Extech Instruments VPC300 User manual

USERGUIDE
VideoParticleCounterwithbuilt‐inCamera
ModelVPC300

2VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
Introduction
ThankyouforselectingtheExtechInstrumentsModelVPC300ParticleCounterwithCamera.
TheVPC300hasaColorTFTLCDdisplay,a74MBinternaldatastoragebank,amicro‐SDmemory
cardslotforcapturingimagesandvideoforviewingonaPC,andabuilt‐in320x240pixelcamera
forcapturingstills/videooftestlocations.TheVPC300offersquickandaccuratereadingsfor
particlecount,airtemperature,mostsurfacetemperatures,andrelativehumidity.TheVPC300
alsooffersaDewPointandWetBulbtemperaturecalculationgearedforenergyefficiencyand
environmentalprotectionapplications.SuppliedPCsoftwareallowstheusertogeneratereports
basedonrecordsdata,images,andvideo.
Thisdeviceisshippedfullytestedandcalibratedand,withproperuse,willprovideyearsof
reliableservice.Pleasevisitourwebsite(www.extech.com)tocheckforthelatestversionofthis
UserGuide,ProductUpdates,andCustomerSupport.
Features
2.8”TFTColorLCDdisplay
Convenientkeystrokemenustructureformeasurements,setup,andotherprogramming
320x240pixelbuilt‐incameraforstillandvideoimaging
JPEGimagesand3GPvideo
Meter’sinternalmemory74MB.
Metercanstore5000records(date,time,counts,humidity,temperature,sample
volumes,andlocationlabel)and20minutesofvideotointernalmemory.
Micro‐SDmemorycardslot(8GBmaximum);cardnotincluded.
SelectableTestsampletime,countdata,andprogrammabledelay
Simultaneouslymeasureanddisplay6channelsofparticlesizes(downto0.3μm)
Airtemperatureandrelativehumidity
DewpointandWetbulbtemperaturecalculations
MIN/MAX/AVG/DIFrecordwithdate/timestamp
Autopoweroff
LanguageselectionforEnglish,French,German,andSpanish
MeterisshippedNISTcalibratedwithcalibrationcertificate
Tripodmountingoption
IncludesuniversalACadaptor/chargerwithavarietyofplugoptions,USBcable,PC
software,tripod,Zerocountfilter,7.4VLithium‐ionpolymerrechargeablebattery,and
protectivecase

3VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
MeterDescription
1. Isokineticprobe
2. TemperatureandRHSensor(noteitsprotectivecoverthatslidesupanddown)
3. ColorTFTLCD
4. CompartmentforUSBinterfaceportandACAdaptor/Charger
5. FunctionF1,F2,F3buttons
6. Controlbuttons:PageUp/Down,Enter,Run/Stop,andESC
7. ON/OFFbutton
8. BatteryandMicro‐SDcardcompartment(SDcardslotunderneathbattery)
9. Tripodmount
10. Cameralens
1
3
6
7
5
4
2
8
9
10

4VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
Operation
PowerON‐OFF
PressandholdthepowerbuttontoswitchtheinstrumentONor
OFF.
ImportantNotes
Note:Operatingtheparticlecounterwiththeisokineticprobecapin
placewilldamagethepumpandotherinternalcomponents.
Note: Electricalnoise,sensorleakage,orotherinterferencemay
causetheVPC300toshowincorrectparticlecountdata.
GettingStarted
WhenthemeterpowersON,theParticleCountericonisdisplayedatthecenteroftheLCDand
thedate,time,andbatterystatuscanbeobservedonthetoprowoftheLCD.Threebottomrow
optionsarealsodisplayedandcanbeselectedusingtheFunctionkeys(F1,F2,andF3)asshown
below.Theseareexplainedingreaterdetaillaterinthisuserguide:
Memory(wheredata,images,andvideoarelocated)
SystemSetupParameters
HelpFile
SymbolGlossary
Cumulativemode
VideoRecordstart
ConcentrationmodeVideomode
TestispausedColorcodedparticlescale(greenis
low,yellowismoderate,andredis
highparticlecount)
CAM(Camera)modeAlarmON
DifferentialmodeBatteryStatus
TestisrunningParticle Count Setup

5VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
SequenceofOperation
Toensurethatyoumeasuretheamountofparticlesaccurately,performthissequenceof
operation.
1. Zerotheparticlecountsensor
2. Setupyourcounterforproperoperation.Sampletime,mode,cycle,andinterval.
3. Runyourtestcyclesandevaluatetheresults.
BasicOperation
PressandholdtheON/OFFbuttonfor3to5secondsuntilthedisplayilluminatestopoweron
themeter.
Presstheenterbutton()togettosetupmode.
PressF3toentersettingsmode.
SeteachparametertoyourpreferredsettingbypressingENTERtoentereachparameter.Then
pressENTERtoenableeditingofeachparameter.PressESCtoexitparametersetup.
SampleTime:Lengthoftimeeachtestruns(3to60seconds)
StartDelay:DurationoftimefromRUNtoactualstartoftest.(3to100seconds)
ChannelDisplay:Particlesizesdisplayedduringtest.
AmbientTemp/RH:Allowsthedisplayoftheairtempand%RHvalues
SampleCycle:Numberoftestcyclestorun(1to100)
SampleMode:Cumulative,differential,concentration
Interval:Testcycledelaymeasuredinseconds.
LevelIndication:Particlelevelselection(highlightedondisplay)
PressESCtoreturntotestingscreen
PressRUN/STOPtostarttheautomatedtestsequence.

6VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
TakingMeasurements
Afterpoweringthemeter,presstheEnter() buttontoaccess
theParticleMeasurementscreen.Thenopenthe
temperature/RHsensorbyslidingitsprotectivecover
downward.
Whenmeasuringparticlecounts,these
icons correspondtothefunctionkeys(F1,F2,F3).
F1istoenterCameraandvideomode,F2istoviewyoursaved
data,andF3isforSetupmode.
Thedisplaywillshowtheparticlecountchannelswithreadings,
airtemperature(AT),Dewpointtemperature(DP),Wetbulb
temperature(WB),andRelativeHumidity(%RH)asshownin
accompanyingdiagram.
PresstheRUN/STOPbuttontostarttheairpumpandtheparticlecountmeasurement
process.Whentheprogrammedsamplingtimehaselapsed,theparticlemeasurementcycle
willautomaticallyendandthemeasurementdatawillbeautomaticallystored.Tosetthe
samplingtime,refertotheParticleCountSETUPMODEsection.Ifdesired,pressthe
RUN/STOPbuttonandstopthesessionmanually.
Whenmeasuringparticlecounts,theseiconscorrespondtothefunctionkeys
(F1,F2,F3).F1istoenterCameraandvideomode,F2istoviewyoursaveddata,andF3isfor
Setupmode.
CapturingImages
Whilemeasuringparticlecounts,pressF1toenterthecameramode.PressF1tocapturea
Stillimage.ThenpressF1toSavetheimageorF3todeleteit.PressESCtogetbacktoexit
thismode.
CapturingVideo
Whilemeasuringparticlecounts,pressF1toenterthecameramode.PressF3toenterthe
videomode.TheLCDwillshow.NowpressF2tocapurevideoandpress
F2againtostopthevideocapture.Thevideofilewillbeautomaticallystored.TheSystem
Setupmodesectionallowstheusertostorevideotothemeter’sinternalmemoryortoan
installedMicro‐SDcard.PressESCtoexitthismode.
ParticleCounterSetupMode
Whenmeasuring,thesedisplayicons arevisible.Press
F3toentertheSetupmode.Usetheupanddownarrowkeystoselect
anoptiontoeditandpressENTER()toaccesstheselection.
SAMPLETIME(TestCycleTime)
SelectSampleTime.PresstheEnter()buttontoentertheoption
andPressEnteragaintoactivatethesettingforediting.Usethearrowbuttonstosetthe
samplingtime/gasvolume(3to60seconds).UsetheEscbuttontosave
andreturntothemenu.

7VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
STARTDELAY
Theteststartdelaytimeisadjustable(3to100seconds).FromtheParticlesetupmenu,use
theUpandDownarrowstoselectStartDelay.PresstheEnter() buttontoentertheoption
andPressEnteragaintoactivatethesettingforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselectthe
desiredelaytime.Thetestwillnotstartuntiltheprogrammeddelaytimehaselapsed.Use
theEscbuttontosavethesettingandtoreturntothemenulist.
CHANNELDISPLAY
Selectchannelsthataretobedisplayed.FromtheParticlesetupmenu,usetheUpandDown
arrowstoselectChannelDisplay.PresstheEnter() buttontoentertheoption.Usethe
arrowkeystoselectthechannelandpresstheEnterkeytoselectorde‐selectthechannel.
UsetheEsckeytosavethesettingandtoreturntothemenu.
AMBIENTTEMPERAURE/%RH
EnableorDisabletheambienttemperatureandrelativehumiditydisplays.FromtheParticle
setupmenu,usetheUpandDownarrowstoselectAmbientTemp/RH.PresstheEnter()
buttontoentertheoption.UsethearrowkeystoselectEnableorDisableandusetheESC
buttontosaveandreturntothemenu.
SAMPLECYCLE
Setthedesirednumberoftestcyclestorun.FromtheParticlesetupmenu,usetheUpand
DownarrowstoselectSampleCycle.PresstheEnter() buttontoentertheoptionand
PressEnteragaintoactivatethesettingforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselectthenumber
ofcyclestorunthetest(1to100).PressESCtosavesettingandtoreturntothemenulist.

8VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
SAMPLEMODE
Selectdesiredmode(Cumulative,Differential,orConcentration).FromtheParticle
setupmenu,usetheUpandDownarrowstoselectSampleMode.PresstheEnter() button
toentertheoption.UsethearrowbuttonstoselectdesiredmodeandthenuseESCtosave
andtoreturntothemenulist.
CumulativeMode–measuresallparticlesthataregreaterthanorequaltotheparticlesize
selectedintheSampleVolumefield.
DifferentialMode–measuresallparticlesthataregreaterthanorequaltotheparticlesize
selectedintheSampleVolumefield,butlessthanthenextlargestparticlesize.
ConcentrationMode–usedtotakeaquicksampleofairborneparticulates,performed
especiallyinareaswheretheparticulatelevelsareunknownandmayexceedtheoperating
levelsofthiscounter.
INTERVAL(TIMEBETWEENREPEATEDTESTCYCLES)
Setthetimebetweentestsfortestswithmorethanonecycle(1to100seconds).Fromthe
Particlesetupmenu,usetheUpandDownarrowstoselectIntervalTime.PresstheEnter()
buttontoentertheoptionandPressEnteragaintoactivatethesettingforediting.Usethe
arrowbuttonstosetthedesiredintervaltime.UsetheESCbuttontosavesettingandto
returntothemenu.Note:TheINTERVALsettingisonlyforprogrammingthetimebetween
testcycles,notbetweenindividualmeasurements.

9VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
LEVEL(ALARMLIMIT)INDICATION
SelecttheAlarmLimit(Level)ofthecorrespondingparticlesize.Whentheselectedparticle
sizeisexceeded,theinstrumentalertstheuser.FromtheParticlesetupmenu,usetheUpand
DownarrowstoselectLevelIndication.PresstheEnter() buttontoentertheoption.Use
thearrowbuttonstoselectthedesiredalarmlimitandthenpressESCtosavesettingand
returntothemenu.
MemoryStorageBrowser
WhenthemeterisswitchedON,theseLCDiconsare
visible .PressF1toenterthedatamemory
section.Therearethreeoptionsavailableinthememorymode,
Picture,Video,andParticleLogs.
UsethearrowbuttonstoselectoneandthenpressENTER() to
accesstheselection.
Whenbrowsingimages,data,andvideousethearrowbuttonsto
navigate,usetheEnterbuttontoselect,andusetheESCorF3
buttontoreturntothemenu.
PressESCagaintoexittothepower‐onscreen.

10VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
SystemSetupParameters
WhenthemeterisswitchedON,theseLCDiconsarevisible .ClickontheF2
keyandthemenulistwillappear.Detailedexplanationsareprovidedbelowforeach
parameter.UsetheArrowkeystochoosethedesiredparameter.
DATE/TIME SettheDateandTime.PresstheEnter() buttontoopenthe
selectionforediting.Usethearrowkeystochangeavalue,anduse
theEnterbuttontogotothenextitem.PresstheESCbuttontosave
thesettingreturntotheSetupmenu.
FONTCOLOR SelectthecolorfortheDisplayfont.PresstheEnter() buttonto
opentheselectionforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselectacolor
andusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturntotheSetup
menu.
LANGUAGE Selectthedesiredlanguageformenutext.PresstheEnter()
buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselect
alanguageandusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturnto
theSetupmenu.

11VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
BRIGHTNESS Adjustthedisplaytothedesiredbrightnesslevel.PresstheEnter
() buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrowkeysto
selectalevelandusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturnto
theSetupmenu.
AUTOPOWEROFFSelectelapsedtimevaluebeforemeterswitchesOFF.Pressthe
Enter() buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrow
keystoselectthesettingandusetheESCbuttontosavethesetting
andreturntotheSetupmenu.
DISPLAYTIME‐OUTSelectdisplayauto‐offdelay.PresstheEnter() buttontoopenthe
selectionforediting.Usethearrowkeystoselectasettinganduse
theESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturntotheSetupmenu.

12VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
MEMORYSTATUSDisplaythememoryandthemicro‐SDcardstatus.PresstheEnter
() buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrowkeysto
select‘Device’or‘SDCard’andthenviewthestatusfortheselected
item.UsetheESCbuttontoreturntotheSetupmenu.
FACTORYDEFAULTRestorefactorydefaultsettings.PresstheEnter() buttontoopen
theselectionforediting.UsethearrowkeystoselectYESorNOand
thenusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingandreturntotheSetup
menu.
UNITSSelectthedesiredunitofmeasurefortemperatureCorF.Pressthe
Enter() buttontoopentheselectionforediting.Usethearrow
keystoselecttheUnitandusetheESCbuttontosavethesettingand
returntotheSetupmenu.

13VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
ZerotheParticlecountSensor
Particlesmustbepurged(removed)fromthesensorbeforeandaftereachuseinahigh
samplecountenvironment.
Zerothesensor:
1. UnscrewandremovetheIsokineticprobeandattachtheZerocountfilter.
2. TurnonthemeterandintheSetupmode,
a. SettheSamplemodetoCumulative.
b. SettheChannelDisplaytoensureallchannelsareselected.
c. SetSampletimeto60seconds
d. SetSampleCycleto10
3. Startthemeter
4. Allowthemetertorununtilalloftheparticlecountsreadzero.Youmayneedto
runthemetermultipletimestoensurethatallchannelsreadzero.
5. Turnoffthemeter.
6. RemovetheZerocountfilterandattachtheIsokineticprobe.

14VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
ParticleCounterConsiderations
Particlepollutionisamixtureofvariouscomponentsincludingsmoke,dust,chemicals,mold,
andgases.Particleconcentrationscanaffectourhealthandcomfortlevels.Evaluatingthe
qualityoftheairbydeterminingtheconcentrationandsizeoftheseparticlescanhelpto
determineifaproblemexists.Locatingthesourceofthesevariousparticlescanhelpto
determineeffectivemethodsofreducingtheseandimprovingtheIndoorAirQuality(IAQ).
Onewaytodeterminethesourceofairparticulatesinaroomistotesttheairoutsideofthe
roomunderinvestigation.Determinetheconcentrationandsizeofparticulatesattheairintake
tothatroom.PurgeorZerotheparticlecounterandthenmeasuretheconcentrationandsize
ofparticlesinmultipleareasoftheroomtobetested,todeterminetheeffectivenessofthe
incomingairfiltration.Theairtemperature,relativehumidity,andCO2levelsarealsoan
importantconsiderationforIAQashighhumidityandlowertemperaturescanbringaboutmold
creation.
IfaroomisclassifiedasanISOcleanroomorcleanzone,thecountsofparticlesizesforthat
classcannotbeexceededwhentested.
RefertotheISOCleanRoomClasschart(ISO14644‐1:1999)forvalues.
TheVPC300isequippedwithastill/videocameratodirectlyseetheareasundertest.Data,
images,andvideocanbestoredonuptoan8GBmicro‐SDcard(notincluded)orinthemeter’s
internal74MBmemory.
Thelifeofthemetercanbemaximizedbytestingonlywhennecessaryandsecurelystoringthe
instrumentwhenitisnotinuse.Continuoususeisnotrecommendedandcanshortenthelifeof
theinstrumentespeciallyindustyenvironments.Settingupacommonsensemaintenance
scheduleandtestingtotheschedulewillgoalongwayinlengtheningthelifeoftheinstrument
sensor.
PCInterfaceandSuppliedPCsoftware
ThismeterhasthecapabilitytoconnecttoandcommunicatewithaPC.AUSBcableissupplied
andconnectstothejackonthemeter’sleftsidecompartment.
Toinstallandusethesoftware,pleaserefertotheinstructionsprovidedonthesuppliedCD‐
ROMand/ortheinstructionsprovidedintheHELPUtilitywithinthesoftwareprogram.
Checkthesoftwaredownloadpageofthewebsitewww.extech.comforthelatestversionofthe
PCsoftwareanditsoperatingsystemcompatibility.

15VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
BatteryChargingandReplacement
WhenthebatteryiconappearsdrainedontheLCDorifthemeterwillnotswitchON,the
batterymustberechargedusingthesuppliedACadaptor/charger.Thechargerplugconnectsto
thejacklocatedonthemeter’sleftsidecompartment.
Thebatterycompartmentislocatedontherearoftheinstrument.
Thebatteryisa7.4VLithium‐ionpolymerrechargeablebattery.
Toaccessthemeter’sbatteryforreplacement:
1. Ontherearofthemeter,removethePhillipsheadscrewthatsecuresthebattery
compartment.
2. Openthecompartmentbycarefullyliftingthecompartmentcover.
3. Replacethebatterywithoneofthesametype(notethattheMicro‐SDcardslotis
locatedunderneaththebatteryasexplainedbelow).
4. ClosethecompartmentandsecurethecompartmentcoverwiththePhillipsheadscrew
BatterySafetyReminders
oPleasedisposeofbatteriesresponsibly;observelocal,state,andnationalregulations.
oNeverdisposeofbatteriesinfire;batteriesmayexplodeorleak.
oAlwaysinstallanewbatteryofthesametype.
Micro‐SDCardSlot(optional)
Themicro‐SDcardslotislocatedinsidethebatterycompartmentunderneaththebattery.
Micro‐SDcardsupto8GBcanbeinsertedintheslot.
ToaccesstheSDmemorycardslot:
1. TurnoffpowertothemeterandremovetheACadaptercableifconnected.
2. Openthebatterycompartmentasdescribedinthebatteryreplacementsection.
3. Removethebattery.
4. Insertamicro‐SDcard(8GBmax.)inthecardslotunderneaththebatterybyliftingupon
themetalcardholderandplacingtheMicroSDcardintheconnector.Thepinsfacing
towardsthetopofthemeter.Closethemetalholder.
5. Insertthebatteryandsecurethecompartmentcoverbeforepoweringonthemeter.

16VPC300‐en‐GB_v1.55/15
Specifications
ParticleCounter
Channels Sixchannels:0.3,0.5,1.0,2.5,5.0,10μm
FlowRate 0.1ft3/min(2.83L/min)
CountingEfficiency 50%at0.3μm;100%forparticles>0.45μm
CoincidenceLoss 5%at2,000,000particlesperft3
ParticleCountModes Cumulative,Differential,andConcentrationmodes
AirTemperatureandRelativeHumidityMeasurements
AirTemperatureRange 32to122oF(0to50oC)
DewPoint/WetBulbTemperatureRange 32to122oF(0to50oC)
RelativeHumidityRange 0to100%RH
AirTemperatureAccuracy±0.9oF(0.5oC)50to104oF(10oCto40oC)
±1.8oF(1.0oC)allotherranges
DewPoint/WetBulbTemperatureAccuracy±0.9oF(0.5oC)50to104oF(10oCto40oC)
1.8oF(1.0oC)allotherranges
RelativeHumidityAccuracy±3%RHfrom40to60%RH
±3.5%RHfrom20to40%RHandfrom60to80%RH
±5.0%RHfrom0to20%RHandfrom80to100%RH
GeneralSpecifications
Display 2.8”320x240pixelTFTColorLCDwithbacklight
Lowbatteryindication BatterysymbolappearsontheLCD
Micro‐SDCardSlot Accommodatesupan8GBcard
Meterinternalmemory 5000samplerecords;74MB
Powersupply Rechargeable7.4VLithium‐ionpolymerbattery
Batterylife Approx.4hoursofcontinuoususe
Batterychargetime 2hoursapprox.withACadaptor/charger
OperatingTemperature 32to122oF(0to50oC)
Operating/StorageHumidity10to90%RHnon‐condensing
StorageTemperature 14to140oF(‐10to60oC)
Dimensions 9.4x3.0x2.2”(240x75x57mm)
Weight 1.26lbs.(570g)
Copyright©2014‐2015FLIRSystems,Inc.
Allrightsreservedincludingtherightofreproductioninwholeorinpartinanyform
ISO‐9001Certified
www.extech.com
Other manuals for VPC300
1
Table of contents
Popular Laboratory Equipment manuals by other brands

Parr Instrument
Parr Instrument 4540 Operating instructions manual

Endress+Hauser
Endress+Hauser Liquistation CSF48 operating instructions

Lincat
Lincat Silverlink 600 Installation, operating and servicing instruction

Lovibond
Lovibond Photometer-System MD100 instruction manual

Biotage
Biotage V-10 Touch Lifting Instructions

IKA
IKA C 7010 operating instructions

Fluke
Fluke Ti200 user manual

Four E's Scientific
Four E's Scientific MI0102011 operating instructions

multivac
multivac C250 instruction manual

SciCan
SciCan statim 5000 G4 Setting up and using

Omni International
Omni International Macro ES user manual

Big Daishowa
Big Daishowa Base Master Mini BMM-20 Operation manual