Product Manual

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DigiRod Mode
Press and release either the Benchmark or Point buttons.
The screen changes to DigiRod view.
Select accuracy: AUTO, 3 mm or 10 mm. Press once to change current
setting. The recommended setting is AUTO, which allows the widest tilt
angles (30 degrees) for measurements and the fastest readings. The accuracy of
a particular shot is displayed as fine (3 mm or 1/8”), medium
(10 mm or ½”) or coarse (>10 mm or ½”) with a flashing symbol after each
measurement.
The current accuracy is stored in memory
and will be retained when the unit is
turned off or when batteries are replaced.
NOTE: The above accuracies are typical
using a 1.5 m (5 ft) Height of Instrument
(HI).
Select units of measure: Press once to display the current setting. Press again
to scroll through settings:
meters dec_feet fract.1/16 fract.1/8
DR400 DigiRod
User Guide
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Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Spectra Precision® DR400 DigiRod™ from the
Trimble® family of precision products. Before using the product, be sure to
read this operator’s manual carefully.
Your comments and suggestions are welcome; please contact us at the
locations listed at the end of this manual.
Features
1. Keypad – Power, Accuracy, Units,
Volume, Benchmark & Point buttons
2. LED Display - Green for on-grade,
Red for high, Blue for low
3. Beeper Output: Fast, solid, and
slow beep signal, plus fast and slow
chirp signal
4. Laser Exit Aperture
5. Anti-strobe sensor - Reduces false
indication from strobe lights
6. SuperCell Reception Window -
127.0 mm / 5.0 in of height
7. Graphical Display – Displays
elevation, benchmark, distance,
settings and status
8. On-grade Mark - Aligned with
laser center on-grade reading
9. Battery Door & Latch for four
“AA” batteries
10. Marking Notches, 80.0 mm
(3.15 in) from top
11. Captive Screw Thread, Center
on-grade clamp position
12. Captive Screw Thread, Offset
on-grade clamp position
13. Clamp Guides - Dimples align
rod clamp
14. Serial Number / ID Label
15. Laser Safety and Aperture Labels
16. Rubber over mold - Protects the
unit from drops
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Features
Installing the Batteries
1. Open the battery door while pressing in the latch
with your thumb
2. Insert four AA batteries noting the plus (+) and
minus (-) diagrams inside the battery housing.
3. Close the battery door. Push down on latch until
it “clicks” into the locked position.
Features
Power On/O
Receiver Mode Capture
DigiRod Mode Step Back
Delete
Distance Meter Mode
Access
Key Combination
Units of Measure
Distance Meter Mode
Single & Continuous
Reading
Enter
LEDs On/O/
Brightness
Backlight On
Key Combination
Bench Mark (BM)
Capture
Deadband
Scroll up
Menu Access
Key Combination
Beeper Volume
Scroll Down
Point (PT) Capture
Oset
Key Combination
Turn Power ON/OFF
Press and hold for 2 seconds to turn
power ON. Repeat to turn power OFF.
The unit will initialize a function test,
calibrate, then be ready for use.
(Do not power up the unit in a laser beam or
strobe. If detected, the unit will display “E200”
and revert to the previous calibration.)
Laserometer Mode - Select Accuracy
Press once to change the current settings (A beep
confirms the selected Accuracy)
The selected unit of measure determines the displayed deadband (accuracy).
The current accuracy is stored in memory and will be retained when the unit
is turned off or when batteries are replaced.
0.5 mm 1 mm 2 mm 5 mm 10 mm
Select Beeper Volume
Press once to change the current settings.
The current beeper volume is stored in memory and will be retained when the
unit is turned off or when batteries are replaced.
Off - Low - Medium - Loud
Select LED Brightness / Backlight On
Press the Units and Volume buttons together
to turn the backlight on for 30 seconds and
to display the LEDs at their current setting.
Subsequent presses cycle through the LED
brightness settings (bright, dim and OFF).
The current brightness of LEDs is stored in
memory and will be retained when the unit is
turned off or when the batteries are replaced.
+
Capture Function
A) DR400 is in the laser beam and the power is on:
Press the Power / Capture button once. The current elevation reading will
be held. A flashing display will confirm the reading has been captured.
Press On/Off button to return to normal operation.
B) DR400 is out of the laser beam and power is on:
Press the Power / Capture button once. A short intermittent beep (The beeper
will turn on to Low if turned off.)
Place the DR400 in the beam. (Example: Fasten it to a measuring rod, bring the
DR400 into the laser beam. You now have 5 seconds
to capture the reading.)
The beeper will chirp rapidly after approximately
5 seconds to confirm beam capture. A flashing
display will also indicate the reading has been
captured.
Press On/Off button to return to normal operation.
Laser Distance Meter Mode
Press and HOLD the Power and Units button for 1
second to select the Laser Distance Meter mode.
Screen changes/reverses to laser distance meter view.
Units of measure must be set in DigiRod mode prior
to entry into laser distance meter mode. The Units
button becomes the Measure button in laser distance
meter mode.
Taking a single measurement: Press and release the
Measure (Units) button. The laser beam symbol
flashes and laser spotting beam appears. Place the
spotting beam on the target and press and release the
measurement button again to take the measurement.
Measurements are always referenced to the back (top)
of the unit. The previous 2 measurements are
indicated in smaller font at the bottom of the display.
Taking continuous measurements: Press and release the Measure
(Units) button. The laser beam symbol flashes, laser spotting
beam appears. Press and HOLD the measurement button for 2
seconds to take continuous measurements. The shortest
measurement (Min) and longest measurement (Max) are indicated
at the bottom of the display. Press the measurement button again
to stop taking continuous measurements.
Exiting laser distance meter mode: Cycle On/Off to exit laser
distance meter mode, or press the Benchmark or Point buttons to exit laser
distance meter mode and go directly to DigiRod mode.
+
DigiRod Measurement Considerations
1. For precision Benchmark or Point readings the accuracy can be set to
3 mm, which “forces” the user to hold the unit relatively plumb and
steady. Once a precision reading (such as a Benchmark) is taken, the unit
can be set to AUTO for remaining readings.
2. The closer to plumb the DigiRod is held, the more accurate the readings.
3. The shorter the H.I. is for a given Accuracy band, the more accurate the
readings.
4. The more stable the DigiRod is held, the more accurate the readings.
5. Targets that have poor reflectivity (black or dark surfaces such as new
blacktop) and bright sunlight will increase the time required to collect or
make impossible LDM readings. (See Error Code Chart)
6. Do not use DigiRod upside down or inaccurate readings will result.
Taking a Benchmark: Press and release the Benchmark button.
Place the spotting beam on the (ground) target and the receiver in
the rotating laser plane and hold the unit steady to allow the
DigiRod to take the measurement (2-3 seconds). The unit beeps,
laser spotting beam appears and benchmark elevation number flashes "-----".
The DigiRod generates audible tones to indicate proper placement in the laser
beam and tilt:
DigiRod Audible Tones Condition
Slow intermittent beep In capture mode, but no laser strike
Slow beep Laser strike is too low
Fast beep Laser strike is too high
Slow chirp Laser strike is in range, but unit is
tilted out of range or too unsteady
Fast chirp Laser strike and tilt are in range,
collecting the measurement
Continuous beep Measurement nished
Taking a Benchmark:
Once the measurement is taken press the Enter button (

) to accept
or the up/down buttons () to change the benchmark elevation
number in the display (see the next section to change/accept elevation
numbers).
Once entered the Benchmark Elevation (BM ELV) is stored in
memory.
Taking a Point: The Point is the relative measurement compared to
the previously taken Benchmark Elevation.
Press and release the Point button. Place the spotting beam on the
(ground) target and the receiver in the rotating laser plane and hold the unit
steady to allow the DigiRod to take the measurement (2-3 seconds).
Unit beeps, laser spotting beam appears, point elevation number flashes "----".
Select Units of Measure
Press once to change the current settings.
mm cm in frac ft
The current unit of measure is stored in memory and will be retained when
the unit is turned off or when batteries are replaced.
Changing and Accepting Elevation Numbers:
The Benchmark Elevation number flashes as a prompt to accept or
change the elevation number. To accept or change the elevation
number, scroll the number up or down by pressing the up or down
(accuracy+volume) buttons. Press the Enter button (

) to accept
the displayed elevation.
To ZERO the elevation number, press the up/down buttons ()
simultaneously for 1 second. To change the elevation number in
integer increments press and HOLD the up and down buttons
simultaneously for longer than 2 seconds. To fast increment the
elevation number press and hold the up button, wait a few
seconds, then simultaneously press and hold the down button.
To fast decrement the elevation number hold the down button,
wait a few seconds, then simultaneously press and hold the up
button.
Benchmark Elevation (BM ELV) number flashes
Emulating Different Rod Types
1. To emulate a cut / fill rod; Set the Benchmark Elevation (BM ELV) to
zero, subsequent Point measurements will be displayed relative to the BM.
2. To emulate a direct reading rod; Set the BM ELV to the desired (non
zero) elevation, the subsequent Point measurements will be displayed as
elevations with respect to the BM ELV.
3. To emulate an indirect reading rod; do not establish a BM, or delete an
existing BM. Subsequent point readings will be displayed as H.I.’s with
respect to the laser plane.
Fine Medium Coarse