Shaw SDHmini User manual

Model SDHmini
Dewpoint Meter
Instrucon Manual
3006 - SDHmini User Manual - Iss 1.1

Contents
1
2
3
4
5
6
Introducon ................................................................................ 5
1.1 Unpacking Your Shaw Moisture Meters SDHmini ................ 5
1.2 General Descripon ............................................................. 5
Important Informaon ................................................................ 6
2.1 Symbols Table ...................................................................... 6
2.2 Lithium-ion Cell - Baery ...................................................... 6
2.3 Pressure Exposure ................................................................ 7
Installaon .................................................................................. 7
3.1 Gases to Avoid ..................................................................... 7
3.2 Installing the Air/Gas Sampling System ............................... 7
3.3 Piping Installaon Schemac ............................................... 8
3.4 Piping Schemac Component Index .................................... 9
3.5 Purging the Sample Connecon .......................................... 9
3.6 Using the SDHmini to Take a Moisture Reading ................ 10
3.7 Desiccant Dry-Down Technology ....................................... 11
3.8 Sample Connecons .......................................................... 11
3.9 Pressure and Flow Control ................................................ 12
3.10 Parculate Contaminaon ............................................... 12
3.11 Liquid Contaminaon ...................................................... 12
Normal Operaons ................................................................... 13
4.1 Powering On/O ............................................................... 13
4.2 Graphical Viewing Opons ................................................ 13
4.3 Display Opons .................................................................. 13
4.4 Choice of Units .................................................................. 14
Calibraon ................................................................................ 15
5.1 Auto Calibraon (AutoCal) ................................................ 15
5.2 Calibraon Setpoint (CalSet) ............................................. 16
5.3 Calibraon Procedure Error Messages .............................. 17
Sensor Related Sengs ............................................................. 17
6.1 Sensor Type ....................................................................... 17
6.2 Selecng Gas Types ........................................................... 17
6.3 Selecng Gas Molecular Weights ...................................... 18
6.4 Pressure ............................................................................. 18

Contents
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Non Measurement Related Conguraon Funcons ................. 19
7.1 Changing the Date ............................................................. 19
7.2 Changing the Time ............................................................. 19
7.3 Changing Internaonal Sengs ........................................ 19
7.4 Hotkeys .............................................................................. 20
Installing the SDHmini User Tool ............................................... 21
8.1 Extracng the SDHmini User Tool Soware from the USB
Flash Drive (Memory Sck) ................................................ 21
8.2 Extracng the SDHmini User Tool Soware from the
Instrument .......................................................................... 22
Connecng the SDHmini and SDHmini User Tool ...................... 24
Using the SDHmini User Tool .................................................... 25
10.1 Menu items ...................................................................... 25
10.1.1 File - SDHmini Report ............................................... 25
10.1.2 Language .................................................................. 25
10.1.3 Help .......................................................................... 26
10.2 Instrument Live Reading ................................................... 26
10.3 Instrument Stac Informaon .......................................... 26
10.4 Ulies ............................................................................. 27
10.5 Sengs ............................................................................. 28
10.6 Firmware Update ............................................................. 29
10.7 Factory Reset .................................................................... 30
Addional Informaon ............................................................. 31
11.1 Desiccant and Head Seal Replacement ........................... 31
11.2 Temperature .................................................................... 32
11.3 Response Time ................................................................ 32
11.4 Guarantee ........................................................................ 32
11.5 Basic Denions .............................................................. 32
11.6 Problem Guide ................................................................. 33
SDHmini Specicaons .............................................................. 34
SDHmini General Assembly Diagram ......................................... 35

1 Introducon
1.1 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 two metre length of PTFE tubing
1 USB charging cable
1 Fir Tree ng plus 1 x ngs as
ordered
If anything is missing please contact your distributor immediately.
1.2 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 for
communicang with PC.
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 graphical user interface 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 key.
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) and lb/MMSCF.
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1 AC/DC adaptor
1 pressure dewpoint circular
calculator
1 USB ash drive with SHAW
SDHmini User Tool soware
1 instrucon manual

The SDHmini sengs can be adjusted by a user-friendly soware interface
incorporang mulple menus, hot key combinaons, informaon displays and
control funcons.
Use the supplied USB cable, aach between the PC and the instrument, an
automac connecon over USB is established.
The USB port allows:
● Charging of the baery (Li-ion) when connected to PC or dedicated
power supply
● Downloading of new rmware to the unit
● Downloading of setup data from dedicated PC soware
The view panel allows access to many of the features, sengs and informaon
pages within the instrument.
A micro SD card is ed to the instrument, the contents of which can be explored
by clicking the SD card icon in the boom le of the view panel. The contents may
include user manuals, service notes, calibraon data sheets, rmware backups etc.
2 Important Informaon
2.1 Symbols Table
6
2.2 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. Switch
on the instrument to check if fully charged.
The symbol indicates that the device contains a baery which may
be charged via the USB connector.
Rang of instrument is less than 1 W in operaon. Charging
voltage is 5 V nominal.

3 Installaon
3.1 Gases to Avoid
The SHAW moisture sensors are suitable for many 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 (Cl2) 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.
3.2 Installing the Air/Gas Sampling System
The Piping Installaon Schemac diagram (see secon 3.3) 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 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.
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.
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2.3 Pressure Exposure
!

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 normal temperature and pressure will give the right
balance.
The SDHmini is designed to operate at atmospheric pressure with a maximum of
0.3 bar.
3.3 Piping Installaon Schemac
8
MAIN
PROCESS
LINE
1
3
2
4567
8
9
a.
b.
The sample point should be on the upper surface of the horizontal
pipe or from a vercal secon of pipe, wherever possible.
The sample tube should run upwards from the sample point. If
this is not possible, then an inspecon port or drain tap should be
installed at the lowest point in the sample system.
Notes

3.4 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.
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.
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.
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/min.
Sample Exhaust – The exhaust is vented to atmosphere or returned to an
atmospheric pressure line.
3.5 Purging the Sample Connecon
Refer to the Piping Installaon Schemac in secon 3.3.
It is advisable to carry out an inial purge of the sample loop without connecng
the instrument, 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). Allow the air/gas to
exhaust through the sample connecon (9).
Connue this 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.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
9

Connect the SDHmini. The SDHmini is not ow sensive, however, the sample
ow needs to be enough to ll the sensor head with gas 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 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.
3.6 Using the SDHmini to Take a Moisture Reading
The rst purpose of the SDHmini is to provide a rapid, easy and reliable means of
carrying out moisture content measurement of gases. To ensure rapid response
the sensor is kept dry by surrounding the sensor with desiccant in the head
assembly when it is not in use.
Aer purging the system to be monitored t the SDHmini sample pipe to the
sample connecon (6). Allow the gas to purge for a further two minutes with the
head down. Restrict the outlet of the SDHmini (7) by placing a nger over the
sample exhaust (9), so that the pressure of the sample lis the telescopic head.
As soon as the head is fully extended remove the nger, to prevent pressure build
up. Pull gently on the head to make sure it is fully extended. If there is not enough
pressure to li the head assembly, assist it by pulling it up, do this very slowly so
that ambient air is not drawn in through the outlet.
The sensor will respond to the moisture level present in the sampled gas. The
displayed moisture value will connue to change unl the sensor reaches
equilibrium at which point the displayed value is representave of the moisture
level in the sampled gas. When a reading has been taken and the test is nished,
push down the telescopic head fully, carefully turn o the sample ow and
disconnect the sample pipe. With the head in the down posion the desiccant will
dry the sensor, ready for the next test.
Note: It is important that the head assembly is either fully up or fully down to
keep the desiccant isolated from the ambient air so avoiding weng it. When the
instrument is not in use it should be stored with the head in the down posion.
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