Gamry Reference 3000 User manual

Reference 3000™
Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA
Operator’s Manual
Copyright ©2012–2015 Gamry Instruments, Inc.
Revision 6.1
December 2, 2015
988-00014

i
If You Have Problems
Please visit our service and support page at www.gamry.com/service support/. This page contains information
on installation, software updates, and training. It also contains links to the latest available documentation. If
you are unable to locate the information you need from our website, you can contact us via email using the link
provided on our website. Alternatively, you can contact us one of the following ways:
Internet www.gamry.com/service support/
Telephone [phone]:00 AM 5:00 PM US Eastern Standard Time
[phone] Toll Free US & Canada Only
Please have your instrument model and serial numbers available, as well as any applicable software and
firmware revisions.
If you have problems in installation or use of a system containing a Reference 3000, it would be helpful if you
called from a phone next to your computer, where you can type and read the screen while talking to us.
We will be happy to provide a reasonable level of free support for registered users of the Reference 3000
Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA. Reasonable support includes telephone assistance covering the normal
installation, use and simple customization of a computerized system containing a Reference 3000 connected to
a Windows compatible computer.
A service contract that extends both the hardware warranty and software update period is available at an
additional charge. Software updates do not include software enhancements offered to our customers at
additional cost.
Enhancements to the Reference 3000 and Gamry’s standard applications software that require significant
engineering time on our part can be performed on a contract basis. Contact us with your requirements.

ii
imited Warranty
Gamry Instruments, Inc. warrants to the original user of this product that it shall be free of defects resulting from
faulty manufacture of the product or its components for a period of two years from the original shipment date
of your purchase.
Gamry Instruments, Inc. makes no warranties regarding either the satisfactory performance of the Reference
3000 Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA including the software provided with this product or the fitness of the
product for any particular purpose. The remedy for breach of this Limited Warranty shall be limited solely to
repair or replacement, as determined by Gamry Instruments, Inc., and shall not include other damages.
Gamry Instruments, Inc. reserves the right to make revisions to the system at any time without incurring any
obligation to install same on systems previously purchased. All system specifications are subject to change
without notice.
There are no warranties which extend beyond the description herein. This warranty is in lieu of, and
excludes any and all other warranties or representations, expressed, implied or statutory, including
merchantability and fitness, as well as any and all other obligations or liabilities of Gamry Instruments,
Inc; including but not limited to, special or consequential damages.
This Limited Warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have others, which vary from state to state.
Some states do not allow for the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages.
No person, firm or corporation is authorized to assume for Gamry Instruments, Inc., any additional obligation or
liability not expressly provided herein except in writing duly executed by an officer of Gamry Instruments, Inc.

iii
Disclaimers
Gamry Instruments, Inc. cannot guarantee that the Reference 3000 Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA will work with
all computer systems, operating systems, and third party software applications hardware/software.
The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate as of the time of
printing. However, Gamry Instruments, Inc. assumes no responsibility for errors that might appear.
Copyrights
Reference 3000 Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA Operator's Manual
copyright 2008 2012, Gamry Instruments, Inc., all rights reserved.
Gamry Framework copyright 1989 2012, Gamry Instruments, Inc., all rights reserved.
Reference 3000, Reference 600, Interface 1000™, PC4, PCI4, ECM8, Series G, Gamry
Framework, DC105, EIS300, and Gamry are trademarks of Gamry Instruments, Inc.
No part of this document may be copied or reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Gamry
Instruments, Inc.

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Table of Contents
If You Have Problems ....................................................................................................................i
Limited Warranty ..........................................................................................................................ii
Disclaimers.................................................................................................................................... iii
Copyrights ..................................................................................................................................... iii
Chapter 1 Safety Considerations ................................................................................................. 1 1
Inspection ........................................................................................................................ 1 1
Product Safety ..................................................................................................................1 1
AC Mains Connection to the Power Brick.......................................................................... 1 2
Grounding in the Reference 3000.....................................................................................1 2
Operation with Earth Grounded Cells and Auxiliary Apparatus .......................................... 1 3
Temperature and Ventilation ............................................................................................ 1 3
Defects and Abnormal Stresses ......................................................................................... 1 4
Environmental Limits ........................................................................................................ 1 4
Cleaning........................................................................................................................... 1 5
Service ............................................................................................................................. 1 5
RFI Warning ..................................................................................................................... 1 5
Electrical Transient Sensitivity............................................................................................ 1 5
CE Compliance................................................................................................................. 1 6
RoHS Compliance ............................................................................................................ 1 6
Chapter 2 Introduction...............................................................................................................2 1
About this Manual ............................................................................................................ 2 1
About the Reference 3000................................................................................................ 2 1
About the Auxiliary Electrometer Option...........................................................................2 2
Notational Conventions .................................................................................................... 2 2
Chapter 3 Instrument Circuitry ...................................................................................................3 1
Reference 3000 Schematic/Block Diagrams....................................................................... 3 1
Chapter 4 Installation ................................................................................................................. 4 1
Initial Visual Inspection..................................................................................................... 4 2
Physical Location..............................................................................................................4 2
Computer Requirements................................................................................................... 4 3
Quick Start Guide for System Installation .......................................................................... 4 3
Software Installation..........................................................................................................4 3
Reboot your Computer after Software Installation.............................................................. 4 3
Power Cord and Power Connection..................................................................................4 4
Power Up Test.................................................................................................................. 4 5
USB Cabling..................................................................................................................... 4 5
Front Panel USB LED........................................................................................................4 5
1st Time Device Installation in Windows XP....................................................................... 4 6
Running the Framework....................................................................................................4 8
Framework Device Status Bar ........................................................................................... 4 9
Gamry Instrument Manager .............................................................................................. 4 10
Authorization Codes and Label .........................................................................................4 11
Firmware Update ............................................................................................................. 4 13
Calibration ....................................................................................................................... 4 15
Separate Calibration for Each Reference 3000 Cable Type.................................... 4 15
DC and AC Calibration........................................................................................ 4 15
Low I Range DC Calibration.................................................................................4 16
Chapter 5 Cell Connections........................................................................................................5 1
Cell Cable Overview......................................................................................................... 5 1

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Ancillary Apparatus.............................................................................................. 5 1
AE Connections ...................................................................................................5 1
Fuses in the Cell Cable...................................................................................................... 5 1
Normal Cell Connections.................................................................................................. 5 1
ZRA Mode Cell Connections.............................................................................................5 3
Stack Mode Cell Connections ...........................................................................................5 4
Membrane Cell Connections............................................................................................. 5 5
Fuses in the Cell Cable...................................................................................................... 5 5
In line Fuse Holders and Fuses ............................................................................ 5 5
Fuses Located in the Cable Hood......................................................................... 5 6
Testing For Open Fuses ....................................................................................... 5 8
Chapter 6 Panel Indicators and Connectors.................................................................................6 1
Front Panel....................................................................................................................... 6 1
Counter/Working Connector................................................................................6 1
Sense Inputs Connector ....................................................................................... 6 1
The Power LED ................................................................................................... 6 1
The USB LED ......................................................................................................6 2
Cell LED..............................................................................................................6 2
Overload LED......................................................................................................6 3
Rear Panel........................................................................................................................ 6 3
Power In Jack ...................................................................................................... 6 3
Power Switch ......................................................................................................6 4
Chassis Ground ................................................................................................... 6 4
USB Port ............................................................................................................. 6 4
Thermocouple Input............................................................................................ 6 5
Misc I/O Connector ............................................................................................. 6 5
I Monitor BNC..................................................................................................... 6 6
E Monitor BNC.................................................................................................... 6 6
Ext. Sig. In BNC................................................................................................... 6 7
Sig Gen Out BNC................................................................................................ 6 7
Aux In BNC......................................................................................................... 6 7
Expansion Interface ............................................................................................. 6 8
Chapter 7 Auxiliary Electrometer Option ....................................................................................7 1
Overview ......................................................................................................................... 7 1
AC Performance and CMRR..............................................................................................7 1
Experiments ..................................................................................................................... 7 2
Connections Using Standard Cables .................................................................................. 7 2
Connections Using Custom Cables.................................................................................... 7 3
AE Specifications .............................................................................................................. 7 3
Chapter 8 Stability in Potentiostat Mode.....................................................................................8 1
Capacitive Cells and Stability ............................................................................................8 1
Improving Potentiostat Stability......................................................................................... 8 2
Chapter 9 Measurement of Small Current Signals........................................................................ 9 1
Overview ......................................................................................................................... 9 1
Problem Description......................................................................................................... 9 1
Measurement System Model and Physical Limitations .......................................................9 1
Johnson Noise in Zcell......................................................................................... 9 3
Finite Input Capacitance......................................................................................9 4
Leakage Currents and Input Impedance ...............................................................9 4
Voltage Noise and DC Measurements .................................................................. 9 5
Shunt Resistance and Capacitance ....................................................................... 9 5
Hints for System and Cell Design ...................................................................................... 9 6

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Faraday Shield.....................................................................................................9 6
Avoid External Noise Sources............................................................................... 9 6
Cell Cable Length and Construction ..................................................................... 9 6
Lead Placement................................................................................................... 9 7
Cell Construction................................................................................................. 9 7
Reference Electrode............................................................................................. 9 7
Instrument Settings .............................................................................................. 9 8
EIS Speed............................................................................................................ 9 8
Ancillary Apparatus.............................................................................................. 9 8
Floating Operation............................................................................................................ 9 8
Chapter 10 – EIS Measurement of Small Impedances .....................................................................10 1
Overview ......................................................................................................................... 10 1
Why Galvanostatic Mode? ................................................................................................ 10 1
DC Errors and Four terminal Measurements......................................................................10 2
What is Mutual Inductance? ............................................................................................. 10 3
Avoid high frequencies ........................................................................................ 10 3
Minimize the Net Magnetic Field......................................................................... 10 3
Separate the pairs................................................................................................ 10 4
Twist the Sense Wires.......................................................................................... 10 4
How Should You Hook Up Your Cell?............................................................................... 10 4
Appendix A Reference 3000 Specifications................................................................................. 11 1
Appendix B Reference 3000 Cell Connectors.............................................................................. 12 1
Appendix C Misc I/O Connector................................................................................................. 13 1
Appendix D Auxiliary A/D Input Characteristics .......................................................................... 14 1
Overview ......................................................................................................................... 14 1
Jumper Identification ........................................................................................................ 14 1
Input Impedance Selection ............................................................................................... 14 2
Bandwidth Selection.........................................................................................................14 3
Aux A/D Specifications .....................................................................................................14 3
Function Call to Set the Aux A/D BNC Characteristics........................................................ 14 3
Appendix E – Auxiliary Electrometer Specifications.........................................................................15 1
DC Voltage Measurement................................................................................................. 15 1
Input Impedance.............................................................................................................. 15 1
Common Mode Rejection................................................................................................. 15 1
Crosstalk........................................................................................................................... 15 1
Other AC Specifications.................................................................................................... 15 2
Appendix F – CE Certificate ........................................................................................................... 16 1
Declaration of Conformity ................................................................................................16 1
Certificate of Conformance...............................................................................................16 2
Comprehensive Index.................................................................................................................... 17 1