Koehler K955 Series Guide

Operation and Instruction Manual
REV D
Koehler Instrument Company, Inc.
1595 Sycamore Avenue • Bohemia, New York 11716-1796 • USA
Toll Free: 1-800-878-9070 (US only) • Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
http://www.koehlerinstrument.com • e-mail: [e-mail]
Petroleum Testing & Analysis Instrumentation • Custom Design & Manufacturing
K955XX Digital Penetrometer and
Data acquisition Software

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMANCE
Digital Penetrometer
K955XX-00000
This certificate verifies that part number K955XX-00000, Digital Penetrometer, was
manufactured in conformance with the applicable standards set forth in this
certification.
Specifications: ASTM D5
ASTM D217
ASTM D937
ASTM D1321
ASTM D1403
ASTM D2884
ASTM D4950
ASTM D5329
IP 49
IP 50
IP 179
IP 310
ISO 2137
This unit is tested before it leaves the factory, to ensure total functionality and
compliance to the above specifications and ASTM standards. Test and inspection
records are on file for verification.
Jesse Kelly
Application Engineer
Koehler Instrument Company

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WEEE Directive Compliance Statement
Background
The goal of the WEEE Directive is to encourage design of environment-friendly products that increase
reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery to reduce waste streams and applies to listed Electronic and
Electrical Equipment (EEE) and Koehler's equipment falls broadly into Appendix 1A; Section 9 Monitoring
and Control Equipment: Measuring, weighing or adjusting appliances for household or as laboratory
equipment.
Any associated non-embedded equipment such as Lighting (Saybolt Color) and PCs/Printers also fall
under WEEE. If provided with an order these ancillary items must be WEEE compliant. For these and
other reasons (printer cartridges are regionalized) the equipment must be supplied through a third party
supplier in Europe.
The WEEE Directive applies to electrical and electronic equipment falling under the categories set out in
Annex IA provided that the equipment concerned is not part of another type of equipment that does not
fall within the scope of this Directive. Annex IB contains a list of products which fall under the categories
set out in Annex IA.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:037:0024:0038:en:PDF
We do not qualify for any of the 10 exemption categories.
http://www.dpa-system.dk/en/WEEE/Products/Exemptions
Professional use
For equipment defined for ’professional use’ local authorities have no role to play. Producers and
importers are basically responsible for collection of WEEE recyclables from the professional user and for
subsequent management. A separate statement is given cataloging the items that require separation
from the equipment along with basic information on subsequent processing or recycling prior to disposal
of the equipment.
http://www.dpa-system.dk/en/WEEE/Products/Private-or-professional-use
Responsibility for Registration and Annual Reporting:
Koehler will not sell directly to end users in the EU and so has no responsibility to register within each EU
state and to make annual reports. Koehler declares that this responsibility is born by the importer who is
the first level of the distribution chain and is subject to producer responsibility. We will communicate this
in writing to our distributor/importers in the EU stating they are responsible to satisfy WEEE registration
and reporting requirements in the EU states where they conduct sales activities.
It is illegal to market electrical and electronic equipment covered by producer responsibility without being
registered.
http://www.dpa-system.dk/en/WEEE/Producers/Whoissubjecttoproducerresponsibility
Product Design
Koehler's designs allow for complete disassembly to a modular level which usually allows for standard
recycling. A qualified refrigeration system technician must be consulted when disassembling and de-
commissioning any equipment with refrigeration systems.
Koehler's scientific testing equipment is robustly designed to function over a long service life and are
typically repaired many times over the course of years rather than being replaced. We believe that re-use
and refurbishment is the very best form of re-cycling.
All batteries must be readily removable not soldered in place.
Recycling instructions
In the event that replacement becomes necessary, we will include instructions, particularized to each
instrument that informs the customer of their recycling responsibilities and giving them guidance in doing
this. All Koehler equipment has been placed on the market since 13th August 2005 and so Koehler is

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defined as a "new WEEE producer". As such we must provide information on refurbishment, treatment,
and re-use.
Our instrument manual will include this compliance statement and indicate that any collection of materials
will be handled by their authorized distributor. In the event that the distributor is unreachable or is no
longer a distributor for Koehler Instrument, Co., other arrangements may be made including accepting the
materials directly.
Recycling is free of charge. Shipping is the responsibility of the end users. Whether shipping to a
distributor or to Koehler directly, safe, properly declared, and labeled packaging and shipping expenses
are the sole responsibility of the end user.
WEEE Marking
Since Koehler products are subject to the WEEE Directive we must display the WEEE symbol shown
above in accordance with European Standard EN 50419 on the equipment. It must be indelible, at least
5mm in height, and clearly legible. If the equipment is too small the mark must be in the product literature,
guarantee certificate, or on the packaging. Rules on marking are established in section 49 of the WEEE
Order.
Koehler Instrument Company, Inc.
c/o RECYCLING
1595 Sycamore, Ave.
Bohemia, NY 11716
As a minimum the following substances, preparations and components have to be removed from any
separately collected WEEE:
- Mercury containing components, such as switches or backlighting lamps (compact fluorescent lamps,
CFL),
- Batteries
- Printed circuit boards if the surface of the printed circuit board is greater than 10 square centimeters
(about 4 sq in.),
- Toner cartridges, liquid and pasty, as well as color toner,
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) or hydrofluorocarbons (HFC),
hydrocarbons (HC)
- Liquid crystal displays (together with their casing where appropriate) of a surface greater than 100
square centimeters and all those back-lighted with gas discharge lamps,
- External electric cables
- Components containing refractory ceramic fibers as described in Commission Directive 97/69/EC of 5
December 1997 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 67/548/EEC relating to the classification,
packaging and labeling of dangerous substances (2),
- Electrolyte capacitors containing substances of concern (height > 25 mm, diameter > 25 mm or
proportionately similar volume)
2. The following components of WEEE that is separately collected have to be treated as indicated:
- Equipment containing gases that are ozone depleting or have a global warming potential (GWP) above
15, such as those contained in foams and refrigeration circuits: the gases must be properly extracted and
properly treated. Ozone-depleting gases must be treated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No
2037/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on substances that deplete
the ozone layer (4).

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Table of Contents
1Introduction.......................................................................................................................7
1.1 Koehler’s Commitment to our Customers....................................................................................7
1.2 Recommended Resources and Publications...............................................................................7
1.3 Instrument Specifications.............................................................................................................8
1.4 Software Specifications ...............................................................................................................9
2Safety Information and Warnings ....................................................................................9
3Getting Started ..................................................................................................................9
3.1 Packing List..................................................................................................................................9
3.2 Unpacking..................................................................................................................................10
3.3 Installation..................................................................................................................................10
3.4 Using the Penetrometer with a Constant Temperature Bath.....................................................11
3.5 Using the Penetrometer with Battery Power..............................................................................11
3.6 Attaching the Penetrometer to PC/Printer.................................................................................12
4Software Installation .......................................................................................................12
4.1 Software Operation....................................................................................................................13
5Operation.........................................................................................................................16
5.1 Instrument Controls ...................................................................................................................16
5.2 Basic Operating Procedure........................................................................................................17
5.3 Detailed Operating Instructions .................................................................................................17
6Calibration .......................................................................................................................21
7Troubleshooting..............................................................................................................22
7.1 Unit Does Not Turn On..............................................................................................................22
7.2 Unit Turns On but Battery Indicator Light Illuminates................................................................22
7.3 Battery Indicator Light Blinks Power-On....................................................................................22
8Additional Accessories...................................................................................................22
9Maintenance ....................................................................................................................23
9.1 Changing the Light Bulb ............................................................................................................23
9.2 Changing the Fuse ....................................................................................................................23
9.3 Replacing the Battery ................................................................................................................23
9.4 Replacement Parts and Accessories.........................................................................................23
10 Wiring Diagram................................................................................................................25
11 Service.............................................................................................................................26
12 Storage.............................................................................................................................26

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13 Warranty ..........................................................................................................................26
14 Returned Goods Policy...................................................................................................26
Notes........................................................................................................................................27

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1 Introduction
The K955XX Digital Penetrometer is designed
to measure the consistency of a wide range of
semi-solid and solid products with maximum
precision and convenience. Used with
appropriate plungers, cones, needles, and
accessories, these penetrometers provide
repeatable penetration values in tenths of a
millimeter for greases, waxes, asphalts,
petrolatum, creams, food products and many
other products.
This manual provides important information
regarding safety, technical reference, installation
requirements, operating condition specifications,
user facility resource requirements, and
operating instructions for the Digital
Penetrometer. This manual should also be used
in conjunction with applicable published
laboratory procedures. Information on these
procedures is given in section 1.2.
1.1 Koehler’s Commitment to our
Customers
Providing quality testing instrumentation and
technical support services for research and
testing laboratories has been our specialty for
more than 50 years. At Koehler, the primary
focus of our business is providing you with the
full support of your laboratory testing needs. Our
products are backed by our staff of technically
knowledgeable, trained specialists who are
experienced in both petroleum products testing
and instrument service to better understand your
requirements and provide you with the best
solutions. You can depend on Koehler for a full
range of accurate and reliable instrumentation
as well as support for your laboratory testing
programs. Please do not hesitate to contact us
at any time with your inquiries about equipment,
tests, or technical support.
Toll Free: 1-800-878-9070 (US only)
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
http://www.koehlerinstrument.com
1.2 Recommended Resources and
Publications
1. American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM)
100 Barr Harbor Drive
West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania 19428-
2959, USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.astm.org
email: [e-mail]
ASTM Publication:
ASTM D5: Penetration of Bituminous
Materials
ASTM D217: Cone Penetration of
Lubricating Grease
ASTM D937: Cone Penetration of
Petroleum
ASTM D1321: Needle Penetration of
Petroleum Waxes
ASTM D1403: Cone Penetration of
Lubricating Grease Using One-Quarter
and One-Half Scale Cone Equipment
ASTM D2884: Yield Stress of
Heterogeneous Propellants by the Cone
Penetration Method
ASTM D4950: Classification of and
Specification for Automotive Service
Greases
2. International Organization for
Standardization (ISO)
1, rue de Varembé
Case postale 56
CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.iso.org
ISO Publication:
ISO 2137
3. Energy Institute (IP)
61 New Cavendish Street
London, WIM 8AR, United Kingdom
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.energyinstpubs.org.uk/
IP Publication:
IP 49: Determination of Needle Cone
Penetration of Bituminous Material

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IP 50: Determination of Cone Penetration
of Lubricating Grease
IP 179: Determination of Cone Penetration
of Grease: One-Quarter and One-Half
Scale Cone Method
4. Deutsche International Norm (DIN)
http://www.din.de
DIN Publication:
DIN 51804
DIN 51580
DIN 51579
5. Federal Test Method (FTM)
FTM Publications:
FTM 791-311
FTM 791-312
FTM 791-313
1.3 Instrument Specifications
Part
Dimensions
l x w x h (cm)
Weight
(Kg)
Voltage
Frequency
Amps
Line Cord
Penetrometer
(K955XX-00000)
33 x 36 x 47
8.5
12.6 VAC
Single phase
50 or 60 Hz
4.0
Amps
-
Power Adapter
(K95500-11001)
13 x 13 x 10
(excluding
cable)
1
115 ± 10%
VAC
Single phase
60 Hz
0.5
Amps
Nema 5-15
Power Adapter
(K95590-11001)
8 x 7 x 10
(excluding
cable)
1.6
230 ± 10%
VAC
Single phase
50 or 60 Hz
0.25
Amps
IEC 320
Class 1

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1.4 Software Specifications
PC Processor:
Intel® Pentium II or
similar (minimum)
Processor Speed:
500 MHz or higher
Operating System:
Windows ® 98 SE,
2000, NT, ME, XP
Memory (RAM):
64 Mb RAM (128 Mb
RAM recommended)
Disk Space:
Hard 15 Mb free space
(minimum)
Communication Ports:
one RS232 port
Other Software:
Microsoft ® Excel (97
or above)
2 Safety Information and Warnings
Safety Considerations. The use of this
equipment may involve hazardous materials and
operations. This manual does not purport to
address all of the safety problems associated
with the use of this equipment. It is the
responsibility of any user of this equipment to
investigate, research, and establish appropriate
safety and health practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Equipment Modifications and Replacement
Parts. Any modification or alteration of this
equipment from that of factory specifications is
not recommended voids the manufacturer
warranty, product safety, performance
specifications, and/or certifications whether
specified or implied, and may result in personal
injury and/or property loss. Replacement parts
must be O.E.M. exact replacement equipment.
Unit Design. This equipment is specifically
designed for use in accordance with the
applicable standard test methods listed in
section 1.2 of this manual. The use of this
equipment in accordance with any other test
procedures, or for any other purpose, is not
recommended and may be extremely
hazardous.
Chemical Reagents Information. Chemicals
and reagents used in performing the test may
exhibit potential hazards. Any user must be
familiarized with the possible dangers before
use. We also recommend consulting the
Material Data and Safety Sheet (MSDS) on each
chemical reagent for additional information.
MSDS information can be easily located on the
internet at http://siri.uvm.edu or
http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.
NOTE: Light Petroleum Naphtha is
used as a cleaning solvent for the
penetrometer and its accessories. Do not
operate the penetrometer in the presence of
Light Petroleum Naphtha.
- Extremely flammable. Vapors or spray
mist harmful if inhaled.
- Vapors may cause flash fire.
- Keep away from heat, speak, open
flames, or any other ignition sources.
- Keep container closed.
- Prevent build-up of vapors by opening all
windows and doors to achieve cross
ventilation. Also, use under a hood to
ensure proper ventilation.
- Avoid contact with eyes, skin and clothing.
- Do not smoke near the area.
- Beware of static discharges.
- Turn off all stoves, heaters, motors and
pilot lights during use and until all vapors
are gone.
- Wash hands thoroughly after each use.
- Always wear safety clothing (eye
protection, gloves, lab coat, etc.)
3 Getting Started
The instructions for preparing the equipment
assume that the user is aware of the contents of
this document, which lists the warranty
conditions and important precautions.
3.1 Packing List
Digital Pentrometer
Digital Penetrometer Manual
47.5-g Plunger
Two Weights (50g & 100g)
Power Adaptor
Conductivity Probe

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3.2 Unpacking
1. Check Shock Watch Label on Cardboard
Boxes for indication of rough handling and
possible damage.
2. This unit comes packed in two pieces in a
double-walled corrugated carton. Remove
the penetrometer head and the base from
the foam inserts and place on a firm, level
table in a room free from drafts.
3. Check labeling for correct orientation of
instrument. (e.g. This Side Up)
4. Carefully open top of box with box cutter and
remove packing foam.
5. Make two additional vertical cuts, using box
cutter, along length of two sides of the box
and remove packing foam.
6. Extract instrument and place on suitable cart
for transportation to work area / lab bench.
WARNING: Be sure two or more
individuals are available for extracting and lifting
instrument from box to cart and from cart to
bench. Individuals must lift in accordance to
proper technique. See Figure below.
7. Lift instrument from cart and place on bench.
8. Ensure that all parts listed on the packing list
are present. Inspect the unit and all
accessories for damage. If any damage is
found, keep all packing materials and
immediately report the damage to the
carrier. We will assist you with your claim, if
requested. When submitting a claim for
shipping damage, request that the carrier
inspect the shipping container and
equipment. Do not return goods to Koehler
without written authorization.
3.3 Installation
Equipment Placement. Place the base on a
firm, level table in an area with adequate
ventilation or in a hood. The unit may be leveled
by making minor turning adjustments to the feet
located at the base of the unit. Please note that
Koehler does not supply a level with this
equipment.
Environmental Conditions: The instrument
environment must comply with the following
conditions for proper setup:
No / Low Dust
No direct sunlight
Not near heating or AC ventilation ducts
No Vibrations
Clearance from other instruments
Temperature Range: 5 to 40°C
Elevation to 2000 meters
Relative Humidity: < 80%
Power. Connect the line cords to properly fused
and grounded receptacles with the correct
voltage as indicated in section 1.3 or on the
back of the unit.
WARNING: For safety, disconnect the
power when performing any maintenance and/or
cleaning. Do NOT turn the power on unless the
bath is filled with the proper medium; otherwise,
damage may occur to the unit and the warranty
will be void.
Install Penetrometer Head into the Base:
1. To have the penetrometer head facing
forward on the base, place the penetrometer
head screws into the corresponding holes as
indicated by the shaded dots on the diagram
below. Make sure the bellow (black
covering) is tucked in. Then tighten the nuts
with a 3/8” socket wrench.

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2. Make minor leveling adjustments by turning
the adjustable feet and observing the
leveling indicator located on top of the unit
head. Incorrect measurements will result if
the unit is not properly leveled.
3. Connect the power adapter (male) prong
into the correct holes of the corresponding
female counterpart on the penetrometer.
Warning: Be sure to properly align the
prongs into the holes or severe damage may
occur to your penetrometer. DO NOT
FORCE THE PRONGS INTO THE HOLES.
Then connect the line cord of the power
adapter into the appropriate mains supply
source.
4. Select the appropriate penetration cones,
needles, plungers and accessories for the
sample to be tested. Refer to applicable test
methods.
3.4 Using the Penetrometer with a
Constant Temperature Bath
The K955XX Digital Penetrometers can be
used together with a constant temperature bath
to maintain sample temperature within
applicable specified limits.
To Perform Penetration Tests Using a Bath:
1. The penetrometer head assembly must be
removed from the base, turned around, and
then reattached so that it can be suspended
over the sample in the bath. To turn the
head assembly around, lay the
penetrometer on its side so the Koehler
name is facing up and away from the
operator.
2. Unscrew the nuts using a 3/8” socket
wrench and turn the penetrometer head
around, but this time insert the penetrometer
head screws into the corresponding holes as
indicated by the shaded dots on the diagram
below. Now that the head assembly is
reversed, make sure that the bellows (black
covering) is tucked in. Again, tighten the
screws with the 3/8” socket wrench.
3.5 Using the Penetrometer with
Battery Power
Backup Power Supply: The penetrometer is
equipped with a built in 12V rechargeable
battery. The battery serves as a back up in the
event of a power interruption when the
penetrometer is being used on AC power
(plugged in). If a power interruption occurs, the
operating parameters selected by the operator
(penetration interval, penetration limits, etc.) and
the last test result will be retained in memory.
The penetrometer may also be operated on
battery power until AC power is restored or until
the battery’s charge is depleted.
Operation on Battery Power (Field Use): The
battery permits the penetrometer be used in the
field when AC power is not available. The
amount of available operating time on each
charge will vary depending on the number of
tests performed. To conserve the battery’s
charge, the penetrometer will automatically shut
itself off if it is not used for fifteen minutes. All
operating parameters and the last test result will
be retained, however, the unit can be operated
again by depressing the Power Key.
To Charge the Battery: The battery is pre-
charged at the factory and is ready for use. It is
continually charged while the penetrometer is
being operated on AC power. If the battery
indicator lamp begins blinking while the
penetrometer is being operated on battery
power, the charge is running low and the battery
will soon need to be recharged. To recharge the
battery, simply plug the penetrometer into a
suitable source of AC power for a period of 3-4
hours. If the battery becomes fully drained, the
unit will not be damaged. It will simply cease
operating and the operating parameters of the
last test result will not be retained in memory.
The penetrometer can be operated again on
battery power after it is fully charged.

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3.6 Attaching the Penetrometer to
PC/Printer
PC: (using RS-232 Interface)
Parts Required (can be ordered locally or
from printer manufacturer)
Adapter: 25 pin female- 9 pin male
Serial Interface Cable
Data Transfer Communicator Setup
Baud Rate: 9600
Data: 8 bits
Stop: 1 bit
Parity: None
Physical Interface
1. Plug adaptor (25 pin female side) into
appropriate com port.
2. Connect serial interface cable female side
into one end of the adapter and the male
side into the penetrometer.
3. Setup Data Transfer as specified above.
4. Data will be transmitted from the
penetrometer as each test is run and
consists of similar format as the printer
configuration.
Printer:
Parts Required (Can be ordered locally or
from printer manufacturer)
If using parallel printer:
Serial Interface Card
25 pin-9 pin male adapter
If using series printer:
25 pin-9 pin male adapter
Serial interface Cable
Physical Interface
1. Plug an adapter into the printer port.
2. Connect female side of the interface cable
(9 pin serial) into the appropriate adapter
and the male side into the penetrometer.
The penetrometer can now operate in
conjunction with a PC/Printer. Results will
adhere to the following formats:
PC Results:
Date:
Sample #:
Operator:
Delay Time: Off
Cond Test: Off
Penetration Time: 5.0 s
Penetration Result: 31.7 mm
High Limit: 50mm/10
Low Limit: 11mm/10
Limit Error: Test Passed
Notes:
Printer Results:
Date:
Sample #:
Operator:
Delay Time: Off
Cond Test: Off
Penetration Time: 5.0 s
Penetration Result: 31.7 mm/10
High Limit: 50 mm/10
Low Limit: 11 mm/10
Limit Error: Test Passed
Notes:
4 Software Installation
1. Installation. Insert the CD-ROM into the CD
tray of the PC. The CD should automatically
display the setup screen. If this does not
happen within 10 seconds, browse the files on
the CD-ROM and double click on the setup file
(setup.exe) to start the installation. Follow the
instructions on the screen to setup the
software. The software is ready to run once
the installation has been completed.
NOTE: When first installed, the software is in
demo mode, it must be registered in order for
the software to work with the unit.
2. Registration. Start the program and then go
to >> Help >> Register. A registration screen
will appear with a registration number (Refer
to Figure 1, below). E-mail Koehler at
[e-mail] or call with
the registration number for the unlock code.
Once the software has been registered, it
must be restarted before tests are run.

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Figure 1: Registration Screen
3. Communication Port Cables. Using the
Communication Port Cables supplied for the
Digital Penetrometer connect the RS-232 port
located on the on the rear of the
K95500/K95590 to the communication port
on the PC.
4.1 Software Operation
1. To begin, click on the
Windows Start Button >> Koehler Instrument
>> Penetrometer Software. A splash screen
will appear with company information
(Figure 2). Press any key or the mouse
button to proceed.
Figure 2: Company Information Screen
2. The next screen will be the main screen
used for operating the software as shown on
Figure 3. Use the tabs to toggle between
operations.
Figure 3: Main Screen
3. Test Information. The test information
section is located on the main screen in the
lower left hand corner. The User Name / ID
and Date will default to the login name and
date on the PC but any of these fields may
be changed. Enter appropriate test
information into each of the fields as
appropriate for the test method being
conducted. When a test method is selected
from the pull down menu, the standard test
parameters will be automatically entered into
the remaining fields but can be changed.
4. Communication Port Tab. Select and
initialize the communication port to be used
for the Penetrometer as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Communication Tab

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5. Timer Tab. The timer is provided for the
convenience of the user and can be used for
any laboratory need such as the timing of
sample heating or preparation. The timer
tab is shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: Timer Tab
6. Calculation Tab. This feature, shown in
Figure 6, allows you to calculate the average
and the standard deviation of up to three
runs present on the main screen. This
information can be useful when determining
repeatability according the particular test
method being conducted. Click on the
"Append to File" button to add these
calculations to the data file where the three
runs are stored.
Figure 6: Calculation Tab
7. View Data Tab. This tab, shown in Figure
7, provides a quick way to view the contents
of a series of test results in a file as well as
to determine the average and standard
deviation of the entire set of results in that
file. Click on the "Append to File" button to
add these calculations to the data file.
Figure 7: View Data Tab
8. Options Tab. The options tab is shown in
Figure 8. Under normal operation, the first
set of test results will be displayed in the
"Run 1" tab on the main screen.
Subsequent test results will cycle to the next
tab, “Run 2”. After "Run 3" the software will
cycle back to the first tab, increment the run
number to "Run 4" and will continue in this
loop until the software program is reset. In
the options tab, you may disable this
automatic feature by un-checking the "Auto
Increment" box. You can then manually
select in which "Run Tab" to post the test
results. Also in the options tab, you may
disable the feature for automatic prompting
to save the test data after each run. (Note: If
the test data is not saved, the data will be
lost and overwritten when the next test is
performed).
Figure 8: Options Tab
9. Run Tabs. These tabs are on the main
screen and are used for acquiring test data
from the Penetrometer. The data is
automatically exported from the
Penetrometer at the end of a penetration
test into the white fields in the Run Tab. You
may add any additional comments into the
yellow comments box to be saved with the
test data. Note: The data port must be
initialized (Communication Port Tab) for the
communication link between the software
and the Penetrometer to be active and
receive the data into the software program.
At the end of the test, you will be prompted
to save the test data only if the "Prompt to
Save" feature is enabled in the Options Tab.
a. Save. Clicking on this button will
open a "Save As" dialog. You may either
choose a new filename or a file that
already exists. If you choose a file that

K955XX Digital Penetrometer & Software
Operation and Instruction Manual
K955XX-Manual
-15-
already exists, then the current test will be
added to the set of data in that file.
b. Open. This button will appear
when a file has been loaded in the View
Data Tab. By clicking on this button, a
dialog box will appear where you may
select a saved run to load into the current
Run Tab as well as the Test Information
Box. This is a useful feature in order to
calculate the average and standard
deviation for up to three loaded runs in the
Calculation Tab or to reload the test
parameters into the Text Information Box
from a previously run test.
c. Clear. By clicking the button, the
test data will be cleared from the current
Run Tab only. Make sure that the previous
test data has been saved before doing this
function, otherwise test data may be lost.
d. Print. By clicking this button, the
current test run will be printed along with
test information. To print the entire three
runs, click on >>File >>Print from the main
screen. This will print three runs with
calculations if performed.
e. Reset All Runs. By
clicking this button, the test data in all
three Run Tabs and the Test Information
Box will be cleared. If test data has not
been saved in any of the Run Tabs, then it
will be lost when using this function. The
Run Tabs will automatically reset and start
with "Run 1" in the first tab.
10. View Data File. This feature is an
alternative and useful option for viewing data
files. From the main screen, go to the top
menu bar and click on >> View >> View File.
Once the View Data File screen appears,
click on >> File >> Open from the top menu
bar and select the file to view. By clicking on
any "Run" folder, the test data will be
displayed in the window on the right. In the
status bar at the bottom of the screen, the
number of tests and the average value and
standard deviation will be displayed. The
view data file is shown in Figure 9 (on the
following page).
Figure 9: View Data File
11. Editing Test Data. In order to edit test data
shown in the View Data File screen, click on
>> Edit from the top menu bar in the View
Data File screen and then follow the
instructions on the screen for changing the
following: Run #, labels, and the
corresponding values as shown in Figure 10
below. You may also get this same menu by
right-clicking on any of the labels.
NOTE: You may view any data file in
Notepad. However, you may ONLY change
the labels and the corresponding data
values in the file. If the format of the file is
changed, then it will not properly load back
into the Penetrometer Software for further
use.
Figure 10: Edit Values Screen

K955XX Digital Penetrometer & Software
Operation and Instruction Manual
K955XX-Manual
-16-
5 Operation
5.1 Instrument Controls
1. Head Control: Depressing these keys
raises or lowers the penetrometer head in
relation to the base. The Coarse ▲ and ▼
keys move the head rapidly up and down.
The Fine ▼ key for three seconds activates
the express return feature. The head
automatically returns to a fully raised
position. To stop the head while the express
return feature is in operation, press the ▲
key.
2. Pen Limit: The Pen Limit and the Hi
Set/Lo Set keys are used to enter the upper
and lower penetration value limits for a
pass/fail test. When the penetration limit
feature is activated, the indicator lamp
above the Pen Limit key is illuminated.
3. Power: Provides the Digital Penetrometer
with electricity. When the Power key is
pushed on, the Digital Display is illuminated.
If the head is not fully raised (at home
position), it will automatically rise to the
home position when the Power key is
pressed.
4. Light and Magnifier Arm: A low voltage
lamp and magnifying glass is mounted on a
movable stalk to facilitate penetrator
placement on the sample surface. The Light
key controls power to this lamp.
5. Plunger Release Trigger: This trigger
button when toggled UPWARD allows the
plunger to be inserted into the penetrometer
head.
NOTE: Do not attempt to insert the plunger
When toggled DOWNWARD this starts a
programmed test.
6. Prec Set: Provides an additional decimal
place for greater accuracy. The Precision
Set key is used to change the penetration
value reporting format from tenths of a
millimeter to hundredths of a millimeter.
7. Batt Power: During field use, the battery
power lamp indicates that the unit is
operating on battery power. The lamp will
blink continuously when the battery power is
low.
8. Time ▲ and ▼: These keys are used to
change the Time Set. They can also be
used to enter a penetration delay time.