Felix Storch F-960 User manual

Table of Contents
Table of Contents ........................................................................ 1
Introduction................................................................................. 1
Features & Specifications............................................................ 2
Unpacking the F-960 Ripen It!..................................................... 5
Operating Instructions................................................................. 6
Loading the Battery................................................................. 6
Basic Operation ....................................................................... 7
Measurement Modes.............................................................. 7
Continuous Mode.................................................................... 9
Trigger Mode......................................................................... 10
Taking a Measurement.......................................................... 10
Passcode Protection.............................................................. 11
Setup Menu............................................................................... 12
Setup > Mode ........................................................................ 12
Setup > Set Zero .................................................................... 13
Setup > Calibration................................................................ 15
Setup > O2 Calibration in Air................................................. 15
Setup > Date and Time .......................................................... 16
Setup > RH Conversion.......................................................... 16
Setup > GPS ........................................................................... 17
Setup > Language .................................................................. 17
Setup > Factory Setup ........................................................... 18
File Menu................................................................................... 18
File > Select............................................................................ 19

File > Create........................................................................... 19
File > Delete........................................................................... 19
File > Review.......................................................................... 20
Transferring Files................................................................... 20
Wireless SD Memory Card Operation ................................... 23
F-960 Ripen It! Menu Map ........................................................ 26
G.A.S. Gas Analysis Software..................................................... 27
Firmware Update....................................................................... 36
Maintenance of your F-960 Ripen It! Gas Analyzer .................. 38
Long Term Storage of the F-960............................................ 38
Replacing the Oxygen (O₂) Sensor......................................... 40
Replacing the Potassium Permanganate Filter (KMnO4)...... 42
Calibration ............................................................................. 43
Applications............................................................................... 48
Sampling with a Jar................................................................ 48
PolarCept............................................................................... 49
F-960 Production Test Check Sheet .......................................... 51
Guide for Purchasing Standardized Gases for Calibration ........ 52
Warranty Information ............................................................... 55
Warranty Registration Card....................................................... 56

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
1554 NE 3rd Ave, Camas, WA 98607, USA 1
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[email protected]
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Introduction
Congratulations on the purchase
of your new F-960 Ripen It! Gas
Analyzer.
The F-960 Ripen It! Gas Analyzer
quickly and accurately measures
ethylene, CO2, and O2 to assist
with decision making throughout
the produce ripening process. All
three sensors work together to
give you a clear picture of gas
concentrations in ripening rooms.
The Ripen It! features an intuitive user interface, making it
simple to operate right out of the box. Its lightweight, handheld
design enables users to rely on the Ripen It! at all stages of
storage along the supply chain. A built-in data logger stores
thousands of data points and conveniently transfers data
through USB or Bluetooth onto a PC or tablet for later analysis.
With its rapid response time and lightweight handheld profile,
the F-960 provides a fast, portable verification process for
atmosphere quality control. The F-960 is ideal for verifying C2 H4,
CO2 and O2levels in ripening room applications, laboratories,
distribution centers, retail centers and storage facilities.
We hope you enjoy using your F-960 Ripen It! Gas Analyzer.

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
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Features & Specifications
•Measures C2H4, CO2 and O2
•Displays results in under 30 seconds
•Past records stored on the device
•Handheld and lightweight
•Internal data logging and storage
•WiFi capable SD card
•Bluetooth data transfer
•Battery lasts for 8+ hours
•Display easily viewed in dimly lit environments
USES
•Banana ripening quality assurance
•Optimization of ripening storage atmosphere conditions
•Bagged and packaged ripening system inspection
•Storage assignment in distribution centers
•Ripening room leak inspection

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
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F-960 Specifications
Air Sampling Rate
70 mL/min
Measuring Rate
Automated, 1 second intervals to SD
in Continuous Mode
Data Storage
Removable 16 GB SD and Bluetooth
Display
Sunlight visible transflective LCD
Operating environment
0°C - 45°C (0-90% relative humidity,
non-condensing)
Power Source
Removable rechargeable lithium-ion
battery
Dimensions
18cm x 13.5cm x 5.5cm
Weight
0.95kg
Enclosure
Powder coated aluminum
Warm Up Time
<3 minutes
Sensors
Ethylene (C2H4)
SENSOR
Electrochemical
Nominal Range
0-1000 ppm
Full Scale Resolution
1 ppm
Accuracy Trigger Mode
±5% relative 10 ppm absolute
Accuracy Continuous
Mode
±5% relative 2 ppm absolute
Lower Detection Limit
10 ppm
Sampling Time
35 seconds
Zero Interval
Weekly
Recalibration Interval
3 months
Lifetime
12 months

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Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
SENSOR
Infrared sensor, pyroelectric detector
Nominal Range
0-100%
Full Scale Resolution
0.01% absolute
Accuracy –Trigger
Mode
±.5% absolute and ±3% of measured
value
Accuracy –Continuous
Mode
±.01% absolute and ±3% of measured
value
Lower Detection Limit
0.01%
Sampling Time
10 seconds
Zero Interval
Weekly
Calibration Interval
12 Months
Lifetime
5 years
Oxygen (O₂) Sensor
Electrochemical
Nominal Range
0-100%
Full Scale Resolution
0.1% absolute
Accuracy –Trigger
Mode
±0.3% absolute and ±2% of measured
value
Accuracy –Continuous
Mode
±0.1% absolute and ±2% of measured
value
Lower Detection Limit
0.1%
Sampling Time
10 seconds
Zero Interval
Weekly
Calibration
6 months
Lifetime
2 years

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
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Unpacking the F-960 Ripen It!
The F-960 arrives with a hard-sided carrying case, two sets of
batteries and a charger, a removable SD card, and several
accessory parts. A sampling port with needle is included for
taking non-destructive samples from packaging. The sampling
port is pictured below, connected to the intake. There is also an
extra Potassium Permanganate Filter (see Maintenance of your
F-960 Ripen It!: Replacing the Potassium Permanganate Filter)
and a Closed-Loop Probe used for sampling from Jars (see
Applications: Sampling with a Jar).

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
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Operating Instructions
WARNING: Do not store the F-960 without batteries! Charged
batteries must be present in the instrument to maintain the
accuracy of the sensors, even when the unit is powered off.
If the batteries of the F-960 discharge during storage, replace
with charged batteries and allow the instrument to stabilize 48
hours before use. There is a small internal battery to maintain
the bias voltage for the ethylene electrochemical sensor. This
small internal battery will last for 1 day without the main
batteries before sensor sensitivity is affected by losing its bias
voltage. The calibration parameter data is intact with or without
batteries.
Loading the Battery
WARNING: Spring-loaded battery cartridge
The F-960 uses 18650 Li-ion 3.7V
3100mAh rechargeable batteries. For
longer lifespan, charge the batteries at
0.25A. For a faster charge, charge at
1A. The batteries must be removed
from the F-960 to be charged. If the
batteries of the F-960 discharge during
storage, replace with charged batteries.
The Li-ion batteries have little self-
discharge and a lifetime of ~ 3 years.
To remove the batteries, twist the
battery compartment cap, located on the bottom of the case.
The cap can be twisted with fingers or a screw-driver to tighten
or loosen it. Take care when removing batteries, as the cap is

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
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spring loaded. Both batteries should be inserted into the unit
positive (+) side first (towards intake or top).
Additional button-top 19670 (or protected 18650) batteries can
be purchased from your preferred battery vendor if
replacements are needed.
Basic Operation
To turn the instrument on, press the green power button. The
current version of firmware is displayed in the lower corner of
the display screen.
For information on the latest firmware version, please visit the
F-960 support webpage: www.felixinstruments.com/support/F-
960
The battery meter is listed on the lower right hand side of the
display.
The main menu displays the following options: Measure, Setup,
and File. If the power button is pressed, the display will prompt
for confirmation before shutting down the F-960.
To scroll between menu
items in the list, use the Up
and Down arrows. To select
an option from the menu list
use the Right arrow. To exit,
use the Left arrow.
Measurement Modes
Two measurement modes are incorporated into the F-960 Ripen
It!
Felix Instruments
Measure
Setup
File
F-960 Vx.x.x.x

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Continuous mode
Trigger Mode
Continuous mode measures the air entering through the input
of the instrument continuously without stopping. Continuous
mode can be used with or without the sample port attached to
the front of the instrument. Data is saved to a file every one
second on the F-960.
Trigger mode measures the air entering through the input of
the instrument, the pump will run and the sample will enter
until a stable reading has been achieved. The final values will be
displayed on screen and saved to the SD card. The pump will
then turn off until the user initiates a new measurement.
Trigger mode can be used with or without the sample port
attached to the front of the instrument. See the specifications
page for standard sample rate.
To change between modes, Navigate to Setup > Mode from the
main menu.
Measure
From the main menu, press the right arrow when the word
‘Measure’ is highlighted to enter the measurement display
screen. All measurement parameters are saved to the SD card
every 1 second in continuous mode. When the SD card is not
present, the data will not be saved. The unit also comes
equipped with Bluetooth technology, designed for wireless
transfer of data (see Transferring Files) as well as a Wireless SD
memory card (see Wireless SD Memory Card Operation).

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If sampling very high concentrations followed by very low
concentrations, allow the instrument to purge internal gas for
the most accurate measurements.
Continuous Mode
When in continuous mode, a graph of the concentration of each
gas can be viewed over time. The default graph shown is the
C2H4 concentration in ppm. To view the O2or CO2 graph, simply
use the up and down arrows to scroll through the graphs. The
current gas being graphed is shown on the top of the screen
with the concentration in large font as shown below.
The x-axis of the graph represents time elapsed. The y-axis of
the graph displays the range of the concentration in % for CO2
and O2, and the dynamic range is labeled at the top. The y-axis
scale is set by the highest value shown in the active display.
The graph begins on the Left side and moves toward the right as
more data accumulates. The total measurement time is
displayed below the graph. The flowrate (mL/m) is displayed at
the bottom.

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
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Trigger Mode
A measurement in trigger mode will initiate a small volume
sample taken over several seconds until the reading is stable. To
begin, press the square start button as prompted to measure.
This will turn on the pump before drawing in sample gas. After
the measurement is complete, purging will flash in the bottom
left hand corner of the display. Trigger mode will take longer to
stabilize if the concentration is in a different range from the last
sample.
The results will be saved to the SD card. Press the square start
button to begin another measurement. Press the Left arrow to
exit to the main menu.
Taking a Measurement
Assemble the probe and connect the needle probe tubing to the
intake of the F-960. Twist on a hydrophobic filter to the end of
the tubing. The filter will inhibit any moisture or debris from
entering the instrument. [NOTE: Failure to use a hydrophobic
filter risks drawing liquids into the instrument, which can
potentially damage the instrument sensors.] Finally, attach a

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
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sterile needle to the filter. Depending on the application,
needles can be re-used.
From the main screen, select ‘Measure’ and then the right
arrow button. This will initiate a measurement in either mode.
The F-960 will run either continuously (continuous mode) or
until the minimum stable sample volume has been reached
(trigger mode). Press the Left arrow button to return to the
measurement screen.
Passcode Protection
Certain menu systems on the F-960 are protected by a passcode
setting. These menu systems include Parameters, Set Zero,
Calibration, and Factory Setup. The default code for entry is
‘1111’. The passcode only needs to be entered once for each
reboot of the device. If the device is powered off, the passcode
will need to be entered again for entry into the menu systems
described above.
To set the passcode to a four-digit code other than the default
setting, please follow the steps below.
1. Open SD card on PC
2. Click the ‘View’ tab in the taskbar
3. Click ‘Options’ in the far right of the toolbar
4. Open the ‘View’ tab

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5. Scroll down and uncheck the box named ‘Hide
protected operating systems (Recommended)’
6. Check the box named ‘Show hidden files, folders, and
drives’
7. Click ‘Yes’
8. Click ‘Apply’ and then click ‘OK’
9. Open the Config.txt file that should now appear inside
the SD card
10. Alter the ‘1111’ to four-digit numeric passcode desired
11. Save the changes
12. Insert SD card back into Gas Analyzer
Setup Menu
Use the right arrow to enter the Setup Menu from the Main
Menu screen. The following options are available:
Mode
Set Zero
Calibration
O2 Calibration in Air
Date & Time
RH Conversion
GPS
Language
Factory Setup
Setup > Mode
The Mode menu contains two options:
Measure: switches between Continuous and Trigger mode.
Connection: switches between USB Storage (default), Bluetooth
(enabled in future versions), or USB Ctrl (enables

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communication to software or transfers data only if using a 4
GB SD card).
To change, use the Up/Down arrows to cycle through the mode
options. Press the Left arrow to exit to the main menu.
Setup > Set Zero
The set zero process sets a new baseline, or zero, for the
sensors:
C2H4
CO2
O2
Set zero should take place weekly for the Ethylene (C2H4),
Oxygen (O2) sensors and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) sensors to
maintain maximum performance. To set zero, first press the
right arrow to select the sensor. The set zero process requires
100% nitrogen gas to set zero for O2, an internal Potassium
Permanganate jar to set zero for C2H4, and an option to use an
external conditioning chamber full of Soda Lime or nitrogen gas
to set zero for CO2. Wait for a beep to verify the set zero
process was completed. Setting zero is important in establishing
a zero baseline for the sensors.
Mode
Measure Trigger
Connection USB Storage

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
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For the O2 sensor, an alternative calibration, O2 calibration in
air, can be used instead of setting zero with 100% N2 gas. Please
see the ‘O2 Calibration in Air’ section for more details on this
process.
The following instructions can be followed to set zero for the
CO2 sensor:
The F-960 is shipped with an external conditioning tube and a
jar of Soda Lime. Fill the conditioning tube with the Soda Lime
granules, keeping the ends packed with the cotton ball filters.
Connect the external conditioning tube to the inlet and outlet of
the F-960, seen below. Continue through the standard set zero
process. The F-960 will prompt the user to use “0ppm/N2”. The
Soda Lime external conditioning tube creates a 0 ppm CO2
environment, alternatively, the user can connect N2 gas, which
provides a 0 ppm CO2 environment as well.
*The Soda Lime external conditioning tube is used for the CO2
Set Zero process only.

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Next, verify the set zero calibration by measuring ambient air.
Run the set zero calibration again if the verification is not
successful.
Note about setting zero for the ethylene (C2H4) sensors:
Although there is an internal chamber of KMnO4 that is used to
set zero for the ethylene sensor, it may be advisable to
additionally use an external conditioning chamber full of
KMnO4, creating a closed loop system as described above with
the Soda Lime. This is particularly advised when in an
environment exposed to cross-sensitive gasses, such as
alcohols.
Setup > Calibration
The calibration feature allows the user to set zero and set span
without the use of a computer or G.A.S. (Gas Analysis Software).
Unlike Setup > Set Zero, a zero standard gas is required as well
as standard gases for the set span process.
The F-960 Ripen It! Will prompt the user to set up a zero gas,
which can be achieved by feeding 100% Nitrogen (N2) gas to the
intake. The unit will countdown to set zero. The following
screen will prompt the user to setup a span gas, which is a
known standard gas used for the span calibration process. For
more information on standard gases used for calibrating the
Ripen It! Refer to the calibration section in the ‘Maintenance of
your F-960 Ripen It!’ section.
Setup > O2 Calibration in Air
Alternative to setting zero for the oxygen sensor weekly with
100% N2 gas, a user can use the O2 calibration in air menu
option to calibrate the O2 sensor using ambient air.

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Right arrow on this menu option to begin the calibration. The
display will read, ‘Use fresh air (20.9%) Please wait…’. The F-960
will beep upon completion of the O2 calibration in air.
Setup > Date and Time
To adjust the date and time, use the Right and Left arrows to
move between Month/Day/Year and Hour/Minute/Second and
use the Up and Down arrows to change the values. To exit, use
the Left arrow to back out of the screen and return to the Setup
menu.
Setup > RH Conversion
The Setup RH Conversion menu is used to correct for the
temperature sensor being inside F-960 housing. This causes the
temperature sensor to reflect the temperature of the F-960 and
not the ambient temperature, which is usually several degrees
above ambient. The Relative Humidity is calculated based on
the temperature value.
Date & Time
MM/DD/YYYY hh : mm : ss
04/21/2016 17 : 01 : 43

F-960 Instruction Manual rev. 6/23/2017
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Enter the correct ambient temperature in degrees Celsius,
measured from an external
temperature sensor. To use
the entered temperature for
RH calculations, “use sample
T” should be set to “Yes.”
The current (internal RH) and
corrected (sample RH) are
displayed at the bottom of
the screen.
Setup > GPS
The GPS sensor inside of the F-960 Ripen It! can be used to
record latitude and longitude +/- 10 meters. The instrument
should be operated outside, without overhead obstruction for
best GPS performance. The Setup > GPS menu turns on/off the
GPS sensor and displays the current GPS data. Data is also
saved to the SD card as a .csv file.
Setup > Language
The Language menu will display options for:
RH Conversion
Enter Sample T(C) 20.0
Use Sample T Yes
(for measurements)
Internal RH (%) 43.6
Sample RH (%) 21.3
GPS
Enable GPS Yes/No
Acquiring GPS data…..
Longitude 122.558
Latitude 45.59

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English
Spanish
Portuguese
Use the Up and Down arrows to select.
Setup > Factory Setup
The Factory Setup menu is used to:
Restore: Restores factory defaults
Backup: Backs up current parameters. “Backup device’s
configurations?”: NO or YES
File Menu
In the File Menu, the user can manipulate files on the F-960
Ripen It! The F-960 will by default save to the most recently
used file on the instrument. The file menu contains:
Select
Create
Delete
Review
All files created by the F-960 are .csv (comma separated value)
file extensions.
To view data on a computer, simply insert the SD card into a
computer’s SD card reader (always power off the F-960 before
removing the SD card). The computer should automatically
detect the SD card as a new storage device enabling access to
measurement data from any computer. (The mini-USB port can
also be used to establish a USB connection with a computer to
transfer data from the F-960 Ripen It! only if using the 4 GB SD
card).