Y S I I N C O R P O R AT E D DATA S C O U T Software for the Level Scout OPERATIONS MANUAL
CONTENTS 1.0 Product Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................4 1.1 Data Scout and Data Scout Mobile Features..................................................................................................................4 1.2 Data Scout and Data Scout Mobile Hardware ...............................................................................................................4 2.
.4.3 Change battery.....................................................................................................................................................19 3.4.4 Memory Options (erase Tests) ...........................................................................................................................20 3.4.5 Change Transducer Address ...............................................................................................................................20 3.4.
1.0 PRODUCT INTRODUCTION This User Manual applies Level Scout software Data Scout and Data Scout Mobile version 2.0 and greater. These applications can be found on the Information and Support CD which accompanied your YSI Level Scout or on the YSI website (www.ysi.com). Data Scout and Data Scout Mobile maintain a consistent menu structure and feature set.
2 . 0 I N S TA L L AT I O N A N D S E T U P This chapter will provide a detailed description of how to set up and install Data Scout and Data Scout Mobile. 2.1 INSTALLING THE APPLICATIONS 2.1.1 INSTALLING DATA SCOUT ONTO A PC The Data Scout installation application is located on the CD shipped with the Level Scout. For the latest version of Data Scout, visit the YSI website (www.ysi.com). To install Data Scout: 1) Remove any old version of the program before installing a new version.
The Data Scout Mobile program icon is placed in the Program folder of your handheld PC. This may be selected from the handheld’s Start Menu. The next time you use the Start Menu, you will find a quick link to Data Scout Mobile in the bottom section of the Start menu. To add a permanent link to Data Scout Mobile in the top section of the Start menu, follow these steps: 1) Click on the Start Menu in the upper left hand corner of the Handheld PC desktop. 2) Click on the Settings menu item.
Note: For SDI-12 communication, the Level Scout’s baud rate must be set to 1200 via Data Scout Advanced software. Be sure to use the Transducer > Exit command when exiting Data Scout to retain the Level Scout communication setup. Figure 2.
The following procedure explains how to connect the filed cable to a Level Scout: Inspect the two o-rings on the open, battery end of the transducer to ensure they are clean and not damaged. Remove the battery insulator strip from the Level Scout. Look inside the cable end of the connectors to view how the two sections mate together. The two keys in the transducer and cable are two different sizes. This is important to note to ensure proper alignment (figure 2.2). Figure 2.
Figure 2.4 3 . 0 O P E R AT I N G DATA S C O U T A N D DATA S C O U T M O B I L E This chapter describes how to operate the applications in order to fully utilize and configure the Level Scout. Before proceeding in this chapter, install the applications as described in Section 2. All screen shots in this chapter are of Data Scout (desktop) and so have tabs on the top of the application window. The tabs for the Mobile application are located at the bottom of the window. 3.
3.1.2 STARTING (DISCOVERING TRANSDUCERS) There are three methods for discovering transducers that are connected to the PC. To begin the discovery process, select Transducer > Start > Complete, Selective, or Previous (Figures 3.2 and 3.3). Complete –Checks all Comm Ports at all baud rates. This takes longer but should always find a device. Use this the first time you connect a device. If the first attempt fails, check the connection and try again.
3.1.3 SELECTING FROM MULTIPLE TRANSDUCERS If Data Scout discovers multiple transducers via the Selective or Complete detection routines, you need to choose which Level Scout to view and configure. Do this by clicking Transducer > Select. Check the transducer you wish to view live data from and configure (Figure 3.5). Figure 3.5 3.1.
Important: Exit also restores the original communication rate and the original (or possibly modified) state of any Broadcast options. Therefore, you must select Transducer > Exit to restore these original settings to the transducer. For this reason, it is also important to select Transducer > Exit or Transducer > Stop when disconnecting one transducer and connecting a different one to the PC. Figure 3.7 3.
factors (Figure 3.10). After selecting the desired units of measure, click OK to confirm. You can select Cancel to return to the Live tab without saving any changes. Some groundwater installations record the distance from ground surface or some other reference point to the surface of the water. This is commonly called a TOC or “Top of Casing” measurement because the reference point for the measurement is typically at the top of the well casing.
Level or Set Fixed Offset button (Figure 3.13) located on the Live tab performs these adjustments on the Level Scout transducers. Once the Re-Zero Transducer window is open, one of two options must be selected prior to proceeding (Figure 3.14). If a vented transducer simply needs to be adjusted for zero drift and the transducer is not yet installed under water, select the “Not Submerged” option and acknowledge the choice with the OK button. Do not perform this function if using an Absolute Level Scout.
Figure 3.17 3.3 TABLE TAB The Table tab continually records data that are being viewed in the live screen (Figure 3.18). This tab allows the user to monitor level, temperature, and battery voltage in real-time on a data table in time-stamped data lines. The newest data is displayed at the top of the screen and constantly pushes older data off the bottom of the screen. Use the scroll bar on the right side of the screen to view older data that is no longer visable.
“live” since the last time you started Data Scout or since the last time you pressed the Clear button. Saving this file does not clear the Table in main memory. If you plan to process (plot or convert) these files later with DSAdv’s Playback application, the leading parts of these file names (i.e. Model #, Serial #, and _Live_) should not be changed. DSAdv uses these file name descriptors to distringuish between various types of .csv files. 3.3.
4. Enter the directory of the .exe file for the spreadsheet application you wish to use. For example, if you wish to use Microsoft® Excel™, you would not enter: excel.exe. Instead, you would enter something similar to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\EXCEL.EXE (Figure 3.23). Check your computer’s directory to find the exact file path. Figure 3.23 3.3.3 CLEAR DATA TABLE Click the Clear button to wipe all live data that has been collected since you entered Data Scout.
3.4.2 CONFIGURE ALARMS AND BROADCASTS Click the Alarms and Broadcast button (Figure 3.25) to access the ‘Alarms and Broadcasts’ window (Figure 3.26). Alarm and broadcast features are available for configuration. An alarm is simply an indication that some pre-determined measurement boundary has been exceeded. An Alarm Limit is configured as a high and low level band within which all readings are expected to fall.
NLN NLA NLG NEB AHI ALO WHI WLO Normal, linear logged scan Normal, linear average logged scan Normal, logarithmic logged scan Normal, event based logged scan Alarm, logged scan above high alarm limit Alarm, logged scan below low alarm limit Warn, logged scan above high warn limit Warn, logged scan below low warn limi Table 1, Broadcast ID code description 3.4.3 CHANGE BATTERY The Level Scout uses two AA alkaline batteries for power.
3.4.4 MEMORY OPTIONS (ERASE TESTS) Click the Memory Options (Erase Tests) button (Figure 3.29) to open the ‘Change Memory Options’ window (Figure 3.30). This window displays how much free memory is available. This window also allows you to select between ‘Wrap’ or ‘No Wrap’ memory options: No Wrap –When memory is used up, the Level Scout stops measuring and logging data. Any active test will turn off. Wrap – When memory is used up, the Level Scout begins to write the newest data over the oldest data.
Figure 3.32 3.4.6 UPDATE FIRMWARE Occasionally, new features may be added to the Level Scout. The latest version of Level Scout firmware can be retrieved from YSI’s website, www.ysi.com. The currently installed version of firmware is displayed at the top of each main tab. There are two methods to update firmware: the normal method and the alternate method. Both methods are described separately below.
A successful firmware update is indicated by the pop-up window. After clicking OK in this window, the Change Date/Time window will open automatically. It is important to reset the Level Scout’s transducer date and time to correct for any time loss that occurred during the firmware update. If you get an error message during the firmware update, notate the com port listed in the error message. This will be used in the alternative firmware update function.
3.5 TESTS TAB Up to 16 unique, sequentially scheduled test configurations can be programmed within a Level Scout. Test configurations are numbered from 1 to 16 and may be named for convenience. Each configuration defines a test start date and time, a test end date and time, a scan interval, a scan method, and a selection of measurements to record at each scan interval. When the ‘Tests’ tab is selected, the current state of every configured test is read from the transducer.
The Begin and End date and times may be easily modified by clicking on the down arrow to the right of each Date/Time field. This action will open a calendar, as illustrated in Figure 3.38, for a point-and-click selection of the date. Clicking in the time fields allows for direct entry of the desired value for hours:minutes:seconds.tenths of seconds (Figure 3.39). This is a 24-hour time entry box, no AM or PM indication is necessary. Figure 3.38 Figure 3.
3.5.2 METHOD TEST TAB There are four possible Scan Methods available. The selected method utilizes the Scan Interval that set in the Time tab. Each Scan Method interprets this interval in a unique way. Figure 3.41 Linear - This results in logging data at a constant interval (scan interval) for the entire test (Figure 3.41). Linear Averaged - This method averages x data points into one logged measurement.
3.5.3 DATA TEST TAB The Data tab allows selection of the parameters to be logged (Figure 3.43). The available parameters are: Level (the current level measurement in the configured units), Sensor Temperature (the temperature of the level sensor itself), and Voltage (the current battery voltage). Level Scouts with 4 MB of memory incorporate one additional measurement, a high precision temperature sensor located on the circuit board.
To clear a specific test setup, select the desired “Done” Test # at the top of the screen and check the “Vacate Test Selected Above” box (Figure 3.47). This action will immediately produce a confirmation box, allowing you to either clear test information or retain it for further use (Figure 3.48). Click Yes to clear the information. Be sure to extract the test data before performing this function. Figure 3.47 Figure 3.48 3.5.
Figure 3.51 SECTION 3.5.5.1 - EXTRACT ABOVE TEST Extract Test Selected Above allows you to simply download the test currently listed under ‘Test #.’ To extract this test, select the appropriate checkbox and then click on Extract Test (Figure 3.52). Figure 3.52 SECTION 3.5.5.2 - EXTRACT ACTIVE TEST Extract Active Test # allows you to download the active test listed. To extract this test, select the appropriate checkbox and then click on Extract Test (Figure 3.53) Figure 3.53 SECTION 3.5.5.
Figure 3.54 SECTION 3.5.5.4 - CHANGE UNITS, SCANS, AND FILES Checking the Change Units/Scans/File box along the bottom of the window provides the user with a little more control over the download process. After checking this box and then click Extract Test, you will have the option to change the exported measurement units (Figure 3.55). For example, if you logged data in PSI, you can export in FtH20 using this feature. Figure 3.
4 . 0 S U P P O RT I N F O R M AT I O N 4.1 WARRANTY The YSI Level Scout Instrument is warranted for two (2) years from date of purchase by the end user against defects in materials and workmanship, exclusive of batteries and any damaged caused by defective batteries. YSI Level Scout cables and suspension wires are warranted for two (2) years from date of purchase by the end user against defects in material and workmanship.
When placing an order please have the following available: 1.) YSI account number (if available) 2.) Name and phone number 3.) Purchase Order or Credit Card number 4.) Model Number or brief description 5.) Billing and shipping addresses 6.) Quantity SERVICE INFORMATION YSI has authorized service centers throughout the United States and Internationally. For the nearest service center information, please visit www.ysi.
4.3 ACCESSORIES Model 770* Communication Cable, non submersible. Provides RS-485. Model 771* RS-485 to RS-232 converter. Connects to 779 and 710, 720, 730 and 740 cables. Model 772* RS-485 to SDI-12 converter. Connects to 779 with gender changer. Connects to 710, 720, 730 and 740 cables. For SDI-12 communication, the baud rate of the Level Scout must be set to 1200. Model 773* RS-232 to USB converter. Connects to 771. 778-0-0* All-in-one communications adapter.
A605816 Rev C May 2010 Data Scout Manual YSI Incorporated YSI Incorporated Data Scout 33
