Shaw SDHmini Series User manual

Model SDHmini
Dewpoint Meter
Instrucon Manual
SDHmini User Manual - Iss 1

Unpacking Your Shaw Moisture Meters SDHmini....................................... 4
General Descripon...................................................................................... 4
Ranges.......................................................................................................... 5
Symbols Table................................................................................................ 6
Lithium-ion Cell - Baery.............................................................................. 6
Pressure Exposure........................................................................................ 6
Installing the Air/Gas Sampling System........................................................ 7
Gases to Avoid.............................................................................................. 7
Piping Installaon Schemac....................................................................... 8
Piping Schemac Component Index........................................................... 9
Purging the Sample Connecon................................................................. 9
Sampling Informaon................................................................................. 10
Sample Connecons................................................................................... 10
Sample Condioning.................................................................................. 10
Normal Operaons..................................................................................... 11
Powering On/O......................................................................................... 11
Graphical Viewing Opons......................................................................... 11
Display Opons........................................................................................... 12
Choice of Units........................................................................................... 12
Calibraon.................................................................................................. 13
Calibraon Checking................................................................................... 13
Auto Calibraon (AutoCal).......................................................................... 14
CalSet.......................................................................................................... 15
Calibraon Notes........................................................................................ 16
Addional Informaon............................................................................... 17
Addional Sensor Sengs.......................................................................... 17
Sensor Type................................................................................................ 17
Selecng Gas Types.................................................................................... 17
Selecng Gas Molecular Weights............................................................... 18
Pressure...................................................................................................... 18
Non Measurement Related Conguraon Funcons................................. 19
Changing the Date...................................................................................... 19
Changing the Time...................................................................................... 19
Changing Internaonal Sengs.................................................................. 20
Hotkeys....................................................................................................... 21
Bluetooth Setup.......................................................................................... 21
Desiccant and Head Seal Replacement....................................................... 23
Temperature............................................................................................... 24
Response Time........................................................................................... 24
Guarantee................................................................................................... 24
Basic Denions......................................................................................... 24
Problem Guide............................................................................................ 25
SDHmini Specicaons............................................................................... 26
SDHmini General Assembly Diagram.......................................................... 27
Index
1.0
1.1
1.2
2.0
2.1
2.2
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
5.0
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
6.0
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
7.0
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
8.0
9.0
9.1
9.2
9.3
10.0
11.0
12.0
13.0
14.0
15.0
16.0
17.0
18.0
19.0
3

1.0 Unpacking Your Shaw Moisture Meters SDHmini
Please examine the SDHmini package for any damage or mishandling. If any
damage is evident please nofy the carrier and the Shaw Moisture Meters
representave from where this unit was purchased.
You should have received (if ordered):
● 1 model SDHmini instrument
● 1 carry case
● 1 Allen key
● 1 instrucon manual
● 1 pressure dewpoint circular calculator
● 1 two metre length of PTFE tubing
● 1 USB charging cable
If anything is missing please contact your distributor immediately.
1.1 General Descripon
The SDHmini is a micro-controller based baery operated dewpoint hygrometer
with state of the art features and enhancements with support of USB and
oponal Bluetooth interfaces for communicang with PC and also support for
thermal printer over Bluetooth (as opon).
The SDHmini is a baery powered instrument. It is a fully self-contained unit
incorporang the moisture sensor, signal condioning circuitry, memory
management, graphics display, membrane keyboard, real me clock, on-board
baery and charger circuit.
The SDHmini operaon is controlled by a user-friendly soware interface
incorporang mulple menus, hot key combinaons, informaon displays and
control funcons.
Available in the following two oerings:
● Basic
● Basic + Bluetooth + Logging
4

The GUI features three main viewing screens, digital, graphical (historical readings
in a scrolling strip chart) and a meter (a tradional moving coil). There is also a
secondary display in the top right which allows display of readings in alternave
units of measurement.
The unit operates with the following 10 language opons: English, German,
French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
A full colour graphics LCD display with 320 x 240 resoluon landscape and a 6 key
input including an on/o facility.
A single USB port allows
● Charging of the baery (Li-ion) when connected to PC or dedicated
power supply
● Uploading of new rmware to the unit
● Uploading of calibraon and setup data from dedicated PC
soware
● Downloading logged data les and real me data from the unit
The displayed units can be changed on both the primary and secondary displays for
the selectable moisture unit e.g. °C, °F, g/m3, ppm(v), ppm(w), ppb and lbs/MMscf.
The inbuilt memory, stores in excess of 150,000 readings, including moisture and
pressure compensated moisture readings with user selectable logging intervals
from ve seconds to one hour and real-me data logging graphical formats. Data is
stored under customer generated le names and stored data les can be reviewed
graphically on the unit. The rechargeable baery has in excess of 150 hours logging
capability on a minimum logging interval and is fully recharged in 12 hours.
1.2 Ranges
SDHmini(r): Range
Purple (P): -100 °C to 0 °C dewpoint, 0 - 6000 PPM
Silver (S): -100 °C to -20 °C dewpoint, 0 - 1000 PPM
Red (R): -80 °C to -20 °C dewpoint, 0 - 1000 PPM and 0 - 10 on TR version
Grey (G): -80 °C to 0 °C dewpoint, 0 - 6000 PPM and 0 - 10 on TR version
Blue (Bl): -80 °C to +20 °C dewpoint, 0 - 23,000 PPM (ManualCal)
5

2.0 Symbols Table
2.1 Lithium-ion Cell - Baery
The SDHmini is powered by a single lithium-ion cell.
The cell is not eld replaceable by the user as it is completely enclosed within
the instrument. However, the cell may be exchanged by an authorised agent
who has received the necessary training, support systems and accreditaon. It is
recommended to only use the USB power supply supplied with the instrument.
It is recommended that the SDHmini be put on charge overnight when the unit is
rst received.
To aain maximum cell life the SDHmini should always be charged at room
temperature. The discharging cell life (hours of use from a fully charged cell) will
reduce when used in cold condions.
2.2 Pressure Exposure
6
Baery Note: Please refer to secon 2.1
Rang of instrument is less than 1 W in operaon. Charging
voltage is 5 V nominal. Charging input is however addionally
protected to Um 250 Vrms.
The symbol indicates that the device contains a baery which
may be charged via the neighbouring connector.
Pressure Note: Please refer to secon 2.2
!
The maximum pressure to which the telescopic measuring
head is exposed should not be more than
0.3 bar, 4 psi
Exposing the measuring head to higher pressures may
damage the instrument and result in injury to the operator
or other personnel in the area.
!

3.0 Installing the Air/Gas Sampling System
The Piping Installaon Schemac diagram (see secon 3.2) shows all components,
which could be used in a dry gas measurement applicaon. Although not all the
items shown will be required for every installaon.
The SDHmini should be placed on a stable surface prior to connecng to the
sample pipework. Care should be taken to ensure that the sample presented
to the SDHmini is not contaminated with any component that will damage,
contaminate or aect in a way that will impair the unit’s accuracy.
The ow rate, although not crical to the sensor measurement, should be low
enough to avoid abrasion to the sensor surface without being so low as to extend
the SDHmini response me to an unacceptable level. In general, a ow rate of
between 2 and 5 litres/min at NTP will give the right balance.
The SDHmini is designed to be operated at atmospheric pressure with a
maximum of 0.3 bar.
3.1 Gases to Avoid
The moisture sensors are suitable for any dierent industrial and research
applicaons. Most gases can be checked for their moisture content with no
need for the calibraon to be altered when changing between dierent gases,
as the sensor operates only with reference to the water vapour content.
There are however, some gases that must be avoided as they are not compable
with the material of construcon of the sensor. Ammonia (NH3), Ozone (O3) and
Chlorine (Cl) must be avoided at all mes, even in small quanes. Hydrogen
Chloride (HCl) also aacks the sensors very quickly. Some, less aggressive acidic
gases such as Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) can be monitored as long as the moisture
content is low, generally less than 100ppm(v). If in doubt, please ask your
supplier.
Sulphur Hexauoride (SF6) has no eect on the sensor. If the gas has been
exposed to arcing, however, it is possible that various acidic species will have
been formed that will corrode the sensor. When tesng SF6that may have been
arced, therefore, an acidity test should be carried out rst; if the gas proves to
be acidic then the moisture test should not be carried out.
7

3.2 Piping Installaon Schemac
8

3.3 Piping Schemac Component Index
Sample Isolaon Valve - This is a recommended item as it allows access
to the sample system without interrupng the main process line.
Sample Tube – This should be stainless steel for dry air or gas
applicaons but copper or carbon steel can be used where weer gases
are to be measured. If any secon of the sample tube must be exible
then PTFE should be used. In most cases, 3 mm OD (⅛”) is sucient as it
provides good system response me with minimum ow. 6 mm OD (¼”)
tube can be used where pressure drops across the 3 mm tube are too
high.
Filter Unit – A lter unit is recommended when the samples are likely
to contain parculate maer. If the air/gas sample contains heavy
hydrocarbon condensate, the lter must be of the coalescing type with a
drain. The lter unit should be posioned as close to the sample point as
praccal.
Pressure Reducon Valve or Pressure Regulator – the sample is
measured at atmospheric pressure requiring that valve 4 is ed to the
system.
Flow Control Valve.
Sample Connecon.
SDHmini.
Flow Indicator – The recommended sample ow is 2 to 5 L/M.
Sample Exhaust – The exhaust is vented to atmosphere or returned to an
atmospheric pressure line.
4.0 Purging the Sample Connecon
Refer to the Piping Installaon Schemac in secon 3.2.
It is advisable to carry out an inial purge of the sample loop before connecng
the SDHmini, in order to avoid the possibility of sensor damage on start-up.
Open the sample isolaon valve (1) slowly, unl there is a small ow of air/gas
at atmospheric pressure from the pressure reducon valve (4) into SDHmini line.
Allow the air/gas to exhaust through the sample connecon (9).
The SDHmini is not ow sensive, however, the sample ow needs to be
enough to purge the sensor head eecvely, so anything less than 1 litre/min
would mean that the instrument would take too long to sele to a stable
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
9

reading. The ow should not be so high that the gas velocity could physically
damage the sensor or cause back-pressure in the sensor head, so should not
exceed approximately 10 litres/min.
Allow this purge to connue for two minutes to remove any residual moisture
from the sample pipe work and components. Check that no liquid or parculate
contaminaon, which could damage the sensor, is passing through the sample
pipe. Direcng the sample onto a piece of white paper (such as a lter paper)
will make it easier to see any dust or oil mist in the sample.
4.1 Sampling Informaon
Refer to the Piping Installaon Schemac in secon 3.2.
The SDHmini sensor will respond to the water vapour pressure of a gas in
contact with it. It is important to ensure that the gas passing through the
sensor head is the same as the gas being sampled.
4.2 Sample Connecons
The SDHmini is supplied with two connecons: a “r tree” on one side and a
Swagelok compression ng for ¼”, ⅛”, or 6 mm OD pipe (as specied on your
order) on the other. Either can be used as the inlet connecon (6).
PTFE and stainless steel are recommended materials for sample pipes. Some
specialist exible tubing may be suitable as sample pipe but common exible
tubing such as PVC, nylon, polythene or rubber, should not be used, as they are
permeable and water vapour from the atmosphere will diuse through them
into the sample gas.
A 2 m PTFE sample pipe is supplied for use with the “r tree” connecon. The
rst me this is used it is advisable to warm the end that will go over the “r
tree” for a few seconds with a heat source to soen it slightly, which helps to
get a gas ght seal.
4.3 Sample Condioning
The main principle when considering the presentaon of the gas sample to the
SDHmini dewpoint meter is to keep the sample system as simple as possible
and of minimum swept volume, so that it has the least possible inuence on
the gas sample.
10

5.0 Normal Operaons
5.1 Powering On/O
On power up, the SDHmini briey displays a splash
screen showing instrument status, error informaon
and rmware version number.
To turn o the SDHmini press and hold for
ve seconds.
5.2 Graphical Viewing Opons
The start up screen is soon replaced by the normal measurement mode screen
(see below) displaying the current moisture measurement in a variety of views.
The last used or last selected mode will be ulised automacally.
Top Bar
Secondary Display or Measurement Value
Buon Icon Area
These are so keys which are always
visible to assist users in navigang through
the graphical screens.
Top Bar
Baery Status - Bluetooth Status - Time
Viewing Portal
Main display resides here but can also
show alternave Measurement Data,
Informaon Screens, Conguraons and
Logged Data in a variety of formats.
11

5.3 Display Opons
The display can be changed by pressing the
following keys to cycle through all of the
graphical views.
Here is a view starng as a digital number followed by
simulated strip chart and moving coil instruments.
The digital display mode has the benet of showing the moisture measurement
in main choice of engineering units but also a secondary display with perhaps
alternave engineering units. This mode also allows applicaon of pressure
dewpoint to evaluate the measurement in other samples pressures.
5.4 Choice of Units
To choose the engineering units to be displayed, select the units key from
the main digital view.
You will be presented with the following screens to
select engineering units for the main and secondary
displays. You may toggle between adjusng the main
and secondary displays by pressing the key. In normal
measurement mode. The secondary display is the
measurement displayed in the top bar on the right hand side (A). It allows
alternave engineering units or concentraons to be displayed alongside those
chosen in the main display.
12
A

Use the key to move to the
desired measurement type and
press to select it. Pressing
will exit the current screen without
making any further changes.
Here the secondary display is being changed to ppm(v) engineering units.
Please note: when you change
the display to either the moving
coil meter or the strip chart the
secondary engineering units display is
replaced with the primary units (B).
This connues to allow high precision measurement whilst having the benet
of the graphical display.
6.0 Calibraon
6.1 Calibraon Checking
Field calibraons of the SDHmini may be performed periodically, every two to
three months, to ensure accuracy between laboratory calibraons by checking
the span of the instrument and correcng for any deviaon. These funcons
can be used to verify operaon of the SDHmini if conrmaon of an unexpected
result is required.
This may be accomplished by two similar in built calibraon funcons, namely
AutoCal and CalSet.
B
13

6.2 Auto Calibraon (AutoCal)
The AutoCal facility uses the fact that each sensor is designed and
manufactured to give no further increase in response when it reaches its
maximum moisture level. For example a SDHmini with a full scale value of 0
°C dewpoint will read 0 °C dewpoint when exposed to a gas with this moisture
concentraon and will connue to read 0 °C dewpoint as the moisture
concentraon rises above 0 °C dewpoint.
The SDHmini can therefore be adjusted to read 0 °C
dewpoint on any gas with a moisture concentraon
weer than 0 °C dewpoint, ambient air for instance, thus
seng the span to match the original calibraon.
Select AutoCal from the Setup Menu.
Extend the desiccant head nocing that the value of the
full scale moisture level has already been automacally
preselected as a target of 0 °C.
Press .
The SDHmini will display a moving bar unl it assesses
that the sensor has stabilised (up to ten minutes).
The SDHmini will now display the full scale value of the
unit, either -20 °C or 0 °C depending on the sensor range.
14

Close the desiccant head when instructed to do so and
press .
Pressing during the AutoCal aborts the process.
The value present at the start of the aborted AutoCal
process is reinserted.
The SDHmini will return the instrument to normal
measurement mode.
Note: Avoid carrying out the AutoCal procedure on a SDHmini with a full
scale value of 0 °C dewpoint on days when the ambient may be below
this value, for example a dry day when the ambient temperature is below
approximately 12 °C.
6.3 CalSet
The unit may be checked against a known moisture level,
for example from a moisture generator or other reference
standard, such as a chilled mirror hygrometer or a
psychrometer using the funcon CalSet.
Extend the desiccant head and press .
Whether the instrument is being checked against the
measured ambient level or against a known calibraon
standard from a moisture generator, and are
used to set the value accordingly.
Selecng -10 °C for instance involves changing the sign
and number by use of both keys.
The entered CalSet value must not be a pressure
compensated one.
Press when done.
15

The SDHmini will display a moving bar unl it assesses that
the sensor has stabilised (up to 10 minutes).
The full scale value, -10 °C dewpoint, is now displayed.
Press when complete.
Close the desiccant head when instructed to do so and
press .
Pressing during CalSet aborts the
process.
The value present at the start of the
aborted CalSet process is reinserted.
The SDHmini will return to the normal operaonal mode.
6.4 Calibraon Notes
If the instrument fails calibraon, a message will be displayed on the screen
unl acknowledged by the user, e.g.
AutoCal Failed
Sensor Open Circuit
or
AutoCal Failed
Sensor Short Circuit
This will mean replacing the sensor or its interconnecng cable in some cases.
The entered AutoCal value must not be pressure compensated.
16

7.0 Addional Informaon
7.1 Addional Sensor Sengs
On the conguraon screens there exists a collecon of measurement sengs
associated with the sensors and its environment.
7.2 Sensor Type
Here you may view the type of sensor installed in the
SDHmini and its range.
If you receive another sensor type (colour) then you may
perform a eld change of the sensor range as shown in the
following.
Follow the on screen instrucons.
7.3 Selecng Gas Types
17

7.4 Selecng Gas Molecular Weights
8.0 Pressure
This sub-menu has, for both the primary and secondary displays, ve opons
allowing the user to select either atmospheric pressure or one of four pressure
engineering units and applied pressure.
When this funcon is selected, the main and secondary display screens will
display the pressure at which the dewpoint reading is calculated.
The SDHmini requires that a numerical pressure value be entered in the
selected units at the boom of the units selecon secon.
Warning: This funcon is purely an internal calculaon and DOES NOT allow an
elevated pressure to be applied to the measuring head.
18

9.0 Non Measurement Related Conguraon Funcons
9.1 Changing the Date
In order to change the present date press the arrow
key to select the Date funcon from the Conguraon
menu. Press .
Use and to change the date.
Here for example the date is changing from 06/03/15 to 06/04/15.
Press to enter new date or to abort changes.
9.2 Changing the Time
In order to change the present
me press to select the Time
funcon from the Conguraon
menu.
To change the me use and .
Here for example the me is changing from 10:48 to
11:48.
Press to enter new me or to abort changes.
19

9.3 Changing Internaonal Sengs
In order to change the sengs for Language, Date Format
and Numerical Delimiter, use the selecon cursor .
Select Internaonal Sengs from the Conguraon Menu.
To change the Language opon select .
The language choice area is highlighted. A ag of a country
most associated with one of the pre-installed languages
indicates which language is currently selected. The
SDHmini operates with the following 10 language opons:
English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian,
Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Use the to select the ag required.
And to accept the choice.
The Date Format i.e. DD/MM/YY or MM/DD/YY is also
chosen from within the Internaonal Sengs menu.
And nally, numbers can be presented 123.45 or 123,45.
Note: These sengs are carried through to any data les
and printer outputs where appropriate.
20