ACL 395 User manual

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage1of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
ACL395ResistivityMeter
OPERATIONMANUAL
Meteriswarrantedforoneyearfromthedateofpurchaseonpartsandlabor.
Calibrationisrecommendedevery12months.



ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage2of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com

ACL395ResistivityMeter

TheACL395isalightweight,pocket‐sized,auto‐rangingsurfaceresistivitymeter.Itisdesigned
totestconductive,dissipative,andinsulativesurfacesforelectricalresistivityaccordingtothe
ESDA’sparallelresistivityprobemethodDINEN100015/1&ASTMD257.

Ifthemeterisusedwiththe5‐lbprobesavailableintheaccessorykit,itwillcomplyto
IEC61340‐4‐1,ANSI/ESDAS4.1andANSI/ESDAS7.1.
ACL395ResistivityMeterincludes:
*Tester
*Twoaccordioncables(stereotobanana)
*9‐voltbattery
*Certificateofcalibration

ACL396AccessoryKitincludes:
*Two5‐lbprobes
*Foam‐linedcarryingcase

Limits
*Resistivity:103‐1012ohms/square
*Resistance:103‐1012ohms
*Measuringvoltage:10vand100v

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage3of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
INTRODUCTION

TheACL395ResistivityMeterisaneasy‐to‐usetesterformeasuringsurfaceresistivity.When
usedwiththeACL396AccessoryKit,theACL395ResistivityMeterisadependableauditkitfor
conductiveanddissipativesurfaces.Thismeterisdesignedforuseinallfacetsofmaterial
productionincludingengineering,maintenance,qualitycontrol,incominginspection,
manufacturingandresearch,orinsalesdepartmentsforthetestingofanti‐staticmats,floor
finishes,paints,wriststraps,smocks,footwear,bagsandcontainers.

Whenusingthebuilt‐inprobes,themeter’stestvaluesforsurfaceresistivityareinohmsper
square(althoughtheyaredisplayedinohms).Whenusingtheexternal5‐lbprobes,themeter’s
testvaluesforresistanceareinohms.

DECADESCALE

103=1kilohm
104=10kilohms
105=100kilohms
3x105=300kilohms
106=1megohm
3x106=3megohm
107=10megohms
3x107=30megohms
108=100megohms
3x108=300megohms
109=1000megohms
3x109=3000megohms
1010=10,000megohms
1011=100,000megohms
1012=1,000,000megohms


ThetestvalueisindicatedontheLEDdisplay.Halfdecadesprovidegreateraccuracybygivinga
closerapproximationtothemeasurementvalue.AnLEDwillbrightentotheaccordingtest
result.Colorssignifythetestvalue’sfunction.
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COLORINDICATINGFUNCTION
GreenConductive103‐105
YellowDissipative:idealtestmeasurement3x105‐109
OrangeDissipative,butclosetogoingoutofspec3x109
–
1010
RedNear‐insulativetoinsulative1011‐1012

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage4of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com

TESTVOLTAGE

Thetestvoltagesare10vand100v.AccordingtoESDAssociation(ESDA)standardsS4.1and
S7.1,10vshouldbeappliedtosurfaceswithresistivityoflessthan106and100vshouldbe
appliedtosurfaceswithresistivityof106orgreater.TheACL395willautomaticallysimulate
thepropervoltageaccordingtothetestmeasurement.

AsdefinedbytheESDA,valuesindicatethefollowing:
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ANOTEABOUTVOLTAGE
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Inpreviousyears,thosedesiringtomeasureresistivityorresistancefollowedtheASTMD264,
ASTM991,NFPA56AorNFPA99teststandards.Theseproceduresrequiredonetotestateither
500or1000volts.Thiscausedconcernregardingsafetyofthepersonperformingthetests.The
ESDAstandardizedthetestproceduressothatlowervoltscouldbeusedwithinspecificranges.

TheACL395meterusesa9‐voltbattery.Somemeterswith9‐voltbatteriesdonotgivethe
accuracyneededtoperformthetests,especiallyatvalueshigherthan107.TheACL395isbuilt
withatransformerthatconvertsthe9‐voltchargefromthebatteryto10voltsor100volts.The
meterappliesaconstantchargeoverthecompletevoltagerange.Accuracydependsonapplied
voltage,temperature,andhumidity.


TEMPERATUREANDHUMIDITY
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Ambienthumidityandtemperatureaffecttheelectricalpropertiesofthematerialbeingtested.
Thecombinationoflowhumidityandlowtemperaturewillgivethehighestelectricalresistance
resultsandslowestdissipationtimes.Athighhumidity,athinlayerofwateriscondensedonor
absorbedintothematerialbeingtested.Thisistrueofhydroscopicadditivesthatare
incorporatedintoamaterialinordertoincreasetheelectricalconductivity.Theseadditiveswill
allowmoisturetobeabsorbedintothematerialstowhichtheyareadded.

Atelevatedtemperatures,themobilityoffreeelectronsincreases,therebyalsoincreasinga
material’sconductivity.Thisisespeciallytrueforcarbonblack,metallicoxides,metals,and
othersubstances.Whenthematerialisatalowertemperature,built‐instressesoccurwhich
mayincreaseresistanceduetoincreaseddistancebetweentheconductiveadditives.Thus,
humidityandtemperaturemustbeknown.



VoltageRange Definition
10volt<106ohmspersquareConductive
100volt106–1011ohmspersquareDissipative
100volt>1011ohmspersquareInsulative

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage5of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
RECORDINGDATA

ANSI/ESDAandEuropeanCECCrecognizetheeffectenvironmentalconditionshaveontest
measurementsandspecifyintheirstandardsthattheymeasuredandrecorded.Itispossibleto
testormanufactureamaterialathighhumidityandpassallthetestspecifications,butwhen
thecustomerreceivesthematerialandusesitatalowerhumidityortemperaturethematerial
failstopassthespecifications.Thiscancauserejectionsandlossofproduct.

BothESDS4.1ESDProtectiveWorksurfacesections6.2.4andESDS7.1‐1994Resistive
CharacterizationofMaterialsFloorMaterialssections5.2.4and5.3.3requirereportingof
temperatureandhumidityatthetimeoftesting.
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
CALIBRATION

Calibrationisrecommendedannually.TheACL395metercomeswithacertificateofcalibration
whichverifiesthecalibrationoftheinstrumentusingequipmentthatistraceabletoNational
StandardsandCAD‐generatedtechniques.MeterscanbesentbacktoACLInc.forcalibrationfor
alabfeeortheycanbesenttoacertifiedcalibrationlab.(Seepage12forcalibration
instructions.)ThemetersalsocomewithaCEmarkapproval.


MEASURINGWITHINTERNALPROBES

TheparallelresistivityprobemethodcomplieswithASTMD257.Itisusedtogivefastelectrical
resistivitymeasurementsonflathomogeneousmaterials.Itmaybeusedonmultilayered
materials,butthisshouldbenotedalongwiththetemperatureandhumidityvaluesonthedata
report.
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TherailsontheACL395aremadeofconductiverubber.Softrubberrailsprovidethehighestlevelof
surfacecontactforgreateraccuracy.



ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage6of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
Whenthemeasurementistakenbetweenthemeter’stworubberrails,themeterwillindicate
thesurfaceresistivityofthematerialbeingtested.

A. Priortotesting,makecertainthatsurfacestobetestedarecleanandfreeof
contaminants.

B. Allowthemetertoacclimatetotheatmosphereinwhichitwillbeused.Adjustmentto
newenvironmentalconditionsmaytakeaslongasahalfhour.

C. Placethemeteronthedesiredsurfacetobetested.

D. Pressandholdtheredintegratedtest
buttonwithapproximatelyfivepounds
ofappliedforce.Themeterwilldisplay
thesurfaceresistivity.

E. Whenusingthebuilt‐inprobes,the
meter’stestvaluesforsurfaceresistivity
areinohmspersquare(althoughthey
aredisplayedinohms).

F. ThetestvalueisindicatedontheLED
display.Adecadewillbrightentothe
accordingtestvalue.Colorssignifythe
testvalue’sfunction(seepage3).

MEASURINGWITHEXTERNALPROBES

Whenthemeasurementistakenusingthe5‐lbexternalprobesfromtheACL396accessorykit,
thetesterwillindicatetheresistanceofthematerialinohms.

Theexternalprobesareusedtogivefastelectricalresistivitymeasurementsonflat
homogeneousmaterials.Theymaybeusedonmultilayeredmaterials,butthisshouldbenoted
alongwiththetemperatureandhumidityvalueonthedatareport.
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Whenthecableshavebeenpluggedinto
theappropriatesockets,theparallel
probes underthemeterdisengage.

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage7of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
Byconnectingthe5‐lbprobestotheACL395’ssockets,itispossibletomeasureResistance
PointtoPoint(RTT),ResistancetoGround(RTG),andVolumeResistance.Usingtheseexternal
probeswillallowcompliancewithvariousstandardsincludingANSI/ESDAS4.1forWorksurface–
ResistanceMeasurements,ANSI/ESDAS7.1ResistiveCharacterizationofMaterials–Floor
Materials.
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Whenauditingisfinished,unplugthecablesandstoreprobesintheprotectivecase.
ResistancePointtoPoint(RTT)
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RTTmeasurementscanbeusedfortheevaluationoffloors,chairs,carts,worksurfacesand
otherESD‐controlledmaterialsandproducts.Proceduresvaryregardingsamplepreparation,
probepreparationandspacingofthe5‐lbprobes.Selectandreadthecorrecttestprocedureor
standardforthedesiredmeasurement.Testprocedurescanbepurchasedfromwww.esda.org.
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A. Connectoneendofeachbananatestleadintothesocketsofthemeter.Connectthe
otherendofthetestcoilcordsintothe5‐lbprobes.
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 
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B. Placebothprobesonthematerialaccordingtotestproceduresorstandardbeingused.
C. Pressthe“TEST”buttonandthevaluewillbedisplayedontheLEDs.Themeterwill
applythecorrectvoltage(10vor100v)accordingtothevalueofwhatismeasured.
D. Whenperformingtest,donottouchleadwiresorprobes.Avoidoverlappingoflead
wires.Thiswillensureaccuratereadings.

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage8of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
RTT#2RTT#4
ANEXAMPLEOFMEASURINGRTTONDISSIPATIVEFLOORING:
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Takingroutinemeasurementsoftilescoatedwithdissipativefloorfinishisakeycomponentof
properfloormaintenance.Anyproblemsthatarisewiththefloorwillbeeasilydetected.Keeping
arecordoftemperature,humidityandelectricalpropertieswillprovideareference,andwillpoint
towardablueprintoftrafficpatternsonthefloor.Goodrecordkeepingwillensuresuccesswhen
developingandmaintainingamaintenanceprogram.
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Toobtainanaveragemeasurementofafloor,mapouta4’x4’sectionandconductfivetests
(oneatatime)withinthesquare.Conductatestforeachsideofthesquareandafinaltest
diagonallythroughthecenterasshowninthedrawingbelow.
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IneachRTTtest,the5‐lbprobesareplacedthreefeetapart(36inches).Connectthetestleads
tothemeter.Attacha5‐lbprobetotheendofeachleadandplacethreefeetapartasindicated
below.Pressandholdthe“TEST”buttonontheACL395meteruntilavalueisdisplayed.
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4’x4’Section
(nottoscale)

RTT#1
RTT#3
RTT#5

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage9of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
MEASURINGRESISTANCETOGROUND(RTG)

RTGmeasurementscanbeusedfortheevaluationoffloors,chairs,carts,worksurfacesand
otherESD‐controlledmaterialsandproducts.Keepingarecordoftestresultsfortemperature,
humidityandelectricalpropertieswillprovideareference.

ANEXAMPLEOFMEASURINGRTGONDISSIPATIVEFLOORING:
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ForTestingResistanceonFloors,S7.1requiresaminimumoffiveRTGtestsper5,000sq.ft.
Connecttheleadsfortheexternalprobestothemeter.
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Attachoneleadtoa5‐lbprobeandplaceprobeontothefloortobetested.Attachtheother
leadtoanalligatorclipandconnecttoagroundablepoint(RTGP).Ifusingagroundadapter
plug,plugthebananaleadintotheadaptoraftertheadapterispluggedintothereceptacle.
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Whenthecableshavebeenpluggedinto
theappropriatesocket,theparallel
probes underthemeterdisengage.
5‐lbweightsitsonthefloor
Pushreddotforvalues

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage10of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
ANEXAMPLEOFMEASURINGRTGONDISSIPATIVETABLEMATS:

A. TotestRTGonaworkstation,connectthefirstleadtothemeterandtoa5‐lbprobe.Place
theprobeontheworksurface.Connectthesecondleadtothemeterandtoagroundable
point(RTGP).
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B. ToattachleadtoRTGP,slipthealligatorcliptotheleadandconnectittothegroundsnapor
connectthebananaplugtoacommonpointgroundplug:
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b. Pressthe“TEST”buttonandthevaluewillbedisplayedontheLED.Whileperformingtest,
donottouchleadwiresorprobe.Avoidoverlappingofleadwires.Thiswillensureaccurate
readings.
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c. Resistancevaluesareinohms.Whenrecordingtestvaluesalsomakenoteofthe
temperatureandhumidity,astheenvironmentcanaffecttestresults.
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 
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Clipalligatorcliptosnap
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ToGround

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage11of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
VolumeResistanceMeasurement
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VolumeResistancemeasurestheelectricalpaththroughamaterial.
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A. Connectoneendofeachofthebananatestleadsintothesocketsofthemeter.
Connecttheotherendofthetestcoilcordsintothe5‐lbprobes.
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B.Placesamplematerialonaconductivemetalplate(suchasstainlesssteel).Placeoneof
the5‐lbprobesontothematerialsothatthematerialissandwichedbetweentheprobe
andmetalplate.(Seebelow)
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C.Placethesecond5‐lbprobeontheconductivemetalplate.
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D.Pressthe“TEST”buttonandthevaluewillbedisplayedontheLED.VolumeResistance
ismeasuredinohms‐cm.
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ConductivePlateTestMaterial

ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage12of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
ACL395CALIBRATIONINSTRUCTIONS
Thismetershouldbecalibratedeverytwelvemonths.Toverifyifthetesteriswithin
specification,atestresistancecanbeappliedacrosstheparallelbarsusingaresistancedecade
box.CalibrationcanbeobtainedbycontactingACLIncorporated.
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions: 70mmx130mmx35mm(approximate)
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Weight:  103grams(approximate)
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Power:  Battery‐operatedPP39‐volt
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Connections:  2x3.5mmjackplugforearthconnection
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TestRange:  103to1012+
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DissipativeRange: 3x105to3x109(½decadebetweeneachdecadeonalogarithmicscale)
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UnitofMeasurement:Surfaceresistivity  Ohmspersquare
ResistancepointtopointOhms
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Accuracy:  +/‐0.5decadeinconductiverange
  +/‐0.25decadeindissipativerange
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Decaderange Changeoverpoint value value
10E3to4 3x10E3 3,0003Kohm
10E4to5 3x10E430,00030Kohm
10E5to3x10E5 1.7x10E5170,000170Kohm
3x10E5to10E6 6x10E5600,000600Kohm
10E6to3x10E6 1.7x10E61,700,0001.7Mohm
3x10E6to10E7 6x10E66,000,0006Mohm
10E7to3x10E7 1.7x10E717,000,00017Mohm
3x10E7to10E8 6x10E760,000,00060Mohm
10E8to3x10E8 1.7x10E8170,000,000170Mohm
3x10E8to10E9 6x10E8600,000,000600Mohm
10E9to3x10E91.7x10E91,700,000,0001.7Gohm
3x10E9to10E106x10E96,000,000,0006Gohm
10E10to10e11 3x10E1030,000,000,00030Gohm
10e11to10e123x10e11300,000,000,000300Gohm


ACL395OperationManual Rev.08/18/17MKB

ACLIncorporated  Tel:847‐981‐9212
840W.49thPlacePage13of13[e-mail]
Chicago,IL60609USAwww.aclstaticide.com
TESTEQUIPMENTUSED
*ResistanceDecadeBox
*TestLeads
Theresistancedecadeboxrequiredwillneedarangeoffrom1kilohm(103)to999megohms
(109).Measurementsgreaterthan109canbecalculatedusingCAD‐generatedtechniques,as
highresistancesgreaterthan109aredifficulttoverifywithatestvoltageof9voltsunless1%
resistorsareused.Ifusingadecadeboxwithresistorsintheupperrange(1010–1012),resistors
mustbe1%.
Connectthetestleadsfromtheresistancedecadeboxtothetestprobesofthemeter,setthe
decadeboxtothedesiredresistancei.e.103=1K,thenpressandholdthemeter’stestbutton.
The103LEDshouldlight,10K104LEDshouldlightandsoon.Tomeasurethechangeoverpoint
betweendecades,increasetheresistanceofthedecadeboxwhilepressingthemeter’stest
button.RecordtheresistancewhenthenextLEDlightspermanently(thisisthechangeover
resistance).
Example:ThefirstgreenLEDisilluminated103=1kilohm.At3or4kilohms,104LEDis
illuminated.Thechangeoverpointis3or4kilohms.104=10kilohmssobetween3or4kilohms
and30or40kilohmswillbethechangeoverpointsfrom104to105.

Pleasenotethatthemeterhasnointernalpartstoadjust,soverificationofcalibration
canbeachievedbyusingtheaboveprocess.Ifverificationcannotbeachievedtheunit
shouldbereturnedtothesupplier.