Ametek Solartron Analytical ModuLab XM ECS User manual

Electrochemical System
INSTALLATION GUIDE

Solartron Analytical Ltd
5 Ashville Way, Molly Millars Lane,
Wokingham, Berkshire, RG41 2PL, UK
Tel [phone]
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
The directives covered by this declaration
73/23/EEC Low Voltage Equipment Directive, amended by 93/68/EEC
89/336/EEC Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive, amended by 92/31/EEC & 93/68/EEC
Product(s)
ModuLab®XM System
Basis on which conformity is being declared
The product(s) identified above comply with the requirements of the EU directives by meeting
the following standards:
BS EN61326:1997 Electrical equipment for measurement control and laboratory use -EMC
requirements; including amendments A1:1998 and A2:2001.
BS EN61010-1:2001 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control
and laboratory use.
Accordingly the CE mark has been applied to this product.
Signed
For and on behalf of Solartron Analytical
Authority: Division Vice President of Engineering
Date: May 2014

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GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
The equipment described in this manual has been designed in accordance with EN61010
"Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory
use", and has been supplied in a safe condition. To avoid injury to an operator or service
technician the safety precautions given below, and throughout the manual, must be strictly
adhered to, whenever the equipment is operated, serviced or repaired. For specific safety
details, please refer to the relevant sections within the manual.
The equipment is intended solely for electronic measurement and should be used for no
other purpose. The equipment protection may be impaired if it is not operated in a manner
as specified by Solartron and detailed in this document. Solartron accept no responsibility
for accidents or damage resulting from any failure to comply with these precautions.
GROUNDING
To minimise the hazard of electrical shock, it is essential that the equipment be connected
to a protective ground through the AC supply cable. The continuity of the ground
connection should be checked periodically.
AC SUPPLY VOLTAGE
Never operate the equipment from a line voltage or frequency in excess of that specified.
Otherwise, the insulation of internal components may break down and cause excessive
leakage currents. The equipment is to be used with an IEC 60799 compliant mains supply
cord, rated for the correct voltage and power rating as detailed on the rear panel.
FUSES
Before switching on the equipment check that the fuses accessible from the exterior of
the equipment are of the correct rating. The rating of the AC line fuse must be in
accordance with the voltage of the AC supply.
T10A H 250V (100-120V mains supply)
T5A H 250V (220-240V mains supply)
Should any fuse continually blow, do not insert a fuse of a higher rating. Switch the
equipment off, clearly label it "unserviceable" and inform a service technician.
EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES
You must NEVER OPERATE the equipment, or any sensors connected to the equipment,
in a potentially explosive atmosphere. The equipment is NOT designed for use in these
conditions and could possibly cause an explosion.
SAFETY SYMBOL
For the guidance and protection of the user, the following safety symbol appears on the
equipment:
Symbol
Meaning
General safety hazard. Refer to the operating manual for detailed
instructions.
Electrical safety hazard. This symbol may appear alongside the general
safety hazard symbol, together with a voltage.

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General Safety Precautions (continued from previous page)
Symbol
Meaning
Safety hazard involving heavy weights. A numerical value for the
amount of weight may appear alongside this symbol. Take care when
handling and carrying. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and ask
for assistance if necessary.
NOTES, CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS
For the guidance and protection of the user, Notes, Cautions and Warnings
appear throughout the manual. The significance of these is as follows:
NOTES highlight important information for the reader’s special attention.
CAUTIONS guide the reader in avoiding damage to the equipment.
WARNINGS guide the reader in avoiding a hazard that could cause injury or
death.
AVOID UNSAFE EQUIPMENT
The equipment may be unsafe if any of the following statements apply:
•Equipment shows visible damage.
•Equipment has failed to perform an intended operation.
•Equipment has been stored in unfavourable conditions.
•Equipment has been subjected to severe physical stress.
If in any doubt as to the serviceability of the equipment, don't use it. Get it
properly checked out by a qualified service technician.
LIVE CONDUCTORS
When the equipment is connected to its measurement inputs or supply, the
opening of covers or removal of parts could expose live conductors. The
equipment must be disconnected from all power and signal sources before it is
opened for any adjustment, replacement, maintenance or repair. Adjustments,
maintenance or repair must only be done by qualified personnel, who should
refer to the relevant maintenance documentation.
EQUIPMENT MODIFICATION
To avoid introducing safety hazards, never install non-standard parts in the
equipment, or make any unauthorised modification. To maintain safety, always
return the equipment to your Solartron service provider for service and repair.

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DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING OF EQUIPMENT IN THE
EUROPEAN UNION
Solartron Analytical is an environmentally friendly company, committed to the
disposal and recycling of electrical and electronic waste according to procedures
that have the least possible impact on health and the environment. The company
supports the disposal of equipment according to the EU directive on Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
When you wish to dispose of any Solartron Analytical electrical
and electronic equipment supplied in the EU, you should call your
supplier and ask for advice about the disposal process. Do not
dispose of any equipment in skips, rubbish bins or waste disposal
sites.
MODULAB XM COMPONENTS, MATERIALS AND DISMANTLING
The following information will be of interest to parties who are involved in the
disposal of equipment.
The ModuLab XM system consists of a metal chassis mounted in a polyurethane
plastic case. The chassis contains a power supply and a number of PCBs
including up to eight modules that can be removed and refitted. There is an LCD
display mounted on the front of the metal chassis, behind the plastic front cover.
A general description of the equipment, including some photographs, is
given in Section 1.3.
Details of how to remove the front cover, and then remove the module
PCBs, are given in Section 2.5.
With the front cover removed, you can remove the chassis from its case as
follows:
1. Undo three screws on each side of the case, at the bottom.
2. Slide the upper section of the case off to the rear, leaving behind the chassis
and plastic base.
3. Lift the chassis off the plastic base.
The ModuLab XM system contains soldered components which may contain
lead.

vi 21006002_AD 11/06/14
Text Conventions
The following text conventions are used in the ModuLab®XM documentation:
•Bold text is used for headings.
•Blue text is used for names and titles of features of the ModuLab XM
hardware and software, when it is required that the user, at this point, should
find these features on the system.
•Italic text is used for words and phrases that have a specific meaning within
ModuLab XM, without being names or titles, for example project,
experiment and step. Definitions of the italicised words and phrases are in the
Glossary of Terms.
•Finger pointers are used for cross-references, for example:
Glossary of Terms, in the User Guide.

ModuLab XM ECS Electrochemical System: Installation Guide
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Contents
1. INTRODUCING MODULAB®XM ECS........................................................1-1
1.1 THE MODULAB®XM ECS DOCUMENTATION................................1-1
1.2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW........................................................................1-1
1.3 MODULAB XM CHASSIS..................................................................1-2
1.4 EXTERNAL POWER BOOSTERS.....................................................1-4
1.5 MODULE SUMMARY ........................................................................1-7
1.5.1 Module Identifiers.............................................................................. 1-8
1.5.2 Cables............................................................................................... 1-9
1.5.3 Potentiostat Groups and Communication........................................ 1-10
1.5.4 Group Common Reference Voltage................................................ 1-10
1.5.5 Measurements on Floating and Grounded Cells ............................. 1-11
1.6 MODULE FUNCTIONS....................................................................1-13
1.6.1 XM Potentiostat Module.................................................................. 1-13
1.6.2 XM Frequency Response Analyzer Module .................................... 1-14
1.6.3 XM High Voltage Modules............................................................... 1-16
1.6.4 XM Femto Ammeter Module ........................................................... 1-17
1.6.5 XM Internal Booster Module............................................................ 1-18
1.6.6 External Power Boosters................................................................. 1-20
2. ASSEMBLING THE SYSTEM .....................................................................2-1
2.1 THE APPROACH TO SYSTEM ASSEMBLY.....................................2-1
2.1.1 PC System Requirements................................................................. 2-2
2.2 INSTALLING THE MODULAB XM ECS SYSTEM.............................2-2
2.3 CONFIGURING THE PC ETHERNET INTERFACE..........................2-4
2.3.1 Configuring Ethernet for Windows XP............................................... 2-5
2.4 INSTALLING THE MODULAB XM ECS SOFTWARE .......................2-7
2.4.1 Microsoft .Net Framework................................................................. 2-8
2.5 INSTALLING THE MODULES IN THE CHASSIS..............................2-9
2.5.1 Assembling the Modules in the Correct Order................................. 2-11
2.5.2 Unused Modules............................................................................. 2-12
2.6 CONNECTING THE ETHERNET.....................................................2-12

Contents ModuLab XM ECS Electrochemical System: Installation Guide
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2.7 CHECKING THE SYSTEM COMMUNICATIONS............................2-14
2.8 MANUAL ADDITION OF EQUIPMENT............................................2-20
2.9 ADVANCED SETUP ........................................................................2-22
2.9.1 Connection to a Corporate Network.................................................2-22
2.9.2 Hardware IP Addressing..................................................................2-26
2.10 REBOOTING THE SYSTEM............................................................2-33
3. INSTALLATION TESTS...............................................................................3-1
3.1 TEST SEQUENCE.............................................................................3-1
3.2 THE TEST CELLS..............................................................................3-2
3.2.1 DC Responses to Test Cells..............................................................3-4
3.2.2 AC Responses to Test Cells..............................................................3-4
3.3 POTENTIOSTAT TEST......................................................................3-6
3.3.1 Auxiliary Channel DC Test...............................................................3-13
3.4 XM FRA TEST..................................................................................3-18
3.4.1 Auxiliary Channel AC Test...............................................................3-25
3.5 XM HIGH VOLTAGE MODULE TEST..............................................3-28
3.6 XM FEMTO AMMETER MODULE TEST.........................................3-30
3.7 XM POWER BOOSTER MODULE TEST ........................................3-32
3.8 EXTERNAL POWER BOOSTER TEST...........................................3-34
4. EXPANDING THE MODULAB XM SYSTEM...............................................4-1
4.1 MULTIPLE CHASSES........................................................................4-1
4.1.1 Chasses connected in series.............................................................4-2
4.1.2 Chasses connected through a switch ................................................4-3
4.1.3 Assigning the Module Addresses.......................................................4-4
4.1.4 Communication Test for Multiple Chasses.........................................4-5
4.2 EXTERNAL DEVICE CONTROL........................................................4-8
5. SYSTEM SPECIFICATION..........................................................................5-1
5.1 POTENTIOSTAT, HV 100 / HV 30, BOOSTER 2A, FEMTO AMMETER
MODULES .........................................................................................5-1
5.2 FREQUENCY RESPONSE ANALYZER (FRA)..................................5-2

ModuLab XM ECS Electrochemical System: Installation Guide Contents
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5.3 POTENTIOSTAT / FRA ACCURACY ................................................5-3
5.3.1 Core Potentiostat Accuracy............................................................... 5-3
5.3.2 FRA Accuracy................................................................................... 5-3
5.4 CHASSIS SPECIFICATION...............................................................5-3
5.5 TYPICAL PC CONFIGURATION.......................................................5-4
5.6 HARDWARE ORDERING INFORMATION........................................5-4
5.7 SOFTWARE ORDERING INFORMATION ........................................5-4
5.8 EXTERNAL BOOSTERS...................................................................5-4
6. INDEX..........................................................................................................6-1
Figure 1-1 ModuLab XM front view .....................................................................1-3
Figure 1-2 ModuLab XM front view with cover and modules removed................1-3
Figure 1-3 ModuLab XM rear view......................................................................1-4
Figure 1-4 External booster front panel...............................................................1-5
Figure 1-5 External booster rear panel................................................................1-6
Figure 1-6 Internal grounding (LO grounded, cell floating)................................1-11
Figure 1-7 External grounding (LO and WE floating, cell grounded)................1-12
Figure 1-8 External booster front panel.............................................................1-21
Figure 1-9 External booster rear panel sockets.................................................1-23
Figure 2-1 Mains power input connector.............................................................2-3
Figure 2-2 ModuLab XM front panel display........................................................2-3
Figure 2-3 ModuLab XM system with front cover removed .................................2-9
Figure 2-4 Example of potentiostat groups........................................................2-11
Figure 2-5 Network comprising a PC controlling a single chassis.....................2-13
Figure 2-6 PC connected to ModuLab XM Chassis...........................................2-22
Figure 2-7 PC connected to ModuLab XM Chassis with access to network......2-23

Contents ModuLab XM ECS Electrochemical System: Installation Guide
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Figure 2-8 PC connected to ModuLab XM Chassis through network................2-23
Figure 2-9 Multiple PCs connected to ModuLab XM Chasses through network 2-24
Figure 2-10 Multiple PCs assigned to potentiostat groups in a chassis...........2-24
Figure 2-11 PC connected to ModuLab XM and network using two network cards
2-25
Figure 3-1 ModuLab Test Cell.............................................................................3-2
Figure 3-2 ModuLab 0.1 ohm Cell .......................................................................3-3
Figure 3-3 Response of ModuLab Test Cell to DC input.....................................3-4
Figure 3-4 Test cell response to AC input (Bode plot).........................................3-5
Figure 3-5 Test cell response to AC input (complex plane plot) ..........................3-5
Figure 3-6 ModuLab Test Cell connections for potentiostat tests........................3-6
Figure 3-7 ModuLab Test Cell connections for high voltage module.................3-28
Figure 3-8 ModuLab XM Test Cell connections for femto ammeter...................3-30
Figure 3-9 Test cell connections for booster module tests ................................3-32
Figure 3-10 Test cell connections for external booster....................................3-34
Figure 4-1 Chasses connected in series .............................................................4-2
Figure 4-2 Chasses connected through a switch.................................................4-3
Figure 4-3 Control output connectors and pin positions ......................................4-8
Figure 5-1 Core Potentiostat Accuracy................................................................5-3
Figure 5-2 Frequency Response Analyzer Accuracy...........................................5-3

ModuLab XM ECS Electrochemical System: Installation Guide
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1. Introducing ModuLab® XM ECS
1.1 THE MODULAB®XM ECS DOCUMENTATION
When you receive delivery of your ModuLab®XM ECS system, you will need to
work through the manuals in the following order:
•The Getting Started manual gives a limited set of installation instructions,
sufficient to connect the ModuLab XM chassis to a PC and run a simple time
domain/DC experiment using a ready-made software configuration, and a
ModuLab XM Test Cell to represent an electrochemical cell. This test will
verify that the potentiostat can communicate with the PC and is able to obtain
some results from the Test Cell.
•This Installation Guide gives instructions about how to set up the system and
perform a wider range of experiments, so that all the installed modules can be
tested using the ModuLab Test Cell (or the ModuLab 0.1 ohm Cell for high
power applications). A variety of hardware configurations are described,
including expanded systems with multiple chasses.
•The User Guide describes how to set up your system to perform experiments,
using a number of standard connection configurations that will be suitable for
most types of electrochemical cell. You can set up your experiments from the
ModuLab XM software, so that the cell is subjected to excitation signals to
produce a variety of responses, in terms of waveforms which may be linear,
oscillating, staircase, etc. The results can be displayed graphically during the
experiment, or the stored results can be displayed afterwards and exchanged
with other users.
An online Help system is supplied with the ModuLab XM software, so that you
can quickly access information about the software features that you are using.
1.2 SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The ModuLab XMECS Electrochemical System is a highly versatile test system
for measuring the characteristics of electrochemical processes. A number of
modules are combined into a single chassis, avoiding the need for stacking and
wiring separate units. The modules are arranged in groups, known as potentiostat
groups, each with a potentiostat as the core module to enable DC measurements
to be taken. Other modules in the group may provide AC functionality, or the
measurement of high voltages, high impedances, or high power applications such
as batteries and fuel cells. Each potentiostat group in a chassis may perform a
separate experiment, so there can be multiple experiments running simultaneously
and independently.
ModuLab XM is a trademark of Solartron Analytical.

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The modules are mounted in slots in the chassis and can be removed and
replaced, so that you can design and modify the system according to your
requirements (although it is normally supplied with the modules assembled and
configured for a specific purpose).
Section 2.5, Installing the Modules in the Chassis.
The modules in each potentiostat group communicate with each other through the
chassis backplane, and some of them are connected to an Ethernet hub, also
mounted in the chassis, so that the system can be connected to an external PC
running the ModuLab XM software for control and monitoring purposes.
The ModuLab XM system is available with two different chassis sizes, depending
on the number of modules required:
•The Chassis 4 system which takes up to four modules.
•The Chassis 8 system which takes up to eight modules.
An internal power booster may be included in a potentiostat group within the
chassis, capable of passing a current of up to 2A. External power boosters are
available for applications where the current exceeds this value.
For more sophisticated test purposes, it is possible to build an expanded
system by combining multiple ModuLab XM chasses through the Ethernet
link, as described in Chapter 4.
1.3 MODULAB XM CHASSIS
Figures 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 show the ModuLab XM ECS system, consisting of a
chassis (1) mounted in its case (2). The chassis has the following features:
•A flat screen LCD colour display (3) which gives the status of the system.
When the system is switched on it displays the Solartron logo, then it
displays the operational status of the modules, under the control of the PC via
the Ethernet.
•Slots (4) for the modules (5). The right-hand module in Figure 1-1 is a 2A
internal booster occupying two slots. If a module is not fitted to a slot, there
is a blanking panel (6).
Section 1.6, Module Functions, for details of module connectors and
LEDs.
•Mains power connector (7) including socket, fuses and on/off switch.
•Three Ethernet sockets (8) for connection to a PC and for expanding the
ModuLab XM system with multiple chasses.
•Two D-type sockets (9) for controlling external devices such as heaters,
stirrers, flow controllers and fans.
•An unused socket (10).
•Cooling fans (11).

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Figure 1-1 ModuLab XM front view
Figure 1-2 ModuLab XM front view with cover and modules removed
3
3
4
6
1
2
5

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Figure 1-3 ModuLab XM rear view
1.4 EXTERNAL POWER BOOSTERS
External power boosters are available for applications where the current exceeds
the 2A maximum capacity of the internal booster.
Four models of the external booster are available, identified by their front panel
labels which indicate their capacity as follows:
•Booster 12V/20A
•Booster 24V/10A
•Booster 50V/5A
•Booster 50V/25A/125W
7
8
9
11
10

ModuLab XM ECS Electrochemical System: Installation Guide Introducing ModuLab XM ECS
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All four versions have the same design, and the front and rear panels are shown in
Figures 1-4 and 1-5.
Figure 1-4 External booster front panel

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Figure 1-5 External booster rear panel

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1.5 MODULE SUMMARY
The modules which can be fitted to the chassis are as follows:
•The potentiostat is the basic component of the ModuLab XM system that, on
its own, is able to perform DC electrochemical experiments on a wide range
of batteries, fuel cells and electrochemical cells. Optional auxiliary voltage
measurement channels may be added to the potentiostat to provide additional
voltage measurements of parts of the cell.
•High voltage optional modules are available to extend the voltage range of
the potentiostat to either ±30V or ±100V as preferred. The high voltage
options are used, for example, for testing multi-cell batteries, fuel cells or for
organic electrochemistry applications.
•A femto ammeter may be added to the system, operating with the basic
potentiostat or in combination with the high voltage option plus potentiostat.
This extends the current measurement resolution to the measurement of very
high resistance cells, for use with microelectrode studies, anti-corrosion
coatings and other corrosion applications.
•An internal power booster may be added to provide the capability for testing
higher power batteries and fuel cells and also for use in electroplating
applications. The high voltage option can be used together with the internal
booster to provide high voltage measurements from parts of the cell using its
auxiliary voltage inputs.
•A DSSC option is also available to allow control of an optical bench for
testing Dye Sensitized Solar Cells. Refer to Solartron Analytical website for
more details.
•A frequency response analyzer may also be added to the system to provide
high-speed impedance measurements using any of the above combinations of
equipment. Impedance of parts of the cell may also be measured using the
auxiliary inputs option on the main potentiostat or the high voltage option as
preferred. The FRA is fully integrated into the system, allowing impedance
measurements of extremely high impedance or low impedance cells
depending on the optional modules that are fitted.
The following module can be installed external to the chassis:
•An external power booster may be used for applications that exceed the
capacity of the internal booster. The external booster is placed in the circuit
between the potentiostat and the cell, so that it amplifies and attenuates the
signals using fixed scaling factors. The voltage output from the potentiostat
to the cell is multiplied by 10, and the current return from the cell to the
potentiostat is divided by 1000. The result is that the potentiostat “sees” a
smaller load, but the ModuLab XM software interprets the data to take
account of the scaling factors.
The high voltage module can be used together with the external booster to
provide high voltage measurements from parts of the cell using its auxiliary
voltage inputs.

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The external booster is used as an alternative to the internal booster, not an
addition. It is possible to have both of them installed in the same potentiostat
group, but they cannot both be used at the same time.
The modules are described in more detail in Section 1.6.
1.5.1 Module Identifiers
The modules are identified by their front panel labels, and by shortened versions
of the labels, limited to ten characters, which appear on the LCD display. The
labels identify the specific version of each module as shown in Table 1-1.
Table 1-1 Module Identifiers
Software and Front
Panel Label
LCD
Label
Module Version
XM Pstat 1MS/s
Pstat 1MS
Potentiostat
Maximum data capture rate: 1M samples/second
Voltage span: ±8 V @ up to ±300 mA
Four auxiliary voltage channels are available as an
option.
XM FRA 1MHz
FRA 1MHz
FRA. Frequency range: 10 µHz to 1 MHz
XM FRA 300kHz
FRA 300kHz
FRA. Frequency range: 10 µHz to 300 kHz
XM Femto Ammeter
FA
Femto ammeter.
Current range (full scale): 3 pA to 300 mA
Capable of measuring currents < 1 fA.
XM HV 100
HV 100
High voltage module.
Output voltage span: ±100 V @ up to ±100 mA
XM HV 30
HV 30
High voltage module.
Output voltage span: ±30 V @ up to ±200 mA
XM Booster 2A
Booster 2A
Internal Power Booster.
Output: ±2 A @ voltage to match potentiostat or
HV module. (maximum voltage ±20 V)
Booster 12V/20A
n/a
External Power Booster.
Output: −3 V to +12 V @ ±20 A
Booster 24V/10A
n/a
External Power Booster.
Output: −3 V to +24 V @ ±10 A
Booster 50V/5A
n/a
External Power Booster.
Output: −3 V to +50 V @ ±5 A
Booster 50V/25A/125W
n/a
External Power Booster.
Output: −3 V to +50 V @ –25 A to 0 A, (125 W
max)
NOTE: The external boosters have no LCD labels because they are not fitted
to the chassis.