Fourier EcoLog XL User manual

User Guide
EcoLog XL™
EcoLab™3.0
Integrating student
computing & science

EcoLog XL
User guide
Third Edition
First Print
Printed in April 2005

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................. 13
Working with EcoLog XL..........................................................................15
General ................................................................................ 15
EcoLog XL system contents.................................................. 15
External connections........................................................... 16
External sensors .............................................................................16
Connecting to a computer ................................................................17
Location of built-in sensors .................................................. 18
Battery ............................................................................. 19
AC/DC Adaptor .................................................................. 19
Automatic standby.............................................................. 20
Internal Clock and Calendar ................................................. 20

EcoLog XL Memory.............................................................. 21
Stand-Alone Operation............................................................ 22
Front Panel Layout .............................................................. 22
Working Modes................................................................... 23
Meter ................................................................................................23
Snapshot ..........................................................................................23
Easy Log ..........................................................................................24
Timing ..............................................................................................25
EcoLog XL buttons .............................................................. 26
Working with the EcoLog XL Menus........................................ 26
Selecting working mode ...................................................................27
Snapshot ..........................................................................................27
Meter ................................................................................................29
Easy Log ..........................................................................................30
Timing ..............................................................................................33
Setting the Light and Temperature units and ranges ................ 35

Working with EcoLab ...............................................................................39
Install the Software ............................................................... 39
System Requirements ......................................................... 39
Windows ..........................................................................................39
Mac OS ............................................................................................40
Installation........................................................................ 42
Windows ..........................................................................................42
Mac OS ............................................................................................46
Overview.............................................................................. 47
EcoLab On-screen Layout .................................................... 47
EcoLab Window Layout........................................................ 49
Working with Projects ......................................................... 50
Getting Started ..................................................................... 51
Set up a Recording Session.................................................. 51
Prepare EcoLog XL..........................................................................51
Enable online Video .........................................................................52

Setup EcoLog XL .............................................................................53
Start Recording ................................................................................53
Data recording options......................................................... 55
Single measurement ........................................................................55
Replace ............................................................................................56
Add...................................................................................................56
Online Video....................................................................... 56
Online video .....................................................................................57
Recording.........................................................................................57
Replaying an experiment..................................................................58
Video and Audio Properties..............................................................59
Selecting video source .....................................................................60
Download Data ................................................................... 61
Save Data.......................................................................... 63
Open a Project.................................................................... 64
Create a New Project........................................................... 65
Change units settings .......................................................... 65
Import data ....................................................................... 66

Print................................................................................. 69
Print a graph ....................................................................................69
Print a table......................................................................................69
View the Data ....................................................................... 71
Display Options.................................................................. 71
Graph Display .................................................................... 73
Single axis mode.............................................................................. 74
The Cursor .......................................................................................74
Zooming ...........................................................................................76
Panning............................................................................................78
Scrolling ...........................................................................................78
Changing the X axis values..............................................................79
Bar graph .........................................................................................79
Change the sensors' color settings ..................................................80
Format the graph .............................................................................81
Add a graph to the project................................................................82
Add title to a graph ...........................................................................83

Add annotations to the graph ...........................................................83
The Table Display ............................................................... 85
Editing data values ...........................................................................86
Adding comments to the table..........................................................86
Adding or removing data from the table ...........................................87
Formatting the table .........................................................................87
The Meters Display.............................................................. 88
Data Map........................................................................... 90
Control the display with the Data Map..............................................90
Understanding Data Map icons ........................................................92
Export Data to Excel............................................................ 93
Export file settings ............................................................................93
Copy the Graph as a Picture ................................................. 94
Program EcoLog XL................................................................. 95
Setup................................................................................ 95
Start Recording .................................................................. 96
Stop Recording ................................................................... 97
Communication Setup.......................................................... 97

The Timing Wizard ................................................................101
Overview .........................................................................101
Working with the Timing Wizard ..........................................102
Measuring methods ...........................................................104
Time ...............................................................................................105
Velocity ..........................................................................................106
Acceleration ...................................................................................108
Time schemes and calculations............................................109
Tips on using flags with the Timing Wizard ............................119
Analyze the data...................................................................121
Reading Data Point Coordinates...........................................121
Reading the Difference between two Coordinate Values...........121
Linear fit ..........................................................................122
Slope...............................................................................123
Area ................................................................................123
Statistics..........................................................................124
Workbook............................................................................125
About Workbook ...............................................................125

Working with a Worksheet.................................................. 126
To open a Worksheet .....................................................................126
To view a Worksheet and data at the same time............................126
To hide the Worksheet ...................................................................127
To print the current Worksheet .......................................................127
To launch an experiment................................................................127
Working with a text window ............................................................128
Create Your Own Worksheet ............................................... 129
Create an HTML document with Word ...........................................130
Create a configuration file ..............................................................131
Special Tools ....................................................................... 136
Predicting ........................................................................ 136
Crop Tool......................................................................... 138
To trim all data up to a point...........................................................138
To trim all data outside a selected range........................................138
Toolbar Buttons ................................................................... 139

Main (upper) Toolbar .........................................................139
Graph Toolbar...................................................................143
Meter Toolbar ...................................................................145
Workbook Toolbar .............................................................146
Troubleshooting Guide...........................................................................148
EcoLog XL............................................................................148
EcoLab ................................................................................151
Specifications ............................................................................... 155
Built-in sensors ..............................................................................155
External plug-in sensors.................................................................157
Index ............................................................................... 159

Introduction 13
Introduction
EcoLog XL is a compact, easy to use, portable pocket sized 10 bit data
logger, especially designed for primary and middle school science. A wide
variety of external sensors can be connected to EcoLog XL in addition to its
built-in sensors. EcoLog XL comes in two models. Model ECL2-1 includes
three built in sensors: Temperature, Light and Sound. Model ECL2-4
includes five built in sensors: Temperature, Light, Sound, Humidity and Air
Pressure.
EcoLog XL can either work as a stand-alone data logger or be connected to
a computer to work as an online interface.
Operating EcoLog XL as a stand-alone device is simple and easy. Three
intuitive keys enable students to select operating mode, run, stop and scroll
samples while monitoring the data on the LCD screen. Plugged-in external
sensors are automatically identified. There is no need to program EcoLog
XL, just select operating mode and start running.

14 Introduction
The EcoLog XL is powered either from two 1.5V rechargeable batteries or
from an AC/DC adaptor. It can record data from up to 7 sensors
simultaneously and store up to 4 experiments
When linked to a computer, EcoLog XL becomes a complete data logging
system. The EcoLab software is a comprehensive program that provides you
with everything you need in order to collect data from the data logger,
display the data in graphs, tables and meters, analyze it with easy to use
analyzing tools and view online or recorded video movies of the actual
experiment.

EcoLog XL –General 15
Working with EcoLog XL
General
EcoLog XL system contents
1. The EcoLog XL Data
Logger.
2. External sensors (see
your package list).
3. Two sensor cables and
Serial or USB
communication cable
(see your package list).
4. Web camera (optional).
5. User guide and
software installation
CD.
6. An AC-DC adaptor.
1
2
34
56

16 EcoLog XL –General
External connections
External sensors
Connect the mini-din plug
of a sensor cable to the
sensor
Connect the stereo plug of
the sensor cable to any of
the external inputs on top
of the EcoLog XL (see
figure on right)
AC/DC input
Serial COM
input
Mini USB
COM input
External inputs
Input A
Input B

EcoLog XL –General 17
Connecting to a computer
Serial connection
1. Connect the stereo plug of the serial communication cable
to the serial COM input on the side of the EcoLog XL (see
figure above)
2. Connect the 9 pins plug of the serial communication cable to
a free COM input at the back of your computer
USB connection
1. Connect the mini USB plug of the USB communication cable
to the USB input on the side of the EcoLog XL (see figure
above)
2. Connect the USB plug of the USB communication cable to a
free USB input at the back of your computer

18 EcoLog XL –General
Location of built-in sensors
The light sensor is located on the front panel. The temperature, humidity,
sound and pressure sensors are located on the rear panel
Battery
•2 AAA 1.5V rechargeable batteries
Before you start working with EcoLog XL for the first time, charge the unit for
20 to 24 hours.
Whenever EcoLog XL is turned on it momentarily displays the battery level.
AC/DC Adaptor
•Output: Capacitor filtered 6 VDC, 500mA.
•2.5mm stereo plug, tip positive.

EcoLog XL –General 19
Use the AC/DC adaptor whenever you want to save battery power, or to
charge the batteries when necessary.