PASCO PS-3221 User manual

Reference Guide
013-16036A
Wireless 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor
PS-3221
800-772-8700 (US) [phone]
www.pasco.com [email protected]
Hardware
*See the PASCO catalog or the PASCO web site at www.pasco.com
for more information.
Bluetooth LED
Battery LED
Micro USB port
ON/OFF button
Power: Rechargeable Battery
or USB Cable
Connection:
Device ID
Top View
Threaded Hole (1/4-20)
Bumps at 1 cm intervals
End View
Micro
USB cable
Probe End View
Sensing Element
Indicators
Probe
Side View
Sensing Element Indicator
Included Equipment
Wireless 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor
Micro USB Cable (1 meter)
Required Item*
PASCO Data Collection Software
Other Items* Other Items*
Rotary Motion Sensor Air Core Solenoid
Ampere’s Law Accessory Bar Magnet Set
Coil and Cores Set Helmholtz Coils
Zero Gauss Chamber Variable Gap Magnet

Wireless 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor PS-3221
2013-16036A
Introduction
The Wireless 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor is a
combination wireless and USB sensor that connects to a
computer or tablet device through Bluetooth, and can also
connect to a computer with a USB cable (included). The
sensor measures the X, Y, and Z components of the
magnetic flux density in tesla, millitesla, and gauss. The
arrangement of the X, Y, and Z components is shown on
the top label.
The two magnetic field sensing elements are in the end of
the probe. One is a three-axis ±50 gauss (G) sensor
located under the dot on the probe. The other is a
three-axis ±1300 G sensor located under the dot with the
ring around it. The bottom surface of the probe has bumps
at one centimeter intervals relative to the sensing element
location.
Using the Sensor
The sensor is designed to work with PASCO data collection
software to measure magnetic field strength.
In the software, start data collection to begin recording
magnetic field strength along all three axes in units of
gauss (G). Position the sensing elements (marked by dots
on the end of the probe) at the location to be measured and
orient the sensor with the field lines.
Data Collection Software
See the PASCO web site at
www.pasco.com/software
for help in selecting the right PASCO software and to check
for the latest versions.
Software Help
See the SPARKvue Help or PASCO Capstone Help for
information about collecting, displaying, and analyzing
data.
•In SPARKvue, select the HELP button ( ) in any
screen including the Home Screen.
•In PASCO Capstone, select PASCO Capstone Help
from the Help menu, or press F1.
Compatibility
For more information about wireless compatibility, see the
PASCO website at:
www.pasco.com/compatibility
See Appendix A for more information about the PS-3500 Adapter and
Mac OS X models.
Initial Step: Charge the Battery
• Connect the Cable: Use the Micro USB Cable to
connect the micro USB port on the end of the sensor to
a USB port or USB charger such as the PASCO
PS-2575 USB Single Port Charger. Charging begins
automatically. The charger circuit inside the sensor
turns itself off when the unit is fully charged. The
battery status LED will shine yellow as the battery is
charging, and will shine green when the battery is
charged. The battery is partially charged at the factory.
Initial charging time may be three hours or longer
depending on the power source and the condition of
the battery.
LED Information
The Bluetooth and the Battery Status LEDs operate as
follows:
PASCO Capstone SPARKvue
•Mac OS X •Mac OS X
•Windows •Windows
•iOS
•Android
•Chromebook
Platform Bluetooth SMART Compatibility
iOS iPad 3 and later
iPhone 4S and later
iPod touch 5 and later
SPARK LX / LXi All models
Android Android 4.4 and later
Chromebook Chrome OS (requires PS-3500 Adapter*)
Mac OS X Models introduced July 2011 or later*
Windows Windows 7 and later (requires PS-3500 Adapter*)
[]
To Micro
USB port
Micro USB
cable
To USB port

Set Up the Software PS-3221
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For a wireless Bluetooth connection:
For a micro USB cable connection to a USB port:
For a micro USB cable connection to a USB charger:
*Logging: PASCO wireless sensors can either stream live
data to a compatible device or log data (save it to the
sensor’s memory). The data can then be uploaded to the
device for display and analysis at a later time. Logging
capability supports long-term or remote data collection
while not connected to the device.
Note: The latest versions of SPARKvue and PASCO
Capstone support logging. Check the PASCO Web page
at:
www.pasco.com/software
for the latest software version.
ON/OFF Information
To turn the sensor on, press the ON button. The status
LEDs will blink. To turn the sensor off, press and hold the
ON button for a moment until the status LEDs stop blinking.
The sensor puts itself to sleep after 1 hour of inactivity if
connected, and after several minutes if not connected.
Set Up the Software
SPARKvue
Connecting the Sensor to a Tablet or a Computer via
Bluetooth
•For SPARKvue, select the Bluetooth icon. In the
Wireless Devices list. The sensors are ordered by
proximity to the device. Select the correct address that
matches the Device ID XXX-XXX number found on the
sensor. Select Done.
Connecting the Sensor to a Computer with the Micro
USB Cable
•Connect the micro end of the included Micro USB
Cable into the micro USB port on the end of the sensor.
Connect the other end of the Micro USB Cable to a
USB port on the computer, or into a powered USB hub
connected to the computer.
•In the SPARKvue Home Screen, select a measurement
from the list under the sensor’s name. A graph of the
measurement versus time opens.
Collecting Data
•Select the Start button to begin collecting data.
PASCO Capstone
Connecting the Sensor to a Tablet or a Computer via
Bluetooth
•For PASCO Capstone, select Hardware Setup in the
Tools palette. In Hardware Setup the sensors are
ordered by proximity to the device. Select the address
that matches the Device ID XXX-XXX number on the
sensor.
Select a display in the main window or from the Display
palette. In the display, use the <Select Measurement>
menu to pick a measurement to be shown.
Connecting the Sensor to a Computer with the Micro
USB Cable
•Connect the micro end of the included Micro USB
Cable into the micro USB port on the end of the sensor.
Connect the other end of the Micro USB Cable to a
USB port on the computer, or into a powered USB hub
connected to the computer.
•In PASCO Capstone, select a display in the main
window or from the Displays palette. In the display,
use the <Select Measurement> menus to pick the
measurement to be shown.
Collecting Data
•Select Record to begin recording data.
Troubleshooting the Sensor
•If the sensor loses Bluetooth connection and will not
reconnect, try cycling the ON button. Press and briefly
hold the button until the status LEDs blink in sequence,
Bluetooth LED Status Battery LED Status
Red blink Ready to pair Red blink Low power
Green blink Connected
Yellow blink Logging*
Bluetooth LED Status Battery LED Status
OFF -- Yellow ON Charging
OFF -- Green ON Charged
Yellow blink Logging*
Bluetooth LED Status Battery LED Status
Red blink Ready to pair Yellow ON Charging
Green blink Connected Green ON Charged
Yellow blink Logging*

Wireless 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor PS-3221
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and then release the button. Start the sensor in the
usual way.
•If the sensor stops communicating with the computer
software or tablet application, try restarting the
software or application. If the problem remains, press
and hold the ON button for 10 seconds and then
release. Start the sensor in the usual way.
•Turn Bluetooth off and then back on. Retry.
About the Battery
The sensor’s battery is partially charged at the factory. If
the battery status LED blinks red, use the micro USB cable
to connect the sensor to a USB port or a USB charger.
Battery Usage
Battery life is very important to making the sensor simple
and always ready to use, so all of the PASCO wireless
products are designed for long battery life. For example,
the sensor turns itself off after a few minutes of inactivity.
The battery life between charges for the sensor varies
depending on the sampling rate. The battery life ranges
between 11 hours for high sample rates to more than 70
hours for low sample rates.
In typical classroom/lab use, this would translate to a
battery life between charges ranging from one to four
weeks or more, because full-day continuous sampling
would be unusual. Even in the most extreme case with a
high sample rate, the sensor battery would support a full
day of use before needing to recharge.
Maximizing Battery Life
One factor that affects battery life is the storage
temperature and the number of charge cycles. Therefore,
avoid storing the sensor in very cold or very hot
environments.
Suggested Experiments
See the PASCO Web site at
www.pasco.com/products/lab-manuals
for more information about experiments.
Measure Magnets and Electromagnets
Study the field strength of various permanent magnets and
electromagnets.
Field Strength of a Solenoid or of Helmholtz Coils
Use the sensor with a PASCO Rotary Motion Sensor to
examine the field strength inside a solenoid or between
Helmholtz Coils.
Specifications
*After Zero Gauss Chamber Tare
**Best case disregarding noise (digital bin size)
Technical Support
For assistance with any PASCO product, contact PASCO
at:
The Reference Guide will be updated periodically. For the
latest revision of this Reference Guide, visit the PASCO
Web site at
www.pasco.com/manuals
and enter the product number, PS-3221, in the text window.
Replacement Parts
For information about possible replacement parts, contact
Technical Support:
Limited Warranty
For a description of the product warranty, see the PASCO catalog. For
more information visit www.pasco.com/legal.
Copyright
This PASCO scientific Reference Guide is copyrighted with all rights
reserved. Permission is granted to non-profit educational institutions for
reproduction of any part of this manual, providing the reproductions are
used only in their laboratories and classrooms, and are not sold for profit.
Reproduction under any other circumstances, without the written consent
of PASCO scientific, is prohibited. (Revised 07/19/18)
Trademarks
PASCO, PASCO scientific, PASCO Capstone, and SPARKvue are
trademarks or registered trademarks of PASCO scientific, in the United
States and/or in other countries. All other brands, products, or service
names are or may be trademarks or service marks of, and are used to
identify, products or services of their respective owners. For more
information visit www.pasco.com/legal.
Range ±50 G (49.1 G) ±1300G
Accuracy*±0.01 G ±10 G
Resolution** 0.015 G 1 G
Max. Sample Rate 20 sample/s 20 sample/s
Repeatability ±0.025 G ±5 G
Units T, mT, G T, mT G
Address: PASCO scientific
10101 Foothills Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95747-7100
Phone: [phone] (worldwide)
8700-772-8700 (U.S.)
Web: www.pasco.com
Email: [e-mail]

Technical Support PS-3221
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FCC Statement
This Class A digital device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
CE Statement
This device has been tested and found to comply with the essential
requirements and other relevant provisions of the applicable EU
Directives.
Product End of Life Disposal Instructions:
This electronic product is subject to disposal and recycling regulations that
vary by country and region. It is your responsibility to recycle your
electronic equipment per your local environmental laws and regulations to
ensure that it will be recycled in a manner that protects human health and
the environment. To find out where you can drop off your waste equipment
for recycling, please contact your local waste recycle/disposal service, or
the place where you purchased the product.
The European Union WEEE (Waste Electronic and
Electrical Equipment) symbol (to the right) and on the
product or its packaging indicates that this product
must not be disposed of in a standard waste
container.
Battery Disposal Instructions:
Batteries contain chemicals that, if released, may affect the environment
and human health. Batteries should be collected separately for recycling,
and recycled at a local hazardous material disposal location adhering to
your country and local government regulations. To find out where you can
drop off your waste battery for recycling, please contact your local waste
disposal service, or the product representative.
The Lithium Polymer (Li-Poly) rechargeable battery used in this product is
marked with the International symbols to indicate the need for the
separate collection and recycling of batteries.
.

Wireless 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensor PS-3221
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Appendix A:
Compatibility
Check the PASCO Web page at
www.pasco.com/compatibility
for the latest information on Bluetooth SMART
compatibility.
*The PS-3500 USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter,
when connected to a USB port, allows up
to three Bluetooth SMART devices, such
as this PASCO wireless device, to connect
to Windows computers, Chromebooks,
and older Macintosh computers.
Note: The PS-3500 USB Bluetooth 4,0
Adapter is the only adapter we can
currently recommend. Many other Bluetooth 4.0 adapters
are available but this adapter has a specific design that
enables in-app pairing of Bluetooth SMART sensors.
1To check the Mac computer’s Bluetooth compatibility, do
the following:
•Click the  (Apple) Menu.
•Select About This Mac
•Click the More Info... button.
•Click the System Report... button.
•Select Bluetooth from the sidebar on the left,
underneath Hardware.
•Scan down the list of information until you find “LMP
Version”.
•If your Mac is equipped with Bluetooth SMART, the
LMP Version will show 0x6. (Anything lower than 0x6
means an older version of Bluetooth. Your device will
need the PS-3500 USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter.)
1The Mac Mini and MacBook Air were updated with
Bluetooth SMART support in 2011. The MacBook Pro was
updated in 2012. The Mac Pro that debuted in December
2013 has Bluetooth SMART support.
Exception: Before you upgrade to El Capitan (Mac OS X
10.11.x), if you have a Macintosh with LMP version “0x4”
that requires the PS-3500 USB Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter,
please contact PASCO Technical Support for further
instructions.
What is Bluetooth SMART®?
Bluetooth SMART (also known as Bluetooth Low Energy or
Version 4.0 of the Bluetooth specification) is the latest
protocol of the proprietary open wireless technology
standard created by telecoms vendor Ericsson in 1994. It is
the power- and application-friendly version of Bluetooth
that was built for the Internet of Things (IoT).
Platform Bluetooth SMART Compatibility
iOS iPad 3 and later
iPhone 4S and later
iPod touch 5 and later
SPARK Element All models
Android Android 4.3 and later
Chromebook Chrome OS (requires PS-3500 Adapter*)
Mac OS X1Models introduced July 2011 or later
Windows 7 and 8 Requires PS-3500 Adapter*
Windows 10 Bluetooth SMART compatible
PS-3500 USB
Bluetooth 4.0
Adapter