Nikon NE-101 User manual

Electronic Digital Theodolite
NE-101 / NE-100
Instruction Manual
H176 E 04.8.VF.2
www.helmut-schultz.de

1
Thank you for purchasing the Nikon Digital Theodolite.
This instruction manual was written for users of the
Nikon Digital Theodolite Model NE-101 or NE-100.
To ensure correct usage, read this manual carefully
before operating the instrument.
Warning and Caution Symbols in This Manual
Though Nikon products are designed to provide
utmost safety during use, incorrect usage or
disregard of the instructions can cause personal
injury or property damage. For your safety, read
the instruction manual carefully and thoroughly
before usage. Do not discard this manual but keep
it near the product for easy reference.
Inside this instruction manual, safety instructions are
indicated with the symbols shown below. Be sure
to follow the instructions marked with these symbols
for your safety.
WARNING
Disregarding instructions marked with this
symbol may lead to death or serious injury.
CAUTION
Disregarding instructions marked with this
symbol may lead to injury or property
damage.

2
WARNING AND CAUTION Read This Section Before Use!
WARNING
■ Never look at the sun through the telescope. Doing so
may cause the loss of your eyesight.
■ Never disassemble, modify or repair the instrument yourself.
Doing so may cause fire, electric shock or burns.
■ Never short-circuit the battery electrodes, or burn or heat
the battery. Doing so may cause repture, fire, burning, or
instrument damage.
CAUTION
■ Be careful in handling or carrying the tripod, as the ferrule is
very sharp and may cause injury to yourself or others.
Before setting up the tripod, check below to make sure no
one’s hands or feet are in the way.
■ Before carrying the tripod or the instrument in the carrying
case, check the shoulder straps are not damaged and that
the clasps are secured. Failure to do so may cause the
instrument to fall, resulting in injury or instrument damage.
■ Fasten firmly the thumbscrews of the tripod legs before
mounting the instrument. Failure to do so may cause the
tripod to collapse, resulting personal injury or instrument
damage.
■ Secure the instrument on the tripod by tightly fastening the
clamp screw of the tripod. Failure to do so may cause the
instrument to fall, resulting in personal injury or instrument
damage.
■ Fasten securely the leveling base clamp knob. Failure to
do so may cause the leveling base to become detached
when carrying or picking up the instrument. This may
result in personal injury or instrument damage.

3
WARNING AND CAUTION Read This Section Before Use!
CAUTION
■ Do not use the carrying case as a stool. The plastic
carrying case is unstable and slippery and should not be
used for that purpose. Doing so may result in personal
injury.
■ Never swing or throw the plumb bob. Doing so may result
in injury to yourself or others.
■ Be careful not to insert your finger between the telescope
and the instrument trunnion when rotating the telescope.
■ Please note, the dry cells provided at delivery are to be
used only to check the instrument functions prior to use.
When using the instrument for the first time, please ensure
that you replace the supplied dry cells.
■ The dry cells in the battery pack installed in this instrument
cannot be recharged. Do NOT recharge the dry cells.
■ Install the dry cells with their electrodes set correctly.
■ Avoid using new dry cells together with old ones. Do not
use different types of dry cells together.
■ Do not solder the dry cells.
■ Immediately remove exhausted dry cells from the battery
pack.
■ Avoid storing the battery pack in direct sunlight, high
temperatures or excessive humidity.
■ Before attaching the battery pack, check that both attaching
surfaces of the battery and instrument are clean. Press the
battery pack into place until the battery-mounting button
rises up to the battery pack top surface. If the battery pack
is not attached securely, the watertight structure of the
instrument will be adversely affected.

4
MAINTENANCE Read This Section Before Use!
■ The Electrical Digital Theodolite is a precision instrument.
Do not subject it to shocks or excessive vibration.
■ Do not loosen or remove any screws unless specifically
required.
■ Do not carry the instrument mounted on the tripod on your
shoulder.
■ Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or the heat of a closed
vehicle. Failure to do so may adversely affect the
efficiency of the instrument.
■ If the instrument has been used in wet conditions,
immediately wipe off any moisture and dry it completely
before replacing it in its carrying case. Exposure to
moisture or/and dust may cause severe instrument damage.
■ Sudden changes in temperature, such as caused by
bringing the instrument into a warm room from the cold
outdoors, can cause internal condensation. This may
result in reduced measuring accuracy or electrical system
failure. Should this occur, leave the instrument in a warm
location with the carrying case closed until the temperature
of the instrument returns to room temperature.
■ Avoid storing the instrument in hot, humid conditions. The
battery pack should be stored in dry conditions and a
temperature of less than 30°C. Higher temperatures and
excessive humidity may result in growth of mold on the
lenses and deterioration of the electronic components,
leading to instrument failure.
■ Battery operating hours tends to be reduced by continuous
use at extremely low temperatures.

5
MAINTENANCE Read This Section Before Use!
■ Operation in extremely low, ambient temperatures can
cause delays in LCD operation.
■ Always be sure to check the battery capacity before use.
■ Remove the battery whenever the instrument is not to be
used for an extended period of time.
■ When storing the instrument in areas subject to extremely
low temperatures, leave the carrying case open.
■ Do not overtighten any of the clamp screws.
■ When adjusting the vertical and horizontal tangent screws
or leveling screws, fix them as close as possible to the
center position, as indicated by the lines on the screws.
Always be sure to finish the tangential adjustment with a
clockwise rotation of the tangent screw.
■ If you do not intend to remove the leveling base from the
instrument for an extended period, lock the leveling base
clamp knob and tighten its safety screw.
■ Do not use organic solvents (such as ether or paint thinner)
to clean the non-metallic parts such as the keyboard, and
the painted or printed surfaces. Organic solvents will
discolor the surfaces or remove the printed characters.
Clean only with a soft cloth or tissue slightly moistened with
water or a mild detergent. Clean the carrying case in the
same way.
■ Clean the optical lenses by wiping lightly with a soft cloth or
tissue moistened with alcohol.
■ Do not leave the carrying case exposed to rain for an
extended period of time. If exposure to rain is unavoidable,
be sure to place the carrying case with the “Nikon”
nameplate facing upwards.

CONTENTS
6
Warning and Caution Symbols in This Manual ................................1
WARNING AND CAUTION...................................................................2
MAINTENANCE....................................................................................4
I. NOMENCLATURE.........................................................................8
II. PREPARATION .........................................................................12
1. Unpacking and Packing the Instrument .................................................... 12
2. Putting the Batteries in the Battery Pack................................................... 14
3. Setting up the Tripod ................................................................................ 16
4. Centering .................................................................................................. 18
5. Leveling.................................................................................................... 22
6. Sighting .................................................................................................... 23
III. INITIAL SETTING ........................................................................24
IV. OPERATION ................................................................................27
1. Power Switch ON/OFF............................................................................. 27
2. Battery Capacity Level Display ................................................................ 28
3. Angle Measurement.................................................................................. 29
1) Vertical Angle ...................................................................................... 30
<1> Vertical 0° Angle Orientation....................................................... 30
<2> Angle Unit Selection .................................................................... 30
<3> Grade Display............................................................................... 31
2) Horizontal Angle.................................................................................. 32
<1> Horizontal Angle Zero Reset........................................................ 32
<2> Reverse Horizontal Angle Scale................................................... 32
<3> HOLD .......................................................................................... 33
<4> Repeat Horizontal Angle Measurement........................................ 34
<5> Horizontal Angle Priority Function .............................................. 37
4. Other Functions ........................................................................................ 38
V. CHECKING AND ADJUSTMENT ................................................39
1. Plate Level ................................................................................................ 39
2. Circular Level ........................................................................................... 40
3. Optical Plummet ....................................................................................... 41
4. Vertical Circle Zero Point Error................................................................ 43
WARNING MESSAGES.............................................................................. 46
VI. SPECIFICATIONS .......................................................................48
VII. OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES........................................................50

7
NOMENCLATURE
PREPARATION
INITIAL SETTING
OPERATION
CHECKING AND ADJUSTMENT
SPECIFICATIONS
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII

I. NOMENCLATURE
8
Models with Detachable Leveling Base
●NE-101 / ●NE-100
Nikon
Telescope
focusing ring Battery pack
Horizontal clamp
Base plate
Leveling base
clamp
Battery mounting
button
Vertical clamp
Vertical tangent
screw
Horizontal
tangent screw
Plate level
Diopter ring
Telescope
eyepiece
Leveling base
Leveling screw
Display &
Keyboard

9
I
NOMENCLATURE
Centering clamp
Nikon
Nikon
Carrying handle
Horizontal axis
indication mark
Optical plummet
Circular level
Power switch
Note
Objective
Optical sight
Carrying handle
clamp screw
NE-101/100 is not
equipped with the
display and keyboard
on this side.
Model with Centering Leveling Base
●NE-100
For other names, refer to the figures of the models with
detachable leveling base.

10
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Operation Keys
VA 71 07' 20"
HA 167 59' 00"
HOLD RESET
Vertical angle display
Horizontal angle display
Operation keys
(See below.)
Battery capacity level
display (See p.28.)
(Light) Telescope reticle light and LCD backlight key
(See p.38.)
%/VA Vertical angle grade display and
Horizontal angle priority display switch-over key
Switches vertical angle display to grade reading by
percentage, and then to the display of horizontal angle only.
(See p.31 & p.37.)
VA: 71°07´20" ■■■
HA: 167°59´00"
V%: 34.19 % ■■■
HA: 167°59´00"
%/VA
■■■
HA: 167°59´00"
%/VA
%/VA

11
I
NOMENCLATURE
R/L Horizontal angle reading direction display
switch-over key
Switches the reading direction of horizontal angle.
Clockwise reading “HA:” and counterclockwise reading
“HL ”. (See p.32.)
HOLD Horizontal scale hold and
Horizontal angle summing key
Holds current horizontal angle reading, even when sighting
direction is changed. (See p.33.)
Enables summing of repeated horizontal angle
measurements. (See p.34.)
RESET Horizontal angle reset key
Resets horizontal angle to zero. (See p.32.)
R/L
R/L
VA: 86°35´40" ■■■
HA: 157°07´20"
VA: 86°35´40" ■■■
HA 102°52´10"
VA: 95°18´30" ■■■
HA: 254°26´40" HOLD
VA: 136°47´50" ■■■
HA: 0°00´00"
VA: 114°27´40" ■■■
HA: 45°00´00" STOP
VA: 114°27´40" ■■■
HA: 0°00´00" RUN

II. PREPARATION
12
1. Unpacking and Packing the Instrument
NOTE •Handle the instrument gently to guard against shocks or
excessive vibration.
The instrument is placed in its carrying
case as shown in the figure.
1) Unpacking
Hold the carrying handle and take the
instrument out of the case.

13
II
PREPARATION
2) Packing
Attach the battery pack to the instrument and turn the telescope downward.
Align the storage marks as shown below, fasten lightly each clamp knob
and replace the instrument in its case.
How to align the storage marks:
Detachable Type
Align the mark ( ) at the bottom of
the battery pack side with the mark
() on the leveling base clamp knob.
Centering Type
Align the mark ( ) at the bottom of
the battery pack side with the mark
(●) on the centering clamp knob.

14
2. Putting the Batteries in the Battery Pack
WARNING
■ Never short-circuit the electrodes of the battery, or never burn
or heat the battery. Doing so may cause rupture, fire, burn or
instrument damage.
CAUTION
■ Please note, the dry cells provided at delivery are to be used
only to check the instrument functions prior to use. When
using the instrument for the first time, please ensure that you
replace the supplied dry cells.
■ The dry cells in the battery pack for this instrument are not
rechargeable type. Do NOT recharge the dry cells.
■ Install the battery with its anode and cathode set correctly.
■ Do not use a new dry cell together with an old one or other
types of cell.
■ Do not solder the dry cells.
■ Immediately remove the exhausted dry cells from the battery
pack.
■ Avoid storing the battery pack in direct sunlight, high
temperatures and excessive humidity.
■ Before attaching the battery pack, clear dust or other foreign
particles from the battery socket. Place the battery pack in
the socket and press against the instrument until the mounting
button is locked at the top surface of the battery pack. If the
battery pack is not attached securely, it could adversely affect
the watertight structure of the unit.

15
II
PREPARATION
(1) Hold down the battery mounting button on the top of the battery pack
and pull the pack toward you to remove.
(2) Hold down the tab on the battery holder and pull the holder out of the
battery pack.
(3) Replace all the dry cells with new ones. Take care that the direction
of the electrodes are correct.
(4) Reverse the procedures to reattach the battery holder, and to reattach
the pack to the instrument.
(5) Make sure that the battery mounting button is securely locked.
(6) Turn ON the power switch and confirm that the instrument is
operating correctly. (Refer to p.27.)
CAUTION
■ When replacing the dry cells, replace all six cells with new
ones of the same type.
Battery
holder
Tab
Replace the dry cells
12
Remove the battery pack

16
3. Setting up the Tripod
CAUTION
■ Be careful in handling or carrying the tripod, as the ferrule is
very sharp and may cause injury to yourself or others.
■ Before setting up the tripod, check below to make sure no
one’s hands or feet are in the way. Failure to do so may
result in injury if hands or feet should be pierced by the legs of
the tripod.
■ Fasten firmly the thumbscrews of the tripod legs before
mounting the instrument. Failure to do so may cause the
tripod to collapse, resulting personal injury or instrument
damage.
■ Secure the instrument on the tripod by tightly fastening the
clamp screw of the tripod. Failure to do so may cause the
instrument to fall, resulting in personal injury or instrument
damage.

17
II
PREPARATION
(1) Open the tripod legs sufficiently enough for the instrument to be
stable.
(2) Assure that the station point is located directly beneath the center hole
in the tripod head.
(3) Firmly press the tripod ferrules into the ground.
(4) Level the top surface of the tripod head.
•A precise leveling is necessary when the plumb bob is used for the next
section, “centering”.
(5) Fasten firmly the clamp screws on the tripod legs.
(6) Place the instrument on the tripod head. Insert the instrument clamp
screw on the tripod into the center hole of the instrument’s base plate
and tighten.
NOTE •Do not carry the instrument mounted on the tripod on your
shoulder.

18
4. Centering
“Centering” refers to the precise alignment of the instrument’s central axis
over the station point. This can be accomplished in two ways, through
the use of a plumb bob, or the optical plummet.
1) Using Plumb Bob
For the models with detachable leveling base
(1) Place the instrument on the tripod head. Insert the instrument clamp
screw into the center hole of the instrument’s base plate and tighten.
(2) Hang the plumb line on the hook of the instrument clamp screw.
Adjust the length of the plumb line so that the tip of the plumb bob is
approximately level with the station point.
(3) Slightly loosen the instrument clamp screw. Supporting the outer
side of the leveling base with both hands, carefully slide the
instrument on the tripod head until the tip of the plumb bob coincides
with the center of the station point.
•Confirm precise alignment by viewing from two directions at right angles to
each other.

19
II
PREPARATION
For the model with centering leveling base
(1) Hang a hook for plumb bob line on
the V-shaped metal bracket inside
of the center of the instrument’s
base plate.
(2) Pass the hook for plumb bob line through the hole of the instrument
clamp screw. Place the instrument on the tripod head.
(3) Insert the instrument clamp screw into the center hole of the
instrument’s base plate and tighten.
(4) Hang the plumb line on the hook of the instrument clamp screw.
Adjust the length of the plumb line so that the tip of the plumb bob is
approximately level with the station point.
(5) Slightly loosen the instrument clamp screw. Supporting the outer
side of the leveling base with both hands, carefully slide the
instrument on the tripod head until the tip of the plumb bob
approximates the center of station point (±10mm). Tighten the
instrument clamp screw.
(6) Loosen the centering clamp and slide the instrument so that the tip of
the plumb bob coincides with the center of the station point.