Thermo Scientific TruDefender FT User manual

Thermo Scientific
TruDefender FT
TruDefender FTi
User Guide
110-00055-02

© 2011 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved.
TruDefender and GRAMS are registered trademarks of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. in the United States.
SureFire is a registered trademark of SureFire, LLC.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. provides this document to its customers with a product purchase to use in the product
operation. This document is copyright protected and any reproduction of the whole or any part of this document is strictly
prohibited, except with the written authorization of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
The contents of this document are subject to change without notice. All technical information in this document is for
reference purposes only. System configurations and specifications in this document supersede all previous information
received by the purchaser.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. makes no representations that this document is complete, accurate or error-free and
assumes no responsibility and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, damage or loss that might result from any
use of this document, even if the information in the document is followed properly.
This document is not part of any sales contract between Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and a purchaser. This document shall
in no way govern or modify any Terms and Conditions of Sale, which Terms and Conditions of Sale shall govern all
conflicting information between the two documents.

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Thermo Scientific TruDefender FT and TruDefender FTi User Guide 1
Preface
The Thermo Scientific TruDefender FT instrument is
an FTIR spectrometer designed for use by first
responders, homeland security, military, law
enforcement, and forensic chemistry personnel.
Compact and lightweight, this instrument is intended
for rapid field identification of unknown solid and
liquid samples.
This guide describes how to perform a scan with the
TruDefender®FT instrument, interpret scan results,
save and export results, and maintain the instrument. If
you own a TruDefender FTi model, you can also
wirelessly send a scan as an email or an SMS message.
Contacting Us
Contact Thermo Fisher Scientific any time for
information or assistance.
Telephone (USA) 1-800-374-1992
(International) [phone]
Email [email protected]
Website www.thermoscientific.com/chemID-support
Mail 46 Jonspin Road, Wilmington, MA 01887

2TruDefender FT and TruDefender FTi User Guide Thermo Scientific
Preface
Safety Notices
The TruDefender FT instrument is specifically
designed to be used in an everyday environment in the
field and is therefore considerably more rugged than a
laboratory instrument.
However, the user should recognize that this is a
precision scientific instrument that should be treated
with care. Abuse and mistreatment may lead to a
degradation of performance or premature failure.
CAUTION
Do not use the TruDefender FT instrument unless you have been trained in its use.
CAUTION
There are no user-adjustable components inside the instrument. The TruDefender FT battery
compartment door may be opened, but do not open the device or modify the electronics within. All
service operations must be performed by Thermo Fisher Scientific or an authorized service agent of
Thermo Fisher Scientific. Any attempt by the user to open the instrument will render the warranty
null and void.
CAUTION
Use of controls, adjustments or performance of procedures other than those specified herein or
those specified by Thermo Fisher Scientific personnel may result in a hazardous condition.
CAUTION
Follow your organization's procedure and regulations for the handling of unknown substances.
CAUTION
The TruDefender FT instrument is not certified to be intrinsically safe, and the user should take the
necessary precautions when using the unit.
CAUTION
When wireless transmission is enabled, maintain a distance of 7.9 inches (20 cm) between the
instrument and your head and body.
CAUTION
If there is a possibility that you may be sending messages wirelessly with the instrument, do not attach
the instrument to your belt clip or hang it on a shoulder strap.

Thermo Scientific TruDefender FT and TruDefender FTi User Guide 3
Start
1
Getting Started
4Instrument Front Diagram
4 Sample Crusher Diagram
5Instrument Bottom Diagram
5 Carrying Case Contents
6Powering the Instrument
6Opening and Closing the Access Door
7Changing the Rechargeable Battery
7 Inserting the Disposable Batteries
7Using the Wall Plug Adapters
8 Using the Memory Card
8Changing System Date or Time
8 Changing the System Language

4TruDefender FT and TruDefender FTi User Guide Thermo Scientific
1Getting Started
Instrument Front Diagram
Sampling tip
Display
Quick scan key
Displays the scan screen or
initiates a scan
Enter key
Enacts a menu selection or
accepts changes made to a screen
Wake/Sleep key
Turns instrument on or off
or puts it into sleep mode
Cancels a screen without
accepting any changes
made to it. Returns to the
previously displayed
screen. Press and hold to
return to the Main menu.
Escape key
Flips the display screen
Flip screen key
Arrow keys
Select menu items
Nose
Sample Crusher Diagram
Boot
Latch
Sampling platform

Thermo Scientific TruDefender FT and TruDefender FTi User Guide 5
1Getting Started
Instrument Bottom Diagram
Battery compartment
door
Open access door
Memory card slot
Slide door in direction of arrow to open
Power cable connector
Carrying Case Contents
Memory card reader
Memory card
Sample crusher
Spare rechargeable battery
Sampling sticks, pipettes,
spatulas, swabs, alcohol
wipes
Battery
charger
Disposable
batteries
Power cable
and adapters

6TruDefender FT and TruDefender FTi User Guide Thermo Scientific
1Getting Started
Powering the Instrument
The TruDefender FT instrument can be powered by:
• A rechargeable battery (provides about 4 hours in
normal use)
• Connection to an electrical outlet (plug the AC
power cable into the power cable connector,
which is behind the access door)
• Three disposable SureFire®batteries (provide
about 5 hours in normal use)
When the display illuminates, the instrument is fully
powered and ready for operation.
The instrument has three power states: On, off, and a
power-saving mode (“sleep mode”).
NOTE
The instrument enters sleep mode if it remains
idle for several minutes while on battery power.
NOTE
Use the SureFire disposable batteries when
operating below 32°F (0°C).
To turn on the instrument
Press and hold the Wake/Sleep key until the display
backlight turns on, then release the key.
To put the instrument into sleep mode
Briefly press the Wake/Sleep key.
To turn off the instrument
Press the Wake/Sleep key for several seconds.
Opening and Closing the Access Door
The access door is designed to securely seal the battery
compartment, to protect it from contaminants.
CAUTION
When the access door on the bottom of the
instrument is open, the environmental seal is
broken, and the system is no longer water-
and dust-resistant.
To open the access door
Place your thumbs on each side of the door bar and
push in the direction of the arrows on the bar. The tabs
on both ends of the bar will disengage from the slots on
either side of the door.
To close the access door
Press the door into the opening to completely seat the
door gasket into the bottom of the instrument. Push
the door bar into the horizontal position. Make sure
that both of the bar tabs are seated in their slots.

Thermo Scientific TruDefender FT and TruDefender FTi User Guide 7
1Getting Started
Changing the Rechargeable Battery
Be sure to turn the instrument off before removing the
rechargeable battery or the disposable batteries.
CAUTION
If you remove the rechargeable battery or the
disposable batteries when the instrument is
turned on, the instrument software is very
likely to be damaged. This damage can cause
the instrument to behave unpredictably or
even to fail to turn on. If the software is
damaged, you will need to return the
instrument for servicing.
1Turn off the instrument by pressing and holding the
Wake/Sleep key for several seconds.
2Open the access door.
3Slide the battery compartment door to the right.
The door will spring open, and the battery will
slightly eject.
4Remove the battery and insert a charged one. Make
sure that “This side up” is on top and the arrow on
the battery label is pointing toward the instrument.
5Close the battery compartment door and slide it to
the left to latch it in place.
6Close the access door.
Inserting the Disposable Batteries
Be sure to turn the instrument off before removing any
batteries. See the caution notice above.
Follow the procedure for changing the rechargeable
battery, but remove the rechargeable battery and insert
three disposable batteries.
Orient the battery poles in this order: positive,
negative, positive. See the figure inside of the battery
compartment door, which shows the correct
orientation.
Using the Wall Plug Adapters
Your instrument comes with a set of international wall
plug adapters. To install an adapter, press it into the
recess in the power cord until the adapter clicks into
place. To remove an adapter, slide the release latch
down and pull the adapter out.

8TruDefender FT and TruDefender FTi User Guide Thermo Scientific
1Getting Started
Using the Memory Card
When you export data, the instrument stores the data
on a memory card, which may be placed in a memory
card reader and connected to a computer.
TIP
When not in use, keep the memory card in the
carrying case.
To insert the memory card
Hold the card with the arrow pointing toward the
instrument and the notched edge at the left (see the
figure at the left) and insert it into the memory card
slot. Press the card in until it catches in place.
To remove the memory card
Push the card in, then release. The card will eject
slightly from the slot. Remove the card, using the
fingernail groove on the top edge of the card to catch
the card’s edge.
Changing System Date or Time
You can change system date and time to synchronize
with your local time.
By default, your instrument uses the mm/dd/yyyy date
format. You can switch to the dd/mm/yyyy format.
1In the Main menu, select Tools > press the Enter
key.
2Select Date/Time > press the Enter key.
3Select Month, Day, Year, Hour, Minutes, Zone, or
Format, then press the right or left arrow key until
the value that you want to set appears. (Zone is the
time zone, in hours before or after Greenwich Mean
Time, GMT.)
4Press the Escape key.
Changing the System Language
You can change the system language at any time.
NOTE
To change to a translated library, you must install
the translated version of the software.
1In the Main menu, select Tools > press the Enter
key.
2Select Language > press the Enter key.
3Select a language > press the Enter key.