Photon Systems Instruments AquaPen-C AP 110-C Guide

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AquaPen-C AP 110-C
AquaPen-P AP 110-P
Manual and User Guide
Please read this manual before operating this product
PSI, spol. s r. o., Drásov 470, 664 24 Drásov, Czech Republic
FAX: [phone], TEL: [phone], www.psi.cz

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o. (hereinafter PSI), 2018
This document and its parts can be copied or provided to a third party only with the express permission of PSI.
The contents of this manual have been verified to correspond to the specifications of the device. However, deviations cannot
be ruled out. Therefore, a complete correspondence between the manual and the real device cannot be guaranteed. The
information in this manual is regularly checked, and corrections may be made in subsequent versions.
The visualizations shown in this manual are only illustrative.
This manual is an integral part of the purchase and delivery of equipment and its accessories and both Parties must abide
by it.

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1Information Before Using AquaPen Device .................................................................................................................... 5
2Technical Specification.................................................................................................................................................... 6
3General Information ....................................................................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Device Description................................................................................................................................................. 9
4List of Equipment and Customer Information .............................................................................................................. 10
5Care and Maintenance.................................................................................................................................................. 11
6Principle of Measurement ............................................................................................................................................ 12
7Getting Started.............................................................................................................................................................. 15
7.1 Measurements Based on Fluorescence............................................................................................................... 15
7.1.1 Pulses Description and Setting........................................................................................................................ 15
7.1.2 Measurement.................................................................................................................................................. 18
7.1.3 OJIP Protocol................................................................................................................................................... 20
7.1.4 Non-Photochemical Quenching (NPQ) Protocol ............................................................................................. 21
7.1.5 Light Curve (LC) Protocol................................................................................................................................. 24
7.2 Optical Density Measurement (AquaPen-C only)................................................................................................ 27
7.2.1 Calibration....................................................................................................................................................... 27
7.2.2 Measurement.................................................................................................................................................. 27
7.3 Multiple Measurement ....................................................................................................................................... 28
8Control Menu Tree........................................................................................................................................................ 29
9USB Connection ............................................................................................................................................................ 37
10 Bluetooth Connection.............................................................................................................................................. 38
10.1 Bluetooth Pairing................................................................................................................................................. 38
11 FluorPen Software ................................................................................................................................................... 42
11.1 Software Installation ........................................................................................................................................... 42
11.2 Menu and Icon Explanation................................................................................................................................. 43
11.2.1 Main Menu ................................................................................................................................................. 43
11.2.2 Menu Settings............................................................................................................................................. 44
11.2.3 Menu Online Control .................................................................................................................................. 45
11.3 Data Transfer and Visualization........................................................................................................................... 47

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11.4 Firmware Update................................................................................................................................................. 50
12 GPS Module ............................................................................................................................................................. 53
12.1 GPS / AquaPen Operation ................................................................................................................................... 53
12.2 Data Download.................................................................................................................................................... 54
13 Warranty Terms and Conditions.............................................................................................................................. 55
14 Troubleshooting and Customer Support ................................................................................................................. 56

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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1INFORMATION BEFORE USING AQUAPEN DEVICE
Read this manual carefully before operating the device. If you are not sure about something in the manual, contact the
manufacturer for clarification.
By accepting the device, the customer agrees to follow the instructions in this guide.
Always follow corresponding manuals while working with the AquaPen device or doing the maintenance.
It is forbidden to interfere with the hardware or software of the AquaPen device in any way without previous agreement
with the manufacturer.
The following table presents basic highlight symbols used in this manual:
Symbol
Description
Important information, read carefully.
Complementary and additional information.
Tab. 1 Used symbols.

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2TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Measured / Calculated Parameters:
F0, Ft, Fm, Fm‘, QY, NPQ 1, NPQ 2, NPQ 3, OJIP, LC 1, LC 2, LC 3, OD680*, OD720*
Saturating Pulse Illumination:
Adjustable from 10 to 100 % (up to 3,000 µmol.m-2.s-1)
Actinic Illumination:
Adjustable from 10 to 1,000 µmol.m-2.s-1
Measuring Illumination:
Adjustable from 0 to 100 % (up to 0.09 µmol.m-2.s-1 per pulse)
LED Emitter specification:
Blue (455 nm) and red-orange (630 nm) in Cuvette version, only Blue (455nm) in Probe version
Detector Wavelength Range:
PIN photodiode with 667 to 750 nm bandpass filters
PC Communication modules:
Bluetooth and USB
Bluetooth Module:
Transfer up to 3Mbps for distance up to 20m
Built in GPS module:
Ultra-high sensitivity down to -165dBm, high accuracy of <1.5m in 50% of trials
FluorPen Software:
Windows 7 or higher compatible**
Memory Capacity:
Up to 16 Mb
Internal Data Logging:
Up to 149,000 data points
Display:
Graphical display
Keypad:
Sealed, 2-key tactile response
Keypad Escape Time:
Turns off after 8 minutes of no use
Power Supply:
Li-Ion rechargeable battery via USB cable
Battery Life:
48 hours typical with full operation
Low Battery Detection:
Low battery indication displayed
Size:
165 mm x 65 mm x 55 mm
Weight:
290 g
Sample Holder:
4 ml cuvette (AquaPen-C AP 110-C)
Submersible optical probe (AquaPen-P AP 110-P)
Operating Conditions:
Temperature: 0 to +55 ºC, 32 to 130 ºF; Relative humidity: 0 to 95 % (non-condensing)
Storage Conditions:
Temperature: -10 to +60 ºC, 14 to 140 ºF; Relative humidity: 0 to 95 % (non-condensing)
Warranty:
1 year parts and labor (see the last page of this Operation Manual for precise warranty conditions)

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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* Only in AquaPen-C AP 110-C.
** Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Bluetooth Module Compliance Data:

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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3GENERAL INFORMATION
AquaPen (AP) is a lightweight, hand-held fluorometer intended for quick and reliable measurements of photosynthetic
activity in algal, cyanobacterial or plant cell suspensions. The photosynthetic activity is derived from the chlorophyll
fluorescence (ChlF) kinetics. ChlF is determined based on a Pulse Amplitude Modulated technique (PAM). For user
convenience, all illumination protocols are predefined and AP offers a set of illumination protocols (more in chapter 7.1)
to determined fast fluorescence kinetics known as OJIP-test as well as slow ChlF kinetics such as quenching analysis or Light
response curve.
AquaPen is equipped with blue and red LED emitters (AP110-C, cuvette version) or just blue in AP110-P probe version of
the device. These are optically filtered and precisely focused to deliver PAR values of up to 3,000 μmol.m-2.s-1 to measured
volume. Blue excitation light (455 nm) is intended for excitation of chlorophylls and thus for measurements of algal cultures
and plant cell suspensions. Red-orange excitation light (630 nm) is suitable for measurements of cyanobacteria which tend
to absorb inefficiently the blue light.
AquaPen is available in two versions: AquaPen-C AP110-C and AquaPen-P AP110-P.
AquaPen-P AP 110-P is a probe version, which allows detection of chlorophyll fluorescence in liquid samples by directly
submersing the probe in the suspension medium. It is designed for laboratory measurement and for field studies (in ponds
and natural bodies of water). This AquaPen version is supplied with single blue LED emitter (optionally red or white).
AquaPen-C AP 110-C is a cuvette version of the fluorometer. The sample is measured in a plastic cuvette inserted into an
optical holder with a lid. This version of the AP can also be used in laboratory conditions or field studies where samples of
suspension may be obtained and placed in the AP. The AP 110-C contains a built-in turbidity meter for measurements of
optical densities in addition to chlorophyll fluorescence. The AP 110-C also contains two LED emitters, blue and red.
Both AP versions have ultra- high sensitivity to chlorophyll with detections of up to 0.5 μg Chl/l –therefore natural water
samples containing very low concentrations of phytoplankton can be measured.
AP can be operated as a stand-alone instrument. Measured data are sequentially stored in the internal AquaPen memory.
Data transfer is via USB and Bluetooth communication. Comprehensive FluorPen 1.1 software provides data transfer
routines and many additional features for data viewing in tables and graphs.
AP 110-P does not measure Optical density.

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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3.1 DEVICE DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 Device description.

© PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), spol. s r. o.
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4LIST OF EQUIPMENT AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION
Standard version of the AquaPen device package consists:
•AquaPen-C AP 110-C or AquaPen-P AP 110-P
•Carrying Case
•3 pieces of 4 ml volume plastic cuvette with stopper (AquaPen-C only)
•FluorPen software and driver (on a USB flash disc)
•Operation Manual (PDF on a USB flash disc)
•USB Cable
•Other Accessories or Optional Features (according to your specific order)
For data download via USB connection the USB driver needs to be installed on the PC. It can be found
on the installation disk (USB driver folder).
If any item is missing, please, contact the manufacturer. Also check the carton for any visible external
damage. If any damage is found, notify the carrier and the manufacturer immediately. The carton and
all packing materials should be retained for inspection by the carrier or insurer.
For customer support, please write to: suppo[email protected]