AquaLab Pawkit User manual

Quick Start Guide
Pawkit Water Activity Meter

Congratulations on your new Pawkit
Water Activity Meter. This guide will
help you begin gathering data in just
a few short steps.
The Setup
1
Wash hands.
Place in a stable environment away
from air ducts, vents, heaters, etc.
Customer support: [email protected] / 509-332-5601 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific
Note: Using button II to adjust
the calibration should only be
done when the instrument is not
measuring within specifications
and has been thoroughly cleaned
and retested with the 0.760
standard.
ButtonI
Power/New Test
button.
LCD
Displays water activity
value and temperature.
ButtonII
Once a reading is finished,
the right button (II) will
be active. Button II can be
used to adjust the calibra-
tion of the instrument if
it is not measuring within
specifications.
SampleCup
Use a new sample cup
for each test.

2
What’s Included?
Operator’s Manual
Instrument instructions and care.
Pawkit
Handheld water activity meter.
Carrying Case
Contains Pawkit instrument,
manual, sample cups, and
standards.
Verification Standards
If you don’t have two boxes go to
store.aqualab.com to purchase.
Periodically purchase at store.aqualab.com*
Sample Cups
Case includes 10 initial
sample cups.
*

Verification vs.
Calibration
3
Your instrument needs to be verified with a primary
and a secondary verification standard every day.
Standards are salt solutions with known water
activities. Measuring one standard at the bottom
of a water activity range and one towards the top
of the range will alert the operator to shifts in the
calibration.
Verification
If a shift occurs and you notice that the standard
isn’t measuring in spec, the first thing you need
to do is clean the instrument. If the standard is
still not measuring in spec after cleaning you can
adjust the calibration up or down using the .920,
.760, or the .250 standard.
Calibration
If you need help determining which standards
to use to verify your instrument or you can’t
get you instrument to measure within spec
of the standards, please contact AquaLab
Customer Support [email protected] or
509-332-5601.
*Standards come in boxes of 50 plastic disposable vials and the
four types you can use with the Pawkit for verification include the
.920,.760, and the .250.
*Note: Adjusting the calibration of the instrument should only be
done when the verification standards are reading out of spec.

4
Primary Standard
DailyVerification-StepOne
Locate a vial of the 0.760 Water Activity Standard that
is inside the carrying case with your instrument or in a
box purchased separately (Blue).
Note: Note: Each Pawkit case contains a set of trial vials. You will need to
order more standards for your daily verification of the instrument.
Twist off cap of the 0.760 vial and pour the contents
into a sample cup.
Place the Pawkit over the sample cup and turn on the
instrument by pushing the left button. If the instrument
is already on just press the left I button again to start
another reading.
1
2
3
The lids with the cups are used to prevent
moisture loss or gain-if you do not immediately
test samples. Do not place a sample cup with a
lid under the Pawkit.
Important!

Measurement Screen
5
Reading is still in process if you see
the sunburst icon.
Reading in process
Reading is complete when your Pawkit ‘beeps’
and the sunburst icon disappears.
If the standard measures between 0.74
and 0.78, move on to the second verification
standard. If not, clean the instrument and retry.
*Accuracy of the Pawkit ± 0.02
Reading complete
Final Reading– no sunburst icon above aw.
Reading in Process- sunburst icon above aw.

Determine Secondary Standard
DailyVerification-StepTwo
6
Identify range of water activity for your product(s).
1
If the product you are about to test has a
high water activity above .76, use the .92
as your second standard. If the product you
are about to test has a low water activity
below .76, use the .25 standard as your
second standard.
2
Conduct a two-point performance
verification daily. If you need guidance on
which two standards to use, please contact
us: Email:[email protected], or call us
at:509.332.5601.
3
Need vials? Go to https://store.aqualab.com

7
Secondary Standard
DailyVerification-StepTwoContinued
If the instrument doesn’t measure within specifications,
clean the chamber and retry. See Chapter 5 in your
Operator’s Manual if the issue persists or contact
AquaLab Customer Support.
Standard not
measuring in
specification.
Error!
Locate a vial of the Secondary Verification Standard
(0.250, or 0.920) that came with your
instrument or that you purchased separately.
Twist off vial cap and pour contents into a new
sample cup.
Take a reading of the second standard by placing the
Pawkit over the cup and pressing the left I button.
5
4
7

Ready! Sample Test
Product-Step 3
8
Place a sample of your product in a new sample cup.
Cover the bottom of the sample cup as much as possible.
If your product is larger than the cup, it will be necessary
to make the product smaller to fit the sample cup.
Ensure the rim and outside of the sample cup are clean.
If you don’t immediately test the sample, cover it with
a lid to avoid moisture loss or gain.
Ensure sample temperature is within 4˚C of the
instrument temperature.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Do not overfill the sample cup
(no more than half full)
Warning!

9
AquaLab offers an Annual Calibration Service
which includes:
• Factory calibration.
• Firmware update.
• Thorough cleaning.
• Free loaner instrument to use upon request.
• Current calibration certificate to keep on file
for auditing purposes.
Maintenance
Help? [email protected] / 509.332.5601
SensorFilter
Do not moisten during
cleaning process. If filter
becomes contaminated,
replace filter.
ThermopileSensor
Clean regularly with
Cleaning Kit materials.
SensorCover
Cover the chamber
components when
instrument is not in use.
SampleChamber
Cover sample cup with
chamber. Purchase more
cups: store.aqualab.com
Instrument Components

10
Series 4
Water Activity Meter.
4TE
Water Activity Meter.
Temperature Control
(Between 15-50˚C).
Standard Vials
Performance Verification Standards
Boxes of 50 single use vials.
Sample Cups
Fits all AquaLab instruments.
Contains 500 cups per case.
AquaLink 4
Data Management Software.
Backup, graph, and share
your data.
4TEV
Water Activity Meter.
Temperature Control
(Between 15-50˚C).
Volatiles Sensor.
DUO
Moisture Analyzer.
Water Activity.
Moisture Content.
VSA
Vapor Sorption Analyzer.
Dynamic & Static Moisture
Sorption Isotherm generation.
Completemoistureanalysiswiththese AquaLabproducts:
Need supplies? Go to https://store.aqualab.com

Complete Moisture Analysis
USA AquaLab Sales 509-332-2756
USA AquaLab Customer Support 509-332-5601
Service outside USA, contact your local distributor
Copyright ©2015 Decagon Devices, Inc.
2365 NE Hopkins Court, Pullman, WA 99163
10341
PRINTED IN USA
20-01-15