Wet Labs WQM User manual

Water Quality Monitor Software User’s Guide (wqmsw) Revision B 12 Dec. 2011
Water Quality Monitor
(WQM)
Host Software User’s Guide
The user’s guide is an evolving document. If you find sections that are unclear, or missing
information, please let us know. Please check our website periodically for updates.
WET Labs, Inc.®
P.O. Box 518
Philomath, OR 97370
541-929-5650
fax: [phone]
www.wetlabs.com

Water Quality Monitor Software User’s Guide (wqmsw) Revision B 12 Dec. 2011
Sensor Warranty
This unit is guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship for one year from the original
date of purchase. Warranty is void if the factory determines the unit was subjected to abuse or
neglect beyond the normal wear and tear of field deployment, or in the event the pressure housing
has been opened by the customer.
To return the instrument, contact WET Labs for a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) and
ship in the original container. WET Labs is not responsible for damage to instruments during the
return shipment to the factory. WET Labs will supply all replacement parts and labor and pay for
return via 3rd day air shipping in honoring this warranty.
Shipping Requirements
1. Please retain the original ruggedized plastic shipping case. It meets stringent shipping and
insurance requirements, and protects your meter.
2. Service and repair work cannot be guaranteed unless the meter is shipped in its original case.
3. Clearly mark the RMA number on the outside of your case and on all packing lists.
4. Return instruments using 3rd day air shipping or better: do not ship via ground.

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1. WQM Setup and Operation ............................................................................. 1
2. Technical Reference ....................................................................................... 5
2.1 Menus ........................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Status Indicators ......................................................................................................... 9
2.3 WQM Setup Parameters ........................................................................................... 10
2.4 View Data ................................................................................................................. 13
2.5 Scroll Data ................................................................................................................ 14
2.6 WQM Files ............................................................................................................... 14
3. WQM Data ...................................................................................................... 17
3.1 Data Format ............................................................................................................. 17
3.2 Status Record Format ............................................................................................... 18
3.3 WQM Default Settings ............................................................................................... 19
4. Troubleshooting ............................................................................................ 21
4.1 Testing Components................................................................................................. 21
4.2 Physical Sensors ...................................................................................................... 22
4.3 Optical Sensors ........................................................................................................ 22
4.4 BLIS ......................................................................................................................... 22
4.4 Pump........................................................................................................................ 23
4.5 Miscellaneous Commands ........................................................................................ 23
Appendix A: Controlling the WQM with an External Logger ....................................... 24
Appendix B: Using HyperTerminal ............................................................................... 25

Water Quality Monitor Software User’s Guide (wqmsw) Revision B 12 Dec. 2011 1
1. WQM Setup and Operation
The WQM is factory-configured to run out-of-the-box. This user’s guide explains the Host
program for the WQM. For hardware setup and operation, refer to the associated user’s guide.
1. Install and start the WQM host software on host computer.
2. Connect the WQM to the host PC and a 12 V nominal power supply using the test cable.
Turn the power supply on. Select the appropriate COM port and baud rate (19200).
3. The WQM will cycle through the DO Stabilization Mode, then move to Sample Mode.
When sampling:
 WQM output in air will be a line of data every 6–10 seconds.
 WQM output in water will be a line of data every second.
4. Collect a few minutes of data:
 Optional: Select Save WQM Output on PC to save raw data (filename.raw) to a file
location of your choice.
 Make sure the Internal Logging checkbox in the Setup tab is On.
 Data will be saved as .raw files to both the PC and the WQM.
5. After approximately 30 seconds, the FLNTU Bio-wiper™ will open and the WQM will
start transmitting data using the default output format. Data will plot in the View Data tab
(below), or you can view raw data in the Scroll Data tab. Current values for each
parameter will display to the right of the plot if the Show Plot Legend is checked, as well
as to the left, in the WQM Data area. Either or both can be hidden or displayed.
6. Allow the meter to run for a few minutes, then Select Stop WQM Sample and Stop
Saving Output Data. The Bio-wiper™ will close. Data will stop scrolling.
7. The WQM will enter Standby Mode, allowing you to communicate with the meter.
8. To view and change the WQM settings, select the WQM Setup tab, then Get WQM
Setup. The WQM settings will appear in the Current Setup area.

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9. To copy data files from the WQM to the host PC:
a. Verify the WQM is in Standby Mode.

To speed the download time,
change the baud rate to 115200
from the Show menu in the Host
software.
b. Select the
Select
Download Folder to
create a folder on the host
PC for the data files.
c. Select Get WQM
Directory. A list of .raw
files stored on the WQM
appears.

Water Quality Monitor Software User’s Guide (wqmsw) Revision B 12 Dec. 2011 3
d. Select the file(s) to copy.
e. Select Download WQM Files. They will save into the previously created folder.
 You may change the parameters the host will process using the Advanced File
Processing option. See Section 2.7 for details.
10. Turn off the power supply.
11. View the .raw files in MS Excel or a text editor.

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2. Technical Reference
This section provides details on the controls and options available in the host software.
2.1 Menus
File
Exit: Exits the host program.
Show
COM Port Setup
The COM Port Setup allows you to select
the COM port and baud rate for Host PC–
WQM communication.
Default baud rate: 19200.
Data Sidebar
These are the meter’s default measurement settings.
Checking the Plot box will cause each checked
parameter to display in the View Data window.
Values in the boxes to the right are the current values
for each parameter, which is also displayed
graphically in the View Data tab.
View Data Setup
Displays or hides
the legend and
toolbar and changes
background color on
plot in the View
Data tab.

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Pre-Deployment
Clear BLIS Volume Used
Provides guidance on filling the BLIS
reservoir (see Hardware User’s Guide
for details). The BLIS Volume Used
is a running total of bleach used
during a deployment. It should be
reset prior to a new deployment.
Clear Power Failure Message
If power to the WQM is interrupted, a red warning box will appear, and the UPS
Status box on the WQM Setup screen will go red. Select Clear Power Failure
Message to clear the warning box and reset the red background on the UPS Status.
Increment File #
Allows you to start another file run #. Used with External control.
Reset Pressure Offset
Provides guidance on resetting the pressure offset, and allows you to reset the pressure
measurement to 0.0 dbars for a new deployment.

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Advanced
Change WQM Output
The parameters selected here are the default output. Others can be selected and will
appear above in the Sample Output area, in the Scroll Data tab, and in the View
Data tab.
 Reset Default Outputs: Resets output to factory settings.
 Get Output Configuration: Retrieves the meter’s output settings.
 Send Output Configuration: Sends any new selections to the WQM. The
additionally selected parameters appear on the left in the WQM Data area and
in the plot legend on the View Data tab.
For example:
With the desired parameters selected, select Stop WQM Sample to put the
WQM in standby mode.
Select Send Output Configuration. The WQM is updated and the changes are
reflected in the WQM Data area, as well as the data plot legend.

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Change Chlorophyll Coefficients
Application-specific
characterization coefficients
can be input and loaded here.
To retrieve the factory defaults,
select Reset to Factory
Coefficients.
Setup External Data Port
Opens an additional
tab for verifying the
current setup and
setting up an external
meter. ECO FLCDS
and PARS are
currently supported.
Show Stop WQM Window
Provides the option of stopping WQM data acquisition.
Help
See Section 4 for troubleshooting using Help screen options and descriptions.

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2.2 Status Indicators
Date and Time
Displays the date and time of both the host PC and the
WQM. This box will have a red background if there is a
time difference between the WQM and the host PC.
Displays CTD Status, DO Stabilization,
Optics Status, Sample, and Standby
operations.
WQM Data
The WQM will begin sampling.
If the WQM is in a low power
state when the green Start WQM
Sample button is pressed, The
window at the right will appear,
providing the option of starting
the WQM immediately, or at a
date and time of your selection.
The WQM Status will report and
decrement the time the WQM
will sit at low power before
starting.
Forces the WQM to update the data output display.
Saves real-time data to the host PC.
Stops saving data to PC.
Stops WQM and places it in Standby Mode.

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2.3 WQM Setup Parameters
The default operating parameters of the WQM are factory shown below.
Retrieve settings currently saved in the meter.
To change settings currently saved in the meter, make
any desired changes in the New Setup area, then
select Send New Setup. Note that the meter must be
in Standby mode.
To send the host PC time and date to the WQM, press
Set Date and Time.

To save WQM host settings, press
Save Setup
. A
second window will appear in which to supply the
filename and location on the PC.
 To load a saved setup, press Load Setup, then
select the previously saved setup file.
 To send this to the WQM, press Send New
Setup.

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2.3.1 Setup Parameter: Sample Control
Autonomous (factory default setting)
The WQM is connected to a constant
power source and is self-directed. It uses
an internally stored setup to determine
when to sample, log, and sleep. Data
filenames will increment upon power up
and append when the meter is cycling
between low power and sampling.
External
WQM data is synchronized with data from
other instrumentation when using an
external controller or logger. External
power is switched on to the WQM at the
start of the sample interval and a stop
command is sent to the WQM at the end of
the sample interval before external power
is turned off.

Note that when you change sampling
parameters, the host software
automatically re-calculates memory
and power consumption.
Sample For: and Interval Time:
When Autonomous is checked, the sample duration is selectable from 10 seconds
to 2 hours. The Interval Time ranges from 3 minutes to 24 hours. The interval is
inclusive: for example, setting the interval to 2 hours and the sample for time to 15
minutes, the WQM will sample once for 15 minutes every 2 hours.
Interval Time is not applicable when External is checked.
Sample Delay:
Sample Delay is not applicable when Autonomous is checked.
Under External control, sampling can be delayed for up to 1 hour once the WQM
recovers power.

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2.3.2 Setup Parameter: DO Stabilization
Autonomous Control: DO Stabilization is controlled by the WQM, depending on
temperature. Stabilization takes less time in warm water (closer to 30 seconds) than in
cold water (closer to 120 seconds).
External Control: DO stabilization time can be set from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. For
external control, you must take into account the temperature of the water the WQM
will be used in.
To calculate the time needed to
stabilize the DO reading, select
to display the plot at right.
2.3.3 Setup Parameter: BLIS
The BLIS system can be set to inject
from 7–700µl of bleach at 1 hour
intervals, and to purge after taking the
first sample. Note that the Est. BLIS
Deployment time will automatically
update in response to the volume and
interval selections.
2.3.4 Setup Parameter: Free Disk
Provides an estimate of available memory.
See Internal Disk Storage area to the
right for details.
2.3.5 Setup Parameter: Increment File #
Selecting Increment File # creates a new
file. This is used when the control is set to
External to increment the run # between
deployments.

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2.4 View Data
Allows real-time viewing of selected parameters from the WQM Data area (left side of
window) or the View Data Setup (see below). Plotted parameters can be changed on-the-
fly.
Select Advanced menu,
then Change WQM
Output. With the meter in
Standby, select or deselect
parameters, then select
Send Output
Configuration to the
WQM.
The new parameters will be displayed in the WQM Data Sidebar area and the legend.
Either or both can be hidden or displayed. Both show current output values for each
parameter.

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2.5 Scroll Data
Allows you to view real-time raw data according to the parameters selected in the Output
Controls tab of the host program.
2.6 WQM Files
Options in this tab allow you to select the data files to be copied from the WQM to the
host PC.
Select Download Folder Brings up a window for you to select or create a folder in
which the .raw WQM files will be stored.
Get WQM Directory Displays a list of files saved on the WQM.
Download WQM Files Saves the selected .raw files to the previously selected
download folder.

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Erase WQM Files Selected files will be deleted from the WQM memory.
Cancel Download Halts the process of saving .raw files. The host will save all
of any file being saved when “cancel” is selected and any
remaining, unsaved files will remain selected but will not be
saved.
Advanced File
Processing
After copying files to the host PC in the
WQM Files
tab,
you can select various derived parameters for the WQM
Host program to calculate as part of the processed file.
Choose how the contents of the output file will be
delimited.
Select the .raw file you’d like to process. The
processed file (.dat) will be saved to the same folder.
Loads previously saved parameter configurations to be
calculated by the host program.
Saves configurations in the host program.
Returns the parameter configuration to the factory
default settings (listed below).

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The filenames of any
Configuration
and
Output
files
you have saved will display here.
Date’n’Time Format
Select the order of Date and
Time for output. Note that
formatting separated by colon
(:) is most likely compatible
with MS Excel.
Sample Averaging
 None: Default. All samples are output.
 Last 5–60 Seconds: Choose some period at the end of a sampling period to average.
 All Sample Data: All output from a sampling period is averaged.
 Daily Average will average all samples in a 24 hour period (12:00:01 to 12:00:00)
then reset.
Default data displayed:
 WQM Header
 WQM SN
 Date
 Time
 Temperature
 Pressure
 Salinity
 DO (mg/l)
 Chlorophyll (µg/l)
 NTU
Selections in this window do not change the
data that’s collected, merely the output: the
host program calculates derived parameters
from the raw data.