Labco Scientific EC850 Portable Conductivity Meter User Manual

Labco Scientific EC850 Portable Conductivity Meter

FAQ

• Q: How do I change the stability criteria on the EC850?
• A: You can change the stability criteria by accessing parameter P1.3 in the menu settings and selecting either Normal, High, or Low based on your testing requirements.
• Q: What should I do when the low battery icon appears on the display?
• A: When the low battery icon appears, it indicates that the battery needs to be replaced. Please replace the batteries promptly to ensure the proper functionality of the meter.

INTRODUCTION

• Thank you for purchasing the EC850 portable Conductivity meter.
• This product is a great combination of advanced electronics technology, sensor technology, and software design, made for general water solution applications such as water treatment, environmental monitoring, pools and spas, hydroponics, aquaculture, education, beverage making, cooling towers, etc., especially ideal for field use.
• In order to use and maintain the meter properly, please read the manual thoroughly before use.

Measurement Parameters

Basic Features

• The microprocessor-based portable meter features automatic calibration, automatic temperature compensation, function setup, self-diagnostics, automatic power-off and low-voltage display.
• The meter’s digital filter improves measurement speed and accuracy. There is a stable reading indication on the display.
• The package includes a portable case, a meter, electrodes, standard solutions and all accessories, which is convenient to use in the field.
• The meter is dustproof and waterproof, meeting the IP67 rating

Conductivity Measurement Features

• 1-4 points automatic calibration, the meter provides a calibration guide and automatic checking function.
• The meter can switch between conductivity and TDS.
• The meter can recognize conductivity standard solutions automatically.

SPECIFICATIONS

Main Specifications

CONDUCTIVITY

| ****

RANGE

| Conductivity: 0~200 mS/cm (divided into five ranges): (0.00~19.99) µs/cm; (20.0~199.9) µs/cm;

(200~1,999) µs/cm; (2.00~19.99) ms/cm; (20.0~199.9) ms/cm

TDS: (0~100) g/L.

---|---|---
RESOLUTION| 0.01/0.1/1 µS/cm 0.01/0.1 mS/cm
ACCURACY| ± 1.0%F.S ±1 digit
TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION| (0 ~ 100)˚C (manual or automatic)
ELECTRODE CONSTANT| 0.1 / 1 / 10cm-1

TEMP

| RANGE| 0 – 100˚C
RESOLUTION| 0.1˚C
ACCURACY| ±0.5˚C ±1 digit

Other Specifications

DIMENSION & WEIGHT

| Meter: 86x196x33mm/335g
Portable case: 330x270x82mm/1.3kg| PH850, EC850

INSTRUMENT DESCRIPTION

LCD Display

1. Parameter mode icons

2. Measurement reading

3. Prompts of special display mode

4. Units of measurement

5. Temperature units (°C and °F)

6. Units of pH and conductivity calibration value

7. pH and conductivity calibration value, and prompts of special display mode

8. Temperature value, and prompts of special display mode

9. Temperature compensation icons
   ATC — automatic temperature compensation, MTC — manual temperature compensation

10. Calibration guide icon

11. Stability icon of readings

12. Low battery icon, when this icon appears, please replace the battery

13. Automatic reading hold icon

Keypad Functions

Keypad operations
Short press —– <1.5 seconds; Long press —– >1.5 seconds.
Turn on the meter: Press to turn on the meter.
Turn off the meter: In the measurement mode, press and hold for 2 seconds to turn off the meter.
Note: In the calibration mode or the parameter setup mode, pressing is invalid. Please press a key to return to the measurement mode, then press to turn off the meter.

Chart 1 – Keypad Operations and Descriptions

Meter Socket

Reading Stability Display Mode

When the measuring value is stable, a smiley icon appears on LCD, see Diagram – 4. If the smiley icon does not appear or flash, please do not get the reading value or make calibration until the measuring value is stable. Per parameter P1.3, there are 3 criteria for stability standard: (Normal), (High), and (Low). The factory default is set to “Normal,” “High” is set for stability for a longer time, and “Low” is set for stability for a shorter time. Users can select suitable stability criteria according to different testing requirements.

Automatic Lock-Up Display Mode

• Select On from parameter P4.6 to turn on the automatic lock-up display function. When the reading value stabilizes for more than 10 seconds, the meter locks the measuring value automatically and displays the HOLD icon, see Diagram – 5. In the HOLD mode, press to release lock-up.

Automatic Power-off
The meter will be powered off if there is no operation for 20 minutes. The time of auto power-off can be set in parameter setting P3.2

Manual Temperature Compensation (MTC)

• When the temperature probe does not connect to the meter, the long press key, and temperature value flash, then the long press key or short press key to change the temperature value in one way, and press to confirm the temperature value to achieve Manual Temperature Compensation (MTC).

CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT

Conductivity Electrode Information

1. Conductivity electrode
   Model 2301T-S plastic conductivity electrode with constant K=1.0 and built-in temperature sensor can realize automatic temperature compensation. The electrode housing is POM plastic which is corrosion-resistant and impact resistant. When submerging the conductivity electrode in the solution, stir the solution briefly to eliminate the air bubbles and improve response and stability.

2. Conductivity electrode constant
   The meter matches the conductivity electrodes of three constants: K=0.1, K=1.0 and K=10.0. Please refer to chart-7 for measuring range. Set constant in parameter setting P2.1 and refer to clause 7.4

Chart 7 – Electrode constant and measuring range

K=0.1

|

K=1.0

|

K=10

STANDARD SOLUTION| 84 µs/cm| 84 µs/cm| 1413 µs/cm| 12.88 mS/cm| 111.8 mS/cm

ELECTRODE’S MODEL

| DJS-0.1-s conductivity electrode|

2301T-S conductivity electrode

| 2310T-S conductivity electrode

Conductivity Calibration

Conductivity calibration solutions
The meter uses a conductivity standard solution of 84 μS/cm, 1413 μS/cm, 12.88 mS/cm and 111.8 mS/cm. The meter can recognize the standard solution automatically, can perform one-point or multi-point calibration (the maximum is four-point calibration). The calibration indication icons correspond to the four standard values ( icon corresponds to two standards). See chart – 8:

Calibration frequency

• The meter is calibrated before leaving the factory and can generally be used right out of the box.
• Normally perform calibration per month.
• For high-accuracy measurements or large temperature deviation from the reference temperature (25°C), perform calibration per week.
• Use a conductivity standard solution to check whether there is an error. Perform calibration for large errors.
• For new electrodes or factory default settings, perform 3-point or 4-point calibration. Choose a closer standard solution to the sample solution to perform 1- 1-point or 2-point calibration.

Reference temperature
The reference temperature of the factory default is 25°C. Other reference temperatures can also be set for the range 15°C – 30°C. Select per parameter setting P2.2 and see clause 7.4.

Temperature coefficient
The temperature compensation coefficient of the meter setting is 2.0%/°C. However, the conductivity temperature coefficient is different from solutions and concentration. Please refer to chart – 9 and the data collected during testing. Setper parameter setting P2.3. and see clause 7.4.
Note: When the coefficient for the temperature compensation is set to 0.00 (no compensation), the measurement value will be based on the current temperature.

Chart -9 Temperature compensation coefficient of special solutions

Avoid contamination of standard solution
Conductivity standard solution has no buffer. Please avoid being contaminated during usage. Before submerging the electrode in standard solution, please wash the electrode and allow it dry. Please do not use the same cup of conductivity standard solution repeatedly, especially for standard solution of low concentration (84μS/cm). The contaminated standard solution will affect accuracy.

Conductivity Calibration (take 1413μS/cm as an example)

1. Rinse the electrode in distilled or deionized water, allow it to dry, wash with a little of standard solution and submerge it in standard solution. Stir the solution briefly and allow it to stay in the solution until a stable reading is reached.

2. Press key to enter the calibration mode.
   The meter’s display will show blinking “CAL” at the top right, and scanning and locking process of calibration solution at the bottom right. When the meter locks 1413 mS, stable icon will stay on
   LCD. Press key to complete calibration.The meter will return to measuring mode and will be displayed on the bottom left of the LCD screen. See diagram-8.

3. For multi-point calibration, please repeat clause 6.3.1-6.3.2 until all the calibration is done. Themeter can repeat calibration in the same calibration solution until the stable value is reached.

Notes

• If press key before stable icon appeared on LCD screen, Error indication icon Er 2 will be shown. See Chart -11.
• Press key to exit calibration mode.

Relations between TDS and Conductivity

1. TDS and conductivity is linear related. The conversion factor is 0.40-1.00. Adjust the factor from parameter P2.4. The factory default setting is 0.71 and please refer to Item 7.4. The meter only needs to be calibrated in Conductivity mode, then after calibration of conductivity, the meter can switch from conductivity to TDS or salinity.
2. Adjust TDS conversion factor in parameter setting P2.4 according to the data collected during testing and experience.
   Chart – 10 lists some common use Conductivity and TDS conversion factors. This is for your reference only.

Chart – 10 Conductivity and TDS conversion factors

Sample Test

1. Rinse conductivity electrode in distilled or deionized water, allow it to dry, and submerge it in the sample solution. Stirthe solution briefly and allow it to stay in the sample solution until a stable reading is reached and icon appears onLCD, then get the reading value, which is the conductivity value of the solution.
2. Press key to switch to TDS.
3. During the process of calibration and measurement, the meter has self-diagnosis functions, indicating the relativeinformation as below: chart – 11.

Factory default setting
For factory default setting, please refer to parameter setting P2.5 (Item 7.4). With this function, all calibration data is deleted and the meter restores to the theory value. Some functions restore to the original value (refer to appendix -1). When calibration or measurement fails, please restore the meter to factory default setting and then perform re-calibration or measurement. Please note once set the factory default, all the data deleted will be irretrievable.

Conductivity Electrode Maintenance

1. Always keep the conductivity electrode clean. Before taking a measurement, rinse the electrode in distilled or deionized water and better to rinse it again in the sample solution. When submerge the electrode in solution, stir the solution briefly to eliminate air bubbles and allow it to stay until a stable reading is reached. For conductivity electrode which is drily stored, soak the electrode in distilled or deionized water for 5-10 minutes. Rinse the electrode in distilled or deionized water after measurement.
2. The interaction rod of Model 2301T-S conductivity electrode is coated with platinum black to minimize electrode polarization and expand measuring range. The platinum black coating adopted our special processing technology which improves the electrode performance and the firmness of the coating. If the platinum black electrode is stained, gently clean the electrode with soft brush in warm water containing detergent or alcohol.

PARAMETER SETTING

Main Menu

In the measurement mode, press key to enter P2.0, then press to switch to main menu: P2.0→P3.0. Please refer to diagram – 9. P2.0: Conductivity parameter setting; P3.0: Basic parameter setting.

Submenu

1. In P2.0 mode, press key to enter submenu P2.1 of conductivity parameter setting, then press to switch among submenu: P2.1→P2.2→P2.3→P2.4→P2.5, see Diagram– 9.
2. In P3.0 mode, press key to enter submenu P3.1 of basic parameter setting, then press to switch among submenu: P3.1→P3.2→P3.3, see Diagram – 9.

Submenu of pH Parameter Setting (press key to switch)

Submenu of Conductivity Parameter Setting (press key to switch)

Submenu of Basic Parameter Setting (press key to switch)

WHAT’S IN THE KIT

bottle each
4.| Portable case| 1 pc
5.| Manual| 1 book

WARRANTY

We warrant this instrument to be free from defects in material and workmanship and agree to repair or replace free of charge, at the option of APERA INSTRUMENTS, LLC, any malfunctioned or damaged product attributable to the responsibility of APERA INSTRUMENTS, LLC for a period of THREE YEARS for the instrument and SIX MONTHS for the probe from the delivery.
This limited warranty does NOT cover any issues due to:

• Accidental damage
• Improper use
• Normal wear and tear
• Transportation
• Storage
• Failure to follow the product instructions
• Unauthorized maintenance, modifications, combination or use with any products, materials, processes, systems or other matter
• Unauthorized repair

APPENDIX I: PARAMETER SETTING & FACTORY DEFAULT SETTING

APPENDIX II: ABBREVIATION GLOSSARY

CONTACT

• Printed fechnical specifications are subject to change without notification Labco® is a registered trademark.
• See the full product range online.
• 1800 052 226
• sales@labcoscientific.com.au.
• labcoscientific.com.au.

References

• Home Page

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