Ranger PM7000 Guide

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rOutram Research Ltd
A Start Guide for the Ranger PM7000
Welcome to the Ranger family and to our top of the range Power Master Ranger, the PM7000.
PM7000 in Australia

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Contents
Title Page
First Step 3
Safety warnings
Second Step 6
Check your kit
ThirdStep: 7
Put your PM7000 on charge
FourthStep: 8
Put your PDA on charge
FifthStep: 9
Make the communication between the PDA and the PM7000
Sixth Step: 11
Make the communication between the computer and the PM7000
Seventh Step: (Optional) 22
Using the Simulator
Eighth Step: 27
Make a first recording with the PM7000 by measuring the
live mains (or using the Simulator)
Ninth Step: 33
Download the PM7000

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First Step:
Please read and feel comfortable with the safety warnings below.
Warning
The Symbol is about SAFETY and concerns YOU
Please read and take careful note of the following safety
recommendations before using your PM7000 for the first time.
This symbol is displayed on the instrument to alert the user to the potential
danger of using it. The symbol also appears from time to time in the manual. In
some cases draws attention to the fact that the parts or adjustments to which
refers are not serviceable by the user. In all cases the unit MUST be repaired or
serviced by properly qualified personnel.
Please note that this includes changing internal fuses and batteries.
These following safety statements are particularly concerned with
connecting your logger to the power source. To ensure your safety and avoid any
damage to the PM7000 please take careful note.
Use extreme caution when connecting the signal input cables to the logger. Any
voltage potential at the signal source will exist on the instrument’s respective signal
input cable. Consequently HAZARDOUS LIVE VOLTAGES may be exposed inside
the instrument case and also may exist on the signal input terminals, which are
floating with respect to the instrument chassis.
Because you will be attaching the PM7000 to a potentially hazardous live
circuit, you must be suitably qualified. Before you make any such connection or
disconnection you need to understand the dangers associated with doing this and how

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to eliminate those dangers and control the risks associated with CAT IV (Category
IV) type high fault current electricity supplies.
You may safely connect the PM7000 input terminals to hazardous live circuits in
normal operation provided that you take the following sensible precautions:
Never use damaged leads. Always check leads for wear and tear or damage
before using them. Once you are satisfied with their soundness make sure that
they are securely plugged into the logger before they make contact with any
live power source. Connect sensor leads to the logger first to remove the risk
of producing any hazardous live lead ends.
When using current transformers, current probes, or step-down voltage
transformers other than the voltage probes and Rogowski coils supplied with
the logger, always consult the manufacturer's guide for connection information.
Further information is also found in the Ranger PM3000 manual.
Voltage Measurement leads
Use the GS38 approved test voltage leads supplied. These have fuses in the
alligator clip end and safety connectors at the connection end. They are rated
at CAT IV for 600 volts (CAT III for 1000 volts). Always use these or
equally GS38 compliant leads for your safety.
Voltage leads must be treated with respect as they do an important job of
carrying live voltage in a safe manner. Because they are flexible test leads they
are strong and easy to coil and twist and will give good, safe, service when
looked after carefully.
Always connect the voltage leads through the lower 4mm voltage ports, never
through the upper BNC current ports.
Current Measurement Leads
Any current transformer used with this logger must be voltage output type.
This equipment is NOT designed for use with current output, current
transformers.
When installing voltage output current transformers, connect them to the
adaptors and then the adaptors to the logger before you attach them round the
source of power. Be careful not to touch any of the connection points.

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Always make sure that your logger is positioned in a way that ensures it is
mechanically stable. There must be no possibility of the test leads becoming
disconnected from it while they remain attached to any external power source.
For your safety and to avoid damage to the logger do not connect your PM7000
to a live voltage source outside the specified range of 0-600 (+ 10%) Vac. For
measurements between 600 and 1000 Vac please refer to the manual. These are
a special case.
Under no circumstances should you remove the front panel of the logger while
it is connected to a power source.
In line with safety requirements the PM7000 gives correct over range voltage
readings. No danger will arise for an operator relying on any indicated values.
However, this does not remove the possibility that a single fault in the unit
could give misleading results, leading to a hazard for the operator.

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Second step:
Check your kit
PM7000 and kit
•Ranger PM7000 power quality analyser
•Four 24" 6000 Amp Flexible Current Clamps
(max conductor size 8"), braided
•Four Voltage probes 1000V Cat III (600V Cat IV), braided
•One earth voltage probe (600V Cat IV)
•Three Neutral Common Leads
•Mains lead or charger (US)
•USB lead
•Pronto for Windows Analysis Software
•Customer CD
•PDA

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Third Step:
Put your PM7000 on charge
Immediately you take delivery of your PM7000 plug it into the mains, using the mains lead or wall
charger, to charge the batteries ready for use.
Whenever your logger is in use, that is, attached to a voltage source above 90 Volts, the batteries
will be charging automatically. Outram Research highly recommend that at all other times the
logger is plugged into a power source to keep the batteries well charged and the unit always ready
for action. (This is merely a precaution. The PM7000 can start up with batteries pretty flat and
function once power is applied. There will soon be enough charge to allow any activity to be closed
down successfully and retained in memory.)
End Plate of PM7000 showing the two ends of the mains cable attached. Note the bottom row of
BNC connectors for the Rogowski coil current sensors.
Once the user interface screen is running, then taken directly from the initial screen is a status
screen to give you the current battery voltage should you wish to check.
Line
Return
12V charger input

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Fourth Step:
Put your PDA on charge
Take out the PDA and charging cable and plug into the mains to charge up the PDA. It can be used
while on charge. After using it off the cable we recommend you leave it on charge when not in use.
(A car charger to charge the PDA could be a useful addition to your kit if you will be using the
logger at different geographical locations.)
Current battery
voltage

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Fifth Step:
Make the communication between the PDA and the PM7000
Once the PDA is charged, make your connection with the logger.
Prepare the PM7000
Opening the PM7000 lid will stimulate it and it will wake up, nudge the Bluetooth into “Discovery
Mode” and go back to sleep to conserve battery. The Bluetooth LED should flash twice every 4
seconds to show that the Bluetooth is awake. The Bluetooth will remain in discovery mode for
about 1 hour after the lid is opened. (Once the logger is stimulated you may close the lid again.)
Prepare the PDA
Switch on the PDA. The on/off button position will vary but in the PDA supplied it is on the right
hand side at the top.
Using the stylus provided with the PDA (or if your stylus is missing your finger nail will do just as
well) touch “START” or the little Windows symbol at the top left of the screen. This will list the
principle functions of the PDA.
Look down the list for “PmScreen”, the application programme that brings the live PM7000
screens onto your computer. Touch “PmScreen”.
You will be invited to select the relevant COM Port. The COM port is COM 6 on the HP iPAQ114.
Touch on “Reconnect to COM6”. (Other PDA’s may use COM8)
If the PDA and logger are within range of each other, nominally within 10 meters (30 feet) (but it
may be more in open line of site conditions or less if one is shadowed from the other), and if the
logger is in discovery mode (the blue light on the front panel is flashing), the PDA should offer (in
the form of a list) any Bluetooth devices in range including the logger. The reference to the logger
will come in the form of PM7000SN0123.
Depending upon how the PDA has been left, this list may be in icon form, in which case the Serial
Number part of the text may have been truncated. This will not matter if you have only one
PM7000 but it could be ambiguous if you have more than one. To avoid the latter you may wish to
list a number of loggers in purely text form. To change between icon and text listing, touch on the
View option on the bottom right of the screen and select the “view by text”.
Touch on the Serial Number of the logger you wish to talk to. This will cause the PDA to connect
to the logger and the Bluetooth light on the logger will go solid blue. To start with it may say the

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logger is not responding (actually the logger is waking up but can’t talk properly yet). Then it may
say “Finding” and then “Connecting…” and then “Found SN0123”. PmScreen will come up with
its initial screen if the logger is being turned on (or whatever the screen state is on the logger if you
have been using it) and at that point you are now in contact with the logger.
Now with your PDA in your hand you can play around and explore all the options that are available
to you within your PM7000.
[On the other hand before you go any further you may wish to explore the PM7000 menu interface
in some detail without involving the logger. You can do this is via a PmScreens Simulator which
will come up on your computer screen. Find it on the customer CD under PmStart or within the
Pronto software programme. How to open and use the simulator is explained below.]
When you have finished with the PDA, IT IS IMPORTANT to release the Bluetooth
communication on it or the PDA gets stuck. Do this by leaving Pmscreen by pressing “File”/”Exit”
on the PDA. You should do this BEFORE you go out of range.
(In PDA’s supplied earlier DO NOT press the “X” in the top right hand corner as this doesn’t turn
off PmScreen or the Bluetooth, it merely hides them.)
To turn off the PDA (having exited PMScreens), press the off button on the PDA itself. (Generally
top right).
PM7000 initial
screen as seen on
the PDA

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Sixth Step:
Make the communication between the computer and the PM7000
You can produce the same screens on your PC as you can on the PDA. To bring ‘PmScreen’ up on
the computer, first attach the logger via the USB communication lead provided.
Insert the customer CD. Because the PM7000 is using a USB communication method you need
hardware drivers. They may already be on your computer but if they are not click on “Install
PM7000 Hardware Drivers” and follow the instructions. If you are unsure whether or not you have
the drivers install them anyway. There is no adverse effect from re-installing them. Then launch
Pronto. Follow the “Start Up Assistant” to connect to your PM7000. The first time you make a
new connection there are four steps.
Startup Assistant Step 1
In step 1 the default selection is “Control and/or Playback data from a logger”. You do not yet have
any data and files to browse for.
The USB port will take either
a USB memory device (jump
drive) or a USB lead to
communicate with a PC.

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Click on ‘Next’.
In the following step 2 for this first connection select ‘Create new connection settings’.

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Click on ‘Next’to bring up Startup Assistant Step 3. This will give you the list of Ranger products
supported by Pronto.

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The PM7000 is at the top of the list and will appear in the window.
Click ‘Next’ to select it and bring up the final Startup Assistant Step 4 screen. Now you are going
to search for the USB communication port.
Click on the port box. A dropdown menu will reveal the USB communication channel option.
Select it.

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FTDI are the initials of the USB manufacturer.
The USB port will be assigned a particular port number, in this case 3. Each time you connect your
USB serial lead to the same port on your computer the port number will be 3. If your computer has
multiple USB ports and you choose a different port next time the PM7000 and computer
communicate, Pronto will have to find the new communication Port.
Note the Baud rate (the speed at which traffic flows between the logger and the computer). For the
PM7000 it is 921600 and Pronto will choose this value for you when you select PM7000.
(Different Ranger models may have different baud rates).
Click ‘Finish’.
The following ‘Select Instrument to Control’ window may come up confirming the right instrument
is connected to the right port. The following example of Pronto on a computer with more than one
PM7000 attached

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Here is the opportunity to change the name, add comments or alter the baud rate if you ever need to
do so. Click on ‘Edit’ and bring up an ‘Edit an Existing Logger Address’ screen.

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Clicking on ‘recommended rates…’ will bring up Pronto Help and advice on the correct baud rate).
Currently the correct baud rate for the PM7000 is automatically chosen by Pronto. In the future if
further types of communication mode become available (such as over the mobile phone network) it
may be necessary to change the baud rate.
Click OK to return to the ‘Select Instrument to Control’ window.
Finally click on ‘Connect’….
and you’ll see on the screen ‘Pronto is connecting to the instrument’. ‘Control panel’ comes up
next.

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The ‘Control Panel’ gives you useful information on the status of the logger such as how many
sessions you have recorded. Historically this screen was used to communicate to Rangers before
the latest models were given the display user interface, PmScreens. If your requirement is to play
back data or start a recording click on the appropriate button here. To access PmScreens click
‘Close’.
Up comes the main Pronto screen.

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To bring up your PM7000 display click on ‘PmScreen’ on the tool bar.
Now you can talk to your Ranger via the computer. The screen to come up will be whichever you
used the last time you talked to your PM7000. For the first time you will see the initial screen of
your PM7000 on the computer in front of you. This is the default screen with a 3 phase 4w Wye
Hook Up.
You can enlarge or contract the PmScreen area by clicking “View”, Zoom in” or Zoom out”. This
screen is intended to give you an immediate indication of system status, and especially the
connections you have made (the “Hook up”). The PM7000 does need to know what was intended
so that it can assess the voltage and current phases it finds correctly.
If you want further information click anywhere in the blue box and bring up a ‘Hook-Up in Use’
screen.
Click on to get…
Note the default Hook Up

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This is an example of the initial screen for a 3 phase 4 wire wye application showing the current
correctly in phase with the voltage.
This screen confirms what
we know; that only V1
has a proper signal in this
case.