Alicat Scientific 16 Series User manual

Operating Manual
16 Series
Precision Water Flow Meter
and Water Flow Controller
Innovative Flow and Pressure Solutions

04/27/2007 Rev.5 DOC-LLCMAN16C
Conformity / Supplemental Information:
The product complies with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC
(including 93/68/EEC) and carries the CE Marking accordingly. Contact the manufacturer for more information.
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Alicat Scientic, Inc. warrants to the original purchaser (hereinafter referred to as “Buyer”) that instruments manufactured
by Alicat Scientic (hereinafter referred to as “Product”) shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the life
of the Products.
Under this warranty, the Product will be repaired or replaced at manufacturer’s option, without charge for parts or labor when
the Product is carried or shipped prepaid to the factory together with proof of purchase.
The foregoing shall constitute the exclusive and sole remedy in lieu of other remedies of the Buyer for any breach by Alicat
Scientic of this warranty to the maximum extent permitted by law.
This warranty does not apply to any Product which has not been installed or used in accordance with the Product operation
and installation specications provided to Buyer verbally or in writing by Alicat Scientic for the proper and normal use of
the Product.
Buyer agrees hereunder that Alicat reserves the right to void any warranty, written or implied, if upon Alicat’s examination of
Product shall disclose to Alicat’s satisfaction that the Product failure was due solely, or in part, to accident, misuse, neglect,
abuse, alteration, improper installation, unauthorized repair or improper testing by Buyer or agent of Buyer.
Alicat Scientic shall not be liable under any circumstances for indirect, special, consequential, or incidental damages in
connection with, or arising out of, the sale, performance, or use of the Products covered by this warranty.
Alicat Scientic does not recommend, warrant or assume responsibility for the use of the Products in life support applications
or systems.
Alicat’s warranties as herein above set forth shall not be enlarged, diminished or affected by, and no obligation or liability
shall arise or grow out of Alicat’s rendering of technical advice in connection with Buyer’s order of the Products furnished
hereunder.
If Product becomes obsolete, Alicat Scientic, at its own discretion, reserves the right to repair the Product with available
replacement parts or upgrade the Product to a current , commercially available version of the original Product. Should
upgrading the Product be deemed necessary by Alicat, Buyer hereby agrees to pay an upgrade fee equal to seventy percent
of the retail value of the replacement Product. Alicat Scientic hereunder makes no claim that replacement Products will
look, function or operate in the same or similar manner as the original product.
When a Product is returned to Alicat Scientic for recalibration this service is considered normal preventative maintenance.
Recalibration of Product shall not be treated as a warranty service unless recalibration of Product is required as the result
of repairs to Product pursuant to this Warranty. Failure to recalibrate Product on a yearly basis will remove any and
all obligations regarding repair or replacement of Product as outlined by this Warranty to Buyer from Alicat
Scientic.
This Warranty is in lieu of all other relevant warranties, expressed or implied, including the implied warranty of merchantability
and the implied warranty of tness for a particular purpose, and any warranty against infringement of any patent.
Continued use or possession of Products after expiration of the applicable warranty period stated above shall be conclusive
evidence that the warranty is fullled to the full satisfaction of Buyer.
Alicat makes no warranty as to experimental, non-standard or developmental Products.
Accessories purchased from Alicat are not covered by this warranty.
Notice: Alicat Scientic, Inc. reserves the right to make any changes and improvements to the products described in this
manual at any time and without notice. This manual is copyrighted. This document may not, in whole or in part, be copied,
reproduced, translated, or converted to any electronic medium or machine readable form, for commercial purposes,
without prior written consent from the copyright holder.
Note: Although we provide assistance on Alicat Scientic products both personally and through our literature, it is the
complete responsibility of the user to determine the suitability of any product to their application.
Alicat Scientic, Inc.’s Wide-Range Laminar Flow Element Patent: The wide-range laminar ow element and products
using the wide-range laminar ow element are covered by U.S. Patent Number: 5,511,416. Manufacture or use of the
wide-range laminar ow element in products other than Alicat Scientic products or other products licensed under said
patent will be deemed an infringement.

Table of Contents Page
Flow Measurement Operating Principle 5
Flow Control Operating Principle 6
Installation 7
Plumbing 7
Mounting 7
Application 7
Bleed Ports 8
Power and Signal Connections 9
Analog Input Signal 10
RS-232 Digital Input Signal 10
RS-232 Digital Output Signal 10
Standard Voltage (0-5 Vdc) Output Signal 11
Optional 0-10 Vdc Output Signal 11
Optional Current (4-20 mA) Output Signal 11
Optional 2nd Analog Output Signal 11
L Series Water Flow Meter Operation 13
Main Mode 13
Tare 13
Line Pressure 14
Line Temperature 14
Volume 14
Flashing Error Message 14
Select Menu Mode 14
Communication Select Mode 15
Unit ID 15
Baud 15
Data Rate 15
Manufacturer Data 16
Miscellaneous Mode 16
LCD Contrast 17
Display Zero Deadband 17
Pressure Averaging 17
Flow Averaging 17
LC Series Volumetric Flow Meter Operation 18
Main Mode 18
Line Pressure 18
Line Temperature 18
Set Pt. 18
Flashing Error Message 18
Select Menu Mode 19
Control Setup Mode 19
Input 19
Loop 20
Select 20

Table of Contents Page
Communication Select 21
Manufacturer Data 21
Miscellaneous Mode 21
RS-232 Output and Input 21
Conguring HyperTerminal® 21
Changing from Streaming to Polling Mode 21
Tareing via RS-232 22
Sending a Set-Point via RS-232 22
Adjusting P & D Terms via RS-232 23
Collecting Data 24
Data Format 24
Sending a Simple Script File to HyperTerminal® 25
Troubleshooting 26
Maintenance and Recalibration 28
Flow Conversion Table 28
Technical Specications 29
Dimensional Drawings 30
Additional Information
Option: Totalizing Mode 34
Option: Battery Pack 35
Option: Local Set-Point Module 37
Option: Remote Electronics 38
Accessory: BB-9 Multi-Drop Box 38
Accessory: RS-232 to RS-485 Converter 38
Accessory: Flow Vision™ 39
Accessories 40
Table of Figures
Figure 1. Bleed Ports 8
Figure 2. 8 Pin Mini-DIN Connector 9
Figure 3. Simple Method for Providing Set-Point to Controllers 10
Figure 4. Mini-DIN to DB-9 Connection for RS-232 Signals 11
Figure 5. Typical Multiple Device (Addressable) Wiring Conguration 12
Figure 6. Optional Industrial Connector 12
Figure 7. Main Mode Display, L Series Flow Meter 13
Figure 8. Proper Set Up for Remote Tare on Meters 14
Figure 9. Select Menu Display 14
Figure 10. Communication Select 15
Figure 11. Manufacturer Data 16
Figure 12. Miscellaneous Mode Display 17
Figure 13. Main Mode Display, LC Series Flow Meter 18
Figure 14. LC series Control Setup Display 19

5
Thank you for purchasing an L Series Water Flow Meter or LC Water Flow Controller. Please take
the time to nd and read the information contained in this manual. This will help to ensure that you
get the best possible service from your instrument. This manual covers the following Alicat Scientic
instruments:
L Series 16 Bit Water Flow Meters L-XXCCM-D
L-XXLPM-D
LC Series 16 Bit Water Flow Controllers LC-XXCCM-D
LC-XXLPM-D
LCR-XXLPM-D
Flow Measurement Operating Principle
All L or LC Series Water Flow Meters/Controllers accurately determine the ow rate by creating a
pressure drop across a unique internal restriction, known as a Laminar Flow Element (LFE), and
measuring differential pressure across it. The restriction is designed so that the water molecules are
forced to move in parallel paths along the entire length of the passage; hence laminar (streamline) ow
is established for the entire range of operation of the device. Unlike other ow measuring devices, in
laminar ow meters the relationship between pressure drop and ow is linear. The underlying principle
of operation of the 16 Series Flow Meters is known as the Poiseuille Equation:
Q= (P1-P2)πr4/8ηL(Equation 1)
Where: Q = Volumetric Flow Rate
P1 = Static pressure at the inlet
P2= Static pressure at the outlet
r = Radius of the restriction
η=(eta) absolute viscosity of the uid
L = Length of the restriction
Since p, r and L are constant; Equation 1 can be rewritten as:
Q= K (∆P/η) (Equation 2)
Where K is a constant factor determined by the geometry of the restriction. Equation 2 shows the linear
relationship between volumetric ow rate (Q) differential pressure (DP) and absolute viscosity (h) in a
simpler form.
In order to have an accurate reading of the ow rate, the absolute viscosity of the uid must be
established. The rate at which liquids change viscosity with changes in temperature is not linear. The
relationship between temperature and viscosity for water is well established and Alicat Scientic L and
LC Series units utilize a high accuracy temperature sensor and this relationship to provide an accurate
viscosity reference. For this reason, these meters and controllers are generally recommended
only for use with pure water. Any additives to water (such as antifreeze or disinfectants) that might
affect the viscosity should be avoided. As shown in Equation 2, an error in viscosity between the actual
uid and water will result in a 1:1 error percentage in the ow rate reported by the meter. For instance if
the actual uid passing through the meter is 5% different than that of pure water at a given temperature,
the reported ow rate will be 5% inaccurate.

6
Flow Control Operating Principle
For the purposes of this explanation, the term “valve” will refer to the proportional control valve mounted
on the controller. The term “controller” will refer to the ow meter and the measurement and control
electronics portion of the device. In actuality, the whole device is generally referred to as a controller.
The valve normally mounted downstream of the controller.
LC Series Flow Controllers ship with a normally closed proportional control valve. No ow will occur until
the valve receives a voltage signal from the controller, and the controller will not send a voltage signal
to the valve until the user provides a set-point to the controller. The user can provide a set-point either
locally via the display and user interface buttons, or more commonly, by providing an external signal
that corresponds to the ow range of the controller. This external signal can be an analog voltage or
current signal such as a 0-5 Vdc or 4-20 mA signal, or a digital RS-232 signal via serial communication
with a computer.
The controller utilizes what is called PID (Proportional, Integral, Derivative) loop control circuitry and
software. The PID loop control works by repeatedly comparing the measured ow rate to the set-
point and incrementally adjusting the voltage signal to the valve in a continuous attempt to match the
measured ow rate to the set-point. For example, at any given time the controller looks at the measured
ow rate and the set-point, if the set-point is higher than the measured ow rate, the controller will
slightly increase the voltage signal to the valve and thus open it little more. If the set-point is lower than
the measured ow rate, the controller will slightly decrease the voltage signal to the valve and thus
close it off a little more. This look, compare, and adjust “loop” occurs on the order of 1000 times each
second.
LC Series Flow Controllers ship with a general PID tuning that is usually sufcient for most applications.
Occasionally an application will require the customer to change this tuning. The Proportional and
Derivative terms can be eld adjusted in all LC controllers. In very general terms, the P term can be
thought of as how fast the controller responds to change and the D term can be thought of as a damping
factor.

7
Installation
Plumbing
All L Series Meters and LC Series Controllers are equipped with female inlet and outlet port connections.
Because the ow meters set up a laminar ow condition within the ow body, no straight runs of pipe
are required upstream or downstream of the meter. The inlet and outlet ports are equal in size and
symmetric (in-line). The port sizes (process connections) and mechanical dimensions for different ow
ranges are shown on page 29.
Meters/controllers with M5 (10-32) ports have o-ring face seals and require no further sealant or tape.
On other meters/controllers, avoid the use of pipe dopes or sealants on the ports as these compounds
can cause permanent damage to the meter should they get into the ow stream. Use of thread sealing
Teon tape is recommended to prevent leakage around the threads. When applying the tape, avoid
wrapping the rst thread or two to minimize the possibility of getting a piece of shredded tape into the
ow stream. When changing ttings, always clean any tape or debris from the port threads.
It is also recommended that a 20 micron lter be installed upstream of meters/controllers with full scale
ranges of 100CCM or less and a 50 micron lter be installed upstream of meters/controllers with full
scale ranges above 100CCM.
Note: Avoiding long runs of small diameter tubing upstream or downstream of controllers will
reduce water hammer.
Mounting
All L Series Meters and LC Series Controllers have mounting holes for convenient mounting to at
panels. These meters are position insensitive and can be mounted in any orientation. The sizes and
dimensions for the mounting holes are shown on pages 30-33.
Note: For applications that may continuously introduce occasional air bubbles to the ow stream
upstream of the device, the device may be mounted upside down to prevent the bubbles from becoming
trapped in the differential pressure sensor ports. If the device has been installed upside down, avoid
using the bleed screws as water may leak into the electronics housing causing permanent damage that
is not covered under warranty!
Application
Maximum operating line pressure is 100 PSIG (689 kPa). Caution: Exceeding the maximum specied
line pressure may cause permanent damage to the solid-state differential pressure transducer.
If the line pressure is higher than the 100 PSIG (689 kPa), a pressure regulator should be used upstream
from the ow meter to reduce the pressure to 100 PSIG (689 kPa) or less if possible. Although the
meter’s operation is uni-directional, reversing the ow direction will inict no damage as long as the
maximum specied limits are not exceeded. The differential pressure sensor utilized in this ow meter/
controller is a very sensitive device capable of detecting minute differences in pressure.
Avoid installations (such as snap acting solenoid valves upstream) that apply instantaneous
high pressure to the meter as permanent damage to the differential pressure sensor could
result. This damage is not covered under warranty!

8
Bleed Ports
Alicat Scientic L and LC Series ow meters and controllers are equipped with bleed ports on the front
to aid in the removal of air bubbles from the differential pressure sensor ports. The bleed ports consist
of a threaded hole with an 8-32 nylon tipped screw as shown in Figure 1. After installation or anytime it
is suspected that air may be trapped in the sensor ports, bleed the ports as follows:
CAUTION: A small amount of water will leak from the device during this procedure. Take necessary
precautions to prevent the leaking water from damaging anything around the unit, taking special care
to avoid any live electrical devices or lines.
With the meter/controller installed and line pressure applied, gently loosen the upstream bleed port
screw 1-2 turns or until water begins to leak from the threads. DO NOT REMOVE THE SCREW as the
port is subject to line pressures and injury, equipment damage, or loss of required parts may result!
Gently tap the ow body (a wooden or plastic screwdriver handle works well for this) to encourage air
bubbles to exit the port.
Any air in the port will generally be removed as the water leaks out even though you may not see or
hear it.
Gently tighten the screw until the leakage stops, taking care not to crush the nylon tip.
Repeat steps 1-4 with the second bleed port.
Figure 1. Bleed Ports
8-32 Nylon Tipped Bleed Screw
5/64 Hex Loosen to Bleed
DO NOT REMOVE!

9
Power and Signal Connections
Power can be supplied to your meter or controller through either the AC/DC adapter jack or through the
8 pin Mini-DIN connector as shown in Figure 1.
A 2.1mm, positive center, 7-30 Vdc AC/DC adapter rated for at least 100 mA is required to use the
adapter jack in a L Series meter.
A 2.1mm, positive center, 12-30 Vdc AC/DC adapter rated for at least 250 mA is required to use the
adapter jack in a LC Series controller. Note: 4-20mA output requires at least 15 Vdc.
A 2.1mm, positive center, 24-30 Vdc AC/DC adapter rated for at least 500 mA is required to use the
adapter jack in a LCR Series controller.
Cables can be purchased from the manufacturer (see Accessories on page 40) or they are available
from electronics suppliers. Alternatively, power can be supplied through the Mini-DIN connector as
shown below:
7 8
1 2
3 4 5
AC/DC Adapter Jack
6
1
3
2
4 5
678
Pin Function Mini-DIN
cable color
1Inactive or 4-20mA Primary Output Signal Black
2Static 5.12 Vdc or Secondary Analog Output (4-20mA, 5Vdc, 10Vdc) or
Basic Alarm Brown
3RS-232 Input Signal Red
4Analog Input Signal = Remote Tare (Meters - see Figure 8)
= Set-Point In (Controllers - see Figure 3) Orange
5 RS-232 Output Signal Yellow
6 0-5 Vdc (or 0-10 Vdc) Output Signal Green
7Power In (as descibed above) Blue
8Ground (common for power, communications and signals) Purple
Note: The above pin-out is applicable to all the ow meters and controllers available with the Mini-
DIN connector. The availability of different output signals depends on the ow meter options ordered.
Underlined Items in the above table are optional congurations that are noted on the unit’s
calibration sheet.
Figure 2. 8 Pin Mini-DIN Connector
CAUTION:Do not connect power to pins 1 through 6 as permanent damage can occur!
Note: Upon initial review of the pin out diagram in Figure 2, it is common to mistake Pin 2 (labeled
5.12 Vdc Output) as the standard 0-5 Vdc analog output signal! In fact Pin 2 is normally a constant
5.12 Vdc that reects the system bus voltage and can be used as a source for the input signal. This
allows the user in the eld to run this output through a 50K ohm potentiometer and back into the analog
set-point pin to create a 0-5 Vdc set-point source (see Figure 3).

10
Analog Input Signal
Apply analog input to Pin 4 as shown in Figure 2.
Unless ordered otherwise, 0-5 Vdc is the standard analog input signal. Apply the 0-5 Vdc input signal
to pin 4, with common ground on pin 8. The 5.12 Vdc output on pin 2 can be wired through a 50K ohm
potentiometer and back to the analog input on pin 4 to create an adjustable 0-5 Vdc input signal source
as in Figure 3 below.
76
543
21
8
5.12 Vdc
50 KOhm
Potentiometer
0-5 Vdc
Figure 3. Simple Method for Providing Set-Point to Controllers
Optional 0-10 Vdc: If specied at time of order, a 0-10 Vdc input signal can be applied to pin 4, with
common ground on pin 8.
Optional 4-20 mA: If specied at time of order, a 4-20 mA input signal can be applied to pin 4, with
common ground on pin 8.
RS-232 Digital Input Signal
If you will be using the RS-232 output signal, it is necessary to connect the RS-232 Output Signal (Pin 5),
the RS-232 Input Signal (Pin 3), and Ground (Pin 8) to your computer serial port as shown in Figure 4.
Adapter cables are available from Alicat (see Accessories page 40) or they can be constructed in the
eld with parts from a local electronic supply house. In Figure 4, note that the diagrams represent the
“port” side of the connections, i.e. the connector on top of the meter and the physical DB-9 serial port
on the back of the computer. The cable ends will be mirror images of the diagram shown in Figure 4.
(See page 21 for details on accessing RS-232 output and input.)
RS-232 Digital Output Signal
If you will be using the RS-232 output signal, it is necessary to connect the RS-232 Output Signal
(Pin 5), the RS-232 Input Signal (Pin 3), and Ground (Pin 8) to your computer serial port as shown in
Figure 4. Adapter cables are available from the manufacturer or they can be constructed in the eld with
parts from an electronics supply house. In Figure 4, note that the diagrams represent the “port” side of
the connections, i.e. the connector on top of the meter and the physical DB-9 serial port on the back of
the computer. The cable ends will be mirror images of the diagram shown in Figure 4. (See page 21 for
details on accessing RS-232 output.)

11
Standard Voltage (0-5 Vdc) Output Signal
All L and LC Series ow meters/controllers have a 0-5 Vdc (optional 0-10 Vdc) output signal available on
Pin 6. This is generally available in addition to other optionally ordered outputs. This voltage is usually
in the range of 0.010 Vdc for zero ow and 5.0 Vdc for full-scale ow. The output voltage is linear over
the entire range. Ground for this signal is common on Pin 8.
Optional 0-10 Vdc Output Signal
If your meter/controller was ordered with a 0-10 Vdc output signal, it will be available on Pin 6. (See the
Calibration Data Sheet that shipped with your device to determine which output signals were ordered.)
This voltage is usually in the range of 0.010 Vdc for zero ow and 10.0 Vdc for full-scale ow. The
output voltage is linear over the entire range. Ground for this signal is common on Pin 8.
Optional Current (4-20 mA) Output Signal
If your meter/controller was ordered with a 4-20 mA current output signal, it will be available on Pin 1.
(See the Calibration Data Sheet that shipped with your device to determine which output signals were
ordered.) The current signal is 4 mA at 0 ow and 20 mA at the meter’s full scale ow. The output
current is linear over the entire range. Ground for this signal is common on Pin 8. (Current output units
require 15-30Vdc power.)
Note: This is a current sourcing device. Do not attempt to connect it to “loop powered “ systems.
Optional 2nd Analog Output Signal
You may specify an optional 2nd analog output on Pin 2 at time of order. (See the Calibration Data
Sheet that shipped with your device to determine which output signals were ordered.) This output may
be a 0-5 Vdc, 0-10 Vdc, or 4-20 mA analog signal that can represent any measured parameter.
Note: This is a current sourcing device. Do not attempt to connect it to “loop powered “ systems.
7
4
6
21
DB-9 Serial Port
5
5----------Ground--------------------------------------Ground----------8
3----------Transmit------------------------------------Receive---------3
2----------Receive-------------------------------------Transmit--------5
8 Pin Mini-DIN Port
8
1 2 3 4 5
6789
3
45
678
2
Figure 4. Mini-DIN to DB-9 Connection for RS-232 Signals

12
5
3. Red (Transmit →)
2. Yellow (Receive ←)
5. Purple (Ground)
3
2
Purple
Red
Yellow
Purple
Red
Yellow
54321
9876
Unit C
Unit B
Unit A
Female Serial Cable Front
Figure 5. Typical Multiple Device (Addressable) Wiring Conguration
Note: The easiest way to connect multiple devices is with a Multi-Drop Box (see page 38).
An optional industrial connector is also available:
1
6
5
4
3
2
Pin Function Cable Color
1Power In ( + ) Red
2 RS-232 Output Blue
3RS-232 Input Signal White
4Remote Tare (Ground to Tare) Green
5Ground (commom for power,
communications and signals)
Black
6 Signal Out (Voltage or Current as ordered) Brown
Figure 6. Optional Industrial Connector
Note: The above pin-out is applicable to all the ow meters and controllers ordered with the industrial
connector. The availability of different output signals depends on the ow meter options ordered.

13
L Series Water Flow Meter Operation
The L Series can have several screen “modes” depending on how the device is ordered. All L Series
meters have a default Main Mode, Select Menu Mode, a Communication Select Mode, a Manufacturer
Data Mode and a Miscellaneous Mode. (In addition, your meter may have been ordered with the
Totalizing Mode option, see page 34.) The device defaults to Main Mode as soon as power is applied
to the meter.
Note: L Series Flow Meters may also be powered with the 9 Volt Battery Pack described on page 35.
Main Mode
The main mode screen shows the ow in the units specied at time of order, the line pressure in PSIG,
and the process temperature in degrees Celsius. The following parameters are displayed in the main
mode as shown in Figure 7:
PSIG oC Tare
+23.47 +22.73
CCM
Water
+0.000
Volume Main
Figure 7. Main Mode Display, L Series Flow Meter
The “MODE” button in the lower right hand corner toggles the display between modes.
Tare – Pushing the dynamically labeled Tare button in the upper right hand corner tares the ow meter
and provides it with a reference point for zero ow. This is a very simple but important step in obtaining
accurate measurements. It is good practice to “zero” the ow meter each time it is powered up and
whenever a known zero ow condition exists. If the ow reading varies signicantly from zero after an
initial tare, give the unit a minute or so to warm up and re-zero it. If possible, it is helpful to zero the unit
near the expected operating pressure by positively blocking the ow downstream of the ow meter prior
to pushing the “Tare” button. Zeroing the unit while there is any ow will directly affect the accuracy by
providing a false zero point. It is not uncommon for a meter to read a small value when it is removed
from the process line as water can “hang” in one or both of the differential pressure sensor ports. If the
unit reads a signicant negative value when removed from the line and blocked, it is a good indication
that it was given a false zero.
Note: A remote tare can be achieved by momentarily grounding pin 4 to tare as shown in Figure 8 on
page 14.

14
Line Pressure – Pressing the dynamically labeled PSIG button located in the upper left corner of the
display will move the line gauge pressure to the primary display.
Line Temperature – Pressing the dynamically labeled °C button located in the upper middle of the
display will move the process temperature to the primary display.
Volume – The volume ow rate is defaulted on the primary display. Pressing the dynamically labeled
“Volume” button will move the volume ow rate to the primary display if another parameter is displayed
there.
Flashing Error Message: Our ow meters and controllers display an error message (VOV = volumetric
overrange, POV = pressure overrange, TOV = temperature overrange) when a measured parameter
exceeds the range of the sensors in the device. When any item ashes on the display, neither the
ashing parameter nor the ow measurement is accurate. Reducing the value of the ashing parameter
to within specied limits will return the unit to normal operation and accuracy.
Figure 8. Proper Set Up for Remote Tare on Meters (Momentarily ground Pin 4 to Tare)
Select Menu Mode
Pushing “Mode” once will bring up the “Select Menu” display. Push the button nearest your selection to
go to the corresponding screen. Push “Mode” again to return to the Main Mode display. (Note: If your
meter was ordered with Totalizing Mode option (page 34), pushing the “Mode” button once will bring up
the “Totalizing Mode” display. Pushing “Mode” a second time will bring up the “Select Menu” display.)
Misc
SELECT
MENU
Comm. Mfg.
RS-232 Data Menu
Figure 9. Select Menu Display

15
Communication Select Mode
The Communication Select mode is accessed by pressing the button below “Comm. RS-232” on the
Select Menu display. The screen will appear as shown in Figure 10 below.
Select
>
Unit ID (A).....A
Baud (19200)....19200
Data Rate......Fast
Comm.
UP DOWN RS-232
Figure 10. Communication Select Display
Unit ID – Valid unit identiers are letters A-Z and @ (see Note below). This identier allows the user
to assign a unique address to each device so that multiple units can be connected to a single RS-232
port on a computer. The Communication Select Mode allows you to view and/or change a unit’s unique
address. To change the unit ID address, press the “Select” button in the upper left corner of the display
until the cursor arrow is in front of the word “Unit ID”. Then, using the UP and DOWN buttons at the
bottom of the display, change the unit ID to the desired letter. Any ID change will take effect when the
Communication Select Screen is exited by pushing the MODE button.
Note: When the symbol @ is selected as the unit ID, the device will go into streaming mode when the
Communication Select Mode is exited by pushing the MODE button. See the RS-232 Communications
chapter in this manual for information about the streaming mode.
Baud – The baud rate (bits per second) determines the rate at which data is passed back and forth
between the instrument and the computer. Both devices must send/receive at the same baud rate in
order for the devices to communicate via RS-232. The default baud rate for these devices is 19200
baud, sometimes referred to as 19.2K baud. To change the baud rate in the Communication Select
Mode, press the “Select” button in the upper left corner of the display until the cursor arrow is in front
of the word “Baud”. Then, using the UP and DOWN buttons at the bottom of the display, select the
required baud rate to match your computer or PLC. The choices are 38400, 19200, 9600, or 2400 baud.
Any baud rate change will not take effect until power to the unit is cycled.
Data Rate – Changing the Data Rate affects the rate at which the instrument dumps its data. Slow is
½ the Fast rate. The speed of the Fast rate is determined by the selected baud rate. It is sometimes
desirable to reduce the data rate if the communication speed bogs down the computer’s processor (as
is not uncommon in older laptops), or to reduce the size of data les collected in the streaming mode.
To change the data rate in the Communication Select Mode, press the “Select” button in the upper left
corner of the display until the cursor arrow is in front of the word “Data Rate”. Then, using the UP and
DOWN buttons at the bottom of the display, select either Fast or Slow. Any data rate change will be
effective immediately upon changing the value between Fast and Slow.

16
Manufacturer Data Mode
“Manufacturer Data” is accessed by pressing the “Mfg. Data” button on the Select Menu display (Figure
7). The “Mfg 1” display shows the name and telephone number of the manufacturer. The“Mfg 2” display
shows important information about your ow meter including the model number, serial number, and
date of manufacture.
Main
Alicat Scientific, Inc.
Ph 520-290-6060
Fax [phone]
Mfg 1
Main
Model L-10LPM-D
Serial No 27117
Date Mfg.11/07/2005
Calibrated By.DL
Software GP07R23
Mfg 2
Figure 11. Manufacturer Data Displays
Miscellaneous Mode
The Miscellaneous mode is accessed by pressing the button above the “Misc” label in the upper right
hand corner of the Select Menu display. The screen will appear as shown in Figure 12. Push the
button above “Select” to move the cursor even with the item you wish to adjust. Then use the “UP” and
“DOWN” buttons to make the adjustment.
NOTE: All Miscellaneous changes are recorded when you exit the Miscellaneous display.

17
Select Main
>
LCD Contrast(10). 10
PVM DBand (0.5
%
FS)
PRESS Avg (008) . . . 008
FLOW Avg (100) . . . . 100
UP DOWN Misc
Figure 12. Miscellaneous Display
LCD Contrast: The Liquid Crystal Display Contrast can be adjusted between 0 and 30 with zero being
the lightest contrast and 30 being the darkest contrast. To change the contrast, press the “Select”
button in the upper left hand corner of the display until the cursor arrow is in front of the words “LCD
Contrast (X)”. Then using the UP and DOWN buttons at the bottom of the display, change the contrast
value as desired. The change is immediate and the effect can be monitored as the value is changed.
Display Zero Deadband: Zero deadband refers to a value below which the display simply jumps to zero.
This deadband is often desired to prevent electrical noise from showing up on the display as minor ows
or pressures that do not actually exist, especially in high noise (electrical) environments. This display
deadband does not affect the analog or digital signal outputs — there is no zero deadband on the output
signals. The display zero deadband can be adjusted between 0 and 3.2% of the Full Scale (FS) of the
sensor. PVM refers to Pressure, Volumetric Flow, and Mass Flow, the three parameters to which the
deadband applies. Note: Only Pressure and Volumteric Flow are applicable to and adjustable in liquid
devices. To adjust the display zero deadband, press the “Select” button in the upper left hand corner of
the display until the cursor arrow is in front of the words “PVM DBand (X %F.S.)”. Then using the UP
and DOWN buttons at the bottom of the display, change the display zero deadband value as desired.
Pressure Averaging: It is sometimes advantageous to apply an averaging factor to the pressure output
(and display) to make it easier to read and interpret rapidly uctuating pressures. Pressure averaging
can be adjusted between 1 (no averaging) and 256 (maximum averaging). This is a geometric running
average where the number between 1 and 256 can be considered very roughly equivalent to the
response time constant in milliseconds. This can be very effective at “smoothing” high frequency process
oscillations such as those caused by diaphragm pumps. To adjust the pressure averaging, press the
“Select” button in the upper left hand corner of the display until the cursor arrow is in front of the words
“PRESS Avg (XXX)”. Then using the UP and DOWN buttons at the bottom of the display, change the
pressure averaging value as desired.
Flow Averaging: It is sometimes advantageous to apply an averaging factor to the ow output (and
display) to make it easier to read and interpret rapidly uctuating ows. Flow averaging can be adjusted
between 1 (no averaging) and 256 (maximum averaging). This is a geometric running average where
the number between 1 and 256 can be considered very roughly equivalent to the response time constant
in milliseconds. This can be very effective at “smoothing” high frequency process oscillations such as
those caused by diaphragm pumps. To adjust the ow averaging, press the “Select” button in the upper
left hand corner of the display until the cursor arrow is in front of the words “FLOW Avg (XXX)”. Then
using the UP and DOWN buttons at the bottom of the display, change the ow averaging value as
desired.

18
LC Series Water Flow Controller Operation
The LC Series can have several screen “modes” depending on how the device is ordered. All LC Series
controllers have a default Main Mode,a Select Menu Mode, a Control Setup Mode, a Communication
Select Mode, a Manufacturer Data Mode and a Miscellaneous Mode. (In addition, your controller may
have been ordered with the Totalizing Mode option, see page 34.) The device defaults to Main Mode as
soon as power is applied to the meter.
Main Mode
The main mode screen shows the ow in the units specied at time of order, the line pressure in PSIG,
and the process temperature in degrees Celsius.
PSIG oC Set Pt.
+23.47 +22.73 0.000
CCM
Water
+0.000
Volume Main
Figure 13. Main Mode Display, LC Series Water Flow Controller
The “MODE” button in the lower right hand corner toggles the display between the Main Display and
the Select Menu Display.
Line Pressure – Pressing the dynamically labeled PSIG button located in the upper left corner of the
display will move the line gauge pressure to the primary display.
Line Temperature – Pressing the dynamically labeled °C button located in the upper middle of the
display will move the process temperature to the primary display.
Volume – The volume ow rate is defaulted on the primary display. Pressing the dynamically labeled
“Volume” button will move the volume ow rate to the primary display if another parameter is displayed
there.
Set Pt – The set-point is shown in the upper right corner of the display. The set-point cannot be adjusted
from the main mode screen. (For information on changing the set-point, see the Control Set Up Mode
below.)
Flashing Error Message: Our ow meters and controllers display an error message (VOV = volumetric
overrange, POV = pressure overrange, TOV = temperature overrange) when a measured parameter
exceeds the range of the sensors in the device. When any item ashes on the display, neither the
ashing parameter nor the ow measurement is accurate. Reducing the value of the ashing parameter
to within specied limits will return the unit to normal operation and accuracy.

19
Select Menu Mode
Pushing “Mode” once will bring up the “Select Menu” display (Figure 9, page 14). Push the button
nearest your selection to go to the corresponding screen. Push “Mode” again to return to the Main
Mode display. (Note: If your meter was ordered with Totalizing Mode option (page 34), pushing the
“Mode” button once will bring up the “Totalizing Mode” display. Pushing “Mode” a second time will bring
up the “Select Menu” display.)
Control Setup Mode
The Control Setup Mode is accessed by pressing the button labeled “MODE” until the dynamic label
over the button reads “Control Setup” as shown in Figure 11 below. This mode allows the user to set
up most parameters commonly associated with PID control. LC Series ow controllers allow the user
to select how the set-point is to be conveyed to the controller, what that set-point is if control is local,
and what the Proportional and Differential terms of the PID control loop will be. The UP and DOWN
buttons for adjusting variables can be held down for higher speed adjustment or pressed repeatedly for
ne adjustment. If your controller is difcult to reach or you prefer “dial up” set-point adjustment, please
consider our Local Set-Point Module (LSPM) described on page 37.
Select Loop Input
>P 200 >Analog
D 500 >Volume Serial
AUT0on Local
Set 0.00
Control
Up Down Setup
Figure 14. LC Series Control Setup Display
Input – LC Series Flow Controllers normally ship defaulted to analog control as indicated in Figure 14
above. To change how the set-point will be conveyed to the controller push the button in the upper right
hand corner just above the dynamic label “Input” until the arrow is directly in front of the desired option.
The controller will ignore any set-point except that of the selected input and it will remember which input
is selected even if the power is disconnected.
Analog refers to a remote analog set-point applied to Pin 4 of the Mini-DIN connector as described
in the installation section of this manual. To determine what type of analog set-point your controller
was ordered with, refer to the Calibration Data Sheet that was included with your controller. 0-5 Vdc
is standard unless ordered otherwise. Note that if nothing is connected to Pin 4, and the controller is
set for analog control, the set-point will oat. CAUTION! Never leave aCoNtroller with aNy NoN-zero
set-poiNt if No pressure is available to make flow. the CoNtroller will apply full power to the valve iN aN
attempt to reaCh the set-poiNt. wheN there is No flow, this CaN make the valve very hot!

20
Serial refers to a remote digital RS-232 set-point applied via a serial connection to a computer or
PLC as described in the Installation and RS-232 sections of this manual. CAUTION! Never leave a
CoNtroller with aNy NoN-zero set-poiNt if No pressure is available to make flow. the CoNtroller will
apply full power to the valve iN aN attempt to reaCh the set-poiNt. wheN there is No flow, this CaN make
the valve very hot!
Local refers to a set-point applied directly at the controller. For more information on changing the
set-point locally refer to the heading “Select” below. Local input must be selected prior to attempting
to change the set-point locally. CAUTION! Never leave aCoNtroller with aNy NoN-zero set-poiNt if No
pressure is available to make flow. the CoNtroller will apply full power to the valve iN aN attempt to
reaCh the set-poiNt. wheN there is No flow, this CaN make the valve very hot!
Loop – The LC is defaulted to volume ow.
Volume means that the controller is “closing the loop” on the volume ow rate. This means that when
you give the controller a set-point, the controller compares that set-point to the measured volume ow
rate and adjusts the valve to try to make the ow and the set-point match. For the volume ow rate, the
input signal (e.g. 0-5 Vdc) corresponds to the full-scale ow rate for the device.
Select – To avoid accidental changing of the PID loop parameters or the set-point, the Control Setup
mode defaults with the selector on a null position. To change the set-point or the P and D PID loop
parameters, push the button in the upper left corner just above the dynamic label “Select” until the
selection arrow is pointing to the parameter you wish to change. When the parameter you wish to
change is selected, it may be adjusted up or down with the buttons under the display below the dynamic
labels “UP” and “DOWN”. Press the buttons repeatedly to make slow adjustments or hold them down
to make fast adjustments.
Prefers to the Proportional term of the PID loop. Before changing this parameter, it is good practice to
write down the initial value so that it can be returned to the factory settings if necessary.
D refers to the Differential term of the PID loop. Before changing this parameter, it is good practice to
write down the initial value so that it can be returned to the factory settings if necessary.
AUT0on / AUT0off refers to the standard auto-tare or “auto-zero” feature. It is recommended that the
controller be left in the default auto-tare ON mode unless your specic application requires that it be
turned off. The auto-tare feature automatically tares (takes the detected signal as zero) the unit when it
receives a zero set-point for more than two seconds. A zero set-point results in the closing of the valve
and a known “no ow” condition. This feature helps to make the device more accurate by periodically
removing any cumulative errors associated with drift.
Set refers to the Set-point. This parameter may only be changed if “Local” is selected as the Input. See
above for information on selecting the input. Using the UP and DOWN buttons, the set-point may be
adjusted between zero and the full-scale range of the controller. CAUTION! Never leave aCoNtroller
with aNy NoN-zero set-poiNt if No pressure is available to make flow. the CoNtroller will apply full
power to the valve iN aN attempt to reaCh the set-poiNt. wheN there is No flow, this CaN make the valve
very hot!