PASCO PASPort PS-2128 User manual

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PS-2128
Accelerometer Quick Start
Additional Equipment Needed
•PASPORT™interface [USB Link (PS-2100) with USB-compatible computer or
Xplorer (PS-2000)]
•EZscreenorDataStudio
®software (version 1.7.2 or later)
Equipment Setup
1. Connect the USB Link to a USB port on your computer or to a USB hub.
2. Connect the PASPORT cable to the Visual Accelerometer and to the USB Link (or
Xplorer).
3. The software launches when it detects a PASPORT sensor. Select a choice from the
PA S P O RTA L w i n do w.
4. Move the Accelerometer slide switches to select a scale type and/or range.
5. To turn on the Accelerometer, momentarily push in and release the black button.
Specifications:
Sensor range: Auto-scale:
± 0.02 g to ± 2 g
(
± 0.2 m/s2to ± 20 m/s2)
Manual scale: ± 0.1 g, ± 0.5 g, ± 2 g
(
± 1, ± 5, ± 20 m/s2)
Resolution: LEDs: 20% of full scale range;
DataStudio: 0.001 g (0.01 m/s2)
Accuracy:
± 0.02 g (0.2 m/s2)
Maximum sample rate: 100 samples/sec
Frequency response: 0 to 10 Hz
Maximum acceleration:* ±2 g (20 m/s2), single axis
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3
Visual Accelerometer
ON/ZERO/OFF
button
Full Scale
Switch
Negative Scale
(red lights) Positive Scale
(green lights)
Function
Switch
*Note: The maximum acceleration measurement is ±2 g (20 m/s2). However, the
maximum acceleration without damage to the sensing element is 1000 g.
The PS-2128 Visual Accelerometer provides a real-time, visual display of acceleration
(m/s2or g) along a single axis. When connected to a computer with DataStudio software,
the Visual Accelerometer can be also used to record and graph acceleration changes.
CARD 1A

DataStudio/DS Lite Tasks:
Record the acceleration: On the main toolbar, click the Start ( ) button.
Open the Experiment Setup
window:
On the main toolbar, click the Setup ( ) button.
Change acceleration units: In the Experiment Setup window, click the Maximize
button and scroll to the Visual Accelerometer options.
Click the down arrow next to the Acceleration box,
and select the desired units.
Scale to fit the data: Click on the Scale-to-Fit ( ) button.
View data statistics: In the Graph display, click on the Statistics ( )
button.
Acceleration of a Cart Up and Down an Incline
1. Place the Accelerometer in a resting position (in the same orientation
that you plan to use during the experiment).
2. Press and release the black button on the side of the sensor. The sensor
will take about 1 second to zero.
Do not move or jar the sensor during the
zeroing process.
3. To verify the zero, connect the Visual Accelerometer to a USB link, open
DataStudio, and click the Start ( ) button. Your reading should be zero.
Zeroing the Visual Accelerometer
1. Using the PASPORT extension cable, plug the Visual Accelerometer into
a USB Link or Xplorer.
2. Using the thumbscrews, mount the Accelerometer to a PAScar
(ME-6950), GOcar (ME-6951), or a Dynamics Cart (ME-9430).
3. Move the function switch to Manual Scale. Move the scale switch to
20m/s2.
4. Push in and release the black button to turn on the Visual Accelerometer.
5. Place the car on a Dynamics Track (ME-9435A or ME-9458) that has
been inclined at some angle. Zero the Accelerometer.
6. Have a lab partner at the end of the track ready to push the car up the
track. (Note: Have the lab partner hold (but not pull) the PASPORT extension
cable so that it doesn’t interfere with the car.)
7. In DataStudio or Xplorer, click the Start ( ) button and push the car
up the track. On the visual scale, observe and record the number and
color of lights lit as the car moves up and down the track.
8. When the car reaches the end of the track, click the Stop ( ) button.
Describe the acceleration (+) or (-) of the car as it is a) pushed up the
track and b) rolls down the track.
CARD 1B
Activity: Acceleration on an Incline

Reading the Visual Acceleration Scale
No. of Lights On Percent of Full Scale Value (1 m/s2 scale) Value (5 m/s2scale) Value (20 m/s2 scale)
None 0 to <10% 0 0 0
110 to 30% green: 0.2 or red: -0.2 green: 1.0 or red: -1.0 green: 4.0 or red: -4.0
230 to 50% green: 0.4 or red: -0.4 green: 2.0 or red: -2.0 green: 8.0 or red: -8.0
350 to 70% green: 0.6 or red: -0.6 green: 3.0 or red: -3.0 green: 12.0 or red: -12.0
470 to 90% green: 0.8 or red: -0.8 green: 4.0 or red: -4.0 green: 16.0 or red: -16.0
5>90% green: 1.0 or red: -1.0 green: 5.0 or red: -5.0 green: 20.0 or red: -20.0
Auto Scale - Use this mode to set full scale from
the highest positive recorded acceleration in this
mode. For more information, see the Visual
Accelerometer Manual.
Full Scale switch - for
selecting either the 1 m/s2,
5 m/s2, or 20 m/s2
acceleration scale. Negative Acceleration Scale - As acceleration
increases in the negative direction, more red lights
turn on. Each light that is on represents 1/5 (20%)
of full scale. Multiply the number of lights on by
20% to determine the total % of full scale.
Positive Acceleration Scale - As acceleration
increases in the positive direction, more green lights
turn on. Each light that is on represents 1/5 (20%) of
full scale. Multiply the number of lights on by 20% to
determine the total % of full scale.
ON/ZERO/OFF button -
Use this button to turn the
Accelerometer on, off, or
to zero.
Manual Scale - Use this
option with the Full Scale
switch to choose from one
of three selectable scales.
Peak Hold - Selecting this
option causes the
Accelerometer to search for
the highest
positive
acceleration and hold the
display. To set a new peak
hold, momentarily push in the
black on/off button.
Function switch - for
selecting either Auto
Scale, Manual Scale,
or Peak Hold.
±1 m/s2scale
(±0.1 g)
±5 m/s2scale
(±0.5 g)
±20 m/s2scale
(±2 g)
red lights green lights
Negative direction Positive direction
The Visual Acceleration Scale CARD 2A
MANUAL
FULL SCALE
1 m/s2
5 m/s2
20 m/s2AUTO
SCALE
MANUAL
SCALE
PEAK
HOLD
ON/ZERO/OFF

The Accelerometer requires 3 “AA” alkaline cells and/or USB power. USB
operation requires a PASPORT USB link or PASPORT Xplorer and DataStudio
software.
Note: The unit has a fixed internal timer that will automatically turn power off
after three hours, even if the unit is being used at the time. To resume
operation, just press the black push button. The Accelerometer will save the
auto-scale setting if that function was in use and the switch was not moved off
auto-scale. If the unit fails to turn on or off using the push-button switch, open
the case and remove any battery for a few seconds, then reinstall. The unit
should operate normally.
Tu r n o n t he A c c e le ro m e te r : Press in and release the black button. When you
release the button, five green and five red lights alternately illuminate and turn off.
Note: At turn on, the alternating of five flashing red and green lights is the
battery test and only occurs with battery-powered operation. If the Accelerometer
is plugged into a USB Link or Xplorer, the battery test does not take place and
five red and green lights do not illuminate.
Tu r n o f f t h e A c c e le r om e te r : Press and hold the black button until two red and
two green lights turn on. When you release the button, the sensor turns off.
Turn On/Off the Accelerometer
1. For standalone use: Remove the casing and install the batteries.
Or
For use with DataStudio or an Xplorer: Connect the receptacle end of the
PA S P O RT e x t en s i o n c a b le i n t o t h e p i n c o nn e c t o r o n t o p o f t h e A c c e l e r o m e t e r.
Connect the PASPORT extension cable to either the USB Link or Xplorer.
2. Press in the black button to turn on the Visual Accelerometer.
3. Move the Function switch to either Manual or Auto scale. (If using Manual scale,
use the Full Scale switch to select a full scale value (1, 5, or 20 m/s2).
4. (Optional): Use the provided thumbscrews to fasten the Accelerometer to the top
of a PAScar, Dynamics Cart, or GOcar.
5. Place the Visual Accelerometer in the desired orientation for your experiment and
momentarily push in the black button to zero the Accelerometer.
6. Move the Accelerometer or car and watch the display lights illuminate as you
accelerate in either direction.
When batteries are in the unit, and the unit is powered from a USB port or
hub, the unit cannot be turned off and the 3-hour automatic-off feature stops
functioning. When you disconnect the unit from USB power, the push button
on-off and auto-off timer functions operate normally.
If the batteries are low, two inside red lights and two inside green lights on the
scale will flash. Under intermittent operating conditions, battery life is 6-9
months. When the Accelerometer is turned off, only a fraction of a milliamp
is drawn from the batteries. If you do not expect to use the unit for several
weeks, always remove the batteries; this can increase the battery life to
years and reduce the risk of leaky batteries damaging the unit.
Using the PS-2128 Accelerometer
Battery Life and Operation
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CARD 2B