Fisher Scientific accumet AB200 User manual

Instruction Manual
Fisher Scientific
accumet®Basic (AB)
Benchtop Meters
AB150 ●AB200 ●AB250
68X613601 Rev 0 Jul
y
201
2

1
Table of Contents
1. Introduction................................................................................................................ 3
2. Keypad & Display....................................................................................................... 4
Connections: ............................................................................................................................... 6
3. System Setup & Configuration................................................................................. 7
STABILITY .................................................................................................................................. 7
EXPORT DATA........................................................................................................................... 7
DATE & TIME.............................................................................................................................. 8
PASSWORD ............................................................................................................................... 8
FACT RESET.............................................................................................................................. 9
CONTRAST................................................................................................................................. 9
STIRRER..................................................................................................................................... 9
SAMPLE ID ................................................................................................................................. 9
LANGUAGE ................................................................................................................................ 9
BEEP........................................................................................................................................... 9
4. Setup pH & mV........................................................................................................... 10
BUFFER (pH Only) ..................................................................................................................... 10
RESOLUTION (pH Only) ............................................................................................................ 10
ALARM........................................................................................................................................ 10
STD DUE (pH Only) .................................................................................................................... 10
5. pH Standardization (With Preset Buffer Group)...................................................... 11
6. pH Standardization (With Custom Buffers)............................................................. 12
7. mV Standardization (Offset Adjustment)................................................................. 13
8. Temperature Setup .................................................................................................... 13
9. Temperature Standardization ................................................................................... 14
10. Conductivity, TDS, Salinity, & Resistivity Setup..................................................... 15
STD METHOD (Conductivity Mode Only)................................................................................... 15
STD POINTS............................................................................................................................... 15
PURE WAT COEF (Pure Water Coefficient) .............................................................................. 16
TEMP COEFFICIENT (Linear).................................................................................................... 16
NORMALIZATION TEMPERATURE (ºC) ................................................................................... 16
TDS FACTOR (TDS Mode Only) ................................................................................................ 16
CELL CONST (Cell Constant)..................................................................................................... 16
ALARM........................................................................................................................................ 17
STD DUE..................................................................................................................................... 17

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11. Conductivity Standardization (Automatic) .............................................................. 17
12. Cond/TDS/Salinity/Resistivity Standardization (Manual Adjustment) .................. 18
13. Ion Setup..................................................................................................................... 20
MEASURE UNIT ......................................................................................................................... 20
ALARM........................................................................................................................................ 20
STD DUE..................................................................................................................................... 20
STANDARDS .............................................................................................................................. 20
14. Ion Standardization.................................................................................................... 21
15. Viewing, Transferring, and Printing Data ................................................................ 22
16. Standardization Report ............................................................................................. 23
17. Troubleshooting......................................................................................................... 24
18. USB Driver & Boot Loader Documentation............................................................. 25
19. Specifications............................................................................................................. 37
20. Replacements and Accessories............................................................................... 40
21. Warranty ..................................................................................................................... 42
22. Return of Items........................................................................................................... 42
23. Notice of Compliance ................................................................................................ 43
24. Declaration of Conformity......................................................................................... 44

3
1. Introduction
Thank you for selecting the Fisher Scientific accumet AB series benchtop meter.
All models include an electrode arm with metal bracket (13-637-671), 110/220
universal power supply (13-636-104), RS-232, and USB cable. The electrode arm
can be attached to the left, right, or center of the meter according to your
preference using a Phillips screwdriver.
13-637-671 13-636-104
The AB150 replaces the AB15 and AB15Plus series while the AB200 and AB250
are new introductions to the product line.
Please note that this manual serves three models, so not all sections of the
manual are relevant to each model. The chart below lists the parameters served
for the various models:

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2. Keypad & Display
FIXED KEY DESCRIPTION
STD to initialize and complete standardization (calibration) of
displayed parameter
MODE to toggle between available measurement modes
SETUP to enter Setup mode; use to change system settings or
measurement parameters
PRINT / ENTER to print, also to confirm selection during setup
SAVE / ▲to record into memory without printing, also increment
VIEW / ▼to examine saved data, also decrement
STIRRER to turn 13-620-BSP stirrer (optional separately) on / off
POWER / BACKLIGHT to adjust backlight brightness, also hold >3 seconds to power off
SOFT KEY DESCRIPTION
HELP to view screen specific assistance
DISPLAY to toggle between available display types
REPORT to examine current standardization data such as slope
TEMP STD to initialize temperature standardization (calibration)
ACCEPT to accept existing values
CLEAR to erase existing values
BACK to return to previous screen
ESC to escape or cancel from the current display

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USB port is active.
RS-232 port is active.
Stable Based on the stability speed selected, instrument has detected a
stable reading.
Data was sent to the printer; either manually by pressing PRINT key or
automatically at timed intervals as entered thru the System Setup mode.
“High Alarm”, “Low Alarm”, or “Std Due” alarm limit had been reached.
Note: High/Low alarms also use an audible notification.
Standardization detail.
Measuring Range # of displayed value. Applicable to Conductivity, TDS,
Salinity, or Resistivity measurements only.
(ATC) Automatic Temperature Compensation is active; temperature is being actively
acquired with attached electrode. ATC is recommended.
(MTC)
Manual Temperature Compensation is active. This occurs when a temperature
sensor may not be attached and the default temperature is used.
See Section 9 – Temperature Standardization to calibrate the ATC or MTC
temperature values.

6
Connections:
Power Power supply, 110/230 VAC, 9 VDC, 18 W, center positive.
Use only model 13-636-104 (included).
RS-232 RS-232 serial communication output, 2.5 mm jack.
For use with RS-232 cable 13-637-681 (included).
MINI-B
USB
USB communication for field software upgrades (cable included)
and data output.
2/4 Cell 8-pin DIN connection for 2-cell or 4-cell
Con/TDS/Resistivity/Salinity/Temperature electrodes.
TEMP Automatic Temperature Compensation probe (13-620-19) and
pH electrodes that also include ATC.
GROUND For electrical grounding / electrical noise reduction.
BNC
For combination pH, mV (ORP, Redox), or
Ion Selective Electrodes (ISE). Half-cell indicating electrodes
require 13-620-489 adapter.

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3. System Setup & Configuration
Use the System Setup to customize operation of your AB series meter.
Press SETUP from the measurement screen and then press PRINT/ENTER
when SYSTEM is highlighted to access these settings.
The following settings can be customized for each model:
STABILITY STIRRER
EXPORT D
A
TA S
A
MPLE ID
COMM SETUP LANGUAGE
D
A
TE & TIME BEEP
P
A
SSWORD
FACT RESET
CONTRAST
STABILITY
Adjust how quickly and frequently the ‘Stable’ indicator appears. There are four
levels of adjustment; SLOW, MEDIUM, FAST, or OFF (prevents the Stable
indicator from appearing in measurement mode). To display ‘Stable’ more
quickly and more often, use “FAST” setting. MEDIUM or SLOW is recommended
for most applications.
SLOW: The ‘Stable’ indicator will take longer to appear and will appear less
frequently. Use this setting if you want the best results and don’t mind waiting
longer to get them.
MEDIUM: This is the factory default setting. It provides a balanced response
which works best for most applications.
FAST: The ‘Stable’ indicator will appear quickest of any setting. If you find that
the indicator appears and disappears too frequently, you may want to select a
slower setting. This setting is often not suitable for use with most non-refillable
(gel filled) electrodes which are generally slower to respond.
Tip: Select a lower pH resolution X.XX instead of X.XXX to decrease
stabilization time.
EXPORT DATA
Printing: Select ON or OFF.
Datalog: Select ON or OFF.

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Timed: When either printing or datalog is ON, the option to select Timed
readings ON or OFF appears. Select “ON” to automatically print or save data
at selectable intervals. Select “OFF” to save data manually using the
PRINT/ENTER key.
Time Interval: (MM:SS) (Minutes:Seconds). When timed reading is ON, you
must select an interval at which the data will be sent to the Printer and/or Datalog
memory. Choose from 3 seconds to 60 minutes. Data will be collected until the
data limit is reached or the option is turned “OFF”. This feature is useful for
gathering data from a single sample over time. Note that “SAVE” is not available
during TIMED setting. To view the stored data, use “VIEW” key.
COMM SETUP (Communication Setup)
Format: To send data as a comma separated value, choose CSV – best for
exporting data into spreadsheet software. Choose PRINTER to send the data in
an easily viewable format – best for printing.
Communication Setup: Choose RS-232 (9600 or 19200 baud rate) or USB.
Baud Rate: When RS-232 is selected, choose (9600 or 19200)
DATE & TIME
Setting the correct date and time is required for GLP and will apply to power on,
measurement, data log, and print functions. Factory reset will not apply to date
and time setting once it has been set. Changes related to daylight savings time
must be manually entered.
Date Format: Select (MM DD YY) or (DD MM YY)
Time Format: Select 12Hrs (AM/PM) or 24Hrs
PASSWORD
Select “ENABLE” to restrict access to Calibration and Setup modes. When
password protection is enabled, password entry is required before performing any
calibration, or making changes to the setup mode. Setup parameters can be
viewed, but not changed without correct password entry. The password is a user
selectable number from 1 to 99999.
Select “DISABLE” if password protection is not desired.
The meter does not allow you to edit setup parameters or perform a new
calibration unless you enter the correct password. If an incorrect password is
entered 3 consecutive times, the meter returns to measurement mode.
If a password has been ENABLED but cannot be recovered, a password can be
provided via a written request. The instrument serial number and your contact
information are required.

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FACT RESET
Select “YES” to reset the to the factory default settings except; Date & Time
setting, and data stored into memory.
CONTRAST
Optimize the contrast setting of your display for best visibility in your surrounding
lighting conditions. Test various contrast settings for best results. This setting will
be applied to both backlight and non-backlight conditions.
STIRRER
Set the stirring speed of the 13-620-BSP Benchtop Stirring Probe (optional
accessory) when stirrer is on. Choose from 5 different speeds.
SAMPLE ID
This is a user selectable number from 1 to 99999. Incorporating a sample ID to
identify one or more data points is useful to distinguish data that is saved into
memory or sent to a PC or printer. Use the ▲/▼key to adjust the values and
ENTER to move the cursor of a previous Sample ID.
LANGUAGE
Select the preferred language that is displayed on the instrument. Choose from
English, Deutsch, 中文, Français, Italiano, & Español.
Tip: Check www.fishersci.com/accumet for free instrument software
updates which may include additional languages.
BEEP
Enable or disable an audible tone with each key press.

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4. Setup pH & mV
Use Setup pH or mV mode to customize these parameters. Note: mV setup offers
Alarm setting only.
Press SETUP from the measurement screen and then press ENTER when pH or
mV is selected.
BUFFER (pH Only)
Choose one of (5) pH buffer groups for calibration; The pH values in the selected
buffer group are used for auto-recognition during pH calibration. Choose the
appropriate buffer group based on the pH calibration standards you intend to use.
Buffer Group pH Values
USA 2.000, 4.010, 6.997, 10.013, 12.000
NIST 1.678, 4.010, 6.865, 9.184, 12.460
DIN 19267 1.090, 3.060, 4.650, 6.790, 9.230, 12.750
FSCI 1.000, 3.000, 6.000, 8.000, 10.000, 13.000
CUSTOM Any 2-5 values, ≥1.0 pH unit apart
RESOLUTION (pH Only)
Select your desired pH resolution: X.X, X.XX, X.XXX
ALARM
Use a visual and audible alarm to alert you when High or Low values that have
been set from this menu are exceeded. “High Alarm” or “Low Alarm” will blink on
the display if the values are exceeded while simultaneously, a loud, intermittent
beeping sound is heard. The alarms will continue until the conditions are no
longer met, and will only be active during measurement mode.
STD DUE (pH Only)
When enabled, the “Cal Due” indicator blinks if the number of days since the last
calibration has been exceeded. Set the time from 8 hours, 16 hours, or from 1 to
31 days.

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5. pH Standardization (With Preset Buffer Group)
For best results, periodic standardization (calibration) with known accurate
standards is recommended prior to measurement. Use standards that bracket
your intended measuring range while including a neutral point (7.00, 6.86, or
6.79). For example, if you expect to measure samples from pH 6.2 to 9.5,
calibration with 4.01, 7.00, and 10.01 will work well.
The following pH calibration buffers in the groups listed below are automatically
recognized:
Buffer Group pH Values
USA 2.000, 4.010, 6.997, 10.013, 12.000
NIST 1.678, 4.010, 6.865, 9.184, 12.460
DIN 19267 1.090, 3.060, 4.650, 6.790, 9.230, 12.750
FSCI 1.000, 3.000, 6.000, 8.000, 10.000, 13.000
To eliminate temperature errors associated with the pH electrode, attach the
automatic temperature compensation (ATC) probe for best accuracy. Without
temperature compensation, pH accuracy will decrease as samples deviate from
25 ºC and pH 7.
If the pH electrode has been stored dry, soak in storage solution for 10 minutes
before standardization to saturate the pH electrode surface and minimize drift. If
storage solution is not available, use a neutral pH buffer. Do not reuse buffer
solutions after calibration.
1) Turn meter on, press MODE if needed for pH measurement mode.
2) Rinse the pH and ATC electrodes with clean water then submerse in your first
pH standard buffer.
3) Press STD to enter standardization mode.
4) The AB meter automatically searches for the appropriate standard from
the chosen buffer group in the secondary display. This value will blink
when the ‘Stable’ indicator appears. Selecting CLEAR will clear existing
calibration values.
If the meter is password protected, you will be prompted to
enter a password.

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5) Press STD to accept the value of the measured buffer. If successful, the
Standardization Report will show the accepted value along with other data.
The percentage slope is visible after two or more calibration points have
been completed.
6) Repeat Steps 4 & 5 with additional pH buffers.
6. pH Standardization (With Custom Buffers)
Buffer Group pH Values
CUSTOM Any 2-5 values, ≥1.0 pH unit apart
1) Turn meter on, press MODE if needed for pH measurement mode.
2) Rinse the pH and ATC electrodes then submerse in your custom pH buffer –
any pH value can be used.
3) Press STD to enter standardization mode. When stable, use ▲/▼keys to
adjust the custom pH buffer value.
4) Press STD to accept the value.
5) Rinse the pH and ATC electrodes then submerse in next custom pH buffer.
Use any pH value that is at least 1.0 pH unit from custom pH standards that
have already been calibrated. Press CLEAR to clear existing values – this will
be necessary when repeating a standardization using the same buffer value.
6) When stable, use ▲/▼keys to adjust the custom pH buffer value. Previously
accepted values will be visible inside of a beaker icon. Press STD to accept
the new value. Percentage slope is visible after two or more values have
been completed.
7) Repeat Steps 2 thru 4 with additional pH buffers (up to 5 custom buffers) in
any order.
For best results, enter the value of the custom buffer that
corresponds to the measured temperature. For example, pH
10 buffer is actually 10.06 at 20°C, so the value should be
adjusted to 10.06 instead of 10.00 if the temperature is 20°C.

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7. mV Standardization (Offset Adjustment)
Oxidization Reduction Potential (ORP or Redox) as measured by an ORP
electrode in milliVolt (mV) units is not a precise measurement, but is useful as a
relative indicator. As such, mV offset adjustment is not meant to enhance
accuracy, but rather to make readings comparable to a reference.
Commercial ORP solutions are commonly used as a check standard – a
meter/electrode system is verified to be close to a given value although
adjustments are not made. These solutions can be used as a calibration standard
in which adjustments are made in an attempt to match the ORP value, however
results are often difficult to reproduce.
1) Turn meter on, connect a combination ORP electrode (such as 13-620-81),
and press MODE if needed for mV (or R.mV) measurement.
2) Dip the ORP electrode into a solution with a known mV value (i.e. Zobel,
Light’s, quinhydrone, or iodidetriiodide) with brief or slow stirring.
3) Press STD to begin standardization.
4) Adjust the value using ▲/▼keys, press STD when the reading is stable to
accept the calibration offset. The maximum adjustable value is ±150 mV from
the factory default mV value.
5) To view the Ion Standardization Report at any time from the measure screen,
press REPORT.
8. Temperature Setup
Use Setup Temperature mode to desired temperature units; ºC or ºF.
Press SETUP from the measurement screen and then press ENTER when
TEMPERATURE is selected.
Choose ºC or ºF units of measure.
Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC) is automatically applied when a
temperature sensor is connected.
Manual Temperature Compensation (MTC) of 25 ºC is used if the temperature
sensor is not connected. See Section 9 – Temperature Standardization to adjust
the MTC temperature value.
When an offset has been stored successfully, R.mV replaces
mV in measurement mode.

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9. Temperature Standardization
The thermistor sensor used for automatic temperature compensation and
measurement is both accurate and stable, so require frequent calibration isn’t
required. Temperature calibration is recommended upon electrode replacement,
whenever the temperature reading is suspect, or if matching against a certified
thermometer is desired.
1) Connect the temperature probe and place into a solution with a known
accurate temperature such as a constant temperature bath. The temperature
probe may be separate or as part of a pH or Conductivity electrode. *The
AB200 has two temperature inputs – one built into 2/4 conductivity cell, and
another for use with the BNC connection.
2) When the reading is stable, press STD from any measurement mode, then
press TEMP STD.
3) The upper display shows the active temperature while the lower display
shows the factory default temperature without calibration.
4) Adjust the upper display using ▲/▼keys, press ENTER to accept the
calibration temperature. The maximum adjustable value is ±5 ºC (or ±9 ºF)
from the factory default temperature value.
Additional Temperature Calibration Notes:
For Manual Temperature Compensation (MTC) the procedure is the same
although the maximum adjustable value is the full temperature range of the
parameter, and connection of a separate ATC probe is not necessary. ATC is
recommended for most applications.
If temperature standardization is performed, be sure that the
thermometry source being used as a reference is accurate!

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10. Conductivity, TDS, Salinity, & Resistivity Setup
Use Setup mode to customize Conductivity, TDS, Salinity, & Resistivity
parameters.
Press SETUP from the measurement screen and then press ENTER when
Conductivity, TDS, Salinity, or Resistivity is selected.
STD METHOD (Conductivity Mode Only)
Choose automatic or manual standardization for conductivity, and manual
standardization for TDS, Salinity, and Resistivity. This option allows you to select
AUTO (automatic) or MANUAL conductivity calibration.
In the automatic calibration mode, the meter will automatically select one of (4)
conductivity calibration standard values depending on the range and
normalization temperature being used (see table below).
Range
#
Conductivity
Range
Automatic Calibration Values
Normalization Temperature
25 ºC 20 ºC
r 1 0.00 – 19.99 µS None None
r 2 20.00 – 199.9 µS 84 µS 76 µS
r 3 200.0 – 1.999 mS 1413 µS 1278 µS
r 4 2.000 – 19.99 mS 12.88 mS 11.67 mS
r 5 20.00 – 500.0 mS 111.8 mS 102.1 mS
If you will only use one or more of the (4) calibration standards listed here,
automatic calibration is recommended. Otherwise, manual calibration should
be selected.
The factory default is automatic conductivity calibration. Note that automatic
calibration is not available for conductivity range 1.
STD POINTS
Use SINGLE for Single-Point Calibration (SPC) to apply a single calibration value
across all ranges.
Use MULTI for Multi-Point Calibration (MPC) to calibrate each range individually.
This will restrict an individual calibration so that it is applied to one range only.
When using multi-point calibration, perform a calibration in each range that you
expect to use for best results.
The factory default is SPC. SPC or MPC will be shown with the calibration details
in measurement mode.

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PURE WAT COEF (Pure Water Coefficient)
Choose ENABLE to automatically apply pure water temperature correction for
measurements below 2 µS/cm (ultra pure water).
Note: this option does not apply to Salinity mode.
TEMP COEFFICIENT (Linear)
The temperature coefficient is the amount of change in conductivity per degree
temperature (% per ºC). The factory default setting is a temperature coefficient of
2.1 % per ºC. For most applications this will provide good results. The meter
allows adjustment from 0.0 to 10.0.
Note: this option does not apply to Salinity mode.
Select 0.0 % for uncompensated measurements.
The temperature will be measured by the electrode and
displayed in measurement mode – but without compensation.
NORMALIZATION TEMPERATURE (ºC)
When Automatic Temperature Compensation is used, measurements are
adjusted by the temperature coefficient %, to the normalization temperature. This
value is adjustable from 15.0 to 35.0 ºC.
Use the normalization temperature that is referenced on your calibration
standard(s) – usually 25 ºC.
TDS FACTOR (TDS Mode Only)
The TDS conversion factor is a multiplication factor used to convert from
conductivity to TDS. The TDS conversion factor automatically adjusts the reading.
Select the desired TDS factor from 0.400 to 1.000.
CELL CONST (Cell Constant)
The AB200 kit includes a probe with a nominal cell constant (k) of 1.0.
Use probes with k = 0.1 and 10 (sold separately) for improved performance in
extreme sample ranges. The factory default is 1.0 to match the included probe.
Cell constant can be adjusted from 0.010 to 10.000.
k = 0.1 ideal for low measurements <20 µS (<10 ppm).
k = 1.0 ideal for mid-range measurements
k = 10 ideal for high measurements >20 mS (>10 ppt).

17
ALARM
Use a visual and audible alarm to alert you when High or Low values that have
been set from this menu are exceeded. “High” or “Low” will blink on the display if
the values are exceeded while simultaneously, a loud, intermittent beeping sound
is heard. The alarms will continue until the conditions are no longer met, and will
only be active during measurement mode.
STD DUE
When enabled, the “Std Due” indicator blinks if the number of days since the last
calibration has been exceeded. Set the time from 8 hours, 16 hours, or from 1 to
31 days.
11. Conductivity Standardization (Automatic)
For best results, periodic standardization (calibration) with known accurate
standards is recommended prior to measurement. Use standards that are close in
value to your intended sample(s).
When using multi-point calibration, perform a calibration in each range that you
expect to use for best results.
If the conductivity electrode has been stored dry for some time, soaking in alcohol
or clean water for a few minutes can help performance.
1) Turn meter on, press MODE if needed for conductivity measurement mode.
2) Rinse the electrode with clean water then submerse in your first your
conductivity standard – for automatic mode, this is either 84 µS, 1413 µS,
12.88 mS, or 111.8 mS. Provide stirring for best results.
3) Press STD to enter standardization mode.
4) When ‘Stable’ appears, use the ▲/▼keys to adjust the cell constant
manually or press STD without adjustment to keep the nominal cell constant
value displayed and proceed with automatic calibration.
5) Wait for the meter to lock on the standard and press STD after ‘Stable’
appears to confirm the value. The calibrated value, Range (R) that was
calibrated and the calculated cell constant are now shown.
6) For multi-point calibration repeat steps 2 & 3 with additional standards.
Calibrate one point per range, up to 4.
7) To view the Conductivity Standardization Report at any time from the
measure screen, press REPORT.

18
Additional Notes On Automatic Conductivity Calibration:
A maximum of one calibration point per range can be performed. If multiple
calibration points are used in the same range, the most recent one will replace
the previous one.
If the electrode is replaced, it is best to clear the calibration to the factory
default values.
Rinse or immerse the probe before standardization and between samples with
clean water (deionized water is ideal).
For best results always begin with your lowest calibration standard value,
followed by the next lowest, and so on.
Low conductivity standard solutions (less than 20 µS) are unstable and are very
temperature dependent. As a result, reproducible calibration results are
challenging in lowest measurement range (0.00 to 20.0 µS).
12. Cond/TDS/Salinity/Resistivity Standardization
(Manual Adjustment)
For best results, periodic standardization (calibration) with known accurate
standards is recommended prior to measurement. Use standards that are close in
value to your intended sample(s).
When using multi-point calibration (MPC), perform a calibration in each range that
you expect to use for best results.
If the conductivity electrode has been stored dry for some time, soaking in alcohol
or clean water for a few minutes can help performance.
1) Turn meter on, press MODE if needed for the appropriate mode.
2) Rinse the electrode with clean water then submerse in your first your
conductivity standard. Press STD to enter standardization mode.
3) When ‘Stable’ appears, use the ▲/▼keys to adjust the cell constant
manually or press STD without adjustment to keep the nominal cell constant
value displayed and proceed with automatic calibration.
“2 Cell’ or “4 Cell’ electrode is automatically detected and
displayed on the measurement screen when connected.