GasLab TecPen User manual

TecPen
MAP Oxygen Analyzer
User Manual
Revised 28 Jan 2020

1
CONTENTS
General Safety Guidelines .................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Package Contents ............................................................................................................................ 3
Layout & Controls ............................................................................................................................... 4
Operation ............................................................................................................................................ 5
Operating Principle ...................................................................................................................... 5
Before You Begin ........................................................................................................................ 5
Turning the TecPen On ............................................................................................................... 5
Taking a Measurement ................................................................................................................ 5
Turning the TecPen Off ............................................................................................................... 5
Saving Data ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Default Operation ....................................................................................................................... 6
Output Data File Format .............................................................................................................. 6
Exporting Saved Data Files ......................................................................................................... 6
Customizing the Data File Format ............................................................................................... 7
Menu Options ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Change Data File Format (Recipes)............................................................................................ 7
Set Date and Time....................................................................................................................... 7
View Measurement Data Display................................................................................................. 7
View Device Status...................................................................................................................... 7
Calibration .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Display ................................................................................................................................................ 9
Maintenance ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Cleaning .................................................................................................................................... 10
Battery ....................................................................................................................................... 10
ISO Certification ........................................................................................................................ 10
Device Status Codes ........................................................................................................................ 10
Troubleshooting Guide .................................................................................................................... 11
Specifications ................................................................................................................................... 12
Support ............................................................................................................................................. 12
Warranty .................................................................................................................................... 12
Contact Us................................................................................................................................. 12


2
General Safety Guidelines
Before operating this device, read the operating instructions and keep them in a safe place.
Use the device exclusively for commercial use and the intended purpose. This device is not
intended for personal use. Do not use it outdoors (unless it is intended for conditional
outdoor use). Keep it away from heat, direct sunlight, moisture (never immerse in liquid) and
sharp edges. Do not use the device with wet hands. If the device has become damp or wet,
switch off the device immediately and, if connected, disconnect the mains plug from the
power supply. Don't reach into the water.
Always turn off the appliance and unplug the appliance from the wall outlet (pull the plug, not
the cable) when not in use, attaching accessories, for cleaning or in case of malfunction.
Check the device and cable regularly for damage. Do not put a damaged device into
operation.
Do not repair the device yourself, but use an authorized specialist company. In order to
avoid hazards, only have the defective device or power supply replaced or exchanged by the
manufacturer or our customer service.
Only use original accessories.
The device must not be opened.
Never immerse the TecPen in water or other liquids.
The device must be kept out of the reach of children.
Do not fill with solvents, alcohol or cleaning agents, you may damage the device.
If the device is brought into a room with a large temperature difference to the environment,
an acclimatization period of 1-2 hours should be observed.
Protect the device from dirt.
Never store the cannula without protection.
Be careful when using the cannula. Risk of injury!
Never drop the appliance from a great height.
The device is designed for the invasive measurement of closed containers. The object to be
measured is subsequently damaged and must not be reused.
T his device may not be modified, neither in terms of its construction
nor with regard to the
safety devices without the express written
consent of the manufacturer. GasLabis not liable for damage resulting
from unauthorized modifications.
The operator must obtain the opinion of the manufacturer in order to
make any modifications. As manufacturers, they have the legal
responsibility for all these measures. Accordingly, the original
manufacturer is released from his liability for any modifications
made without express written consent.

3
Introduction
The TecPen MAP Oxygen Analyzer is designed to provide fast, accurate measurements of
0-5% oxygen content in closed and pierceable containers. It uses an optical gas sensor
with LED display as well as Bluetooth and USB connectivity. This makes it an excellent tool
for:
 Food packaging in protective gas atmosphere (MAP packaging)
 Headspace of vials, cell breeding vessels, infusion containers, syringes
 Micro-bioreactor systems
Package Contents
Quantity Item Part number
1 TecPen
1 Belt Bag
2 Particulate Filters CM-0117
2 Cannula 25/0.8
1 USB Cable
1 USB Protection
Cover
1 USB Flash Drive
1 Instruction Manual On USB Drive
12 Septum
1 Flexible Extension
1 Calibration
Certificate
On USB Drive

4
Layout & Controls
1. StartButton–presstostartmeasurement 
2. OLEDDisplay
3. PWR(Power)LED–LightswhentheTecPenisturnedon
4. BT(Bluetooth)LED–Lightswhenaconnectionisestablished
5. MemoryButton–presstosavemeasurement 
6. On/OffButton–pressbrieflytoturnon;holddowntoturnoff 
7. USBPort–copydatalogfilestoaPC
8. SamplingGasInlet(Cannula)
9. GasOutlet 
The rating plate must not be removed or modified without permission from the manufacturer -
Ensure that the rating plate remains legible.

5
Watch your
Operation
Operating Principle
The principle of opto-chemical oxygen detection using TecPen is based on the change in emission
of fluorescent radiation from the fluorescent dye. The dye is excited and the resulting fluorescence
event is recorded. The duration of this fluorescence event - the so-called lifetime - depends on the
amount of adsorbed oxygen in the sensor layer and can therefore be used to determine the oxygen
concentration.
Before You Begin
In a known gas with no particulate matter and no condensation the cannula (syringe) may be
connected directly to the TecPen. However, in most cases before taking a measurement the hose
and filter should be attached to the TecPen to prevent contamination of the gas chamber. To do
this, place the hose on the gas inlet (8) and fasten the filter to the other end of the hose. Attach the
cannula to the front of the filter.
Note
The back of the filter has a Luer lock closure. This must be turned into the intended
connection of the hose for proper installation.
If you move the TecPen to a room with a significantly different ambient temperature,
wait 1-2 hours before using it to guarantee accuracy.
Turning the TecPen On
Press the On/Off button to turn on the unit. The TecPen shows the battery status and an
oxygen value of 0.00%. This is a placeholder and not an actual measurement result.
Taking a Measurement
The cannula is used to puncture the packaging to be measured. After inserting the cannula briefly
press the start button to take a measurement. The measurement is automatically terminated
after 10 seconds. If the measuring time needs to be extended after the first measurement has been
completed press the start button again.
After each measurement put the protective cap on the sharp cannula to avoid injury.
Turning the TecPen Off
The unit can be switched off by pressing the On/Off button for at least two seconds.

6
Saving Data
Default Operation
After each measurement is completed, the currently displayed measured value can be stored in the
internal memory of the TecPen by briefly pressing the memory key . By default a new data file is
created and saved to memory each day.
Output Data File Format
The TecPen outputs a comma-delimited text file (.txt) with a header row that can be imported
into any spreadsheet program. The file name is
YYY-MM-DD_oxygen_logfile.txt . The data file
format is as follows:
Data Label Example
Date 2019-03-15 (YYYY-MM-DD format)
Time 14:33:30 (hours:minutes:seconds 24 hr.
clock)
Product_Number 123456 (user defined)
Product_Name NAME56789ABCD (user defined)
Product_EAN 0123456789ABC (user defined)
Product_Oxygen_Value 0.53472 (range 0-5%)
Amplitude 14016 (signal strength for error checking)
Tau 64.610248 (signal lifetime)
Temperature[°C] 25.187500 (Centigrade only)
Battery_Level[%] 86 (range 0-100%)
Device Status 0=Normal (see device status codes)
Exporting Saved Data Files
Data log files can be exported via USB:
1. Press the On/Off button to turn on the TecPen.
2. Connect the TecPen to a PC using the supplied USB cable.
3. Copy the files from the TecPen using your PC’s file manager.
4. Remove the TecPen USB device following the operating system instructions.
Watch Your Step!
Before unplugging the USB cable the TecPen must be ejected properly like any
other standard USB device to avoid damaging the TecPen’s internal file system. If
the TecPen is unplugged from the USB port without first selecting the “Safely
Remove Hardware and Eject Media” option all data still on the device may be lost.

7
Customizing the Data File Format
The Product_Number, Product_Name and Product_EAN fields can be customized so that multiple
TecPens can be used and all will have different names in the data files. All data files can be further
customized by selecting different “recipes” from the menu.
To get started, you must have a file named exactly Rezepte.csv loaded on the TechPen’s internal
memory card (Rezepte is German for Recipe). The sample file may be modified, or you can create a
Rezepte.csv file in any spreadsheet program that can save a .csv file. For example:
A B C
1 100ABC Scanner1 12345
2 200DEF Scanner2 67890
The 3 alpha-numeric fields (do not use commas) in the table will replace the Product_Number,
Product_Name and Product_EAN fields in your output data files. By default, the first row will be
used. If you want to select a different recipe, you must do so from the menu options after you have
turned the TecPen on and before you begin collecting data.
Menu Options
In addition to the main screen the TecPen has 4 menu options screens that can be accessed by
pressing and holding the memory button.
Change Data File Format (Recipes)
1. Hold the memory button for 2 seconds to access the menu.
2. Tap the memory button to scroll down or the start button to scroll up to select a
recipe.
3. Press the memory button for 2 seconds to confirm and save the setting.
Set Date and Time
1. Hold the memory button for 2 seconds to access the menu.
2. Press the memory button to switch to the date and time screen.
3. Press the start button for 2 seconds; the year is underlined.
4. Press the memory button to scroll down or the start button to scroll up to select the
year.
5. Press the start button for 2 seconds to save and go to the next field
6. Press the memory button for 2 seconds to confirm and save the setting.
View Measurement Data Display
1. Hold the memory button for 2 seconds to access the menu.
2. Press the memory button to switch to the View Data Display screen.
3. Press the memory button for 2 seconds to confirm and save the setting.
View Device Status
1. Hold the memory button for 2 seconds to access the menu.
2. Press the memory button to switch to view the Device Status code (see below).
3. Press the memory button for 2 seconds to confirm and save the setting.

8
Calibration
The TecPen uses pure nitrogen gas for zero point calibration.
1. In order to adjust the zero point, the TecPen must first be purged with pure nitrogen. This
can be done by plugging the cannula into the TecPen, inserting the cannula into a tube from
the nitrogen test gas cylinder and purging all the tubing with nitrogen.
2. Press and hold the start button and the memory button until the pump is activated
3. A screen will appear with the text "Recalibration 0%?" followed by "NO".
4. Briefly press the start button to switch between "YES" and "NO".
5. If "NO" is selected, the operation is aborted by pressing and holding the memory key .
6. If "YES" is selected, let the unit calibrate for at least 5 minutes.
7. Press and hold the memory key to confirm.
Watch your step!
Calibration may only be carried out with class 5.0 or purer nitrogen or the
quality of the oxygen measurement results cannot beguaranteed.
Watch your step!
After zero-point calibration the original internal zero point values are
overwritten. If the calibration has not been carried out correctly, the original
values can only be restored by GasLab support.

9
Display
Press the Memory Save button for two seconds to switch the display between the following:
Screen 1:
main
screen
battery level
measured value
Temporary
Memory/Log Indicator
Indicator for current
measurement
Screen 2:
Recipe settings
Consecutive / internal
number
product name,
EAN code
Screen 3:
Date & time
date time (24 hour clock)
for data logs
Screen 4:
Measurement data
display
Amplitude & Tau (internal
status codes)
Current temperature
Screen 5:
Device
Information
Device status
codes
Screen 6:
Zero Point
Calibration
Select calibration
start
Recalibrate 0%?
Yes / No

10
Maintenance
Cleaning
The unit can be cleaned externally with a fine, soft cloth. Never immerse the device in water
or other liquids.
Do not clean the unit with ultrasonic cleaner.
Do not fill with solvents, alcohol or cleaning agents, they may damage the device.
Battery
The TecPen uses LiPo batteries. The duration per battery charge depends on how and under what
circumstances the device is used. Charge the battery using the supplied USB cable. Once the
battery is fully charged, remove the battery from the charging cable. Do not charge the battery
longer than necessary (overnight). This may cause the charging capacity to decrease more quickly,
and the battery to overheat or become defective.
ISO Certification
The instrument must be returned annually to the manufacturer for recalibration in accordance with
ISO:9000 certification.
Device Status Codes
0. normal operation
1. UART buffer overrun
2. Temperature sensor error
3. Not specified
4. SD card not recognized
Watch yourstep!
If the TecPen displays one of the device status error codes above during
operation turn off the device, wait a few minutes and switch it back on.
If the same error code appears again contact the manufacturer.

11
Troubleshooting Guide
Problem Solution
The display shows *** after measurement Oxygen level is out of range 0-5%
The PWR light does not come on after switching
on
Does the display show the main screen?
Yes: The LED light may be broken
No: Recharge the battery
The display shows BATT or is black after
switching on.
Recharge the battery and turn on.
The TecPen is connected to the power supply but
the BlueTooth light does not light up.
The BlueTooth light does not light up during
charging.
The TecPen is connected to a PC via USB but
the PC cannot find it as a drive.
You must turn the TecPen on before connecting it
to a PC.
The measured Oxygen value is not saved. Did you press the LOG button?
Did you observe LOG on the display?
If yes for both, please contact us.
The log file shows an incorrect date or time Check screen 3 to see if the date and time are
correct. If not set the correct date and time.
The measured value varies between 2
measurements
If the temperature has changed, verify the
TecPen has time to acclimatize.
The TecPen is not measuring Please refer to the startup procedure.
Can you hear the pump? If not, contact us.
Is the display showing ****? The gas level is out
of range.
Is the display showing MEAS? Check screen 4. If
the amplitude value is greater than 0 contact us.

12
Specifications
Support
The quickest way to obtain technical support is via email. Please include a clear, concise
definition of the problem and any relevant troubleshooting information or steps taken so far, so
we can duplicate the problem and quickly respond to your inquiry.
Warranty
The TecPen comes with a one year warranty starting from the date it was shipped to the buyer. The
TecPen sensor comes with a 90 day warranty. For more information visit our website:
https://www.GasLab.com/pages/terms-conditions
Contact Us
We are here to help! For information or technical support, please contact us.
[email protected]
[phone]
www.GasLab.com
GasLab, Inc.
131 Business Center Dr. Ste. 3
Ormond Beach, FL 32174 USA
TecPen Specification
Medium
Measuring range
Accuracy: 0-500ppm
Accuracy: 500-1,000ppm
Accuracy: 1,000-5,000ppm
Value
Oxygen in gas, no liquids/solvents
0-5.0% by volume
± 0.01%
± 0.03%
± 0.05%
± 0.05%
< 150ms
< 3 seconds
10 bar
-10°C / 120°C
Li-Po Battery charged via USB
< 2 hours
Not user serviceable
USB
< 5ml
Yes, 25 to 60°C
Not available
On request
70% ethanol, No organic solvents
Needle is stainless steel St.1.4404
IP54