Tips on Interfacing RS232

RS232 transmission and reception takes place over a three wire cable, one for transmitted data, one for received data and one for ground. When wiring these lines to a standard RS232 25 pin D connector, the transmitted data line should be tied to pin 3, received data to pin 2 and ground to pin 7. For 9 pin connectors, the transmitted data line should be tied to pin 2, received data to pin 3 and ground to pin 5. In some situations, computers and other equipment require handshaking lines to work properly. Many times this can be shut off to work with a three wire system. If not, you can wire the connector to “trick” the computer etc. to work properly. This involves shorting the RS232 RTS and CTS line together and shorting the DTR and DSR lines together. For 25 pin connectors short pins 4 and 5 for RTS/CTS and pins 6 and 20 for DTR/DSR. For 9 pin connectors short pins 4 and 6 for RTS/CTS and pins 7 and 8 for DTR/DSR.

Shown below is a simple program written in BASIC that will open a com port at 1200 baud and then drop into a never ending loop that will input frames of information and print them on the computer’s screen.
10 REM A simple example of a scale to com port interface
20 OPEN ”COM1:1200,N,8,1,CS,DS” AS #1
50 REM Never ending loop
52 REM Send a print request to the scale
55 PRINT #1,”*P”

• REM Input scale’s transmitted frame
• INPUT #1,FRAME$

69 REM display the results on the computer screen 70 PRINT FRAME$
75 REM Small time delay (at least 100ms, see External Command Limitations above) 80 FOR X=1 TO 20000
85 NEXT X90 GOTO 50

Time and Date

When your scale is equipped with the time and date option you can get time and date and day of week readouts on the screen or use them in RS232 output frames. The time can be printed in either 12 or 24 hour format. Consult the section on Print Frame Functions for details. The screens for setting the date and time can be found under the menu SETUP MENU/OPTION SETUPS.

Analog Output

This option is a fully configurable analog output port that can be configured for current loop outputs. The factory has preset the output to 4-20 mA. This range is configurable and it is explained in the second paragraph of this section. The output follows the display and its gain is based on the platform’s programmed overload point. For example, in the case of a 100lb scale whose output is configured as 4-20mA, 0lb = 4mA, 25lb = 8mA, 50lb = 12mA and so on.

The starting and ending currents can be configured by the user. For example the output’s starting and ending points can be set 4mA to 20mA. Further, there is an option allowing negative displayed numbers to be output for cases where a reading below zero needs to be monitored. As an example, a 100lb scale is setup with its starting current at 10mA and ending current at 20mA, giving the output of  -100lb= 0mA, -50lb = 5mA, 0lb = 10mA, 50lb = 15mA and 100lb = 20mA.

The Analog Output can also be configured to output voltage. The output can be configured for a voltage range between 0- 5VDC. This configuration can be requested to be done at the time of processing the order. However, this can also be done by the customer. Simply connect a 250 ohm ¼ watt resistor between the output terminals. Set the starting and ending currents to be 0mA and 20mA. Using Ohm’s law (V = I x R), you will get from 0VDC (0mA x 250 ohm = 0V) to 5VDC (20mA x 250 ohm = 5V). Just put a voltmeter across the terminals to get these values.

Using any value of the resistor, the scale can be configured to output a customized range of voltages based on customer requirements. However, the voltage cannot exceed 6VDC. The current output component cannot support a voltage drop larger than this value.

Analog Setup Menu

The analog setup menu can be found under menu SETUP MENU/OPTION SETUPS/ANALOG OUTPUT. Programmable parameters are as follows:

ACTV – Will activate or deactivate the option.
START – The starting current that will correspond to zero on the display.
END – The ending current that will correspond to the full-scale weight on the display.
NEGRDG – Allows negative displayed readings to affect the analog output. If disabled, the output will stop at the programmed starting current when there is a negative number on the display. This should not be confused with a negative current on the output. The lowest possible current is zero.

Special Note for Multiple Platform Scales

The analog output module used in the scale is a single channel module. Only a single output from a single platform can be seen. For scales with multiple platform, the analog output will reflect accordingly with the multiple platform settings you have. For multiplatform scales, you can monitor the weight from each platform on the indicator screen by using the UP/DOWN arrow keys and SHIFT key. The analog output will only reflect the current platform seen on the indicator screen. For example, if the screen is showing weight for Platform 1, the analog output reading will be for Platform 1.
Indicators equipped with multiple platforms also have a special screen that shows the weights on all the connected platforms and the total from all of these platforms. In this screen, there is an arrow that indicates the actions that can be taken on the indicated platform. If the arrow is on Platform 1, then the analog output will reflect Platform 1. The same applies for platform

2. While in this screen, the analog output can also reflect the total sum of weights on all the platforms.

To do this, press the SHIFT key and SIX key in sequence (not together). When this feature is activated, the analog output will only reflect the total. It won’t reflect on any of the platforms. Press the SHIFT + 6 key sequence again to remove the analog output for total weight feature.

Setpoint Controller

The setpoint controller gives your scale the capability to output a signal to external equipment when certain conditions are met. This is particularly useful in filling operations, either to sound alarms or to control filling machinery.
Setpoint definitions can be created, edited and deleted. Each has a text description, controlling parameters and a multi-line formula associated with it. In operation, if the displayed weight satisfies the formula, you may direct any of the outputs to switch on or off. You can create as many setpoint definitions as you like within limits of free memory. Each setpoint uses four memory slots.
Setpoint definitions can be activated or deactivated, and up to four setpoint definitions can be activated at one time. When multiple setpoints are activated, each setpoint formula is evaluated in the order it was defined. If more than one setpoint shares the same output, then it is possible for one to overwrite the other.
With a little finesse in creating formulas, simple setpoints, filling control cycles, over and under check weighing, and many other functions are possible.

IMPORTANT NOTE: During Scale reboot, the scale will momentarily toggle all setpoints to check for malfunction. This might cause your valve systems to open (or close) during that initial moment. A fix is already being implemented (as of this writing) for this issue. All Software versions at 6.123b and below will have this feature. A workaround would be to add a manual switch that would be used to shut off your system if the scale is every rebooted.

Output Specifications and Notes

The setpoint controller has eight separate outputs and is expandable to sixteen. Each output is an open collector that is capable of sourcing 4.5ma or sink 10ma of current. Care must be taken not to exceed these values. This is sufficient to drive LEDs or sound buzzers. If higher output currents are needed then external relays need to be installed. We normally provide 117VAC, 10Amp optically isolated relays and mechanical relays should be avoided. We also provide 60VDC DC relays.

Optical relays have some important advantages over mechanical relays, the actuation current for optical relays is usually less than 10ma but mechanical relay coils require currents often exceeding the limit. Optical relays have no mechanical switches to wear out and more importantly they isolate the scale from the load, thus protecting it from voltage spikes. If excessive noise is coupled back to the scale it could lock up or damage its microprocessor or memory.

It should be noted that when you command an “OFF” CONDITION, the output will be grounded. In most open collector (switched ground) wiring schemes this will actuate the external light or relay. To help eliminate this confusion, each setpoint formula has a optional invert function to invert the output.
Even though the output is an open collector, it differs from the standard open collector output in that the output will assume a high condition (3.3VDC) when it is switched on without the need for an external pull up resistor, allowing direct connection into any TTL level input.

Creating Setpoints and Formulas

To access setpoints, go to the menu SETUPMENU/OPTION SETUPS/SETPOINT CONTROLLER. There you will see a list of all available setpoints or “None Defined” if none exist. The creation, editing and deletion of setpoints are similar to the creation of tares and parts counting samples. To add a new setpoint definition, select NEW on the lower menu and press ENTER. A new setpoint definition will then be added to the list with a description of “SetPt #XXX”. This new setpoint is deactivated and contains an empty formula list.
To edit this new setpoint, or any other one, use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to line up on the desired setpoint, select EDIT on the lower menu and then press ENTER. The setpoint definition screen will be shown.

The Setpoint Definition Screen

The setpoint definition screen will show the description and controlling parameters for this setpoint definition. INV=On/Off: If it is on then all outputs related to this setpoint will be inverted. This is useful when using the open collector output for the reasons stated earlier in this section.

CYCLE=On/Off: The cycle option is used to create an operation cycle as described earlier in this section.
NEG=On/Off: The Negative option is used to determine if the scale needs to evaluate negative weight values. If NEG = Off, then the setpoint controller will not evaluate negative weights, as in it will treat both negative and positive weights the same. Example, if the display shows -10 lbs or +10 lbs, the setpoint evaluator will evaluate these values as positive values. If NEG

= On, then it will differentiate between the two values.

PLAT=PL1: This option only appears when the scale is equipped with Multiple platforms. The user can select if the setpoint conforms to a particular platform. If it is the case, then the setpoint will only evaluate weights corresponding to that platform. PARTS=On/Off: This option only appears when the scale is equipped with Parts Counting. The user is given a choice of whether the setpoint should respond to count value instead of weight value.
To change any of these options simply select the appropriate entry in the lower menu and press ENTER.

Creating and Editing Formulas

The formula is a list of up to nine lines that are evaluated and acted upon in the order they are entered.
To access the formula list select EDIT in the lower menu and then press ENTER. All of the current formula lines will bedisplayed or “None Defined” if there aren’t any. Using the NEW and INS in the lower menu to add or insert new lines.
Each line consists of four parts. These are CMD (command), EXP (expression), VALUE and OUT. CMD is an action to take. The only two commands currently available are ON and OFF. EXP is an expression and can be < (less than), <= (less than or equal to), > (greater than) and >= (greater than or equal to). Value is the setpoint weight value and OUT is the output channel (1-8) that the CMD command will work on.

For example, a simple formula to activate the output when a certain weight is exceeded is made up of two lines as shown below:

CMD| EXP| VALUE| OUT|
---|---|---|---|---
Off| <| 5.0| 1| Start with light off
On| >=| 5.0| 1| On if 5 lb or greater

This can be interpreted as:
Line 1: Output #1 is off if weight is less than 5.00 lb
Line 2: Output #1 is on if weight is greater than or equal to than 5.00 lb
You will notice that every output possibility must be dealt with when creating a formula.
The next example represents a much more complicated definition. The scale would have three lights connected to three outputs and operate in an UNDER / ACCEPT / OVER check weighing scenarioThere will be a red light connected to output #1 to indicate an “under” condition, a green light connected to output

2 for an

accept” condition and a yellow light connected to output #3 to show an “over” condition. We can program the red light to be on whenever the weight is less than 5lb, the green light to be on only between 5 and 5.2 lb and the yellow light to be on whenever the weight is above 5.2lb indicating an over condition. In practice, the user would start filling the container until the green light comes on.
It is less confusing to make a formula of this nature if you deal with the complete operation of one light at a time. We recommend laying the formula out on paper first and then enter it into the system.

Here it is:

CMD| EXP| VALUE| OUT|
---|---|---|---|---
On| >| 0.00| 1| Deal with “under” (red) light first
Off| >=| 5.00| 1|
Off| <| 5.00| 2| Now the “accept” (green light), to be
On| >=| 5.00| 2| on only between 5 and 5.2 lb
Off| >| 5.20| 2|
Off| <=| 5.20| 3| Now the “over” (yellow) light to be on
On| >| 5.20| 3| anytime the weight is above 5.2

When this formula is executed, the scale evaluates each line in order. This calculation is done in memory only, and the outputs are not affected until the formula is complete. The entire formula is evaluated on each and every display update, which is programmable through the system menu.
You may wonder why it is necessary to have to use an Off condition at the beginning. This was done to increase flexibility as there may be many cases where the user wants the light to start in the on state, turn off during a certain weight range and on again when above that range. You have to specify every possible condition for the output when making formulas.This last example will show an automated filling operation using the cycle option. The goal here would be to have output #1 connected to a filling valve and the cycle starting with this valve in the off condition. The user places a box on the scale below the filling apparatus, press the ZERO key to zero out the weight of the box, press the ENTER key to start filling and have the setpoint controller switch the filling valve off when 5lb is reached. The user then removes the box from the scale and the output will remain off until the next cycle is initiated by pressing the ENTER key.
Start in the setpoint definition screen by enabling the CYCLE option and setting the INIT option to off. Here is the formula:

CMD     EXP     VALUE             OUT

On         <         5.00                    1        Will actually go on as soon as the ENTER key is pressed. Off      >=                      5.00   1 Switch off at 5 lb and end cycle
That’s all there is to it. The output will go off at 5 lb and remain off until the next cycle.

Notes on Cycling Setpoints

The cycle function is used when it is desirable to “latch” the output to a specific state when a process is complete. Consider the following examples with and without the cycle option. In both cases the setpoint is set to fill a box to 5lb and then shut off.
Cycle Off: The output is on as the box fills and the scale monitors the process. At 5lb the output switches off. The user then removes the box from the scale. When he does that, the indicated weight falls below 5 lb, the filling valve switches back on dumping material all over the platform.

Output Connector and Pin Diagram

In most cases there will be a single cable with a 15 pin subminiature D type female connector added to the scale for interfacing to external equipment.

• Setpoint #4 Output
• Setpoint #5 Output
• Setpoint #6 Output
• Setpoint #7 Output
• Setpoint #8 Output
• Setpoint #3 Output
• Setpoint #2 Output
• Setpoint #1 Output
• Digital Ground (For Scales sold before 3/7) 10 +3.3 VDC
  15         Digital Ground        (For Scales sold after 3/7)

Weight Averaging

The weight averaging option allows the scale to display an average weight taken from the platform over a specific time period. Readings are sampled from the platform forty times per second so a five second average would average 200 readings. Weight averaging can be setup to operate from a front panel key (the “8” key) or to operate on a continuous basis.

Push Button Operation

Pressing the “8” key will start the average. While the average is being taken, the status bar on the bottom of the screen will display “Avg” and the graph bar will show the amount of time left. When the average is completed the result is locked on the display and the text “Loc” will be shown on the status bar. While the reading is locked the UNITS, NET/GROSS and other front panel keys will still operate as normal. To release the lock simply press the “8” key again. While the average is being taken it can be aborted at any time by pressing the “8” key.

For Multiple Platforms

For Multiple platforms, if you have selected the Multiple Platform

screen, then press the “6” button to perform

weight averaging.

Continuous Operation

When configured for continuous operation, constant averages at the selected time interval will be taken and locked on the display. The text “Avg” will be shown on the status bar and the time progress shown on the graph line. The average key (the “8” key) is used to start and stop this process.

Configuring the Weight Average Option

The configuration parameters for the weight average option can be found in the menu SETUPMENU/OPTION SETUPS/WEIGHT AVERAGING. There are three settable options here.
ACTV Activates or deactivates weight averaging TYPE Push button or continuous operation
TIME Average acquire time can be set from one to sixty three seconds

Multiple Platform Operation

Your scale has the capability of running up to three input devices at any one time. Normally only one is used, a load cell, and the scale is programmed to have a single platform containing that load cell. The scale can be configured to run from multiple platforms there are only a few basic operational differences:

1. An extra display screen is added showing the readings from each individual platform as well as the total weight from all
2. When viewing individual platform screens, you can manually scroll through different Press SHIFT+UP in sequence or SHIFT+DOWN in sequence to scroll through the platforms. On the primary weight screens the active platform number is indicated on the bottom of the screen just to the right of the status bar (PL1, PL2 etc).
3. On the extra platform you can just use UP key or DOWN key without the need to press SHIFT key. For example, to zero platform 2 use the DOWN ARROW to get the indicator on the right side of the screen to point at platform 2 and then press the ZERO key.
4. An extra menu is inserted in the menu SETUP MENU/PLATFORM This is a menu that shows the description of each platform and allows you select one for editing.
5. When taking or activating tares, parts counting samples, taking a quick sample or pressing the TARE, UNITS, NET/GROSS or ZERO key, the operation will be performed only on the currently selected
6. An auto-scroll feature is available in the Platform Setup This feature allows the indicator to scroll through individual weight screens at specified time intervals. To setup auto-scroll, go to SETUP MENU->PLATFORM SETUP. Choose any activated platform and press EDIT. Scroll down to MULTIPLATFORM SETTINGS. Press ENTER. The horizontal options and the screen text should be clear enough to set the correct settings. It is recommended that the scroll timer should be set no less than 5 seconds. Any number lesser than that can cause some instability in scale readings.
7. FOR DUAL PLATFORMS ONLY: To show the difference between the two platform scales, do the same steps as defined in step 6 above. In the MULTIPLATFORM SETTINGS, select Platform Total to be either “Sum” or “Difference”.
8. If the multiple platform scale has options attached to it, such as RS232, Analog Output, Setpoints, make sure to read the special notes for that section, if any, that might apply specifically for multiple platform operation.

Battery Pack Operation

See the addendum page 24 for quick operational instructions on this feature.

Description

The Battery Pack Option will allow the scale to be operated in areas where no power is available. The battery pack itself is installed inside the indicator housing and is not user serviceable in any way. The only external differences are the addition of a Main Power toggle switch and power transformer connector located on the right side of the indicator housing.
To charge the pack, simply leave the scale plugged in for about four hours. The charging circuitry has a peak detect and will stop charging once the battery has reached its peak. The scale may be operating normally while charging.
The battery pack allows a scale equipped with a single load cell platform (models 620 and 820) to operate for about fifteen hours on a single charge. For scales that have multiple load cell platforms, running time is slightly shorter. A four load cell platform, like the model 320 will run for about 8 hours.

The Main Power Toggle Switch

There is a main power switch located on the right side of the indicator. Its only function is to completely remove power from the main circuit board in the event of a microprocessor program crash or any other event that causes the scale not to be able to switch itself off. This toggle switch is also responsible for charging the battery. If the toggle switch is left in the open (DOWN) position, then the battery will not charge. This toggle switch should be left in the closed (UP) position during all normal operation.

The Front Panel On/Off Switch

The front panel On/Off switch is used to switch the scale on and off during normal operation.
To turn the scale on, simply press the button and the scale will start its initiation sequence. To turn the scale off, press and hold this button for approximately three seconds until the display blanks out and then release it.

Auto Shutoff Setup

The scale can (and should) be setup to automatically turn itself off when a programmed time has been reached and/or there is no activity on the scale. This is done through the Auto Shut-Off screen. You may also want to skip the splash screen and ready prompt on startup. You can do this in the menu SETUP MENU/SYSTEM/STARTUP PARAMETERS.
The scale’s auto shutoff operation can be activated and changed in the menu SETUP MENU/ SYSTEM /AUTO SHUT-OFF. There are two options available.
ACT      Activates/deactivates the auto shutoff feature.
TIME     Is the time, in minutes, that the unit will shutoff due to inactivity.

Statistical Package [N/A: For Future Expansion]

The Statistical Package allows you to save a large number of readings in memory for future use. Here are some of its features:

• You can transmit the entire data collection through the RS232 communications port to a printer or computer for later
• You can view a “result screen” which will show the minimum reading, the maximum reading, the average, and
• The data collection is held in memory even if the power is
• Readings can be saved by simply pressing a
• Shares memory with the scale’s operating system for maximum storage
• Main screen shows when data collection is active and the number of readings

Statistical Menu

This menu contains all of the functions associated with the statistical package. It is located at SETUP MENU / OPTION SETUPS / STATISTICAL.
The items in this menu are:
SETUP: This is a simple configuration screen for the statistical package.
CLEAR MEMORY: This will clear all collected data from memory.
TRANSMIT DATA: This will transmit the entire data collection through the RS232 communications port. Each collected reading is transmitted along with a carriage return (ASCII 13) and a line feed (ASCII 10). All collected readings are transmitted. Memory does not automatically clear after transmission.
VIEW RESULTS: This screen will show some basic information about the data collected. These are the minimum reading, the maximum reading, the total and average reading.

The Setup Screen, Configuring the Statistical Package.

This screen will allow you to specify if the statistical option is active or not, and also how much memory to set aside for data collection. Any time you enter this configuration screen, the data collection in memory will be erased.
There are only two configurations on this screen:
ACTIVE: Set to YES in order to enable data collection. If enabled, the top line of the main weight display will show an inverse
“Data:”, followed by the number of readings currently collected in memory.
SIZE: The memory set aside for data collection uses the same memory and storage techniques as the memory used by the scale’s operating system for storing tares, counting samples, print frames and other data. If you aren’t using the scale’s memory for those other uses, you will have roughly 470 free slots available for data collection, depending on the scale’s configuration. Each slot will hold 8 readings, so at maximum, 470 x 8, or 3760 readings may be collected.
To configure the memory, enter the new size through the setup screen. Size is the number of readings (maximum) that you would like to be able to store. This number will automatically be rounded up to the next multiplier of 8 (8 readings per slot). The memory is then set aside for data collection, and becomes invisible to the rest of the system. This being the case, if you configure a large memory area for data collection, you will be restricted as to the number of storage slots available for other uses.

Adding a Reading to the Collection

Simply press the ENTER key at any time while you are in the main weight screen. The current reading will be saved and the top line will show you how many readings have been collected. If the data collection memory is full, you will see a warning message at this time.

Key lock option

General description:

**** This key lock option adds the capability of disabling the front panel by having all of the function keys locked out, until a valid password is entered. Once a valid password is entered, the keys will remain unlocked until the scale is powered down and powered up. By default the option is not active until an initial password is set.

To set password:

1. Press the menu Unlock keys by entering the current password, if necessary.
2. Navigate to Options Setup and then scroll down to “Set Password”.
3. “Enter new password “ will appear on the Enter the desired password (4 digits long)
4. Confirm the password by retyping the intended Confirmation is used to assure that a mistyped password is not stored.

To unlock keys:

1. Press menu
2. “Enter Password” will appear on the top line of the Enter the password previously set.
3. The function keys will remain unlocked until the scale’s power is powered down and powered

To deactivate key lock option:

1. Follow the above procedure for setting the
2. Instead of entering a password simply press enter
3. This will clear the password and deactivate the key lock option until the password is set

Data Logging

The optional USB Data Logger module allows a large amount of data from your scale to be recorded into a USB Flash Drive. The Flash Drive maybe removed from the scale and inserted into a standard USB port on a PC. The data is collected on a
CSV file (comma-separated values), which can be opened using any spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel®.
Data Logger is activated by default. To activate/deactivate it, press **_Menu

• Option Setups -> Data Logging. _**On the horizontal menu displayed in the Data Logging setup screen, select ACTV to activate/deactivate Data Logging.

Basic Operation

There are two modes of operation for using the USB Data Logger:
Triggered – The weight entry is written to the USB when the user presses a button
Continuous – The weight entry is written to the USB at regular time intervals selected by the user.
To switch modes of operation, on the Data Logging setup screen select TYPE on the horizontal menu to switch between triggered and continuous type logging.
In Triggered Mode, press the TWO (2) key each time to log the current weight and time on the USB drive. This will be noted

by a “Recording Entry” message on the status message area of the screen each time the TWO key is pressed.
In Continuous Mode, press the TWO key to begin the data logging sequence. A “Data Logging On” message will be displayed in the status area, followed by the “Recording Entry” message after the time interval has passed. After that, “Recording Entry” message will appear on regular time intervals specified by the user. The time interval can be set in the Data Logging setup screen. Select the TIME option on the horizontal menu to enter the time interval in seconds.

Note about Multiple Platforms

For Multiple platform, when the scale is in the Multiple Platform screen (where all the platforms are viewed at the same time with a TOTAL), the TWO key is already occupied for switching between platforms. Instead, press the SHIFT key (ON/OFF) and then the ENTER key in succession. Please make sure to see the “Shft” notification on the top left corner of the screen before pressing the ENTER key. The ENTER key may have to be held a half-a-second longer to register the “Recording Entry” notification.
The SHIFT+ENTER key-sequence will have the same effect as the TWO key described above in the Basic Operation section.

USB Flash Drive Use

Your Data Logging scale comes with a 1 Gigabyte (1 GB) USB flash drive that can hold more than 4 million readings! For those scales equipped with Data Loggers, the scale will always test the Data Logger system and check for a USB flash drive at power up. If a USB Flash drive is plugged in, the scale will show the message “USB Stick found…” and if the USB flash is not plugged in, then the message will simply say, “USB Stick not found…”. At times, the scale may show “USB Stick not found…” even when a USB flash drive is plugged in. In this case, simply recycle the power and it should initialized the Data Logger system correctly.

If the USB flash drive has never been used with the scale, the scale software will create the file DATA.CSV automatically. This is the file the scale uses to store the weight entries. When recording new data on a card that already contains the file, the scale will look for the file and append the new weight entries to the end. This file can then be opened using Microsoft Excel® or a text editor.

It is okay to remove the USB drive while the scale is on. But if the user wants to plug in the USB drive back again, the user has to:
Shut off the scale, Plug in the USB drive, Wait for 5 seconds Turn on the scale.
The USB drive cannot be plugged in while the scale is on since the USB Data Logging system initialization routine happens only at power up. But there is no harm if the USB drive is plugged in while the scale is on and an attempt is made to write data into it. In this case, the status message will display “Recording Entry”, followed by “Can’t Open File…” This means that the file DATA.CSV cannot be opened at this time.
The USB drive comes pre-formatted. It is not recommended that you reformat the USB drive.
When deleting weight entries from the USB Flash Drive, it is important not to leave the file empty. The data on the drive can be anything – a period or a space or carriage return – so long as there is some data in the file.
If you are using the scale in Continuous Mode , we recommend that you temporarily put the scale into Triggered Mode while the USB drive is plugged in and test it for operation.

Advanced Operation

WARNING: The following descriptions illustrate the advanced operation of

changing the frames being printed on the USB flash drive. Incorrect usage of the features described in this section will cause the scale to malfunction. Proceed with caution.

The USB Data Logger can be used to store more than just the time and weight. The system uses Print Frames to determine what data can be stored on the USB flash drive.
The Print Frames feature can be accessed by going to SETUP MENU/OPTION SETUPS/RS232/PRINT FRAMES. Ignore the connotation RS232, as it only implicates the RS232 transceiver not present in these scales.
In the Print Frame Definitions screen, the frame named “USB” applies to the frame of data printed on the USB flash drive.
The factory default USB frame is:

To change the frame to include more data types, you can refer to instructions outlined in the Print Frames section defined for RS232 option in page 5.
Please note that a frame is only saved when the user moves out of the Print Frame Definitions screen. If the scale is turned off while the user is still on this screen, the frame will be lost permanently.

Bluetooth

NOTE: Some options labeled as [N/A] are either not available or not fully

implemented yet. Setting these parameters may result into a serious malfunction of your Bluetooth device.

Introduction

The optional Bluetooth module allows you to transfer data wirelessly for a short distance to another Bluetooth unit. This is a simple option, which uses the ease of use and popularity of Bluetooth devices for information transfer while stripping the complexities and cost of higher-end wireless communication such as WiFi.
The Bluetooth module uses a Frame Definition database built into the scale to provide the user the ability to print custom frames of data based on various requirements that may need to be accomplished.

Important Notes for Bluetooth Operation

Bluetooth devices have some notable limitations and some precautions need to be taken for proper Bluetooth communication.

Maximum Distance

The Bluetooth module implemented in the scale is a standard Class 2 Bluetooth device. This means that it can only communicate with another Bluetooth device within 30ft in the line of sight. If there are obstructions within this line of sight, such as concrete walls, then that distance is further diminished.

Interference

It is recommended that to get the best signal out of the Bluetooth enabled indicator, no metal should be placed near the indicator. Metals disrupt the signal coming from the Bluetooth module and might produce noise interference in the communication resulting in corrupt data being transmitted. The metal also might cause the signal range to be diminished causing serious reduction in communication range.

Overview of Menu Options

This section explains the various menu options available in the indicator to manipulate the Bluetooth module. The actual sequence of the operation will be covered in the next section (see “Basic Operation”). These menu options can be accessed by pressing MENU key on the main screen, then selecting OPTIONS SETUP->BLUETOOTH SETUP.

Bluetooth Reset

This menu option executes a soft reset on the internal Bluetooth. This reset is usually performed when the Bluetooth module is performing erratically.

Scan Remote Devices

This option allows you to scan for any Bluetooth devices present in the vicinity. All Bluetooth devices scanned will be placedin a database, which can be accessed using the “List All Devices” option .

Find Remote Devices [N/A]

This option allows you to scan for a specific device in the vicinity.

List All Devices

This option lists all the devices that have been scanned using the “Scan Remote Devices” option. In this list, you can check

the properties of a remote device, connect to a remote device and even check the connection status of a remote device.

Quick Connect Device

The Quick Connect option allows fast-connection to a particular device based on used defined parameters, without going through menu options. The user may select the name of the device to connect to or the specific address. The connection process is further explained in the section “Quick Connect Operation ”.

Bluetooth Local Settings (Advanced)

This option allows the user to set settings for the internal Bluetooth module, such as the local name, aerial virtual COM port and factory settings.

Basic Operation

Pairing and Default Pin

Please note there might be a need to pair the scale with the remote Bluetooth device. The default pin for the scale is ‘0000’. As soon as you get the prompt to enter a pin for pairing on your remote device, enter the stated pin to commence pairing. Pairing can be before or during the connection sequence. The Default Pin option is further explained in the Advance Settings section. Instructions are provided on how to change the default pin, or if so desired, to eliminate the default pin and use manual entry on the fly.

Connection

There are two types of connections that are going to be discussed in this section; Outgoing Connection and Incoming Connection.

Outgoing Connection

Outgoing connection is the connection that the user initiates from the scale. The user has full control on how this connection will be established. The following steps explain how to conduct this connection.

1. As recommended, before conducting any Bluetooth operations perform a soft reset of the Bluetooth module to bring it to a known
2. To establish an outgoing connection to a remote device, you must first scan the area for that device so that the scale can add it to its internal remote device database. From the Bluetooth Setup option menu, select “Scan Remote Devices” to detect any Bluetooth devices in the area. You can also do this directly in the “List All Devices” section. The following status messages should appear at the top of the

“Scanning Remote Devices”       – Obtaining remote device addresses from the vicinity
“Scanning Remote Names”         – Obtaining remote names associated with the addresses obtained.
“Done!”                                     – Operations done

3. Go to “List All Devices” to see what devices are available in the vicinity. In the “Bluetooth Devices” screen, you will see all Bluetooth devices that have been detected in the area. If you don’t see the device you are looking for, select the “SCAN” option on the horizontal menu below the list and press Since the screen can only show you ipto six devices at a time, you may have to use the UP and DOWN buttons to select a device as there maybe more than 6 devices detected. At the bottom of the screen, there are various operations that can be done on the devices detected.
4. SCAN: Scan the surrounding area to find Bluetooth devices. The system will keep adding new devices to the list without erasing the previous devices found. At some point, the list may become “stale” i.e. the list is outdated and the devices in the list are no longer in the surrounding area. If this is the case, you may need to clear the To do this, go back to the main menu and select “Scan Remote Devices”. Alternatively, you can use “Bluetooth Reset” to clear the list.
5. CONN [CONNECT] : Connect to the selected remote Bluetooth
6. PRPT [PROPTERTIES] : Check the properties of the remote
7. Name: Name of remote device
8. Class: Device class of remote device, such as headset, desktop,

• Address: Address of

1. STAT [STATUS] : Check the connection status of the remote This is only active if a connection has been established.
2. Name: Name of remote device
3. Connected: Connection status (YES or NO)

• Paired: Shows if the device is paired or [N/A]

1. Port: The current local port used for connection.
2. Port: The remote port of the connected device.
3. Signal: Signal strength of the
4. Select CONNECT on the horizontal menu and press the ENTER key to connect to a desired device. If you see a “Link Established…” message followed by a checkmark being placed besides the intended connected device, you have successfully connected to the If you see any other messages, or the checkmark was not placed, then the device was not connected.
5. To check the status of the connection, select STATUS from the horizontal This will give some information about the connection as stated in step 3.
6. Go back to main weight A Bluetooth indicator () shows at the bottom of the screen to indicate that a Bluetooth connection is in progress. You can now use the PRINT button on the front panel to send weight information to the remote device.
7. To disconnect, go back to the Bluetooth Options menu, in “List All Devices”. Select the device that is currently connected (the device with a checkmark beside it). Select CONNECT from the horizontal menu and press ENTER The connection will be destroyed. The status message “Link Released…” will appear at the top of the screen. If this status message does not appear, then the link was not released properly.
8. An easier way to disconnect is using the “Quick Disconnect” This is explained in the next section.

Incoming Connection

Incoming connection is the connection that comes from a remote device. The user of the scale can only choose whether to connect or not to the incoming device, if pairing has been enabled (no default pins defined). The following steps instruct the user how to manage an incoming connection.

1. If the incoming connection from a device is a new device that has never been used before, a Pin Entry dialog box will appear if the default pin was not set (see Bluetooth Local Settings section). If the default pin was not set, and the wrong pin is entered from the remote device, then the connection will not be
2. If the incoming connection from a device is a device that has been paired before, then the connection is There is no need for user interaction here. The link will be established and the device will appear in the “List All Devices” section. The Bluetooth indicator will also appear at the bottom of the screen to inform the user that a Bluetooth connection is in progress.
3. You may now receive data or press the PRINT button to send the data to the remote

QuickConnect Operation

Introduction

The QuickConnect feature simplifies the connection process for everyday use so that the user does not have to go through the menu process to establish a simple connection. The QuickConnect feature allows the user to connect to a predefined remote device straight from the front panel while on the main weight screen.
The user can choose to predefine the Bluetooth remote device’s name or address, so that when the user conducts a QuickConnect, the scale will look for a device in the vicinity that matches the predefined name or address and establish a connection immediately.
The QuickConnect can also start “automatically” at reboot without any user interaction. This means that if the desired
QuickConnect set device is in range, as soon as the indicator comes out of startup, it will connect immediately to this device.

Setup

To setup QuickConnect, select “QuickConnect Device” in the Bluetooth setup menu. A screen shows up showing fields to
enter values for Quick Connect.

• N: Name of the remote device to perform a quick connect
• A: Address of the remote device to perform a quick connect

 AutoStart:

• YES: This enables The QuickConnect process will begin at startup.
• NO: This disables The QuickConnect needs to be initiated manually. This is explained below

under “QuickConnect”.

ADVANCED

[After the above area, the rest is advanced settings that only should be played with if you have some knowledge about Bluetooth functionality]

• LPort: The default local port to use for
• Rport: The default remote port to use for

To change these fields, a horizontal menu is provided for your use.

• LIST: Opens a list of detected devices in the vicinity. This is the easiest way of entering a predefined device for quick connect purposes. Simply make sure that the scale is near the remote device you want to connect to. Select this option and press the ENTER The scale will scan the area for Bluetooth devices and present you with a list of detected devices. Select a device and press ENTER to fill the Quick Connect fields.
• AUTO: Toggle AutoStart option for Yes/No.
• NAME: Manually enter the name of the device you want to quick connect
• ADDR: Manually enter the address of the device you want to quick connect
• LPRT: Enter the local port you want to use for link [Set auto]
• RPRT: Enter the remote port want to use for link connection.

When you are satisfied with the settings, press the MENU key. This will save your settings so that the next time you power up the scale, the settings will be preloaded. There is no need to come into this menu option to redo the settings again, unless you want to change the Quick Connect parameters.

QuickConnect Process

Once the settings have been established, head over to the main weight screen. Make sure there are no connections currently in progress (check to see if the Bluetooth indicator is showing).

AutoStart

To demonstrate how the system will automatically connect to the set QuickConnect device, make sure the QuickConnect device is in the vicinity of the scale. Press the ON/OFF key until the screen goes blank. Wait for 5 seconds. Press the

ON/OFF key again and wait. After the weight appears on screen, the message “Starting QuickConnect” appears on the top part of the screen. Then you will see “Verifying Service”. After this message, you will see “Link Established. This means the QuickConnect session was successful. If you see “Service Check Failed!” and “Device not found”, this means the QuickConnect device is not in the vicinity, or in more advanced setting, the Local/Remote port is not right. If the session was successful, the Bluetooth indicator will appear. Press PRINT key to send data to the device.

Manual

For a manual operation, press ON/OFF and then press 5 (within 3 seconds). Immediately, the scale will scan the current area to see if the device you defined in the Quick Connect screen is present. If it is present, it will connect to this device and show the Bluetooth indicator. If the device is not found, then the appropriate status message will be shown. You may now send and receive data from the device. Press PRINT key to send data to the device.

Quick Disconnect

If you want to disconnect from the device, you can either use the Quick Disconnect feature or go to the Bluetooth Setup option and disconnect from there. To quick disconnect the device, use the same sequence that is described above; i.e. press ON/OFF and then press 5 (within 3 seconds). This quick disconnection sequence can also be used if you have connected to the device without going through Quick Connect.

Bluetooth Local Settings (ADVANCED)

This section introduces some of the advanced features available for the scale Bluetooth module. Most of these features have to do with the local configuration of Bluetooth module. It is recommended that you are well versed with the above described operation before you get into this section. Most of the time, you will not need to modify these settings.

Following are the local Bluetooth settings that can be modified to satisfy some specific requirements in your application. Toaccess these settings, in the Bluetooth Setup screen, scroll down “Bluetooth Local Settings.”

Bluetooth Enable

This menu option allows you to Enable or Disable the Bluetooth functionality. After toggling this option, the scale needs to be restarted.

View Device Info

This menu option allows to view the Bluetooth modules name and device address.

Change Local Name

This menu option allows you to change the local name of the scale Bluetooth module. Currently, it is defaulted to “ARLYN SCALE”. You can modify this to anything you want depending on your needs.

Virtual Port Settings

This menu option specifies the characteristics of the aerial Virtual COM port through which to send out data. This setting, if changed improperly, may disable your Bluetooth communication system.

Fixed Pin Settings

This shows the current Default Pin settings of the Bluetooth module. This allows the Bluetooth module to send this pin to any device asking for a pin request. You will never need to enter the pin on the scale.
Entering this option, the default pin is shown on screen. The default pin is ‘0000’. You can press ENTER to change the
default pin. You have two options here:

1. Default Fixed Pin: You can put a default pin, of up to 16 alphanumeric characters in The next time a pairing is needed, this pin has to be entered on the other remote device when a dialog box pops up.
2. No Fixed Pin: By pressing ENTER without entering a pin, the scale will assume that you want to enter the pin each time a pairing is The next time you pair with a device, a dialog box will pop up on the scale screen for you to enter a desired pin. That same pin has to be entered in the remote device as well.

Reset Factory Settings

Selecting this option will default the Bluetooth module to the original settings set by the Bluetooth Manufacturer. If the Bluetooth is acting erratically, and/or you might have changed settings that may have disabled Bluetooth communication, use this option to bring the settings back to original factory configuration.

Frames Settings

WARNING: The following descriptions illustrate the advanced operation of

changing the frames being printed on the USB flash drive. Incorrect usage of the features described in this section will cause the scale to malfunction. Proceed with caution.

The Bluetooth module sends out weight information by pressing the PRINT key on the front panel. The system uses Print Frames to determine what data can be sent out. Currently, the frame contains weight information.
The Print Frames feature can be accessed by going to SETUP MENU/OPTION SETUPS/RS232/PRINT FRAMES. Ignore the connotation RS232, as it only implicates the RS232 transceiver not present in these scales.
In the Print Frame Definitions screen, look for the frame named Frame#001 which is the default frame data being sent out. This is current configuration.

To change the frame to include more data types, you can refer to instructions outlined in the Print Frames section defined for RS232 option in page 5.
Please note that a frame is only saved when the user moves out of the Print Frame Definitions screen. If the scale is turned off while the user is still on this screen, the frame will be lost permanently.

Arlyn Scales Battery Option Addendum

• Plug in power transformer & the “Ready” sign will come
• Place the toggle switch on the right side of indicator to the “On”
• Let the batteries charge up (approx. 8hrs).
• At this point your scale should be operational & ready to
• You can leave the power transformer plugged in while using the scale
• To shut off the scale press the “On/Off” key
• To turn on the scales press the “On/Off” key and you will see the “Ready” come
• Press the “On/Off” key again & your scale will be
• Only shut off toggle switch if you are not going to use the scale for a long period of
• If the toggle switch is not on the “On” position the scale will not

_Note_

The scale will automatically shut off if the scale is not being used in 15min. You can change the “Shut Off Time” or disable the shut off time internally in the system menu.
Any problems please call the Service Dept. @ 800-645-4301 x101

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References

• Industrial Scales | Custom Weighing Solutions┃Arlyn Scales
• Industrial Scales | Custom Weighing Solutions┃Arlyn Scales

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