PASCO PS-3213 Wireless Light Sensor User Guide
- June 1, 2024
- PASCO
Table of Contents
PASCO PS-3213 Wireless Light Sensor
Introduction
The Wireless Light Sensor is a coin cell battery-powered wireless sensor that connects to a computer or tablet device through Bluetooth. The sensor measures light through two apertures. The Spot Light Aperture measures red-green-blue (RGB) and white light. The Ambient Light Aperture measures illuminance (measured in lux, or lumens per square meter), Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) in sunlight, and solar irradiance (in watts per square meter). The Ambient Light Aperture also measures ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB), allowing the ultraviolet index (UVI) to be calculated.
Either PASCO Capstone or SPARKvue is used to display and analyze the measurements from the sensor. The sensor also supports remote data logging for long-term experiments; for more information on this, see the PASCO Capstone or SPARKvue online help. Since each sensor has a unique device ID number, more than one can be connected to a computer or tablet at the same time.
Features
-
Battery Status LED
Indicates the battery level of the sensor by blinking red at low power. -
Spot Light Aperture
Used to measure red, green, blue, and white light. -
Bluetooth Status LED
Indicates the status of the sensor’s Bluetooth connection. For information on remote data logging, see the PASCO Capstone or SPARKvue online help.
-
Device ID number
Use this to identify the sensor when connecting via Bluetooth. -
Battery drawer
Holds the coin cell battery that powers the sensor. -
ON button
Press to turn the sensor on. Press and briefly hold to turn the sensor off. Note that the sensor automatically turns itself off after several minutes of inactivity if not connected. -
Ambient Light Aperture
Used to measure UVA and UVB.
Get the software
You can use the sensor with SPARKvue or PASCO Capstone software. If you’re not
sure which to use, visit pasco.com/products/guides/software-
comparison. SPARKvue is
available as a free app for Chromebook, iOS, and Android devices. We offer a
free trial of SPARKvue and Capstone for Windows and Mac. To get the software,
go to pasco.com/downloads or search for SPARKvue
in your device’s app store. If you have installed the software previously,
check that you have the latest update:
SPARKvue
Go to Main Menu Check for Updates
PASCO Capstone
Go to Help > Check for Updates. Check for a firmware update SPARKvue
- Press the power button until the LEDs turn on.
- Open SPARKvue.
- Select Sensor Data on the Welcome Screen.
- From the list of available devices, select the sensor that matches your sensor’s device ID.
- A notification appears if a firmware update is available. Click Yes to update the firmware.
- Close SPARKvue when the update is complete.
PASCO Capstone
- Press and hold the power button until the LEDs turn on.
- Open PASCO Capstone.
- Click Hardware Setup.
- From the list of available devices, select the sensor that matches your sensor’s device ID. A notification appears if a firmware update is available. Click Yes to update the firmware.
- Close Capstone when the update is complete.
Set up the software SPARKvue
Connecting the sensor to a tablet or computer:
- Turn on the Wireless Light Sensor. Check to make sure the Bluetooth Status LED is blinking red.
- Open SPARKvue, then click Sensor Data.
- From the list of available wireless devices on the left, select the device that matches the device ID printed on your Wireless Light Sensor.
Collecting data
- Select the measurements you intend to record from the Select the Measurements for Templates menu by clicking the check box next to the relevant measurements’ names.
- Click Graph in the Templates section to open the Experiment Screen. The graph’s axes will auto-populate with the selected measurements.
- Click Start to begin recording data.
PASCO Capstone
Connecting the sensor to a computer:
-
Turn on the Wireless Light Sensor. Check to make sure the
Bluetooth Status LED is blinking red. -
Open Capstone, then click Hardware Setup in the Tools palette.
-
From the list of Available Wireless Devices, click the device that matches the device ID printed on your Wireless Light Sensor.
Collecting data
- Double-click or drag the Graph icon in the Displays palette to create a new blank graph display.
- To assign measurements to the graph’s axes, click each box.
- Click Record to begin collecting data.
Measurements
The Spot sensor measures relative light levels in red, green, blue, and white.
- The Ambient sensor measures relative light levels in red, green, blue, white, UVA, and UVB.
Note that the software does not report red, green, blue, or white from the Ambient Light Aperture.
Spot Light Sensor
As a percentage of the total light detected by the Spot Light Sensor.
Ambient Light Sensor
Based on solar radiance
Definitions of measurements
- UVA: Ultraviolet A refers to ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths between 315 and 400 nm.
- UVB: Ultraviolet B refers to ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths between 290 and 320 nm; this range comprises less than 1% of the ultraviolet radiation that reaches Earth.
- UV Index: The ultraviolet index, or UV index, measures the potential for skin damage by exposure to sunlight at a given location. A low number means less risk than a higher number.
- Illuminance: This refers to the total luminous flux incident on a surface per unit area. It is used as a measure of how much the incident light illuminates the surface. Illuminance is measured in lux, or lumens per square meter.
- Irradiance: In radiometry, irradiance is the radiant flux (power) received by a surface per unit area. The SI unit of irradiance is the watt per square meter (W/m2 ).
- PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation): This designates the spectral range, or wave band, of solar radiation from 400 to 700 nm that photosynthetic organisms can use in the process of photosynthesis.
- This spectral region corresponds closely with the range of light visible to the human eye.
Light Sensor response curves
The sensor’s relative responsivity for a given wavelength refers to a ratio of
the current produced in the sensor in response to light of this wavelength
from an LED of a specific colour to the current produced in response to the
same wavelength from a clear LED. The graph in Figure 1 shows normalized
Relative Responsivity versus Wavelength (in nm) for red, green, blue, and
clear LEDs.
The approximate wavelength ranges at half-max are
- Red: 580 to 650 nm
- Green: 510 to 580 nm
- Blue: 400 to 510 nm
Figure 1. Response curves for red, green, blue, and unfiltered light for the Spot sensor.
Troubleshooting
- If the Wireless Light Sensor loses Bluetooth connection and will not reconnect, try cycling the ON button. Press and briefly hold the button until the status LEDs blink in sequence, then release the button. Start the sensor in the usual way.
- If the sensor stops communicating with the computer software or tablet application, try restarting the software or application.
- If the problem persists, press and hold the ON button for 10 seconds, then release. Start the sensor in the usual way.
- If the above steps do not fix the problem, turn Bluetooth off and back on for your computer or tablet, then retry
About the battery
Battery usage
Battery life is very important to making the sensor simple and always ready to
use. Therefore, like all PASCO wireless products, the Wireless Light Sensor is
designed for long battery life. For example, the sensor turns itself off after
a few minutes of inactivity to preserve battery life. The Wireless Light
Sensor includes a three-volt coin cell battery (CR2032). This battery should
provide more than one year of battery life, but the actual amount depends on
factors such as the data collection sampling rate.
Sensor storage
If the sensor will be stored for many months, we recommend that you remove the
battery and store it separately to avoid damaging the sensor in case of a
battery leak.
Maximizing battery life
One of the factors that affects battery life is the storage temperature.
Therefore, avoid storing the sensor in very cold or very hot environments.
Battery removal and replacement
If the sensor’s Battery Status LED blinks red, the battery may need to be
replaced. Replacing the battery involves opening the Battery Drawer on the
back of the sensor, removing the old battery, installing a new battery of the
same type, and closing the Battery Drawer. The procedure requires a small,
thin-blade screwdriver (or a fingernail) and a CR2032 three-volt battery, such
as those provided in the PS-3504 Coin Cell Battery Pack. This battery is also
commonly available in electronic and commercial stores.
Open the battery drawer
Hold the sensor with the top side facing up. Use a thin blade screwdriver or a
fingernail to push down slightly on the centre section of the battery drawer.
See Step 1 in the figure above. Pull the battery drawer out of the sensor by
about one centimetre. See Step 2 in the figure above. Turn the sensor over so
the bottom is facing upward. Pull the battery drawer the rest of the way out
of the sensor. Replace the battery with another identical battery.
Close the battery drawer
Align the battery drawer with the slot on the end of the sensor and push the
battery drawer back into the sensor until you hear a click. The discharged
battery must be recycled or disposed of separately from typical household
waste. For more information, see the Battery disposal guidelines under
Regulatory Information.
Software help
The SPARKvue and PASCO Capstone Help provide additional information on how to
use this product with the software. You can access the help within the
software or online.
SPARKvue
- Software: Main Menu > Help
- Online: help.pasco.com/sparkvue
- PASCO Capstone
- Software: Help > PASCO Capstone Help
- Online: help.pasco.com/capstone
- Specifications and accessories
- Visit the product page at pasco.com/product/PS-3213 to view the specifications and explore accessories.
- You can also download experiment files and support documents from the product page.
Experiment files
Download one of several student-ready activities from the PASCO Experiment
Library. Experiments include editable student handouts and teacher notes.
Visit pasco.com/freelabs/PS-3213.
Technical support
Need more help? Our knowledgeable and friendly Technical support staff is
ready to answer your questions or walk you through any issues.
Chat pasco.com
Phone 1-800-772-8700 x1004 (USA)
+1 916 462 8384 (outside USA)
Email support@pasco.com
Limited warranty
For a description of the product warranty, see the Warranty and Returns page at www.pasco.com/legal.
Copyright
This document is copyrighted with all rights reserved. Permission is granted
to nonprofit educational institutions for reproduction of any part of this
manual, providing the reproductions are used only in their laboratories and
classrooms, and are not sold for profit. Reproduction under any other
circumstances, without the written consent of PASCO Scientific, is prohibited.
Trademarks
PASCO and PASCO Scientific are trademarks or registered trademarks of PASCO
Scientific, in the United States and other countries. All other brands,
products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of, and
are used to identify, products or services of, their respective owners. For
more information visit www.pasco.com/legal.
Product end-of-life disposal
This electronic product is subject to disposal and recycling regulations that
vary by country and region. It is your responsibility to recycle your
electronic equipment per your local environmental laws and regulations to
ensure that it will be recycled in a manner that protects human health and the
environment. To find out where you can drop off your waste equipment for
recycling, please contact your local waste recycling or disposal service, or
the place where you purchased the product. The European Union WEEE (Waste
Electronic and Electrical Equipment) symbol on the product or its packaging
indicates that this product must not be disposed of in a standard waste
container.
CE statement
This device has been tested and found to comply with the essential
requirements and other relevant provisions of the applicable EU Directives.
FCC statement
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
Battery disposal
Batteries contain chemicals that, if released, may affect the environment and
human health. Batteries should be collected separately for recycling and
recycled at a local hazardous material disposal location adhering to your
country and local government regulations. To find out where you can drop off
your waste battery for recycling, please contact your local waste disposal
service or the product representative. The battery used in this product is
marked with the European Union symbol for waste batteries to indicate the need
for the separate collection and recycling of batteries.
References
- PASCO Capstone Help
- SPARKvue Help
- PASCO scientific | Science Lab Equipment and Teacher Resources
- Popular Downloads | PASCO
- Lab Experiment Library - Resources | PASCO
- Software Comparison: SPARKvue or Capstone? | PASCO
- Privacy Policies | PASCO
- Privacy Policies | PASCO
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