaneously for one second. 7 If 'OL' a p p e a r s in t h e middle of t h e L C D display, the i n s t r u m e n t is detecting r e a d i n g s out of the s e l e c t e d range. W h e n this a p p e a r s keeping pressing t h e range button until ' O L ' is replaced by digits. If this d o e s not disappear, this c o u l d be due to o n e o f t w o reasons. O n e , t h e light source y o u a r e trying to detect a r e a d i n g f r o m is higher t h e n the meters capacity, or t w o , the light s e n s o r is broken. The r a n g e a n d unit that y o u r m e t e r is in can always be s e e n in the b o t t o m right h a n d corner. T o freeze a n y r e a d i n g at any t i m e , p r e s s the h o l d button a n d t h e meter will c e a s e operation and n o t h i n g will c h a n g e o n t h e display until h o l d is pressed again to release the meter b a c k into m e a s u r e m e n t m o d e . T o s e e peak results press the p e a k button o n c e for Manu P M A X to appear at t h e b o t t o m of the LCD s c r e e n . This m e a n s you a r e currently v i e w i n g t h e m a x i m u m p e a k in t h e readings, since t h e meter w a s t u r n e d o n . W h e n the button is pressed a g a i n , P M I N will a p p e a r and this will s h o w the s m a l l e s t peak in t h e m e a s u r e m e n t s . T o exit peak m o d e completely, p r e s s t h e button a g a i n . (9) (10) F r o m w h e n the m e t e r is s w i t c h e d o n , it will a u t o m a t i c a l l y store a m a x i m u m and m i n i m u m r e a d i n g , w h i c h c h a n g e e v e r y time the m e t e r d e t e c t s any readings t h a t e x c e e d the c u r r e n t m a x i m u m and m i n i m u m . T o view t h e s e v a l u e s , press MAX/MIN button, o n c e f o r M A X to a p p e a r a n d t h e m a x i m u m result will b e s h o w n in place of t h e current r e a d i n g . T h e m e t e r is still in o p e r a t i o n , whilst in this m o d e , so it will c h a n g e w h e n t h e m a x i m u m is e x c e e d e d . Press t h e b u t t o n again to v i e w t h e m i n i m u m value a n d a g a i n to exit this m o d e . T o v i e w a relative r e a d i n g , press the R E L b u t t o n once and M a n u will appear at the b o t t o m of the s c r e e n . T h e m e a s u r e m e n t s h o w n in the middle o f t h e display is t h e relative reading. W h a t this m o d e d o e s for y o u is w o r k out the d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e first r e a d i n g and s e c o n d r e a d i n g detected by t h e light sensor on the m e t e r . For e x a m p l e , if t h e first reading w a s 60 a n d t h e second w a s 4 0 , t h e relative reading s h o w n on the m e t e r w o u l d be 2 0 . S o with e v e r y t w o readings that t h e m e t e r takes the i n s t r u m e n t will automatically w o r k out the relative r e a d i n g . T o exit t h e relative m o d e , press t h e R E L button. Supplied w i t h this unit is a U S B c a b l e , for connecting y o u r m e t e r to the c o m p u t e r , to d o w n l o a d a n y l o g g e d data in the m e t e r and view the m e m o r y results, w h i c h a r e m a n u a l l y saved into t h e m e m o r y by p r e s s i n g t h e L O A D button. O n t h e left h a n d side of t h e unit, you will see this s y m b o l , ^ ° . A b o v e this symbol is t h e w h e r e the U S B c a b l e will connect into t h e meter. This s y m b o l will also display on t h e L C D s c r e e n w h e n t h e meter has b e e n c o n n e c t e d to the c o m p u t e r . < J T h e back light button is usefully in d i m l y lit areas w h e r e v i e w i n g the display m a y be difficult. W h e n this button is p r e s s e d the L C D is brightly lit w i t h a blue light. W h e n you h a v e finished using t h e m e t e r , please e n s u r e that the protective c a p for the light sensor, is p l a c e d back over t h e d i o d e and the m e t e r is correctly stored in t h e carrying c a s e p r o v i d e d . This meter d o e s h a v e a m e m o r y f u n c t i o n and a data logger f u n c t i o n . T h e m e m o r y is for manually r e c o r d i n g the current r e a d i n g by pressing t h e R E C / S e t u p button. T h e a d v a n t a g e w i t h this is you can a c t u a l l y scroll through t h e s a v e d data in the m e m o r y o n your meter, w i t h o u t h a v i n g to plug y o u r m e t e r into io a pc. By holding d o w n the L O A D b u t t o n for 5 s e c o n d s , you c a n a c c e s s the m e m o r y a n d t h e m e t e r will c e a s e o p e r a t i o n , allowing y o u to v i e w the s a v e d d a t a b y using MAX/MIN o r H O L D . T o return t h e instrument to n o r m a l o p e r a t i o n , hold d o w n L O A D for 5 s e c o n d s . O n c e you have set y o u r sampling rate o n t h e meter, you have to m a n u a l l y tell the m e t e r to start recording by h o l d i n g M E M / S e t u p f o r 5 s e c o n d s . The w o r d M E M will c o n t i n u o u s l y f l a s h in the top right h a n d corner, indicating t h a t the meter is n o w in data logger m o d e a n d will continue flashing until the meter is t a k e n o u t of this m o d e by pressing M E M / S e t u p for 5 s e c o n d s . W h e n t h e m e m o r y for data l o g g i n g is full the letters ' O L ' will appear. R e t u r n t h e m e t e r to normal o p e r a t i o n by holding d o w n M E M / S e t u p , a n d t h e n clear the data b y holding d o w n L O A D a n d M E M / S e t u p simultaneously. 11 Battery C h e c k a n d M a i n t e n a n c e This i n s t r u m e n t is p o w e r e d by a 9 V battery and w h e n this battery is running l o w a battery symbol ~ will a p p e a r o n t h e L C D screen indicating t h a t t h e battery will n e e d c h a n g i n g . To c h a n g e t h e battery, e n s u r e t h a t the meter is switch off a n d r e m o v e the battery cover. Disconnect t h e battery f r o m t h e instrument, replace w i t h n e w battery a n d r e p l a c e the battery cover. To keep t h e m e t e r w o r k i n g correctly, regular m a i n t e n a n c e is required. W i t h a d a m p cloth, clean the w h i t e d i o d e on the light s e n s o r , to r e m o v e a n y dirt or dust that m a y h a v e settled u p o n it w h i l s t in use. Do not s t o r e this instrument in a n y areas w h e r e t h e t e m p e r a t u r e or humidity is excessively h i g h , a s any melting of parts, o r m o i s t u r e in the c o m p o n e n t s could c a u s e s e v e r e d a m a g e to the e l e c t r o n i c s of the unit. Calibration of this i n s t r u m e n t will vary, d u e to o p e r a t i n g conditions and r e g u l a t i o n s and it is usually r e c o m m e n d e d that t h e m e t e r is calibration a n n u a l l y . 12 Recommended Illumination OFFICE FACTORY HOTEL STORE HOSPITAL SCHOOL LOCATIONS Conference, Reception room Clerical work Typing draftinq Visual work at production line Inspection work Electronic parts assembly line Packing work, Entrance passage Public room, Cloakroom Reception Cashier Indoors Stairs Corridor Show window, Packing table Forefront of show window Sickroom, Warehouse Medical Examination Room Operating room, emergency treatment Auditorium, Indoor Gymnasium Class room Laboratory, Library, Drafting, room 5. Lux 200-750 FC 18-70 700-1,500 1,000-2,000 300-750 65-140 93-186 28-70 750-1,500 1,500-3,000 70-140 140-279 150-300 14-28 (1) Start W i n d o w s (2) Insert t h e C D into the C D d r i v e . (3) 100-200 200-500 750-1,000 150-200 750-1,500 9-18 18-47 70-93 14-18 70-140 1,500-3,000 100-200 300-750 140-279 9-18 28-70 750-1,500 70-140 100-300 9-28 200-750 500-1,500 18-70 47-140 I n s t a l l i n g the S o f t w a r e If installing w i z a r d d o e s not a p p e a r a u t o m a t i c a l l y , a l l o w i n g y o u t o install the s o f t w a r e . G o to S T A R T at the b o t t o m o f t h e d e s k t o p t h e n R u n . . . t h e n b r o w s e f o r L i g h t Meter ( D : ) w h i c h is the n a m e o f the s o f t w a r e y o u w i s h to i n s t a l l . (4) By c l i c k i n g o n L i g h t Meter ( D : ) it will o p e n u p t h e files s t o r e d within t h e C D . O p e n t h e S E T U P file a n d f o l l o w t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s t o install the software. O n c e this is c o m p l e t e y o u will s e e t h i s i c o n , Light meter appear on your desktop. This means that installation w a s s u c c e s s f u l , but b e f o r e y o u c a n u s e t h e software y o u n e e d to install t h e h a r d w a r e . D o not remove the C D . 13 14 T h e following i n s t r u c t i o n s for installing t h e h a r d w a r e do not h a v e to be done if y o u h a v e a n y of the following p r o d u c t s : S L - 8 8 5 1 , S L - 8 8 5 2 or L X 1309. A s , all of t h e s e p r o d u c t s are m a d e by the s a m e c o m p a n y a n d all w o r k u s i n g the s a m e hardware. 6. Installing the H a r d w a r e (1) W i t h the C D for t h e software still in t h e C D drive, t u r n the meter o n a n d plug the meter into t h e c o m p u t e r using t h e U S B cable s u p p l i e d w i t h the meter. (2) A t the bottom of t h e d e s k t o p , on t h e right h a n d s i d e a m e s s a g e will s h o w that the c o m p u t e r has d e t e c t e d new h a r d w a r e in the U S B port. D o u b l e c l i c k on this m e s s a g e . (4) O n c e y o u h a v e clicked F I N I S H you will notice t h a t the s a m e box asking you to install the h a r d w a r e will a p p e a r a g a i n , this is to install the s e c o n d driver. Install in the s a m e w a y as you did for t h e p r e v i o u s driver. In the last w i n d o w it should s h o w C P 2 1 0 1 U S B to U A R T B r i d g e Controller'. Click F I N I S H a n d both h a r d w a r e d r i v e r s should n o w be installed. If you w i s h to un-install the drivers in the add or r e m o v e p r o g r a m s you will not find t w o separate drivers with t h e n a m e s ' C P 2 1 0 1 U S B C o m p o s i t e D e v i c e ' a n d C P 2 1 0 1 U S B to U A R T B r i d g e C o n t r o l l e r ' . Y o u ' l l find o n e driver c a l l e d ' C P 2 1 0 x U S B to U A R T B r i d g e Controller' this is b e c a u s e both drivers a r e s a v e d together, so by un-installing this y o u are in fact un-installing both t h e drivers. 7. (3) B y double clicking o n this m e s s a g e a w i n d o w s h o u l d appear a s k i n g y o u to install t h e h a r d w a r e . O n this w i n d o w click 'No, not this time', as you d o not need to c o n n e c t to the w i n d o w s u p d a t e . Follow the instructions to install the h a r d w a r e , but b e f o r e you press F I N I S H check that it r e a d s C P 2 1 0 1 U S B C o m p o s i t e D e v i c e ' in t h e w i n d o w this is the first h a r d w a r e driver. U s i n g t h e Software O p e n t h e software a n d c o n n e c t t h e m e t e r to the c o m p u t e r w i t h t h e U S B cable. )FFLIN (2) T u r n t h e meter on a n d hold d o w n R E C / S e t u p button a n d R a n g e / A P O button until this C) s y m b o l , ^ - ^ d i s a p p e a r s . If this s y m b o l is in the b o t t o m left h a n d corner, of 15 16 the LCD s c r e e n , the software will not detect the meter. A s t h e auto power off will affect any d o w n l o a d s m a d e o n the s o f t w a r e and stop the c o n n e c t i o n w h e n the unit p o w e r s off. (3) O n the s o f t w a r e y o u will see a n i m a g e of your light meter that displays ' O F F L I N E ' o n the screen. T o c r e a t e a connection g o to C o m Port (C) a n d o n the drop d o w n m e n u select C o m 3 (M). T h e light meter i m a g e o n the software s h o u l d n o w be d i s p l a y i n g t h e s a m e information a s y o u r light meter. In s o m e cases this c o m port will not work and C o m 4 (4) will have to be u s e d instead, but this will w o r k exactly the s a m e as it w o u l d w i t h C o m 3 (M) selected. V i e w i n g S t o r e d Data (1) T h i s s o f t w a r e can be u s e d to view stored d a t a in t h e m e t e r and to log d a t a whilst the m e t e r is c o n n e c t e d to the c o m p u t e r . T o view the data r e c o r d e d by the meter u s i n g the data logger f u n c t i o n , g o to D a t a L o g g e r ( D ) on the m e n u bar at the top of the s c r e e n a n d a loading w i n d o w saying ' L o g g i n g . . . ' will appear. (2) W h e n t h e software h a s f i n i s h e d loading y o u r d a t a , a 'Light D a t a l o g g e r G r a p h ' w i n d o w will a p p e a r . In this w i n d o w y o u will see a blank g r a p h , with a list of all y o u r recorded data o n t h e left h a n d side. D o u b l e click on the data that y o u w i s h to view a n d a red line will a p p e a r o n the g r a p h . (3) T o z o o m in on certain a r e a s of the graph, put t h e cursor of the m o u s e o n the g r a p h a n d h o l d d o w n the left h a n d click, to d r a w a s q u a r e o v e r the area ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ you w i s h to z o o m in o n . T o z o o m in further, d o t h e s a m e thing a g a i n . T o undo z o o m g o to U n d o z o o m at t h e t o p of t h e s c r e e n . 17 18 (4) At the top of t h e w i n d o w y o u will see a tool c a l l e d YOrrSI I A n d Y t i A I N S Y Of F S 6 T ( B V ) Y GAMS/ON ' Y A x i s ' . If y o u click o n this 3 function a w i n d o w called ' Y OFFSET(DIV)' will appear. T h i s screen will a l l o w you to c h a n g e t h e divisions on the g r a p h using the drop d o w n m e n u s . (5) Once y o u h a v e finished with t h e data logger w i n d o w , y o u c a n save your d a t a a n d print it using t h e tool b a r at the top of t h e s c r e e n . (6) O n your m e t e r y o u can also s a v e d a t a in the m e m o r y of t h e instrument m a n u a l l y , by pressing R E C / S e t u p . T o view this data y o u can either scroll through t h e results o n the meter (see O p e r a t i n g Instructions, part 14). O r you c a n a c c e s s t h e m through t h e software, by clicking o n t h e Mem(M) on t h e t o p of t h e software w i n d o w . W h e n this h a s b e e n pressed a ' L i g h t Data L i s t ' w i n d o w , with a list of the results m a n u a l l y record will appear. Y o u cannot v i e w this data as a g r a p h , b u t you c a n save a n d print t h e results. 1 19 Recording using the Software (1) U s i n g the software to record results is v e r y s i m p l e . Plug t h e m e t e r in, as n o r m a l a n d g o to this s y m b o l • . i . K M * .. i M Sample M.ir Setup Sample Rale [i Sec B Set the s a m p l e rate a n d press o k . A s s o o n a s y o u h a v e d o n e this, a red line will b e g i n moving o n t h e g r a p h , recording t h e results direct f r o m t h e light meter. (2) W h e n you have f i n i s h e d recording p r e s s t h e 20 (3) W i t h t h e g r a p h you can z o o m in o n certain a r e a s , like the data logger w i n d o w , to see m o r e d e t a i l e d results. T o u n d o z o o m use this symbol, ® and the g r a p h will return back to its original state. (4) A n o t h e r similarity with t h e d a t a logger w i n d o w is you c a n set the divisions for the 'y' axis. H o w e v e r , recording using t h e software has a n a d v a n t a g e . This a d v a n t a g e is y o u can s e e , very clearly w h a t the s a m p l e rate, time and date w a s of the recorded d a t a a n d you can s e e a m a x i m u m and m i n i m u m result and the time a n d d a t e they w e r e a l s o r e c o r d e d . A n a v e r a g e result is also g i v e n . (5) T h e results can be printed a n d s a v e d w h e n r e c o r d i n g is finished. 21