PCE Instruments PCE-PCO 1 User manual

PCE Americas Inc.
711 Commerce Way
Suite 8
Jupiter
FL-33458
USA
From outside US: +1
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
PCE Instruments UK Ltd.
Units 12/13
Southpoint Business Park
Ensign way
Hampshire / Southampton
United Kingdom, SO31 4RF
From outside UK: +44
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.pce-instruments.com/english
www.pce-instruments.com
Manual
Particle Counter PCE-PCO 1 / PCE-PCO 2
Version 1.0
Date of creation: 16.12.2015
Date of last change: 26.08.2020

Contents
1Introduction.............................................................................................................3
2Safety notes.............................................................................................................3
3Specifications..........................................................................................................4
3.1 Delivery....................................................................................................................................... 4
4System description.................................................................................................5
4.1 Switching on / off ........................................................................................................................ 5
4.2 Menu structure............................................................................................................................ 6
4.3 Symbols explanation .................................................................................................................. 6
5Instructions..............................................................................................................6
5.1 Photo recording function............................................................................................................. 7
5.2 Video recording function............................................................................................................. 7
5.3 Particle Set ................................................................................................................................. 7
5.3.1 Sample Time.................................................................................................................................. 8
5.3.2 Start Delay ..................................................................................................................................... 8
5.3.3 Channel Display............................................................................................................................. 8
5.3.4 Environment Set............................................................................................................................. 8
5.3.5 Sample Cycle................................................................................................................................. 9
5.3.6 Sample Mode................................................................................................................................. 9
5.3.7 Interval ......................................................................................................................................... 10
5.3.8 Level Indication............................................................................................................................ 10
5.4 File Browser.............................................................................................................................. 10
5.5 System Set ............................................................................................................................... 11
5.5.1 Date / Time................................................................................................................................... 11
5.5.2 Font colour ................................................................................................................................... 11
5.5.3 Language ..................................................................................................................................... 12
5.5.4 Brightness .................................................................................................................................... 12
5.5.5 Auto Power Off............................................................................................................................. 12
5.5.6 Display Timeout ........................................................................................................................... 12
5.5.7 Alarm Select................................................................................................................................. 12
5.5.8 Memory Status............................................................................................................................. 13
5.5.9 Factory Settings........................................................................................................................... 13
5.5.10 Units (°C / °F)............................................................................................................................... 13
6Cleaning.................................................................................................................13
7SD card...................................................................................................................13
8PC connection.......................................................................................................13
9Disposal.................................................................................................................14
10 Contact...................................................................................................................14
10.1 PCE Instruments UK ................................................................................................................ 14
10.2 PCE Americas .......................................................................................................................... 14

Manual
3
1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a PCE-PCO 1 or PCE-PCO 2 from PCE Instruments.
This instrument is a universal particle counter for detecting the particles concentration in the air. The
particle counter can measure six different particle sizes. Furthermore, the device has got sensors for
temperature and relative humidity; this makes it a really versatile device. The integrated camera allows
connecting the measurement data with image / video material. This particle counter is designed to
accurately determine the degree of air contamination. The pollution is caused mainly by combustion,
industrial manufacturing, power generation, vehicle engine emissions and the construction industry. With
the help of this device the exact amount of dirt particles in the air is measured.
2 Safety notes
Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time. The device
may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments personnel. There is no
warranty of damages or injuries caused by non-observance of the manual.
- The device may only be used in the approved temperature range.
- The case should only be opened by qualified personnel of PCE Instruments.
- The instrument should never be placed with the user interface facing an object (e.g. keyboard side on a
table).
- You should not make any technical changes to the device.
- The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth / use only pH-neutral cleaner. Do not use
abrasives or solvent based cleaners.
- If the device is not used for an extended period, please remove the batteries.
- This device may only be used in the way described in this manual. If the device is used otherwise, this
may lead to dangerous situations.
- Do not expose the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme humidity or moisture.
- Never use the device with wet hands.
- The device may only be used with optional accessories offered by PCE Instruments or equivalent
substitutes.
- Please check the housing for visual signs of damage before each use. If any visible damage occurs, the
device must not be used.
- In addition, this device must not be used if the ambient conditions (temperature, humidity ...) are not
within the limits stated in the specifications.
- The device must not be used in an explosive atmosphere.
- If the safety instructions are not followed, it may cause damage to the device and injury to the operator.
This user's handbook is published by PCE Instruments without any guarantee.
We expressly point to our general guarantee terms which can be found in our general terms of business.
If you have any questions please contact PCE Instruments.

Manual
4
3 Specifications
General:
Ambient conditions
0 … 50 °C, 10 … 90 % RH (non-condensing)
Display
2.8“ / 320 x 240 pixels / backlight / color
Battery
rechargeable / life ~ 4 hours
Memory
Internal
80 MB
Optional
Micro SD-card up to 8 GB
Dimensions
240 x 75 x 55 mm
Weight
420 g
Particle counter:
Measurable particle sizes
0.3 / 0.5 / 1.0 / 2.5 / 5.0 and 10 µm
Flow rate
2.83 L / min
Coincidence error
<5 % at 2,000,000 particles per ft³
Counting efficiency
50 % at 0.3 µm;
100 % with particle size >0.45 µm
Data storage
5000 records
Counting modes
cumulative, differential, concentration
Air temperature and humidity
Air temperature
Measuring range
0 ... +50 °C
Accuracy
±0.5 °C at +10 ... +40 °C; otherwise ±1.0 °C
Dew point
Measuring range
0 ... +50 °C
Accuracy
±0.5 °C at +10 ... +40 °C; otherwise ±1.0 °C
Relative humidity
Measuring range
0 % RH ... 100 % RH
Accuracy
±3 % RH at 40 ... 60 %
±3.5 % RH at 20 ... 40 % and 60 ... 80 %
±5 % RH at 0 ... 20 % and 80 ... 100 %
PM 2.5 & PM 10 (PCE-PCO 2 only)
Channels
PM 2.5 & PM 10
Measurement range
0 … 2000 ug/m³
Resolution
1 ug/m³
3.1 Delivery
1 x particle counter PCE-PCO 1 or PCE-PCO 2
1 x zero filter
1 x battery
1 x charger
1 x USB cable
1 x user manual
1 x tripod
1 x hard carrying case

Manual
5
4 System description
1. Display
2. Function buttons
3. Arrow up
4. Enter
5. Start / Stop button
6. ESC button
7. Arrow down
8. On / Off button
9. Particle sensor
10. Temp. / RH sensor
11. Camera sensor
12. USB Interface
13. AC / DC connection
14. Battery compartment
4.1 Switching on / off
•To turn the device on, hold the ON / OFF pressed till the start screen is visible.
•To turn the device off, hold the ON / OFF pressed till the screen darkens.

Manual
6
4.2 Menu structure
Particle measurement
Memory set controller
System settings
Help
4.3 Symbols explanation
Symbol
Description
Symbol
Description
Cumulative mode
Differential mode
Concentration mode
Start measurement
Pause measurement
Alarm active
Camera mode
Video mode
5 Instructions
PCE-PCO 1 PCE-PCO 2
•Select the menu item "particle measurement" and confirm with Enter.
The following image (picture on the left side) appears on the display.
The picture on the right-hand side appears depending on your settings
(PCE-PCO 2 only). The device measures the air temperature, dew
point and relative humidity continuously; these values are displayed in
the lower part of the display.
•Press Start / Stop to start the particle measurement. The
measurement ends automatically after the preset measurement
duration, alternatively, you can stop the measurement with the Start /
Stop button any time.
•After completion of the measurement process, the data are
automatically saved.

Manual
7
5.1 Photo recording function
•Press the F1 key while you are in the menu item “particle counter“ to start the photo recording
function.
•Press F2 to take a picture.
•Press ESC to terminate the function.
5.2 Video recording function
•Press the F2 key while you are in the menu item “particle counter”to start the video recording
function.
•Press RUN/STOP to start the measurement simultaneously with the video recording. The file is
automatically saved as soon as the measurement is completed.
•Press ESC to terminate the function.
5.3 Particle Set
•Press F3 while you are in the menu item
„particle counters“ to enter the settings
menu.
•Use the arrow button to navigate and
confirm your choice by pressing Enter.
•Press ESC to terminate the function.
PCE-PCO 1
PCE-PCO 2

Manual
8
5.3.1 Sample Time
•Start the input with Enter.
•Use the arrow keys to adjust the
measurement time.
•Confirm your entry with Enter
PCE-PCO 1 & PCE-PCO 2
5.3.2 Start Delay
•Start the input with Enter.
•Use the arrows to adjust the start delay.
•Confirm your entry with Enter.
PCE-PCO 1 & PCE-PCO 2
5.3.3 Channel Display
In this menu you can set which particle sizes you
want to be displayed.
•Use the arrows to choose between the
particle sizes.
•Use the Enter key to switch on / off the
selected particle sizes.
PCE-PCO 1 & PCE-PCO 2
5.3.4 Environment Set
In this menu you can set whether or not the
temperature and humidity are displayed. Select
Enable to display the air temperature and humidity
or Disable to switch this function off.
PCE-PCO 1 & PCE-PCO 2

Manual
9
5.3.5 Sample Cycle
In this menu you can set the number of
measurements.
PCE-PCO 1 & PCE-PCO 2
5.3.6 Sample Mode
In this menu you can adjust the display mode of the
particle counter.
Cumulative -
Differential -
Concentration -
PCE-PCO 1 & PCE-PCO 2
5.3.6.1 PM 2,5 & PM 10
Here you can switch between particle and mass
concentration mode
PCE-PCO 2
5.3.6.2 Sample modes explanation
- Cumulative and differential:
➔The recorded numbers of particles are added up per channel (cumulative); starting with the
largest channel
➔In differential mode there are the absolute particle numbers per channel
➔Example:
Channel [µm]
Cumulative particle number
[PC]
Differential particle number [PD]
Calculation
0.3
1630
1000
= [PC,630]+[PD,1000]=[PK,1630]
0.5
630
350
= [PC,280]+[PD,350]=[PK,630]
1.0
280
200
= [PC,80]+[PD,200]=[PK,280]
2.5
80
50
= [PC,30]+[PD,50]=[PK,80]
5.0
30
20
= [PC,10]+[PD,20]=[PK,30]
10.0
10
10
---
- Concentration:
➔Here, you can find the average numbers of the respective particles per channel; also called
particle density.

Manual
10
5.3.7 Interval
In this menu you can set the pause between two
measurement test runs.
PCE-PCO 1 & PCE-PCO 2
5.3.8 Level Indication
In this menu you can set which particle sizes you
wish to be displayed.
•Use the arrow buttons to choose between
the particle sizes.
•Use the Enter button to switch on / off the
selected particle sizes.
PCE-PCO 1 & PCE-PCO 2
Channel
Green
Yellow
Red
0.3 µm
0 … 100000
100001 … 250000
250001 … 500000
0.5 µm
0 … 35200
32501 … 87500
87501 … 175000
1.0 µm
0 … 8320
8321 … 20800
20801 … 41600
2.5 µm
0 … 545
546 … 1362
1363 … 2724
5.0 µm
0 … 193
194 … 483
484 … 966
10.2 µm
0 … 68
69 … 170
170 … 340
5.4 File Browser
• Press F1 while you are in the home screen to open the file browser.
• There are the following subcategories "Picture", "Video" and "Particle Logs" in the file browser.
•Use the arrow button to navigate in the file browser and confirm your choice by pressing Enter.