ACL 800 User manual

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 1 of 12
ACL800MEGOHMMETER
OPERATIONMANUAL
NOTE: THISMANUALISNOTTOBE  
SEPARATEDFROMMETER!

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 2 of 12
ACL800Megohmmeter
TheACL800Megohmmeterkitmeasuressurfaceresistivity,resistance,temperatureand
humidity.Itisdesignedtotestconductive,anti‐static,andstaticdissipativesurfacesfor
electricalresistivity/resistanceaccordingtoEOS/ESD,CECC,ANSI,ASTMandULtestprocedures.

TheinternalparallelelectrodescomplywithDINEN100015/1&ANSI/ESDA‐S11.11.Thefive
poundelectrodescanbeexternallyconnectedfortestsaccordingtoIEC61340‐4‐1,ANSI/ESDA
S4.1&ANSI/ESDAS7.1.
ACL800MegohmmeterIncludes:
Tester
Two5lbprobes
Onegroundcord
Twoaccordioncables(stereotobanana)
110poweradapter*
9voltbattery
Foamlinedcarryingcase
Certificateofcalibration

*ACL800Celsiusmodelscomeequippedwith220vpoweradapterunlessspecified

ACL800OptionalAccessories
ConcentricRingProbe
MiniatureRingProbes
GarmentClipsforsmocks

Limits
Resistivity:103‐1012ohms/sq.
Resistance:103‐1012ohms
RelativeHumidity:10%‐90%RH
Temperature:32°Fto100°For0°C–37.7°CifCelsiusmodelwaspurchased
Measuringvoltage:10vand100v

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 3 of 12
INTRODUCTION

TheACL800Megohmmeterisadependableandeasytouseauditkitforconductiveand
dissipativesurfaces.Thismeterisdesignedtobeusedinallfacetsofmaterialproduction
includingengineering,maintenance,qualitycontrol,incominginspection,manufacturing,
research,orsalesdepartmentsforthetestingofanti‐staticmats,floorfinishes,paints,wrist
straps,smocks,footwear,bagsandcontainers.

Whenusingthebuilt‐inelectrodes,themeter’stestvaluesforsurfaceresistivityareinohmsper
square.Whenusingtheexternalfivepoundelectrodes,themeter’stestvaluesforresistance
areinohms(althoughtheyaredisplayedinohms/sq.).

DECADESCALE

103=1kilohm
104=10kilohms
105=100kilohms
106=1megohm
107=10megohms
108=100megohms
109=1000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LCDdisplay.UnlikemeterswithLEDSthatindicateonlythe
decadethemeasuredvaluefallswithin,theACL800willshowtheactualvalue.

27ohms(2.7x107)isdisplayedas2.7e07ohms/sq


TESTVOLTAGE
Thetestvoltagerangesare10vand100v.AccordingtoESDAstandardsS4.1,S7.1,andS11.11
oneshouldchoose10vforconductivesurfaceslessthan106and100vformaterials106or
greater..Ifthemetercannotapplythecorrectvoltageautomatically,itwilladviseyouto
changetothepropersettingmanually.Usetheswitchinfrontofthemetertochangevoltage
setting.

AsdefinedbytheESDAssociation,valuesindicatethefollowing:










VoltageRange Definition
10volt<106ohmspersquareConductive
100volt106–1011ohmspersquareDissipative
100volt1012>ohmspersquareInsulative

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 4 of 12
ANOTEABOUTVOLTAGE

Inpreviousyears,peopledesiringtomeasureresistivityorresistancefollowedtheASTMD264,
ASTM991,NFPA56AorNFPA99teststandards.Theseproceduresrequiredpeopletotestat
either500or1000volts.Thiscausedconcernregardingsafetytothepersondoingthetests.The
ESDAstandardizedthetestproceduressothatlowervoltscouldbeusedatspecificranges.

TheACL800meterusesa9voltbattery.Somemeterswith9voltsbatteriesdonotgivethe
accuracythatyouneedtoperformthetestsespeciallyatvalueshigherthan107.TheACL800is
builtwithatransformerthatconvertsthe9voltchargefromthebatteryto10voltsor100volts
(whichevervalueisselected).Themeterappliesaconstantchargeoverthecompletevoltage
range.Accuracyisdependsonappliedvoltage,temperature,andhumidity.

TEMPERATUREANDHUMIDITY
The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orslowestdissipationtimes.Athighhumidityathinlayerofwateriscondensedor
absorbedonorinthematerialbeingtested.Thisistrueofhydroscopicadditivesthatareadded
toamaterialtoincreasetheelectricalconductivity.Theseadditiveswillallowmoisturetobe
absorbableinthematerialstheyareaddedto.

Atelevatedtemperaturesthemobilityoffreeelectronsisincreasedtherebyincreasingthe
materialsconductivity.Thisisespeciallytrueforcarbonblack,metallicoxides,metals,andother
materialsaddedtoamaterial.Whenthematerialisatalowertemperature,builtinstresses
occurwhichmightincreasetheresistanceduetoincreaseddistancebetweentheconductive
additives.Thus,humidityandtemperaturemustbeknown.

RECORDINGDATA

ANSI/ESDAssociationandEuropeanCECCrecognizetheenvironmentaleffectsto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rejectsandlossofproduct.

BothESDS4.1ESDProtectiveWorksurface
section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.
ANSI/EOS/ESD‐S11.11‐1993SurfaceresistancemeasurementofStaticDissipativePlanar
Materialssection11.0Bstates,“reporttheconditioningperiod,relativehumidity,and
temperature.”

CALIBRATION

Calibrationisrecommendedannually.TheACL800metercomeswithaNISTcertificatewhen
ordered.AfteroneyearthemeterscanbesentbacktoACLInc.foranewNISTcertificatefora
labfeeoritcanbesenttoacertifiedcalibrationlab(Seepage11forinstructions).Themeters
alsocomewithaCEmarkapproval.


ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 5 of 12
MEASURINGWITHINTERNALELECTRODES

Theparallelresistivityprobemethod,complieswithEOS/ESD‐S11.11.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value
onthedatareport.

Whenthemeasurementistakenbetweenthetester’stwoconductiverubberrailsunderthe
tester,thetester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equilibratetotheatmospherethemeteristobeusedin.Itmaytake
ahalfhourforthemetertoadjusttonewenvironmentconditions.

C. Placethemeteronthedesiredsurfacetobetested.

D. Moveswitchtodesiredtestvoltageposition,either10or100volts,dependingonthe
targetrangeofthematerial.

E. Pressandholdthetestbuttonwithapproximately5poundsofappliedforce.The
displaywillshowthehumidityandtemperature.Afterapproximately10seconds,the
meterwilldisplaythesurfaceresistivityinohmspersquare.

Themeterwillkeepupdatingthedisplaywhilethebuttonishelddown.Thelastreadingwill
displayforapproximately20secondsafterthebuttonisreleased.


MEASURINGWITHEXTERNALELECTRODES

Whenthemeasurementistakenusingthe5lbexternalprobes,thetesterwillindicatethe
resistanceofthematerialbeingtestedoncethebuttonisdepressed(valueisinohms,though
thedisplaysaysohms/sq).

Whenaprobeispluggedintothe
appropriatesocket,theassociated
Internalelectrodeisdisengaged.

▲▲▲▲
Gnd 12VDC External Electrodes


ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 6 of 12
ByutilizingtheseprobestotheACL800’ssocketsitispossibletomeasurePointtoPoint(RTT)
Resistance,SurfacetoGround(RTG),andVolumeResistance.Usingtheseprobeswillallow
compliancywithvariousstandardsincludingANSI/ESDAS4.1forWorksurface–Resistance
Measurements,ANSI/ESDAS7.1ResistiveCharacterizationofMaterials–FloorMaterials.

Whenauditingisfinished,unplugthecablesandstoreprobesintheprotectivecase.Ifcables
areleftinthetester,thejackswilllosetheirelasticityasshownbelow:
▲▲
Gnd 12VDC
Ifjacksaredamagedorleftintheopenposition,theinternalprobeswillnotengagewhen
testingforsurfaceresistivity.


ResistanceBetweenTwoPoints(RTT)

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poundprobes.Selectandreadthecorrecttest
procedureorstandardforthedesiredmeasurement.Testprocedurescanbepurchasedfrom
www.esda.org.

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poundprobes.

 







A. Placebothprobesonthematerialaccordingtotestproceduresorstandardbeingused.
Jacks will lose elasticity if left in the socket
Jacks will “close” when cables are unplugged.

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 7 of 12
RTT #2RTT # 4
B. Pressthe“TEST”buttonandthevaluewillbedisplayedontheLCD.Themeterwillapply
thecorrectvoltage(10vor100v)accordingtothevalueofwhatismeasured.
C. Whenperformingtestdonottouchleadwiresorprobe.Avoidoverlappingoflead
wires.Thiswillensureaccuratereadings.
ANEXAMPLEOFMEASURINGRTTONDISSIPATIVEFLOORING:

Takingroutinemeasurementsoftileswithdissipativefloorfinishwillinsurepropermaintenance
routinesandwillindicateanyproblemsthatmayarise.Keepingarecordoftestresultsfor
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insuresuccesswhen
developingandmaintainingamaintenanceprogram.
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Toget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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EachRTTtestutilizesthe5poundprobesplaced3feetapart(36inches).Connectthetestleads
tothemeter.Attacha5poundprobetotheendofeachleadandplace3feetapartas
indicatedabove.Pressandholdthe“TEST”buttonontheACL800meteruntilavalueis
displayed.
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4’x4’Section
(nottoscale)
RTT #1
RTT #3
RTT # 5

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 8 of 12


MEASURINGRESISTANCETOGROUND(RTG)
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Resistancetoground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.
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ANEXAMPLEOFMEASURINGRTGONDISSIPATIVEFLOORING:
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ForTestingResistanceonFloors,S7.1requiresaminimumof5RTGtestsper5,000SqFt.
Connecttheleadsfortheexternalelectrodestothemeter.
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▲▲▲▲
Gnd 12VDC External Electrodes
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Attachoneleadtoa5lbprobeandplaceprobeonthefloorthat’sbeing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in
theappropriatesocket,theparallel
probes underthemeterdisengage.
5 lb weight sits on the floor
Push button for values

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 9 of 12
ANEXAMPLEOFMEASURINGRTGONDISSIPATIVETABLEMATS:
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A. TotestRTGforaworkstation,connectthefirstleadtothemeterandtoa5lbprobeand
putprobeonworksurface.Connectthe2ndleadtothemeterandtoagroundablepoint
(RTGP).Usethealligatorclipifnecessary.
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B. Pressthe“TEST”buttonandthevaluewillbedisplayedontheLED.When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.Recordtemperature,humidityandresistance.
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Iftherangeofyourworksurfaceis106to109,measureat100v.TheEOSstandardsaysthe
dissipativerangeis106–1011butmostpeoplelookfor106–109forapass.
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ClipalligatorCliptosnap
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Attach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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To Ground

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 10 of 12

VolumeResistanceMeasurementMEASURINGRESISTANCETOGROUND(RTG)
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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poundprobes.
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B.Placesamplematerialonaconductivemetalplate(suchasstainlesssteel).Placeoneof
the5poundprobeson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pound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inohms‐cm.
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 
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
ConductivePlateTestMaterial

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 11 of 12
ACL800CALIBRATIONINSTRUCTIONS
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TheACL800meteriscalibratedtobemostaccurateinthemostwidelyusedrange(106‐108).
Thelabcalibratesmetersbetween30‐40%RHat65‐73°F.Ifyouareusingthemeterin
atmospheresdifferentthanabove,itisstronglyadvisedtorecalibratethemetertoyour
conditions.
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1.Purchase1%103‐1012ohmresistors,highaccuracyrelativehumidityhygrometer,and
highaccuracythermometer.
2.Openmeterbeingcarefulnottodisturborbreakthetwowiresconnectingthepower
buttontothecircuitboard.
3.Observeontherightlowersideofthemeterprintedcircuitboardthree(3)calibration
pots.
4.ALLOWTHEMETERTOEQUILIBRATEANDNORMALIZEINTHEENVIRONMENTFOR2
HOURSBEFORETESTING.
5.Usingthesuppliedcoilcordsattachalligatorclipstothebananaplugendsofthecords.
6.Insertthe3.5mmendsintothemeterjacks.
7.Attachtheendsoftheresistorstotheendsofthealligatorclips.
8.Thetoponeisforhumidity.Themiddleoneisforresistivity.Thebottomoneisfor
temperature.Adjustmentisdonewithasmallscrewdriver.Clockwiseistoincreasethe
value,counterclockwisetodecreasethevalue.
9.Pressthepowerbuttonandcomparetheresistorvalue,humidity,andtemperatureto
theparametertobecalibrated.
10.Releasethepowerbuttonandslowlyturnthecorrectadjustmentpot.
11. Re‐pressthepowerbutton,andobservetheLCDscreen.
12. Re‐pressandadjustthepotifnecessary.
13. Closecaseandtightenthe4screws.
14.Pressthepowerbuttontoverifythatthemeterisworking.
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***ShouldcalibrationtraceabletotheNISTberequired,pleasecallACL,Inc.directlyto
arrangeforcalibration.
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Specifications
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Accuracyfor10‐voltscale:
103–104+/‐9%@RH<90%
104–108+/‐5%@RH<90%
108–109+/‐9%@RH<90%
109–1010+/‐25%@RH<60%
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Accuracyfor100‐voltscale:
106–108+/‐5%@RH<90%
109–1010+/‐9%@RH<60%
1010–1011+/‐15%@RH<50%
1011–1012+/‐25%@RH<40%
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Thetolerancesfortemperatureandhumidityare±3°Fahrenheitand3%RHupto70%and70°F
and5°Fand5%RHover70°Fand70%RH.

ACL Incorporated 1960 E. Devon Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 847-981-9212
MKB June 18, 2008 Page 12 of 12
Toincreasetheaccuracymerelyadjustthecalibrationattheusetemperaturesandhumidities
themeterwillbeused.Forexample,ifyouwereusingthemeterat70ºFand70RHyouwould
calibratethemeterexactlyatthoseconditionsusinga1%accuracystandardthermometerand
relativehumiditymeter.
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Themeterwillbestableandstayaccurateatthoseconditions.
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Allowthemetertoequilibrateatthoseenvironmentconditions.Itsometimestakes½hourfor
themetertoadjusttonewenvironmentconditions.
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OPTIONALACCESSORIES:
MINIATUREPROBESWITHCORDS
•Two miniature conductive rubber external probes
•One shielded BNC coaxial molded cable with gold center pin
•Two female banana jacks to fit an ACL 800C meter
•Made in USA
•Will measure resistance of all small surfaces according to ESD S11.11
•Replaceable probes
•Conforms to all EOS and CE test procedures
MEASURINGRESISTANCETOGROUND(RTG)GARMENTCLIPSFORTESTINGESDSMOCKS
•Measure resistance of ESD garments
•Stainless steel surface areas
•Test according to ESD-STM2.1-1997
•Made in USA
•One year warranty