GE Transport PT878 User manual

GE
Sensing & Inspection Technologies
Transport®PT878
Portable Liquid Ultrasonic Flowmeter
Abridged Manual
Advanced Test Equipment Rentals
www.atecorp.com 800-404-ATEC (2832)
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GE
Sensing & Inspection Technologies
Transport®PT878
Portable Liquid Ultrasonic Flowmeter
Abridged Manual
914-219E
August 2008

iii
August 2008
Warranty Each instrument manufactured by GE Sensing is warranted to be free
from defects in material and workmanship. Liability under this
warranty is limited to restoring the instrument to normal operation or
replacing the instrument, at the sole discretion of GE Sensing. Fuses
and batteries are specifically excluded from any liability. This
warranty is effective from the date of delivery to the original
purchaser. If GE Sensing determines that the equipment was
defective, the warranty period is:
•one year for general electronic failures of the instrument
•one year for mechanical failures of the sensor
If GE Sensing determines that the equipment was damaged by
misuse, improper installation, the use of unauthorized replacement
parts, or operating conditions outside the guidelines specified by GE
Sensing, the repairs are not covered under this warranty.
The warranties set forth herein are exclusive and are in lieu of
all other warranties whether statutory, express or implied
(including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose, and warranties arising from course of
dealing or usage or trade).

August 2008
iv
Return Policy If a GE Sensing instrument malfunctions within the warranty period,
the following procedure must be completed:
1. Notify GE Sensing, giving full details of the problem, and provide
the model number and serial number of the instrument. If the
nature of the problem indicates the need for factory service, GE
Sensing will issue a RETURN AUTHORIZATION number (RA), and
shipping instructions for the return of the instrument to a service
center will be provided.
2. If GE Sensing instructs you to send your instrument to a service
center, it must be shipped prepaid to the authorized repair station
indicated in the shipping instructions.
3. Upon receipt, GE Sensing will evaluate the instrument to
determine the cause of the malfunction.
Then, one of the following courses of action will then be taken:
•If the damage is covered under the terms of the warranty, the
instrument will be repaired at no cost to the owner and returned.
•If GE Sensing determines that the damage is not covered under the
terms of the warranty, or if the warranty has expired, an estimate
for the cost of the repairs at standard rates will be provided. Upon
receipt of the owner’s approval to proceed, the instrument will be
repaired and returned.

v
August 2008
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Installation & Operation
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
The Flowcell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Making Electrical Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Power Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Transducer Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Input/Output Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
The Infrared Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Caring for the PT878 Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Charging the Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Storing the Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Replacing the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Powering ON and OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Using the Screen and Keypad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
The Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
The Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Chapter 2: Initial Setup
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Entering the Program Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Entering the Transducer Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Special Transducers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Entering the Pipe Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Entering the Pipe Lining Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Entering the Fluid Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Entering the Signal Path Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Clamp-On Transducers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Wetted Transducers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Entering Correction Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Entering Reynolds Correction Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Entering a Calibration Factor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11

August 2008
vi
Table of Contents (cont.)
Chapter 3: Operation
Configuring The Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
The Format Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
The View Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
The Limits Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
The Measurement Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Customizing the Display Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Specifying the Number of Displayed Parameters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Customizing the Softkeys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Programming Global Meter Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
The Units Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
The Battery Charger Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
The Date/Time Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
The Locale Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
The Contrast Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
The Backlight Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
The Language Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
The Communications Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
The Totals Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Chapter 4: Managing Site Files
The Site Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
The Site Manager Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
The Site Manager Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
The New Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
The Open Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
The Save Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
The Save As Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
The Refresh Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
The Rename Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
The Delete Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
The Message Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
The Print Option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12

vii
August 2008
Table of Contents (cont.)
Chapter 5: Data Logging
The Logging Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
The Log Manager Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
The Log Manager Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
The File Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
The Log Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
The View Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-13
Appendix A: Menu Maps

Chapter 1

Installation & Operation
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
The Flowcell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Making Electrical Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Charging the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Powering ON and OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Using the Screen and Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9

Installation & Operation 1-1
August 2008
Introduction The PT878 is a transit-time flowmeter that combines all the features
of a full-size flowmeter with the advantages of a portable instrument:
•measure the flow rate of acoustically-conductive single-phase
fluids
•measure flow velocities from ±0.03 to ±12 m/sec
•energy flow rate may be calculated for water, glycol, and water/
glycol mixtures
•one linear 0/4-20 mA analog output
•two 4-20 mA analog inputs
•runs on rechargeable or alkaline batteries for up to 10 hours
•LCD display for measurements in numeric and graphical format
•store site data in files
•log over 100,000 flow data points internally
•communicate with a PC via an infrared port
•context-sensitive on-line help
•uses all standard GE Sensing transducers
The Flowcell In addition to the PT878, a complete flowmeter system includes a
flowcell. The flowcell is that part of the system that uses ultrasonic
pulses to interrogate the flow. It consists of:
•Flowcell Pipe - The flowcell can either be created in the existing
piping (for example, by inserting wetted transducers into the pipe,
or clamping non-wetted transducers onto the pipe), or inserted as a
substitute pipe section (spoolpiece). The flowcell must provide
mechanical support for the transducers and assure stable fluid
conditions for accurate flow measurement.
•Transducers - The transducers convert electrical energy into
ultrasonic pulses when in a transmit cycle, and convert the
ultrasonic pulses back to electrical energy when in a receive cycle.
In the PT878 system, each transducer acts as both a receiver and
transmitter, since a series of ultrasonic pulses are alternately sent
upstream and then downstream through the flowcell.

August 2008
1-2 Installation & Operation
Making Electrical
Connections
Before taking measurements with the PT878, you must make all the
necessary electrical connections to the unit. This includes:
•power (required)
•transducers (required)
•Input/Output (optional)
•infrared interface (optional)
All electrical connections are made to the top of the PT878 as shown
in Figure 1-1 below.
Figure 1-1: Electrical Connection Locations
!WARNING!
To ensure the safe operation of the PT878, you must
install and operate it as described in this manual. In
addition, be sure to follow all applicable safety codes
and regulations for installing electrical equipment in
your area. The PT878 and its transducers are designed
for use in general-purpose locations only.
Infrared Transceiver
Downstream Transducer
Upstream Transducer Power
Input/Output

Installation & Operation 1-3
August 2008
Power Connection The PT878 may be powered by either of the following:
•a 100-120/200-260 VAC wall-mount plug-in module
•5 internal Cs-size NiCad high-energy rechargeable batteries
•a pack of 3.0 Ahr NiMH batteries
Note: An optional power supplement, part #703-1283, uses 6 AA
alkaline batteries.
Regardless of which power option is chosen, you must connect the
power cord as shown in Figure 1-1 on the previous page.
IMPORTANT: When you receive the PT878, the batteries are not
charged. Therefore, to take measurements on battery
power, you must first charge the batteries as described
on page 1-5.
Transducer Connections The transducer cables connect to the PT878 with LEMO®coaxial
type connectors. Each color-coded cable should have a collar labeled
UPSTREAM or DOWNSTREAM. Make transducer cable
connections to the top of the flowmeter as shown in Figure 1-1 on the
previous page. Because there are various types of transducers and
installations, detailed transducer installation is discussed separately in
the Liquid Transducer Installation Guide (916-055).
Input/Output Connections The PT878 provides one 0/4-20 mA current output and two 4-20 mA
analog inputs with switchable 16V supply for loop- powered
temperature transmitters. It also supports digital, frequency, and
totalizer outputs. Connect the inputs/outputs using a LEMO®
multi-pin connector as shown in Figure 1-1 on the previous page. The
pin numbers for the connector and the color code for the standard
input/output cable are shown in Table 1-1 on the next page.

August 2008
1-4 Installation & Operation
Input/Output Connections
(cont.)
The Infrared Interface The PT878 comes equipped with an internal infrared transceiver
(shown in Figure 1-1 on page 1-2) that enables communication
between the meter and other IR devices, particularly the IR ports or
dongles (IR to RS232 adapters) of Windows®-based PCs. Users can
send and receive site and log data; they can also program the meter
via the optional PanaView™ software interface. The PT878 was
designed for use with products that comply with the IrDA protocol.
Caring for the PT878
Batteries
The PT878 is equipped with built-in rechargeable batteries to support
portable operation. To maintain optimum performance, these batteries
require a minimum of maintenance.
Charging the Batteries When you receive the PT878 or if the batteries have not been used for
a long period of time, you must charge the batteries before operation.
To fully charge the batteries, eight hours is required. When fully-
charged, the batteries provide 8 to 10 hours of continuous operation.
An internal battery gauge indicates the remaining power in the
batteries.
Table 1-1: Cable Assembly for Analog Inputs/Outputs
Pin # Wire Color Description
1 Black Analog Out 1
2 Red 16 V (switched)
3 White Temperature Transmitter Supply or
Return (Input A)
4 Yellow Temperature Transmitter Supply or
Return (Input B)
5 Green Analog Ground
6 Orange Digital Output (frequency output,
pulse totalizer, diagnostic output or
calibration gate)
7 Blue Digital Ground
8 Violet Receive Monitor

Installation & Operation 1-5
August 2008
Charging the Batteries
(cont.)
IMPORTANT: To ensure the maximum charge, charge the batteries in
an ambient temperature of 50 to 104°F (10 to 40°C).
To charge the batteries, simply plug the AC power module cord into
the power jack (shown in Figure 1-1 on page 1-2) and be sure the
battery pack is installed. When the PT878 is plugged into line voltage,
the internal battery charger automatically charges the batteries,
whether the PT878 is ON or OFF. If the PT878 is ON, the Battery
icon in the upper right corner of the screen indicates battery status (as
shown in Table 1-2 below).
Note: For version 1B of the PT878 software, you must also press
the red power key in the upper right corner of the keypad.
Storing the Batteries Always observe the following battery storage temperature ranges:
•2 days or less: -40 to 158°F (-40 to 70°C)
•less than 1 month: -4 to 131°F (-20 to 55°C)
•more than 1 month: 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C)
Table 1-2: Battery Status Icons
Icon Battery Status
Full battery
Partially full battery
Empty battery
Fully charged battery, connected to AC power
Charging battery
Discharging battery
Failure/missing battery
Notification to check battery

August 2008
1-6 Installation & Operation
Replacing the Batteries !WARNING!
Replace batteries only with the specified rechargeable
batteries. The battery charges even when the unit is OFF.
Do not attempt to recharge non-rechargeable batteries.
If you need to replace the rechargeable batteries, use the
recommended 3.0 Ahr NiMH batteries (part number 200-081). To
replace the batteries:
1. Remove the rubber boot.
2. Open the panel located on the back of the PT878 unit.
3. Disconnect the old batteries and dispose of them properly.
4. Install the new batteries (see Figure 1-2 below).
Figure 1-2: Back Panel of PT878
Note: To further extend the battery power of the PT878, the GE
Sensing Part #705-1283 option uses 6 AA alkaline batteries.
Battery Located
Behind Panel

Installation & Operation 1-7
August 2008
Powering ON and OFF Caution!
For CE compliance, the PT878 is classified as a battery-
powered device, not to be used with the AC adapter. To
comply with CE certification, do not operate the meter
with the charger plugged in.
To power the PT878 ON, press the red button in the upper-right-hand
corner of the keypad. Immediately upon power up, the PT878 emits a
short beep and displays a “PCI Loader” message. It then validates
the instrument programming, displays the GE Sensing logo and the
software version, and emits a long beep. If the meter fails any of these
tests, contact GE Sensing.
!WARNING!
If the meter fails the backup battery test, you must send
the unit back to the factory for a battery replacement.
After the meter conducts all the self checks, a screen similar to Figure
1-3 below appears.
Figure 1-3: Screen After Powering ON
2000/11/30 09:53 AM
Velocity, ft/s Signal, dB
0.00
32
Delta-T, ns
0.10 0.0
Volume, l/s
E0: No Errors
ABC.SIT

August 2008
1-8 Installation & Operation
Powering ON and OFF
(cont.)
To turn the PT878 OFF, press the red key and hold it for 3 seconds.
The screen now appears similar to Figure 1-4 below.
Figure 1-4: The Shutdown Menu
Three options are now available:
•Press [F1] to shut down the PT878 - This turns it completely OFF.
•Press [F2] to send the PT878 into sleep mode - In this mode, the
PT878 remains in a standby mode and you can resume taking
measurements immediately by pressing the power button again.
•Press [F3] to cancel the command - This returns the PT878 to
normal operation.
Note: If the PT878 locks up, you can reset it by pressing the power
key (the red key in the upper right corner) and holding it for
15 seconds.
Velocity, ft/s Signal, dB
Delta-T, ns Volume, l/s
Resume
SHUTDOWN: Meter OFF
SLEEP: Meter Idle
CANCEL: Resume Operations
Shutdown Sleep

Installation & Operation 1-9
August 2008
Using the Screen and
Keypad
The essential features for operating the PT878 are the screen and
keypad. Although these features are common on portable instruments,
the PT878 design offers special features to simplify and speed the
operation.
The Screen The primary function of the screen is to display information in order
for you to accurately and easily take measurements. The PT878
screen consists of seven parts (see Figure 1-5 below).
Figure 1-5: The PT878 Screen in Operate Mode
The top line of the screen is the status bar, which normally displays
the time and date. However, when you press [MENU] (the menu key),
the Menu Bar replaces the status bar.
The middle of the screen is the work area, which displays the
measured parameters, numeric measurements, and both bar and line
graphs. However, when you enter a selection on the Menu Bar, this
area displays menu prompts instead. Also, a line at the bottom of the
work area also displays error code messages.
2000/11/30 09:53 AM
Velocity, ft/s Signal, dB
0.00
32
Delta-T, ns
0.10 0.0
Volume, l/s
E0: No Errors
Status Bar
(alternates with
Measurements
Error Messages
Function Keys
Menu Bar)
DEFAULT
Current
Site
Battery
Status
System
Tray

August 2008
1-10 Installation & Operation
The Screen (cont.) The system tray displays icons that indicate meter operations not
otherwise shown. Table 1-3 below lists the icons and their meanings.
The bottom of the screen displays the three function key options:
[F1], [F2] and [F3]. These keys have different functions, depending on
the task you are performing.
Table 1-3: Icons in the System Tray
Icon Function Meaning
IR Transfer IR data transfer in progress.
Alert Indicates the meter encountered an
error in operation.
Log Indicates a log is pending (no
marks) or running (marks).
Heating/
cooling
Indicates heating or cooling energy
mode.
Stopwatch Calibration Gate Operation: Watch
is stopped when the gate is closed,
or runs when it is open.
Snapshot
(To file)
Indicates that the Snapshot function
has been activated, so users can
take screen captures.
(To Printer)

Installation & Operation 1-11
August 2008
The Keypad The PT878 keypad has 25 keys. The functions for each key are
described on the following page (see Figure 1-6 below):
Figure 1-6: The PT878 Keypad