Industrial Scientific V-CAL User manual

Part Number: 17153100-1
Version 2
Six-Unit Calibration Station
for VentisTM
Product Manual
Set-up
Operation

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
2© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Warnings and Cautionary Statements .................................................................. 3
Capabilities........................................................................................................... 4
Unpacking the Station .......................................................................................... 6
User Interface....................................................................................................... 7
Station Preparation............................................................................................... 8
Hardware Overview (Front) ............................................................................. 8
Hardware Overview (Back).............................................................................. 9
Software Installation and Hardware Connections .......................................... 10
Station Use......................................................................................................... 12
Power-on and -off .......................................................................................... 12
Start-up Mode................................................................................................ 12
Idle Mode....................................................................................................... 14
Set-up Mode .................................................................................................. 14
Docking and Removing the Instrument.......................................................... 20
Calibration and Bump Testing ....................................................................... 21
Status and Error Messages ........................................................................... 24
Software Use...................................................................................................... 30
Software Functions........................................................................................ 30
Using the Software ........................................................................................ 31
Diagnosing Common Problems.......................................................................... 42
Specifications ..................................................................................................... 42
Performance Specifications................................................................................ 43
Warranty............................................................................................................. 44
Contact Information ...............................................................................Back cover
###

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation 3
WARNINGS AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
WARNING: Read and understand this manual before operating the
equipment.
WARNING: Failure to perform certain procedures or note certain
conditions may impair the performance of this product. For
maximum safety and optimal performance, please read and follow
the procedures and conditions listed below.
CAUTION: For safety reasons, this equipment must be operated and
serviced by qualified personnel only.
CAUTION: Equipment is rated for indoor use only at altitudes below
2,000 m (6,000’).
CAUTION: Compressed gas cylinders and their contents may
present specific hazards to the user. Use only in a well-ventilated
area. Use only in accordance with the instructions and warnings as
marked on the cylinder and the appropriate Material Safety Data
Sheets.
NOTE: The station should be cleaned only with a soft cloth; do not
use solvents or other liquids.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy; if it is not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, it may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in
a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case
the user will be required to correct the interference at the user’s own
expense.
Contact your service representative immediately if you suspect that the station is
working abnormally. ###

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
4© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
CAPABILITIES
The V•CalTM is a stand-alone calibration station designed to work in conjunction
with VentisTM Multi-gas Monitors. It supports up to six instruments and is
available in three models based on cradle configuration.
Cradle configurations.
Six cradles for aspirated instruments only
Six cradles for diffusion instruments only
Three cradles for aspirated instruments only and three cradles for diffusion
instruments only
Regardless of cradle configuration, each station has three cradles on the back
row and three on the front row. As shown below, the cradles are numbered one
through six, from left to right, from front row to back row.
The station has three internal pumps. Each pump controls two cradles. For
example, as noted below, internal pump 1 controls cradles 1 and 4.
Cradle numbe
r
Back row 4 5 6
Front row 1 2 3
Internal pump 1 2 3
Each internal pump has a solenoid that controls the flow of gas (and fresh air) to
the cradles. These solenoids are referred to in this manual as “cradle solenoids”.
A fourth solenoid, referred to as the “gas solenoid”, controls the flow of calibration
gas and fresh air from the station's intake ports.
The station communicates directly with up to six docked instruments to perform
bump tests and calibrations. It can also charge up to six instruments equipped
with rechargeable Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery packs.
Calibration and bump test records are saved to the station’s memory which can
store a total 12,000 records. The results for each calibration and bump test
performed are automatically sent, in report form, to an external serial printer (via
an RS232 connection) when connected.
The station can communicate with a host PC across a USB connection, when the
PC is running Accessory Software. The following capabilities are included in the
calibration station with respect to commands from the host PC.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation 5
Accessory Software enabled capabilities for the host PC.
Read and write instrument and calibration station settings.
Read the instrument data log.
Read the instrument event log.
Access bump test and calibration records from the station.
The following operating systems support Accessory Software:
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
###

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
6© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
UNPACKING THE STATION
The station’s box contains the items listed below. Each item should be accounted
for in the unpacking process.
Quantity Part
Number Description
1 18107664
V

Cal Six-Unit Calibration Station
Each aspirated cradle is fitted with a tube 0.1524 m
(6") in length. The tubing is attached to the cradle's
instrument inlet at one end; the white fitting on the
other end is attached to the cradle inlet. See
manual section, Hardware Overview.
NOTE: one 0.1524 m (6”) tube with a t-fitting is
provided for each aspirated cradle.
1 17093659 Urethane tubing 1.219 m (4’)
1 17121310 USB cable
1 17118027 Fitting (for calibration gas port)
1 17124074 Fitting (for fresh air port)
1 17121070 Industrial Scientific Accessory Software Suite CD
1 17124447 Data-link manual
1 17135864 Service card
1 17123787 Warranty card
1 17153158 Reference to online manual
1 17136623 Power supply with plug adapters (North American,
Europlug, UK/Ireland, and Australia)
Reporting a problem. After unpacking, if any item is missing or appears to have
been damaged, contact Industrial Scientific Corporation (ISC) or a local
distributor of ISC products. Please refer to the manual section, Contact
Information.
###

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation 7
USER INTERFACE
The calibration station user interface is comprised of the following.
Character LCD display
Two pushbuttons
Six sets of three LEDs (one set for each cradle)
The LCD is a twenty-character by two-line display. It is backlit when the station
performs a task or displays the result of a task. The user can select one of four
display languages for the LCD, English, Spanish, French, or German.
The LCD continuously shows status (or error) messages for each docked
instrument. Messages can display for two instruments at a time on the LCD.
Each message is preceded by a cradle number (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6) to indicate
which instrument the message applies to. For example, when displayed together,
these messages indicate that the instrument in cradle 1 passed calibration and
the instrument in cradle 2 failed calibration.
1-Cal Passed
2-Cal Failed
Throughout this manual, any LCD message that indicates the status of a
particular cradle has the designation, “X-“. For example, “X-Cal Passed” where X
will display on the LCD as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.
The station’s two pushbuttons, “BUMP” and “CALIBRATE”, are used to initiate
the performance of those functions when one or more instruments are docked.
These buttons are also used to access the station’s set-up mode where a variety
of station settings can be set or changed, and where the user can access station
procedures (e.g., printing).
Each set of LEDs is associated with a particular cradle and has a green, amber,
and red indicator (from left to right). The LEDs are used in combination with
messages on the LCD to indicate the status of each cradle.
The green LED indicates the docked instrument has passed a calibration or
bump test.
The amber LED indicates a calibration or bump test is in-progress or
pending, or that the instrument is charging.
The red LED indicates the docked instrument has failed a calibration or
bump test. The red LED can also indicate an error has occurred.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
8© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
STATION PREPARATION
Hardware Overview (Front)
Diagram
Number Feature
1 Cradle lid
2 Cradle lid latch (diffusion cradles only)
3 LED indicators
4 Bump button
5 LCD display
6 Calibrate button
7 Instrument inlet

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation 9
Hardware Overview (Back)
Diagram
Number Feature
8 Printer port
9 USB port
10 Fresh air port
11 Calibration gas port
12 Power input
13* Cradle inlet
14* Cradle tubing (for use when station door in attached)
14* Cradle tubing with T-fitting (for use when station door is removed)
*Aspirated cradles only.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
10 © 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
Software Installation and Hardware Connections
To identify the parts referenced in the following instructions, refer to the above
manual sections, Hardware Overview and Unpacking the Station.
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
1 To install the software, insert the software CD into the CD drive of the host
PC. The InstallShield Wizard program automatically starts and begins the
installation process. If the program does not start, open a window on the
computer to view the contents of the CD; double-click on the file titled,
“Setup.exe”.
2 To complete the installation, continue following the instructions as they
display on the PC.
Be sure to choose the desired language for the software user interface.
This is completed from the drop-down menu that appears on one of the
first installations screens. The choices are Chinese (simplified), English
(United States), French (Standard), German, or Spanish. Highlight the
desired language and click the “OK” button to continue.
HARDWARE CONNECTIONS
Attaching cables and cords.
1 USB cable.
oOn the back of the station, locate the port marked “USB”.
oTo connect the station to the computer, insert the cable’s flat end into
the computer’s USB port; plug the other end into the USB port on the
back of the station.
2 Printer connection (if desired).
oConnect the printer cord to the port marked “printer” on the back of the
station.
oTighten the captive screws to secure the connection.
3 Power supply.
oOn the back of the station, locate the power input marked, “12VDC”.
oConnect the power supply to the 12VDC input.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation 11
Connecting the gas cylinder and demand flow regulator.
1 Attach the demand flow regulator to the gas cylinder and turn clockwise to
tighten.
2 On the back of the station, locate the inlet marked, “CAL GAS”.
Connect either end of the supplied 1.219 m (4’) urethane tubing to the
CAL GAS inlet. Connect the other end to the regulator’s nipple; the
nipple fits inside the tubing.
FOR ASPIRATED CRADLES ONLY .
Enabling the flow of calibration gas to the instrument.
The station can perform calibrations and bump tests with the cradle door
attached to the station (Option 1) OR removed from the station (Option 2). To
enable the flow of calibration gas to the docked instrument, follow the instructions
below for option 1 OR option 2.
Option 1: the instrument door remains attached to the cradle.
NOTE: The station ships from the factory with this option enabled.
1 Locate the cradle inlet on the back of the cradle.
2 Locate the tubing that has a white fitting at one end; the other end of the
tubing has no other fittings.
Fasten the white fitting to the cradle inlet; turn clockwise to tighten.
Attach the other end of the tubing to the cradle's instrument inlet.
Option 2: the instrument door is removed from the cradle.
1 Detach the tubing from the cradle inlet.
2 Lift the door to remove it from the cradle; set the door and its tubing aside
or store for future use.
3 Locate the tubing that has a white fitting at one end and a t-fitting at its
other end.
Fasten the white fitting to the cradle inlet; turn clockwise to tighten.
Attach the other end of the tubing directly to the inlet of a docked
instrument.
###

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
12 © 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
STATION USE
Power-on and -off
To power-on the station, plug the power supply into the power source. To power-
off the station, unplug the power supply. There is no power-on/-off switch.
Start-up Mode
When powered-on, the station performs a series of internal diagnostics as
described below.
If the station fails any diagnostic test, the red LEDs turn on for all affected
cradles. A system error message displays on the LCD to describe each failure
encountered. These messages are defined in the manual section, Status and
Error Messages.
DISPLAY INSTRUCTIONS
V·Cal 6-Unit
Calibration Station
No user action required.
V·Cal
v 1.00.07
Displays station name and software version
number (shown: v 3.00.07).
No user action required.
Warming Up
V·Cal
Displays during diagnostic testing of the
system’s pumps, solenoids, board, and
memory.
No user action required.
12345678901234567890
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST
Displays to verify the correct operation of the
LCD.
No user action required.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation 13
Verify
V·Cal LEDs
Displays as the station verifies LED operation.
All six LED sets simultaneously turn on, then
off in this order: red, amber, green, and all.
No user action required.
[ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ]
Displays to verify pixel integrity.
No user action required.
Checking
V·Cal Clock
Displays as the functionality of the real-time
clock is checked.
No user action required.
22 Jan 2010
12:34:56
Displays current date and time (in 24-hour
format) if the clock check was successful.
No user action required.
###

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
14 © 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
Idle Mode
When the "ready" or "charging" messages display for occupied cradles and there
are no station faults, the station is in idle mode. From idle mode, the user can
enter station set-up mode, or can bump test or calibrate docked instruments.
Beginning with set-up mode, each of these processes is outlined in the following
manual sections, Set-up Mode, and Calibration and Bump Testing.
Set-up Mode
From set-up mode, the user can complete station procedures and change station
settings.
Station procedures.
Print alarm events for docked instrument(s)
Print all calibration and bump test records saved to the station
Delete all saved calibration and bump test records from the station
Run station diagnostics
Station settings.
Calibration interval days
Time and date
LCD display language
In set-up mode, each procedure or setting option is presented to the user in the
order shown below. Instructions are provided for completing or bypassing each
task.
NOTE: In set-up mode, when no button is pressed within ten seconds, the message displayed on
the LCD is cleared and the station returns to idle mode.
Access to set-up mode.
From idle mode, simultaneously press BUMP and CALIBRATE; hold for one
second, then release.
DISPLAY MESSAGE INSTRUCTIONS
Print Instrument
Alarm Events
This procedure sends all alarm
event data for the docked
instruments to the printer.
Press BUMP to bypass the procedure;
the user advances to the next set-up mode
feature, Print V  Cal Records.
Press CALIBRATE to begin the printing
procedure.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation 15
Print Events
Instrument X
Displays for each cradle with a
docked instrument; allows the user
to confirm (or cancel) the print
command for each instrument.
Press BUMP to bypass printing for the
cradle number shown.
Press CALIBRATE to send the data to
the printer for that cradle’s instrument.
Continue to use the BUMP and
CALIBRATE buttons to print or bypass
the printing for each docked
instrument.
If all printing options are bypassed, the
user advances to the next set-up mode
feature, Print V
 Cal Records.
Printing Instrument
Alarm Events
Displays while the instrument
events print.
No user action required.
NOTE: While the events print, the station ignores all
button presses and USB communications.
Print VCal
Records
This procedure sends all bump
test and calibration records from
the station memory to the printer.
Press BUMP to bypass the procedure;
the user advances to the next set-up mode
feature, Clear V
 Cal Records.
Press CALIBRATE to begin the printing
procedure.
Print Records?
NO YES
Displays to allow the user to
confirm (or cancel) the print
command.
Press BUMP to cancel the print
command; the user advances to the next
set-up mode feature, Clear V
 Cal Records.
Press CALIBRATE to send the data to
the printer.
Printing Record
X of YYY
Displays to indicate printing
progress, where X = the record
number currently printing and YYY
= the total number of records that
are being sent to the printer.
Press BUMP to can cancel any remaining
printouts.
NOTE: After printing the saved bump test and
calibration reports, they are NOT automatically deleted
from the station. The “Clear V
 Cal Records” function is
used to complete that task.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
16 © 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
Clear VCal
Records
This procedure deletes all bump
test and calibration records from
the station memory.
NOTE: The clear records function is
executable regardless of whether or not the
records have been printed.
Press BUMP to bypass the procedure.
The records remain in the station memory
and the user advances to the next set-up
mode feature, Cal Interval Days.
Press CALIBRATE to delete all records
saved to the station.
Clear Records?
NO YES
Displays to allow the user to
confirm (or cancel) the clear
records command.
Press BUMP to cancel the clear records
command. The records remain in the
station memory and the user advances to
the next set-up mode feature, Cal Interval
Days.
Press CALIBRATE to delete all records
saved to the station memory.
VCal Records
Cleared
Displays to indicate the records
have been successfully deleted
from the station's memory.
No user action required.
Cal Interval
30 Days
Displays the current setting for the
number of days between
calibrations (shown: 30).
Allows the user to set the number
of days between calibrations. The
setting is programmed into the
station as well as any docked
instrument.
Press BUMP TEST to bypass the setting
process; the user advances to the next
set-up mode feature, Set Date and Time.
Press CALIBRATE to edit the value for
the calibration interval.
Cal Interval
30 Days
Valid values: 1 – 365 days
Increment: 1 day
Press BUMP to change the value; hold to
speed the increment pace. (After the
counter reaches 365, it starts again at 1.)
Press CALIBRATE to set the value
displayed.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation 17
Set Cal Interval
On Instruments
Allows the user to set the
calibration interval value on the
docked instrument to match the
station's calibration interval value.
Press BUMP TEST to bypass the setting
process; the user advances to the next
set-up mode feature, Set Date and Time.
Press CALIBRATE to complete the
setting process.
Set Cal Interval?
No Yes
Displays to allow the user to
confirm (or cancel) the setting of
instrument calibration interval
values.
Press BUMP to cancel the setting
process.
Press CALIBRATE to complete the
setting process.
Set Time and Date
22 Jan 2011 13:34:56
Displays the current date and time
(in 24-hour format). Each value
can be changed. Values are
presented to the user in this order:
month, day, year, hour, and
minutes.
Press BUMP TEST to bypass the setting
process; the user advances to the next
set-up mode feature, Select Language.
Press CALIBRATE to edit any of the time
or date values.
Set Time and Date
22 Jan 2011
The first date value subject to
change (year) will blink.
Press BUMP to edit the blinking value, if
needed.
Press CALIBRATE to set the value
displayed.
Continue to use the BUMP and
CALIBRATE buttons, respectively, to
edit and set the next blinking value.
Set Time and Date
13:34
The first time value subject to
change (hour) will blink.
Press BUMP to edit the blinking value, if
needed.
Press CALIBRATE to set the value
displayed.
Continue to use the BUMP and
CALIBRATE buttons, respectively, to
edit and set the next blinking value.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
18 © 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
Select Language
English
Displays the language setting
currently in use by the station.
Allows the user to choose one of
four language options for the
station's LCD.
Press BUMP TEST to bypass the setting
process and advance to the next set-up
mode feature, System Check procedure.
Press CALIBRATE to edit the language
selection, if needed.
Select Language
English
The language selection options
are presented to the user in this
order: English (shown), Espanol,
Francais, and Deutsch.
Press BUMP to bypass the displayed
language. Continue to press BUMP until
the desired language displays.
Press CALIBRATE to set the displayed
language.
Change Printer Paper
Allows the user to power-on the
printer. The paper is automatically
fed by the printer when a new roll
is inserted.
Press BUMP to bypass the procedure.
Press CALIBRATE to power-on the
printer. During this time, the V•Cal will
display "Insert New Paper Roll OK".
Press CALIBRATE again to power-off the
printer.
Note: The Insert New Paper Roll OK screen will not
time out, to allow the user as much time as necessary
to change the paper roll.
VCal
System Check
This procedure allows the user to
initiate a diagnostic check of the
system. When selected, the
station will cycle through all
diagnostic tests described in the
manual section, Start-up.
Press BUMP TEST to bypass the
diagnostics procedure and advance to the
Exit Set-up display.
Press CALIBRATE to initiate the station's
system diagnostics.
Exit
Setup
Press BUMP TEST to remain in set-up
mode. The user returns to the first set-up
mode feature, Print Instrument Alarm
Events.
Press CALIBRATE to exit set-up mode
and return to idle mode.

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
© 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation 19
Figure 1 lists the information contained in reports that are generated from the
printing procedures described above: printing instrument events and printing
VCal Records (calibration and bump test reports).
Report information generated from set-up mode functions.
Print Instrument Events Print VCal Records
Industrial Scientific Corp.
Name of calibration station and its
software version
Date of printout
Instrument serial number
Instrument software version
Instrument hardware version
For each alarm event:
oSensor type
oSensor serial number
oSensor high alarm threshold
oSensor low alarm threshold
oPeak gas exposure value
during alarm
oDuration of alarm event in
seconds
oTime and date the alarm
occurred
oInstrument user setting
oInstrument site setting
A blank for the user’s signature
A blank for the user to enter the
date
A blank for the user to enter the
time

Industrial Scientific Corp.
Name of calibration station and its
software version
Date and time of calibration (or
bump test)
Instrument serial number
Instrument software version
Instrument hardware version
Instrument zero, calibration, or
bump test result (pass or fail)
Recommended date for next
calibration (shown for calibration
only; date is blank for a failed
calibration)
For each sensor:
oSensor type
oSpan reserve (for calibration)
or Final bump test reading (for
bump test)
oCalibration gas concentration
oHigh alarm threshold
oLow alarm threshold
oZero, calibration, or bump test
results
A blank for the user to enter the
cylinder lot number
A blank for the user’s signature
Figure 1a. Event report. Figure 1b. Calibration and bump test reports.
###

Product Manual for the Six-Unit Calibration Station for Ventis™
20 © 2010, 2016 Industrial Scientific Corporation
Docking and Removing the Instrument
STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Docking the ASPIRATED instrument.
1 When the station faces the user, its cradle lid hinge is to the user’s right.
Lift the lid from the left to open the cradle.
2 To properly dock the instrument in the cradle, complete or observe the
following.
The instrument’s display faces the user and its logo is readable.
Press down on the instrument to secure it in the cradle; if needed,
slide the instrument forward to secure.
3 Close the cradle lid.
Docking the DIFFUSION instrument.
1 When the station faces the user, its cradle lid hinge is at the top of the
cradle. Lift up to open.
2 To properly place the instrument in the cradle, complete or observe the
following.
The instrument’s display faces the user and its logo is readable.
Press down on the instrument to secure it in the cradle; if needed,
slide the instrument forward to secure.
3 Close the cradle lid.
Removing the DIFFUSION o
r
A
SPIRATED instrument
1 Lift the cradle lid (as instructed above for an aspirated or diffusion
instrument).
2 Lift the instrument to remove it from the cradle.