PalmSens EmStat3+ User manual

Getting started with the EmStat3+
module for OEM
OEM Interface for electrochemical sensors
Last revision: January 28, 2020
© 2020 PalmSens BV
www.palmsens.com

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 2
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
Important before you start
unpacking
Please read this quick start guide carefully before unpacking the boards from their
antistatic bags or using the kit, as it contains important information on how to avoid
damage to the PCB’s.
Customer support
Questions regarding the contents of this document or the products described in this document can be
directed to PalmSens BV via:
-the contact form on the website: www.palmsens.com
-an email to inf[email protected]om ,
-or by telephone: [phone]
Information contained in this publication regarding device applications and the like is
provided only for your convenience and may be superseded by updates. It is your
responsibility to ensure that your application meets with your specifications.
PALMSENS BV MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND
WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WRITTEN OR ORAL, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE,
RELATED TO THE INFORMATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ITS CONDITION,
QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR PURPOSE.
PalmSens BV disclaims all liability arising from this information and its use. Use of
Palmsens BV’s products as critical components in life support systems is not
authorized except with express written approval by Palmsens BV. No licenses are
conveyed, implicitly or otherwise, under any Palmsens BV intellectual property rights.
The EmStat board can be damaged by static electricity (electrostatic
discharge or ESD). Please take adequate precautions against static
discharge during handling.

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 2
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
Contents
1Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 EmStat communications........................................................................................................... 3
1.2 USB or serial / TTL ................................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Baudrate settings ..................................................................................................................... 4
1.4 Connecting to PC via RS232 converter .................................................................................... 5
2Printed Circuit Board Layout ............................................................................................................. 5
CON1 description ................................................................................................................................. 6
2.1 CON2 description..................................................................................................................... 6
2.2 Heat transfer............................................................................................................................. 7
2.3 Pinout of sensor plug................................................................................................................ 8
3Firmware ........................................................................................................................................... 9
4Power requirements .......................................................................................................................... 9
Appendix A: Change EmStat USB connection to virtual COM port ......................................................... 10

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 3
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
1Introduction
The EmStat-series are potentiostats with an embedded microcontroller. They provide all the major
potentiostatic techniques with automatic current ranging and peripheral control.
1.1 EmStat communications
The EmStat is interfaced to a PC or host controller by means of a powered USB bus or serial (TTL) port.
The instrument can be used with the Windows program PSTrace.
Several Software Development Kits (SDKs) for .NET platforms are available to quickly and easily develop
your application for EmStat. The SDK’s allow you to:
–easily connect to instruments;
–run measurements;
–store data in PSTrace / PStouch compatible format;
–peak detection;
–equivalent circuit fitting;
–manually control the cell;
–and many other things.
SDK’s are available for:
–WinForms
–WPF
–Android (Xamarin)
–UWP
All SDK’s can be downloaded from my.palmsens.com
The instrument can also be controlled by using the commands as described in the ‘Communications
protocol’ document.
1.2 USB or serial / TTL
EmStat3+ is normally controlled and power via its mini USB port. This requires the PalmSens drivers to
be installed (automatically installed with PSTrace or the .NET SDK).
Optionally the USB port can be re-programmed to function as a virtual COM port, see appendix A.
EmStat3+ can also be controlled from a host controller by means of Tx and Rx (5V TTL). Use the
following pins for TTL communications (see next page for pin locations):
CON2 - pin 12: +5V power supply (500 mA min.)
CON2 - pin 11: GND (or CON2 –pin 6)
CON2 - pin 1: Tx
CON2 - pin 2: Rx
Make sure the USB chip is not programmed as
VCP (Virtual COM port) when using the Rx/Tx lines on CON2.

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 4
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
If serial communications is required in order to control the device directly from a PC without using the
PalmSens drivers, it is advised to change the EmStat’s USB port to function as Virtual COM port.
See also appendix A.
1.3 Baudrate settings
The EmStat module has been set to a default baudrate of 230400 baud.
This baudrate is supported by PSTrace. PSTrace also supports different baudrates. To change the
baudrate upon connecting in PSTrace, click the arrow next to the “Connect”button.
The baudrate has influence on the maximum scanrate for measurements;
Baudrate
Max. number of
data points / second
Min. interval time
230400
1000
1.00 ms
57600
197
5.07 ms
It is possible to change the baudrate setting of the EmStat module in the firmware (requires firmware v7.0
or higher).
See the EmStat Communications Protocol section 4.6: Changing the baudrate.
The baudrate can also be changed in PSTrace 4.8 or later. See menu: Tools →Instrument settings.
The firmware update program will always be able to update the firmware regardless of the baudrate
supported by the firmware.
See section “Firmware”on page 9 in this document on how to update the firmware using a serial
connection.
EmStat has a default baud rate of 230400 baud.
This baudrate is generally not supported by the built-in COM port on a
regular desktop PC. When using a PC, a USB to serial adapter is
recommended.
See also section 1.3

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 5
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
1.4 Connecting to PC via RS232 converter
Any TTL to RS232 converter can be used to enable RS232 communications with the EmStat module.
These modules all share the same connections; Rx, Tx, VCC and GND.
Connect the SparkFun TTL-RS232 converter or any other similar converter as following:
2Printed Circuit Board Layout
EmSta3+ PCB layout
The board has two pin headers: CON1 and CON2
CON1 is used to connect for instance the MUX multiplexer or any other peripheral.
CON2 is used when serial TTL communications is used and provides also an external analog input and
analog output line, with a range of 0 - 4.095 V.
CON11 12
CON2
12
CON4
1
42
3
IC17
Mini
USB
55.13 mm
41.0 mm
If using a null modem cable
between EmStat and
PC/controller:
EmStat:
Rx: CON2 –PIN2
Tx: CON2 –PIN1
VCC: CON1 –PIN5
GND: CON1 –PIN6
If connecting directly to
PC/controller:
EmStat:
Rx: CON2 –PIN1
Tx: CON2 –PIN2
VCC: CON1 –PIN5
GND: CON1 –PIN6

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 6
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
CON1 description
Pin Function
1Digital outputline d3 or can function as digital input line 0
2Digital outputline d2
3Digital outputline d1 reserved for switch box: 1 = off 0 = on
4Digital outputline d0 reserved for switch box: 0 = off 1 = on
5Output: 5 V digital (max. 30 mA when powered from USB),
or input (if not powered from USB): 5 V power supply (100 mA min.),
6DGND
710 V analog (adviced max. 50 mA)
8Sense
9AGND (connect to metal housing / cable shielding)
10 WE
11 RE
12 CE
The digital I/O lines are at 5V.
2.1 CON2 description
Pin Function
1Tx (serial port) at 5V
2Rx (serial port) at 5V
3Reserved (DO NOT CONNECT THIS PIN)
4Voltage reference (4.096 V)
5Reserved for use with external interrupt signal
6DGND
7Reset (active high)
8Download (active low)
9ADC ch.2 (range 0 –4.095 V)
10 DAC ch.1 (range 0 –4.095 V) The load must have an impedance of at least 5 kohm.
11 DGND
12 5 V power supply (500 mA min.), if not powered from USB

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 7
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
2.2 Heat transfer
IC17 which is used for the 100 mA range, may dissipate about 1 Watt or even higher when the output
current limit is set higher.
It is therefore required to make a thermal connection from the bottom side of the PCB to something
which can absorb heat, for instance using the thermal pad WX-3009-0227-6 from 3M.
Suggested heatsinks:
Heatsink 24-pin DIP Glue-On BLK (508500B00000G) available on Digikey
An adhesive heat sink like BGA-STD-015 is available from Farnell (2084425).
When using the 100 mA range, it is required to make a thermal connection
from the bottom side of the PCB to something which can absorb heat like a
housing or heat sink.

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 8
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
2.3 Pinout of sensor plug
See CON4 on page 5.
Front view of socket
Solder side of socket
1 ●●4
2 ●●3
4 ●●1
3 ●●2
1. RE: blue connector or reference electrode
2. CE: black connector or counter electrode
3. S: red female/male connector or sense
4. WE: red connector is working electrode
The shield of the cable must make contact with the metal case of the
sensor connector or AGND.

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 9
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
3Firmware
The firmware of EmStat can be updated by using the program ‘Update firmware’ or using PSTrace for
WIndows. The EmStat with USB interface is updated automatically.
In order to follow the steps below first solder on two small wires to both pin 6 and
pin 8 of CON2 of the EmStat module directly so you can connect the two pins briefly.
When the EmStat is connected by means of a serial connection, it is required to toggle pins on CON2
manually.
Follow these steps:
-Remove the power supply from EmStat
-Connect CON2-Pin 8 (download - active low) to CON2-Pin 6 (GND).
-Connect the power supply
-Run program ‘Update firmware’
-Press ‘Connect’
-Load firmware file ESx##, where x is the EmStat type and ## the firmware version.
-Make sure the checkbox ‘PalmSens or EmStat is on, but does not work property' is checked
-Click button 'Update Firmware'.
-Remove the power supply briefly to force a reset
-Wait until updating has finished.
-Remove the connection between CON2-Pin 8 and CON2-Pin 6.
-Force another reset by briefly interrupting the power supply.
4Power requirements
Power from USB port:
-Cell off 10 mA: 0.220 A
-Cell off 100 mA: 0.257 A
-Cell on 10 mA, with 10 mA output current: 0.277 A
-Cell on 100 mA, with 50 mA output current: 0.440 A
CON11 12
CON2
12
CON4
1
42
3
IC17
Mini
USB
55.13 mm
41.0 mm

Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM 10
Getting started with the EmStat3+ module for OEM
Appendix A: Change EmStat USB connection to virtual
COM port
1. Connect EmStat to the USB port.
2. Open FT_PROG (see http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Utilities.htm)
3. Click the “Scan and Parse” button
4. Change the Custom VID/PID to FTDI Default:
5. Uncheck the checkbox “Load D2XX Driver”:
6. Make sure all “Invert RS232 Signals” settings are unchecked:
7. Click the “Program Devices” button
8. Click the “Scan and Parse” button again to check if the settings are written correctly,
especially the invert DTR# setting. If this setting cannot be changed, please contact us. Your
FT_PROG version might have a bug.
9. Remove the USB cable and insert again.
10. Your PC will now detect a virtual COM port which can be used to communicate with EmStat.
11. The com port number can be found in the Device Manager found in Windows Configuration. You
can also press [windows key] + [pause] on your keyboard to find the Device Manager.
Make sure the USB chip is not programmed as VCP (Virtual COM port)
when using the Rx/Tx lines on CON2 of the EmStat module.
Select FTDI Default
Uncheck “Load D2XX Driver”