NIEUWKOOP EP1200 User manual

USER MANUAL
EP1200
0
TEMPERATURE COMPENSATED
EC/pH/°C METER WITH
AUTOMATIC CALIBRATION
Valid from S/N 075663

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
2
INDEX
PREFACE................................................................................................................................3
1 FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION.................................................................................................4
2 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS..............................................................................................5
3 MEASURING WITH TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION IN A LIQUID ...................................6
4 MEASURING WITHOUT TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION IN A LIQUID............................7
5 MEASURING EC AND pH IN SOIL..........................................................................................7
6 CALIBRATION.........................................................................................................................8
7 SWITCHING THE INSTRUMENT OFF..................................................................................11
8 ADJUSTMENT OF THE REFERENCE TEMPERATURE.......................................................11
9 ERROR MESSAGES.............................................................................................................12
10 THE EPH-119RS ...................................................................................................................12
11 MAINTENANCE.....................................................................................................................13
12 STABILITY CHECK................................................................................................................13

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
3
PREFACE
Congratulations with your "Nieuwkoop" EC/pH/°C-meter with automatic temperature
compensation and calibration.
With the EP1200 it is very easy to measure EC, pH and temperature in liquids and soils.
The instrument is supplied in a useful carrying case complete with calibration liquids and all the
accessories needed for measuring water and soil samples.
Due to 60 years of experience from Nieuwkoop BV in the agriculture and horticulture, the
reliability, user-friendliness and accuracy of the instrument are guaranteed.
We wish you good luck with the instrument.

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
4
CHAPTER 1, FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
1. Display
2. Temp. adjustment / time adjustment
3. Temp. adjustment / time adjustment
4. EC-button
5. Temp-button
6. pH-button
7. Connection EC-electrode (black cable)
8. Connection temp-electrode (red cable)
9. Connection pH-electrode
10. Read-out
11. Time adjustment indication
12. Stability check indication
13. Low battery indication

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
5
CHAPTER 2, TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
1) EC
Range : 0-20,00 mS
Resolution : ± 0,01 mS
Accuracy : dependent on calibration
Temperature compensation : manual or automatic by electrode
Temperature coefficient : 2,2 %/°C (during calibration 2,1 %/°C)
Reference temperature : adjustable to 18, 20 or 25°C (during calibration fixed to
25°C)
1-Point calibration with automatic recognition of standard buffer solutions (2 mS and 4
mS KCl). Possibility for manual calibration with other buffer solutions.
2) pH
Range : 0-14,00 pH
Resolution : ± 0,01 pH
Accuracy : dependent on calibration
Temperature compensation : manual or automatic by electrode
Recognition pH-7 : ± 1,00 pH
Recognition pH-4 : 90-105%
2-Points calibration with automatic recognition of standard buffer solutions (pH-4, pH-7
and pH-9). Possibility for manual calibration with other buffer solutions.
3) Temperature
Electrode : RTD Pt1000
Range : 0-65°C
Resolution : ± 0,1°C
Accuracy : dependent on calibration
1-Point calibration, manual in steps of 0,1°C.
Manual temperature adjustment (when temperature electrode is not connected) in steps of
0,1°C with the "" and "" buttons.
4) General
Power supply : 9V battery (4 x 1,5V on request)
Absorption : EPH-119 15mA
EPH-119RS 25mA
Low battery indication : "BATT"
Display : LCD 3½ digit
Size : 190x135x45mm
Weight (instrument) : 460 grams
Label : polycarbonate membrane
Guarantee : 1 year (3 months on pH-electrode)
The chosen measurement will by indicated by a blinking "LED" at the corresponding
button.
Switchingoff theinstrument can bemanual orautomatic. Thetime before the instrument
switch off can be adjusted at 90 or 180 seconds.

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
6
CHAPTER 3, MEASURING WITH TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION IN A LIQUID.
EC measurement
1. Press the EC-button. The LED 2. Put the EC electrode into 3. Wait until the value is stable 4. Clean the electrode with demi
on the button will be blinking. the liquid and rinse carefully. and read the measurement. water and store dry.
pH measurement
1. Push the pH-button. The LED on 2. Remove the rubber cap, rinse 3. Put the EC and pH-electrodes in 4. Wait until the value is stable the
button will blink. the electrode in demiwater. the liquid and rinse carefully. and read the measurement.
5. Clean the EC-electrode in 6. Clean the pH-electrode with 7. Fill the cap with storage
demiwater and store dry. demiwater. liquid and put it on the
pH-electrode
Temperature measurement
1. Push the temp button. The LED 2. Put the EC-electrode into the 3. Wait until the value is stable 4. Clean the electrode with
on the button will blink. liquid. and read the measurement. demiwater and store dry.

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
7
CHAPTER 4, MEASURING WITHOUT TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION IN A LIQUID
To measure without temperature compensation (temperature probe not connected), before
measurement the temperature has to be adjusted as follows
1. Push the temp button. The LED 2. Measure the temperature with 3. The adjusted temperature is 4. Adjust the right temperature
on the button will blink. the thermometer. indicated on the display. with the "▼" or "▲" button.
Afterwards measurements can be done as in chapter 3.
CHAPTER 5, MEASURING EC AND pH IN SOIL
For measurements of EC and pH in soil firstly we have to make a soil sample. For an extraction
of 1:2 the next steps has to be followed:
- Fill the ABC sample cup up to line C with demiwater.
- Add soil to the sample cup up to line A (remove stones etc.).
- Shake the cup firmly.
- Wait until the soil has settled down and measure EC and/or pH in the water above
(see Chapter 3).
- Now you are measuring EC and/or pH in an extraction of 1 part soil and 2 parts water.
When soil extracts too much water (for example dry peat), we need to make a soil sample of 1
part soil to 5 parts water. Fill the sample cup up to line B with demiwater and up to line A with soil.
In order to get the EC-value of a 1:2 extraction; the measured EC has to be multiplied by 2,5.

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
8
CHAPTER 6, CALIBRATION
TAKE CARE: The EPH-119 is programmed for the “Nieuwkoop” calibration liquids.
Use always original calibration liquids of Nieuwkoop BV. Take care the liquids are always fresh.
EC-calibration
1. Keep the EC button pressed. 2. Release the button when "CAL" 3. On the display appears "EC1". 4. Clean the EC-electrode with
appears on the display. The LED This means that you are in the demiwater and make it dry.
on the button will burn. calibration mode.
5. Put the electrode into the EC-4 6. While the value blinks and the 7. When the value is stable, it 8. When the value is recognised,
buffer solution and rinse carefully. "~" sign is visible, the meter will be compared to the standard it appears on the display.
checks the stability. values.
9. When this is the right value, 10. Clean the electrode with demi
confirm by pushing the EC button. water and store it dry.
When a buffer solution is not standard (2mS of 4mS), the solution will not be recognised. In this
case you must follow steps 1 to 5 from above and steps 6 to 8 here under.
6. When the value stabilise, this 7. Adjust the value of the solution 8. Confirm the value by pressing
will be indicated on the display. manual with the "▲" or "▼" button. the EC-button.
If the instrument is not temperature compensated, the temperature has to be adjusted manually.
See Chapter 4.
To stop the calibration procedure prematurely, push the temperature or pH button during
calibration.

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
9
The instrument can beset to factory calibration by pressing the "▼" and "▲" buttons together
with the EC-button during calibration.
pH-calibration
1. Keep the pH button pressed. 2. Release the button when "CAL" 3. "PH1" appears on the display. 4. Remove rubber cap from the
appears on the display. The LED you are now in the calibration electrode
on the button will burn. mode.
5. Clean pH- and EC-electrode 6. Place the pH-electrode in the 7. While the value blinks and the 8. When the value is stable,
With demiwater and make them pH-7 solution and rinse carefully. "~" sign is visible, the meters it will be compared with the
dry. Place the EC-electrode in a liquid checks the stability. standard values.
with the same temperature as
the pH-7 buffer solution.
9. When the solution is recognised, 10. When this is the right value 11. "PH2" will appear on the display 12. Clean the pH-electrode with
the value (at that temp.) is shown confirm by pushing the pH . demiwater and dry it with a
on the display. button. tissue.
13. Place the pH-electrode in the 14. While the value blinks and 15. When the value is stable, it 16. When the liquid is recognised,
pH-4 solution and rinse carefully. the "~" sign is visible, the meter will be compared to the standard the value (at that temp.) is shown
Place the EC-electrode in a liquid checks the stability. values. on the display.
with the same temperature as the
pH-4 solution (for instance EC-4
solution).
17. If this is the right value, 18. Clean the EC-electrode with 19. Clean the pH-electrode with 20. Fill the rubber cap with
confirm by pressing the demiwater and store it dry. demiwater. storage liquid and put it on
pH-button. the pH-electrode.

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
10
If the buffer solution is not a standard buffer solution (pH-4, pH-7 or pH-9) the liquid will not be
recognised. In this case you must follow steps 1 to 5 from above and steps 6 to 8 here under.
6. When the value is stable it 7. Set the value of the calibration 8. Confirm the value by pressing
will be shown on the display. liquid with the "▲" or "▼" button. the pH-button.
If the instrument is not temperature compensated, the temperature has to be manually set before
calibration. This procedure is described in chapter 4.
To stop the calibration procedure prematurely, push the temperature or EC button during
calibration.
The instrument can be set to factory calibration by pressing the "▲" and "▼" buttons together with
the pH-button during calibration.
Temperature calibration
1. Keep the temp button pressed 2. Release the button when the 3. Now “t 1” will appear on the 4. Clean the EC-electrode with
display indicates “cal”. The LED display. This means that we are demi water and dry the electrode.
Will stay alight in the calibration procedure.
5. Place the electrode in a liquid 6. As long as the measuring 7. When the value is stable, 8. When the temperature is not
from which the temperature is is blinking, and the "~" sign is compare this with the real right, adjust this with the ▲ or
known alight the stability will be checked temperature the ▼ button.
9. When you have the correct 10. Clean the electrode with Demi
value, confirm this by pressing water and store it dry..
the °C button.
To stop the calibration procedure prematurely, push the EC or pH button during calibration.
The instrument can be set to factory calibration by pressing the "▼" and "▲" buttons together
with the Temp-button during calibration.

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
11
CHAPTER 7, SWITCHING THE INSTRUMENT OFF
The instrument can be switched off manually as follows:
1. Keep the EC and pH-buttons 2. Release the buttons when
pressed. "OFF" is shown on the display.
The instrument will switch off automatically after 90 or 180 seconds. The time can be adjusted as
follows:
1. Keep the "▼" and "▲" buttons 2. The display shows the set time 3. Keep the "▲" and "▼" buttons pressed
pressed. in seconds with the time until the desired time is shown.
adjustment indication.
CHAPTER 8, ADJUSTMENT OF THE REFERENCE TEMPERATURE
The temperature compensation of the EC measurement is always referring to a standard
temperature.
This value differs per country and per branch. Because of this the reference temperature is
adjustable.
Standard it will be 25°C (other options are 18°C or 20°C).
Only the reference temperature of the measurement is adjustable. During calibration the
reference temperature is fixed to 25°C. The reference temperature adjustment is as follows.
1. Keep the temp and EC buttons 2. Release the buttons when 3. Now "r 25" will appear on the 4. Adjust with the ▼ or ▲
at the same time pressed. “cal” is written on the display display. This means that you are button the right reference
the two LED’s will keep alight in the calibration procedure. Temperature.
1. Confirm with the EC or the
Temp button.

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
12
CHAPTER 9, ERROR MESSAGES
During pH calibration the following error messages can appear on the display:
"ERR1”: The zero (pH-7) calibration of the pH-electrode is out of range (± 1,00pH).
"ERR2”: The span (pH-4) calibration of the pH-electrode is out of range (90%-105%).
Press the pH-button to stop the error message. During 10 seconds one of the following messages
will appear on the display:
"AH”: The zero (pH-7) calibration of the electrode is out of range (± 1.00pH).
"SH”: The span (pH-4) calibration of the electrode is out of range (> 105%).
"SL”: The span (pH-4) calibration of the electrode is out of range (< 90%).
During EC calibration the following error messages can appear on the display:
"ERR3”: The calibration of the electrode is out of range (70%-100%).
Press the EC-button to stop the errormessage. During 10 secondsoneof the followingmessages
will appear on the display:
"SH”: The span (EC-4) calibration of the electrode is out of range (> 130%).
"SL”: The span (EC-4) calibration of the electrode is out of range (< 70%).
During temperature calibration the following error messages can appear on the display:
"ERR4” followed by “AH”: The calibration of the electrode is out of range (±2,0°C).
Press the Temp-button to stop the error message. The instrument will continue temperature
measurement.
When one of these error messages occurs, check if the buffer solutions have the right values and
that the electrode is properly placed into the liquid. Check also if the electrode is properly
connected to the instrument. Start the calibration procedure again. When the error message still
appears, contact your supplier.
CHAPTER 10, THE EPH-119RS
The EC/pH/°C-meter EPH119RS is provided with a serial port RS232 and can be connected
with any equipment with a RS232 serial port.
Data are sent every 0.3 seconds, i.e. every time the display of the EPH119 is updated.
Data format:
±xx.xx°C ±xx.xxpH ±xx.xxmS

EP1200
EC/pH/°C METER
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
13
Serial port configuration:
Baud rate : 1200 bit/sec
Data : 8 bit
Parity : NONE
Stop : 1 bit
Flow control : NONE
Serial port connections (DB9 M)
Rx pin 2
Tx pin 3
GND pin 5
Data can be received and memorised by using a standard Terminal program (Terminal.exe,
Hyperterminal.exe, etc.) which is configured as above described.
Example:
EPH119RS DB9 M DB9 M of P.C.
Rx 2 3 Tx
Tx 3 2 Rx
GND 3 5 GND
CHAPTER 11, MAINTENANCE
For a long lifetime and reliable measurements we advise the following:
- Store the instrument in a dry room.
- Do not expose the instrument to high temperature changes (because of condensation).
- To clean the outside of the instrument, use a moisten cloth.
- Clean the electrodes after measurement always with distilled water.
- Protect the pH-electrode against desiccation by storing it always in storage liquid.
- Protect instrument and electrodes against high shocks and dirt.
CHAPTER 12, STABILITY CHECK
When in automatic calibration, the instrument will check for a stable reading of the measuring
value.
A pH reading is considered stable by the instrument when the difference between 4 readings
tested from 1 to 8 seconds is less then 0,01 pH.
A EC reading is considered stable by the instrument when the difference between 4 readings
tested from 1 to 8 seconds is less then 0,025 mS.