Gamry Reference 600+ User manual

Reference 600+
Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA
Operator’s Manual
Copyright 2018 Gamry Instruments, Inc.
Revision 6.2
January 9, 2018
988-00006

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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, 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 600+, please try to call from a
telephone 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 600+
Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA. Reasonable support includes telephone assistance covering the normal
installation, use, and simple customization of a computerized system containing a Reference 600+ 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 600+ 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.

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Limited 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
600+ 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.

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Disclaimers
Gamry Instruments, Inc. cannot guarantee that the Reference 600+ 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 600+  Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA Operator’s Manual, copyright 2007–2018, Gamry
Instruments, Inc., all rights reserved.
Gamry Framework copyright 1989–2018, Gamry Instruments, Inc., all rights reserved.
Reference 600+, ECM8, Interface 1010, Gamry Framework, and Gamryare trademarks of Gamry
Instruments, Inc.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Intel is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the
U.S. and/or other countries.
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
Chapter 1: Safety Considerations ................................................................................................... 3
Inspection ........................................................................................................................ 3
Product Safety.................................................................................................................. 3
AC Mains Connection to the Power Brick ......................................................................... 3
Grounding in the Reference 600+ ................................................................................... 4
Operation with Earth-Grounded Cells and Auxiliary Apparatus.......................................... 5
Temperature and Ventilation ............................................................................................ 5
Defects and Abnormal Stresses ......................................................................................... 6
Environmental Limits ........................................................................................................ 6
Cleaning........................................................................................................................... 6
Service ............................................................................................................................. 7
RF Warning ...................................................................................................................... 7
Electrical Transient Sensitivity ........................................................................................... 7
CE Compliance ................................................................................................................ 8
RoHS Compliance............................................................................................................ 8
Chapter 2: Introduction................................................................................................................. 9
About this Manual ............................................................................................................ 9
About the Reference 600+ .............................................................................................. 9
Notational Conventions .................................................................................................... 10
Chapter 3: Instrument Circuitry ..................................................................................................... 11
Reference 600+ Schematics and Block Diagrams ............................................................. 11
Chapter 4: Installation ................................................................................................................... 19
Initial Visual Inspection..................................................................................................... 19
Physical Location.............................................................................................................. 20
Computer Requirements .................................................................................................. 20
Quick-start Guide for System Installation .......................................................................... 21
Software Installation ......................................................................................................... 21
Reboot your Computer after Software Installation ............................................................. 21
Power Cord and Power Connection.................................................................................. 22
Power-up Test.................................................................................................................. 23
USB Cables ...................................................................................................................... 23
Front Panel USB LED........................................................................................................ 24
Cell Cable Installation....................................................................................................... 24
Multiple Potentiostat Systems ........................................................................................... 25
First-time Device Installation in Windows®........................................................................ 25
Running the Framework ................................................................................................... 25
Framework Device Status Bar ........................................................................................... 25
Gamry Instrument Manager .............................................................................................. 26
Blink Button ..................................................................................................................... 29
Changing the Label........................................................................................................... 29
The Reference 600+ Customization Label........................................................................ 30
Chapter 4: Calibration ................................................................................................................... 33
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 33
Instrument DC and AC Calibration ................................................................................... 33
Cable Calibration ............................................................................................................. 35
Low I Range DC Calibration ............................................................................................. 37
Chapter 5: Cell Connections.......................................................................................................... 39
Normal Cell Connections.................................................................................................. 39
ZRA Mode Cell Connections ............................................................................................ 40

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Membrane Cell Connections ............................................................................................ 41
Chapter 6: Panel Indicators and Connectors .................................................................................. 43
Front Panel....................................................................................................................... 43
Rear Panel........................................................................................................................ 46
Chapter 7: Stability in Potentiostat Mode....................................................................................... 53
Capacitive Cells and Stability ............................................................................................ 53
Improving Potentiostat Stability......................................................................................... 53
Chapter 8: Measurement of Small Signals ...................................................................................... 57
Overview ......................................................................................................................... 57
Measurement System Model and Physical Limitations ....................................................... 57
Hints for System and Cell Design ...................................................................................... 61
Floating Operation ........................................................................................................... 63
Appendix A: Reference 600+ Specifications.................................................................................. 65
Appendix B: Reference 600+ Cell Cable Connector ...................................................................... 71
Appendix C: Misc. I/O Connector.................................................................................................. 73
Appendix D: Auxiliary A/D Input Characteristics ............................................................................ 75
Aux A/D Specifications ..................................................................................................... 75
Function Call to Set the Aux A/D BNC Characteristics ....................................................... 75
Appendix E: CE Certificate............................................................................................................. 77
Declaration of Conformity ................................................................................................ 77
Certificate of Conformance............................................................................................... 79
Comprehensive Index.................................................................................................................... 80

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Chapter 1: Safety Considerations
Your Reference 600+ Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA has been supplied in a safe condition. This chapter of
the Reference 600+ Operator’s Manual contains some information and warnings that you must follow to
ensure continued safe operation of the Reference 600+.
Inspection
When you receive your Reference 600+ Potentiostat/Galvanostat/ZRA, inspect it for evidence of shipping
damage. If you find any damage, please notify Gamry Instruments Inc. and the shipping carrier
immediately. Save the shipping container for possible inspection by the carrier.
Product Safety
The Reference 600+ has been designed, tested and certified to meet the requirements of EN 61010,
Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use. As defined in
this standard, it is a Category II apparatus, with any “hazardous live voltages”protected by “reinforced
insulation”.
Most of the Reference 600+ circuitry operates at voltages low enough to be considered safe. The
Reference 600+ contains a limited amount of internal circuitry that is at “hazardous live” voltages as
defined in EN 61010 (the standard mentioned above). “Reinforced insulation” (again defined in EN 61010)
is used to reduce the risk of electrical shock due to this “hazardous live” voltage.
The majority of the Reference 600+’s circuitry does not contain voltages higher than 30 V DC. As a
generalization, input and output voltages in the Reference 600+ are limited to 24 V. This voltage level is
considered safe.
The “AC Adapter” supplied with the Reference 600+ is certified under EN 60950. The AC Adapter
converts the AC mains voltage to 24 V DC, which is used to power the Reference 600+.
Always use the AC adapter (power brick) supplied with your Reference 600+ to supply DC power to the
instrument.
AC Mains Connection to the Power Brick
The Reference 600+ does not connect directly to an AC Mains supply. Instead, the mains are connected
to desktop AC adapter (power brick), which outputs 24 V DC and in turn powers the Reference 600+.
Warning: A Reference 600+ damaged in shipment can be a safety hazard. Do not
operate damaged apparatus until a qualified service technician has verified its safety. Tag a damaged
Reference 600+ to indicate that it could be a safety hazard.
Caution: Do not use a DC power source other than the AC adapter model provided
with your Reference 600+. Other replacements may void the performance and/or safety characteristics
of the Reference 600+.

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The Reference 600+ is normally provided with an AC line cord suitable for your location. This AC line
cord connects the AC mains to the AC power adapter. If your Reference 600+ has been provided without
an AC line cord, or a cord that is not compatible with your local AC mains socket, obtain a line cord
certified for use in your country. Contact your local Gamry Representative or email to
[e-mail] if you are uncertain what AC line cord to use.
Grounding in the Reference 600+
The circuitry and the metal case of the Reference 600+ are not connected to an earth ground. If they
were connected to earth ground, it would compromise the Reference 600+’s ability to make
measurements in electrochemical cells that contain earth grounded metal. A few examples of such cells
include autoclaves, metallographic stress apparatus, and detectors for capillary electrophoresis.
Most electrochemical cells are isolated from earth ground, so isolation of the Reference 600+ from earth is
not required. In these cases, connection of the Reference 600+ chassis to an earth ground may lower the
noise seen in an electrochemical test. A Chassis Ground binding post on the rear panel of the Reference
600+ makes for easy implementation of this connection. Simply run a wire from this binding post to a
suitable source of earth ground. A black 1.2-meter wire is provided with the Reference 600+ to ease this
connection.
Note this connection of the Reference 600+ to an earth ground is not a “Protective Earth Ground” as
defined in EN 61010. The Reference 600+ is safe in the absence of this connection.
The Reference 600+’s AC Adapter is rated for operation from 100 to 240 V AC, 47 to 63
Hz. It should therefore be useful throughout the world.
Sources of earth ground include
• Most metal water pipes,
• The chassis of most electronic apparatus (which are generally earth-grounded), and
• The protective ground terminal of an AC mains power plug.
We recommend that you discuss grounding with an electrical or electronics professional prior to
making this earth-ground connection.
Warning: Do not connect the chassis ground binding post to any voltage other than
earth ground. An improper connection can create a safety hazard, which could result in personal injury
or death.