lCoulometer Software User Guide        May 1, 2004    Rev. A

Eli Morris    emorris@es.ucsc.edu
University Of California, Santa Cruz

On the front panel of the phyisical coulometer, make sure the mode is set to 2 and the time is set to 0.0 minutes.

Getting help:

• Hover the cursor over any of the fields or buttons for an explanation of them.
• Read this guide by choosing "User Guide" from the "Help" menu.
• Read information about this program, including version number by choosing "About" from the "Help" menu.
  

Typical usage:

1. Enter Information regarding the run.
1. Enter your name as the "Operator Name."
2. Enter a "sample weight in milligrams."
3. Today's date will be entered automatically.
4. Set the Sampling interval if something other than 10 seconds is needed.
5. Enter a sample comment if desired.
6. Set the runtime in minutes if something other than 5 minutes is needed.
7. Set the criteria used to determine if the sample has run to completion by choosing "Sample Stop Criteria" from the analysis menu.
1. Set the difference criteria if something other than 0.05% averaged over 3 readings is needed.
2. Set the sample rate difference if something other than 2.0 is needed.
3. Set the signal Strength Cutoff if something other than 100.0 is needed.
4. Click the "OK" button to dismiss the dialog box.
2. Take a blank measurement or enter a pre-determined value for the blank (skip to next bullet).
1. Choose "run blank" from the analysis menu or click on the "run blank" button at the top of the Coulometer window.
• The progress bar measures the time left.
• Results can be seen in the plot and the sample data window.
• The blank measurement is complete when the run time has elapsed.
2. Click the "OK" button on the "sample finished" dialog box when the sample has completed.
3. Repeat the meaurement as needed.
3. Determine a value for the blank before running a sample.
1. Click on the button to the right of the "Latest Blank" value to use the value of the last blank measured for the blank that wil be used in the %Carbon calculations. (This is the default).
2. Click on the button to the right of the "Average Blank" value to use the average of all the blanks taken thus far in the %Carbon calculations.
3. Enter a user-determined value in the "Alternate Value" field and click on the button to the right  of that number in order to use that value as the blank in the %Carbon calculations.
4. Whatever value is going to be used for sample measurements will appear in the "blank to be used" field in the far right hand side of the screen.
4. Measure the sample
1. Choose "run sample" from the analysis menu or click on the "run sample" button at the top of the Coulometer window.
• The progress bar measures the time left.
• Results can be seen in the plot and the sample data window.
2. Sample ends when any one of several criteria are met.
• The user clicks on the "Abort Measurements" button at the top of the panel or chooses "Abort Measurements" from the "Analysis" menu. This will not save any of the measurements from the coulometer.
• The user clicks on the "End Measurements" button at the top of the panel or chooses "End Measurements" from the "Analysis" menu. This WILL save all the measurements from the coulometer.
• The elapsed time is more than 1.5x the programmed runtime.
• If the 3 point average signal is large (greater than the "Signal Strength Cutoff" value) compared to the blank, then if the the difference between the 3 point average of the sample and the 3 point average of the blank values divided by the sample value is less than a pre-determined amount ("Difference Criteria").
• If the 3 point average signal is small compared to the blank (less than the "Signal Strength Cutoff" value), then if the 3 point average of the sample is less than the 3 point average of the blank multiplied by the "Sample Rate Difference".
3. Click on the "OK" button is the "Sample Finished" dialog box.
4. The result is calculated according by the following.
• The actual run time of the sample is divided by the programmed run time of the sample and multiplied by the blank value. This number is subtracted from the last sample value taken.
• When the sample run is completed the data display and the plot will display the 'sample - blank' numbers.
5. Save the sample before moving on to the next sample.
1. Choose "Save..." from the "file" menu. Choose a filename and click the "OK" button. It is not nessesary to add a file extension as this will be done automatically.
6. Clear sample information.
1. Choose "New Sample" from the "file" menu. This will clear the information specific to the previous sample.

Additional features

• In order to abort either a blank or a sample measurement, choose "Abort Measurements" from the "Analysis" menu or click on the "Abort Measurements" button at the top of the window. Aborted measurements can not be saved and a carbon value will not be calculated.
• In order to end either a blank or a sample measurement, choose "End Measurements" from the "Analysis" menu or click on the "End Measurements" button at the top of the window. Ended blank measurements do not produce a value for the blank. Blank measurements must run to completion. Ending sample measurements, however, do produce a carbon value during any part of the sample measurements.
• A previously saved file (".col" file) may be opened, primarily for viewing, by choosing "Open..." from the "File" menu.
• The plot may be printed by choosing"Print Plot..." from the "File" menu.
• The data may be saved in a list style format suitable for exporting into Excel, by choosing "Export As List..." from the "File" menu.
• The program may be quit, by choosing "Exit" from the "File" menu.
• In order to reset the coulometer, that is to zero the counts, choose "Reset Coulometer" fromt the "Analysis" menu.
• To clear all the information about blanks storaged thus far (if you want to start a new avrage blank value), choose "Clear Blank Info" from the "Analysis" menu.
• During normal operation, some controls are made unavailable in order to prevent accidental overwriting of data. This can be circumvented by choosing "Unlock Controls" from the "Analysis" menu.
• The plot display can be changing to view sample data, blank data, or sample data minus the blank data. The data list will also be changed to reflect the plot. To change this view, choose "Display" from the "Analysis" menu and then one of the options listed.