Operating Instructions
Contents
1. The sensor can be protected against unauthorized changes calibration etc Important If the sensor password got lost forgotten etc the sensor has to be returned to Novasina in Switzerland as special equipment is required to unlock it Please be careful while protecting a sensor 8 7 1 Set a Sensor Password e Goto Chamber settings Sensor calibration Setsensor password e Enter the requested password Capital or non capital letters have to be respected If no password is requested just leave the field empty Note If you perform the calibrations on a LabSwift but use the sensor on a Lab Touch do only enter a number in the range from 0000 to 9999 as the LabSwift just allows entering numbers as password e sensor protection password has already been set it has to be ente red Please enter previous password Note e The factory set password is 8808 Asuccessful change of the password is confirmed by the instrument 8 8 Automatic Notification for Calibration Etsiis LAE Systeam sating Chamber 1 Chamber 2 IC LJ Daca LJ CaCae Sensor calibration Chamber 2 28 This feature offers to possibility to indicate the user of a required calibration It is very useful if a specific calibration interval is listed in an SOP standard operating procedure Once a calibration has been performed the indication disappears The same happens if the automati2. 5 101 9 0 S Y Aeldsiq 10001010 o qeis 1nd1no 020 01 1nojuud jeubis Auges uoneunq d q sjeublis yewo syun 18S 196 English 1N 0N1 S nue A uono qe7 ol Josueg uoneJqieo DJOMSSE 105095 195 oju juiod uoneJqi eo Je9 2 Josues ajeJqi e2 DuipJoo9i Jequunu 156 ej dsiq ejeg uiu OC epoui ejqeis ui eui MOIS S v 1524 4 5 Oo0 Sl J041u02 196 5 www novasina com 38 Ll 4 p 4 me N rw 39 www novasina com Novasina
3. 30 C 86 F e Adequate visual control and right handling of the SAL T standards has been done in advance e SAL T standard has to be shaken before placed in the measurement chamber This is required to activate the salt water slurry and to release salt crystals which might stick on the membrane Calibration can now be performed Place the respective SAL T humidity standard into the measurement cham ber and close it Do not press start just let it in for at least 45min so that the humidity equilibrium can be established perfectly Note Please keep in mind which SAL T has been placed into the chamber Go to Chamber settings gt Sensor calibration gt Calibrate sensor Possible calibration points will be displayed thereby the most probable one is green colored The pink colored value is the deviation of the actual aw value in the chamber compared to the reference value or in other words how much the measured value will be corrected by the calibration at this point once executed Select now the appropriate displayed aw value according to the inserted SAL T standard A pop up window appears asking for confirmation if the calibration should really be performed Double check if you have selected the correct reference value and press Yes e sensor is password protected enter it with the help of the displayed keyboard see chapter 8 7 Important There is a default password 8808 installed fr
4. Swiss Quality Flexibility and Competence Since its establishment almost 50 years ago the Novasina company has specialised in the accu rate measuring of air and material humidity The basis of this was the world s first self developed electronic measuring sensor for measuring humidity This technology is based on the resistive electrolytic measurement principle This was further developed and optimised over decades This measuring principle is generally the most demanding and most accurate Modern substances and materials allow continuous optimisation and expansion of the area of application of this measuring sensor Today the highly accurate humidity measurement is among our core competences and forms an important pillar of our success Intensive research and development further ensures a decisive advantage for us Novasina sensors and measuring instruments are mainly applied to the area of air and material humidity This is almost exclusively used in industrial applications as well as in research and development We fully develop and produce Novasina precision measuring instruments in which our Know how of many years is always included We are proud of the SWISS label which guarantees the highest quality innovation and longevity The diversity of our customers business partners and applications as well as our international orientation makes Novasina the competent partner for demanding humidity measurements in the industrial
5. At the end of the list move down by using the arrow down key there is the EE option to clear all points at once Clear all cal points e You will be asked to enter the sensor password if one is set Afterwards Clear cal point successful confirms the deletion Waning expired calibration 8 6 Display Cal Points Go to Chamber settings gt Sensor calibration gt Info calibration points and select the requested calibration point The following information is dis played Important Please provide this information as well if you ask Novasina to support a calibration problem e Last calibration Date and time of the last save or deletion of a cal point e Instrument Instrument and serial number of the same which had been used for calibration deletion e Reference value Reference value including temperature consideration e Correction value Correction of a cal point compared to the unchangeable baseline of the sensor Temperature Temperature at which the calibration had been performed Note A sensor drift by time can easily be detected if the correction value is always noted while calibrating the sensor The absolute amount of this value does not say anything about the quality of the sensor WWW novasina com 27 87 Sensor Protection As Sensor calibration Chamber 2 Cal Change password chamber 2 Password change successfull Wanning expired calibration
6. 7 6 configuration Sub menu to perform mainte Maintenance nance tasks Info about the firmware of the instrument and display of the license type www novasina com 17 aw C DD MM YYYY Acoustic signals B Temperature Control This chapter describes how the temperature control works on the LabTouch 5 1 Basics Most of the samples are significantly influenced by temperature For this reason the instrument is equipped with a simple temperature controlled measurement chamber As opposed to the LabMaster aw the LabTouch aw does not offer a cooling function which just allows measurement temperatures at least 2 C but max 10 C above environmental lab temperature Furthermore the instrument does have an thoroughly isolated measurement chamber Thus the accuracy can get worse if the temperature inside the chamber is significantly higher than the environmental one especially if the infrared sensor is covered by an installed sensor protection filter 5 2 Setting the Measurement Temperature e Press Chamber settings on the main menu screen and select Temperature control afterwards then enter the requested measurement temperature there If no value is entered the temperature control is switched off e Awarning notice is displayed if the programmed temperature is less than the required 2 C above the environmental one In addition the displayed temperature in the measurement screen turns red in this case and th
7. Note This function requires the advanced version of Lab Touch aw If you have a basic version please contact your local Novasina distributor to purchase a license update e Factory default setting for the communication with the optional NovalogMC software is the USB interface Note USB functionality is implemented in NovalogMC version V2 20 and higher e Please change settings as follows if a communication RS 232 interface is required Go to System settings gt Maintenance gt Interface for computer connection an choose RS 232 The following chapter describes the main maintenance task which can be perfor med by the user himself 10 1 Cleaning of the instrument For cleaning the instrument just use a soft tissue and pure water If necessary use mild detergents in addition NEVER use cleaners containing aggressive and or oxidizing chemicals Make sure you dry the chamber thoroughly dried after cleaning to avoid wet residuals and hence an influence on the coming water activity measurements If the outer parts need to be cleaned be aware that some areas of the instrument are not sealed and water can enter the instrument Best way is to use a wet tissue as well to remove dirt and dust Caution Before cleaning switch off the LabTouch aw and disconnect it from the mains www novasina com 31 10 2 Cleaning of the aw measurement cell CM 2 Please do NEVER clean the sensor CM 2 itself neither the black pro
8. i e 0034 will become 0035 e Interval recording Program the recording interval If no value is entered the logger is turned off and values are transferred to the SD card Note If a interval recording time or sample number is changed during an on going measurement it affects only the following but not the current measurement Insert a sample and start the measurement rec in front of the sample number indicates that the recording is active The recording will be conti nued till the chamber is opened or the SD card is removed Note If a logging has been stopped it can just be restarted after the chamber has been opened as by the sample number is just increased in this case WWW novasina com 23 7 2 3 Measurement Protocol Finished and on going measurements can be protocolled on the SD card These protocols can be read out by using the Novalog MC software or a standard text editor The use of the Novasina Novalog MC software has the advantage that a digital signature is used on the protocol which allows the recognition of unauthorized changes of the data Enter lab name e Goto System settings gt Printout protocol gt Laboratory and enter the name of a respective lab This name will be as well listed on the protocol e f there is no entry in the Laboratory field in the instrument it can be entered afterwards into the protocol by using the Novalog MC software The original protocol will not be
9. 16 www novasina com Description Factory default setting The following information will be displayed CHAMBER number Instrument Measurement chamber tag Serial number Serial number of the measurement chamber Firmware Firmware version SENSOR Version Sensor version Serial number Serial number of the sensor Firmware Info about the cability of the file system Last calibration Date and time of the latest calibration PROTECTION FILTER Last exchange Date of the last protection filter exchange if option activated 45 Menu System Settings All system related settings as display settings changing units etc can be done SESCH in this menu If multiple chambers are connected each chamber can be pro Dote time ET ES grammed via this submenu just choose the respective chamber as active and units LM gt program the set up afterwards Acoustic signals Printout protocol Maintenance Menupoint Description default setting is mandatory to set the correct date and time otherwise the calibration points management is disturbed and reminders do not work properly Date Time Set current date and time Sub menu for changing units Units i e aw or 9erH Sub menu for adjustments of acoustic signals as beep for end of measurement notifica tion Printout protocol sub menu EELER see chapter 7 2
10. Before a SD card is removed always switch to the measurement screen and double check if it is safe to remove the SD card Please do not remove if Iz is displayed www novasina com 13 4 1 3 Symbols Instead of the current measurement information in yellow colour some symbols might be displayed Please double check which chamber is affected before you try to solve the problem so that you do not stop an on going measurement in another chamber accidentally Those symbols have the following meaning The system detected a problem with Press on the symbol to gather more specific the respective chamber information Press on the symbol to gather more specific information Sensor will be put into operating condi A measurement can be started even tions if the symbol is present but data will just be analyzed once the symbol has disappeared Press on the symbol to gather more Based on a specific situation no mea specific information surement values can be established A dew protection can as well be activa i e activated dew protection of the ted if the sensor has been calibrated sensor improperly and measures a much high er aw value than the real one Remove the sample as soon as possi Danger of water condensation in the ble from the chamber chamber In addition there is a warning beep which lasts till the opening of the cham ber or for 30 sec 42 Main Menu Screen The main menu screen provides easy access to
11. CH2 socket for LabClick aw no 2 USB connector for PC and Nova log MC communication Power supply connector 5 232 interface for CH1 socket for connection to PC LabClick aw no 1 The connections external chambers RS232 etc are located on the back side of the instrument Chamber 1 cable Power cable to 90 260V AC power supply LabClick aw no 1 Chamber 2 cable LabClick aw Lab Touch aw no 2 ADVANCED Master A maximum of two additional chambers LabClick aw can be connected to the LabTouch aw advanced www novasina com 2 4 Scope of Delivery The Lab Touch aw instrument is available in two different versions Lab Touch aw basic e Power supply with different insertion plugs 4 pcs of humidity standards SAL T 33 58 75 and 84 rH e 40 pcs standardized disposable sample dishes ePW e Operating manual in English and German on a USB memory stick Factory calibration certificate e SD card 2 GB e Tension ring e 5 pcs pre filter white LabTouch aw advanced contains all the mentioned LabTouch aw basic items plus e Novalog MC current version e Multi chamber capability connection of LabClick aw 25 Optional Accessories Mechanical filter Ther white pre filter provides mechanical protection of the measurement cell e g in case the sample cup Is overfilled sample will stick on the filter instead of the measurement cell This filter should be replaced w
12. after reaching the humidity equilibrium between free water in the sample and water in the surrounding air The measured air humidity is directly proportional to the aw value An accurate andreproducible measurementis thereby only possible ifthe sample temperature is kept constant i e 25 C and if the measurement is taken after reaching the humidity equilibrium Thus it is obvious that the measurement of water activity always take some time means is not finished within a few seconds The establishment of the equilibrium is sample independent and can not be shortened anyhow due to the fact that it is physics and chemistry An inevitable pre requisite for determining water activity with extreme precision is the use of an excellent moisture sensor that provides exact reproducible response over a very wide range moisture from 0 100 rH no hysteresis and a good chemical robustness Novasina has been developing special electrolytic moisture sensors that stand out for such unique properties for more than 50 years The integrated resistive electrolytic Lab Touch aw sensor is based on the new chemical substance of the Novasina Novalyte Technology which achieves the required accuracy and reproducibility for the daily sample measurement in the lab The complete LabTouch aw system comprises two software options and can be optimally adapted to customer s needs WWW hovasina com 5 2 2 System Architecture The LabTouch aw cons
13. area Your Novasina Team MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Consulting Sales and Service Manufacturer Novasina AG Neuheimstrasse 12 8853 Lachen Switzerland Telephone 41 55 642 67 67 Fax 41 55 642 67 70 e mail info novasina ch www novasina com novasina The Art of Precision Measurement ISO 9001 P 2001 certified since 1996
14. programming and measurement functions If additional external chambers LabClick aw are connected to the instrument each individual one can be programed but a chamber selection has to be done Start functions Ca Chamber 0 Chamber 1 G Chamber 2 A Q stable QaAnalyzing Q stable Qanalyzing stable Qanalyzing QStable 1 amber System settings settings Chamber System settings settings Chamber Switch OFF Switch Chamber Status the instrument Settings to measurement selection screen 14 www novasina com Functions of the icons on the main menu screen once the icons are pressed Symbo Description TI Beie Start a measurement and switch automati If a measurement is on going or finished cally to the measurement screen and the Start icon is pressed again the Start instrument will ask if you really want to start a new one as the current data will no longer be displayed Abort a measurement and switch auto A query is issued if the measurement matically to the measurement screen should really be stopped Opening the chamber will immediately stop an on going measurement Release a test protocol and switch auto matically to the measurement screen Adjustment of the way the chamber s are Individual chamber view is changed au displayed on the measurement screen tomatically to all chambers view in case a and switches to it afterwards measurement has been fi
15. removed while the measurement screen is displayed Please take care that the symbol SD card is accessed by the system is not displayed in the information bar Mount or dismount SD Micro cards always together with the respective adapter otherwise there might be a loss of data or a complete hang up of the system in this case remove the power supply plug it in again and restart the instrument If an SD card is recognized as faulty respective symbol is issued remove the card from the instrument for at least 5 sec and re insert it again If the problem persist reformat the card with the help of a computer Note Reformatting deletes all the recorded values on the SD card 7 2 2 Hecord a Measurement Please configure the following parameters in the menu point data logger which can be found in the menu Chamber settings e Product name Name of the sample This name is as well listed in the head of the logging file e Sample number number for the next measurement The number is used to allocate a protocol to a sample The sample number is displayed in the measurement screen as well as integra ted into the file name of the logging 1 0034 OG TXT e If there is already a file with the same name on the SD card it will be overwritten as soon as the measurement is started e t will be automatically adopted at the first start of the measure ment and the number will be increased by 1 for the next measu rement
16. 260 0775 Doc 004106 02 aw Messger t aw measuring instrument Appareil de mesure aw Leading the market thanks to INNOVATIVE solutions and sensor technology novasina The Art of Precision Measurement www novasina com Novasina AG printed at 2013 in Switzerland Technische Anderungen vorbehalten Technical data subject to modification Sous r serve de modifications techniques www novasina com 10 11 12 INDEX Introduction 1 1 You Are Awesome 1 2 Important Notes General Product Description 2 1 System Overview 2 2 System Architecture 2 3 Instrument Overview 2 4 Scope of Delivery 25 Optional Accessories 2 6 License Types Putting into Operation 3 1 Installation 3 2 Putting into Operation 3 3 Basic Operations of the Instrument Screens and Functions 4 1 Measurement Screen 4 2 Main Menu Screen 4 3 Navigation in Sub Menus 4 4 Menu Chamber Settings 4 5 Menu System Settings Temperature Control 5 1 Basics 5 2 Setting the Measurement Temperature How to Perform Measurements 6 1 First Measurement 6 2 Stability System Logging Functions 7 1 Automatic Logging of the Last 10 Measurements 7 2 Logging on SD Card Sensor Calibration 8 1 How to Handle SAL T Standards Correctly 8 2 Values of SAL T Standards 8 3 Factory Calibration Delivery Status 8 4 Calibration and Verification 8 5 Deleting Calibration Points 8 6 Display Cal Points 8 7 Sensor Protection 8 8 Automatic Notification for C
17. ab Touch aw At the beginning only the RS 232 interface ist active for the communication between the LabTouch aw system and the PC with NovaLog MC software www novasina com 11 4 Screens and Functions This chapter describes the main screens which appear on the display of the LabTouch aw as well as the function of the symbols 41 Measurement Screen The measurement screen is displayed after the instrument has started up or if a measurement has been started Dynamic CHAMBER NO _ Chamber 0 Chamber 1 Chamber 2 Stable Stable Anal MStable JN Status LED aw 3 553 aw Zu enm Stable RESULTS Current values AW and surface Stable temperature aw 0 754 _ Information bar Status of SD card At most three chambers can be displayed on this screen Chamber 0 corre sponds with the internal Lab Touch aw chamber chamber 1 and chamber 2 for the optional external chambers e The LED s yellow or green indicating the status of the measurement are displayed in the first line e If there is a flashing yellow coloured LED beside the Analy a measu rement is on going If the green LED beside the Stable is activated measurement has been finished e f no measurement has been started no LED is activated e The displayed temperature turn to red colour if temperature control has been activated and the programmed temperature can not be reached e measurement has be
18. able one proven by hundreds of satisfied customers Theoretically a full established equilibrium is reached after endless time period Of course there must be a tradeoff as the measurement results have to be available within reasonable time For that reason the Lab Touch aw is equipped with a so called stability indicator which supports the user in finding the best compromise between measurement duration and sufficient accuracy 6 2 1 Stable Indicator What is stable indicator Well itis not the same as a predictor which predicts the residual measurement time in minutes and seconds It is more a tool which takes the previous measurement history of the sample into the account and graphically outputs the progress This can lead to the fact that the green bar is getting smaller even if the measurement is developped if the establishment of the equilibrium is interrupted by the evaporation of additional free water coming from the inner part of the sample or if environmental temperature is changed dramatically and temperature control of the chamber is switched off How is it working In simple terms the system observes the change of the measurement value within a programmable time The maximal allowed deviation in aw is 0 001aw The programmable time is the one which can be set as sta bility observation time in minutes or which can be selected as stability mode The progress bar indicates the already reached stability The programed stabilit
19. alibration 8 9 Automatic Notification for Filter Exchange Additional Functions 9 1 Change Acoustic Signals 9 2 Heset to Default Values 9 3 Update of the System 9 4 Intensity of the Backlight 9 5 Touch Screen Calibration 9 6 Upgrade the LabTouch aw 9 7 Communication Interface Maintenance 10 1 Cleaning of the instrument 10 2 Cleaning of the aw measurement cell CM 2 10 3 Cleaning of the Infrared IR sensor 10 4 Periodic Recalibration with Humidity Standards 10 5 Replacing Protective Filters 10 6 Replacing a CM 2 Sensor Unit 10 7 Important Notes About The Sensor Error Codes First Level Support LabTouch Menu Structure www novasina com PPP 1 Introduction 11 You Are Awesome Thank you for having purchased a Novasina Lab Touch aw system for measuring water activity You have opted for a highly accurate and reliable instrument representing the latest state of the art in electronics and software design when it comes to highest precision in aw water activity measuring To get the most out of all the possibilities of your Novasina Lab Touch aw and to ensure safe and reliable operation please read these operating instructions carefully before setting the unit into operation Please keep this manual within reach of the installed instrument so that it will at hand whenever you need it If you lose the manual please contact your Novasina representative for immediate re
20. ble performance Do not overfill the sample cup otherwise some sample will be pressed into the white sensor protection filter which can cause wrong measurements thereby requires immediate filter replacement 6 1 1 Insert a Sample Place the prepared sample cup into the metal indentation of measurement chamber and close it e Ifthe sample is too hot more than 4 C above environmental temperature an alarm is issued and the chamber has to be opened as soon as possible to avoid condensation within the same At the same time a respective symbol is displayed Condensation has to be avoided as water droplets are formed in the mea surement chamber and wrong measurement results for the current and the following samples will be the consequence The sensor itself is actively and reliably protected by a dew protection as long as the instrument is switched on If the instrument is switched off and hot sample is placed into the chamber the sensor might be destroyed especially if additional vibrations are present Please do not place any sample into the measurement chamber while the instrument is switched off Note The condensation alarm does not work properly if the infrared temperature sensor is blocked by an inserted chemical sensor protection filter 6 1 2 Start a Measurement Program the respective stability parameters depending on the sample proper ties see chapter 6 2 Start a measurement as follows e Switch to the main menu s
21. c warning has been disabled Go to Chamber settings gt Sensor calibration gt Warning expired calibration and enter the amount of days after which a new calibration must be performed e indication is issued if no value is programmed here e If acalibration is required a pop up window is issued once a measurement is started e in addition the user is noticed in the infromation bar in the measurement display Important The indication works only as expected if the date and time is set correctly in the systems settings menu he user is noticed if a calibration date is in the future may happened by mistyping the current date and time in system settings In this case please double check the time and date and set them correctly if required It is necessary to delete all calibration points and recalibrate the same if date and or time has been changed as the programmed date is taken into the account www novasina com 8 9 Automatic Notification for Filter Exchange The working principle of this function is similar to the one described in chapter 8 8 Automatic Notification for Calibration Once the filter exchange interval had been recorded it can be programmed Go to Chamber settings gt Sensor calibration gt Warning filter exchange gt Warning filter exchange This is as well the procedure if this option has to be deactivated later If a filter has been exchanged it is mandatory that th
22. changed by this action as there are a few editable fields in the protocol and Laboratory is one of it Automatic saving ofthe Stable protocol once ameasurement has been finished Go to System settings gt Printout protocol gt Automatic output of stable protocol and select SD Thus the protocol will be stored automa tically on the SD card e saving process has to be initiated manually if Automatic output of stable protocol is set to Off e Transmittance to the Novalog MC software can be done by selecting PC or SD PC This way a automatic print out of the protocol on any connected PC printer incl pdf can be achieved PC or SD PC are only displayed if the the instrument has been licensed for NovalogMC Manual saving of a protocol e A protocol of the current values Actual protocol can be saved anytime and even during an on going measurement on the SD card by pressing the printer symbol on the main menu screen Just select Actual to SD Card on the appearing pop up window e A Stable protocol can only be stored this way if stable values are present respectively ifa measurement value had been considered as stable If these pre requisites are fulfilled a pop up appears after pressing the print button and you have to select Stable to SD card to initiate the saving process e protocols be transfered directly to a PC if the instrument has been recognized by the optional Noval
23. creen e Press the Start button If external chambers LabClick are connected a chamber selection window appears gt The measurement is started and the measurement screen is displayed End of measurement If stability is reached the instrument takes the reading which is as well the end of the measurement A beep indicates it acoustically www novasina com 19 20 AN Note e stability times are set in an inappropriate way the readings might be taken too early stability not completely accomplished or measurement time is extended unnecessarily Always remove the sample before shutting down the instrument The dew protection is not active once the instrument is switched off and the sensor might be damaged in this case In addition volatile substances in low concentration can accumulate and deteriorate the sensor s performance To it the warm up phase is remarkably longer if a sample with high water activity is not removed after finishing the measurement 6 2 Stability System Stable Indicator Stable indicator The key to a successful and reliable water activity measurement is the fact that the reading has to be taken once the equilibrium between the free water in the sample and the surrounding air has been established Even as different more or less successful approaches are present in the market Novasina has its own unique equilibrium detecting system which is the most accurate and reli
24. e system will be notified about it Select Chamber settings gt Sensor calibration gt Warning filter exchange gt Reset filter warning and the counter will be reseted 9 Additional Functions This chapter describes all the additional functions as system settings which can be found in the menu structure of the LabTouch aw 91 Change Acoustic Signals Goto System settings gt Acoustic signals and select one of the options to adjust the acoustic signal e Key Switch on or off the haptic key feedback e Duration stability signal beep Enter the duration of the beep which is issued if stability is reached If you want to switch off the beep just delete any entered value 9 2 Reset to Default Values Chose System settings gt Maintenance gt Reset to factory settings gt Yes gt No to set the instrument back to factory default values Maintenance Note e Thestorage ofthe last 10 stable measurement values will be deleted as well e The calibration values and other data i e sensor password stored on the sensor will remain and are not deleted by this process www novasina com 29 9 3 Update of the System Maintenance Maintenance Updates of the firmware are distributed by Novasina representatives Once you got the update file copy the folder Update into the main directory of the SD card by using a PC Please do not compress it to a zip just use the f
25. e user will be noticed in the status bar by a respective hint e Ifthe environmentaltemperature is changing during an on going measurement inaway thatthe programmed temperature can not be reached the displayed temperature turns red as well and the instrument will not reach stability means the measurement can not be finished The notice retarded temp appears below the stable indicator e Stability is foreclosed if nominal temperature cannot be reached plus if Stability check temperature is activated Retarded temp is displayed in this case as well Chamber settings chamber 0 E Temperature control A0 D ec h Stable mode Manual Temperature Off ng Delete value for Stability he observation time Sieg E Stability On v check temperature Note AN The programmed temperature must be between 15 C and 30 C 18 www novasina com How to Perform Measurements 6 1 Information about starting a measurement can be found in this chapter First Measurement Start Prepare the sample by cutting it into small pieces and fill the sample cup till the visible first rim This is approximately 2 3 of the sample cup As the water activity is a relative measurement the amount of sample is negligible means it does not matter how much sample is placed in the sample cup the result will be the same Just note that the bottom of the sample cup should be covered at least to achieve reasona
26. elf life please e Shake all SAL T standards twice month for one minute nevertheless if you have used them or not There is no need to take it out of the plastic container e Always store the standards in the plastic container closed cover and not exposed to direct sunlight e Donot expose the tablet to environmental air for longer than necessa ry thus put it back if calibration has been finished at the particular point Please always double check if the SAL T standards below 33 rH contain no or just few water and all the others are present as slurries salt water mixture Contact the local representative if you feel unsure how to handle the SAL T standards correctly or feel uncertain if the existing ones are still in good shape 82 Values of SAL T Standards Type of Novasina EU Toxic Color Chem relative humidity in relation Literature Hum check type classe of salt symbols of temperature x 100 in a Reference 15 C 20 C 20 C 30 C SAL T 6 white LiBr SAL T 11 white LiCl SAL T 33 blue MgCl 6H O SAL T 53 green 6 SAL T 58 e white NaBr SAL T 75 purple SAL T 84 Se white KCl SAL T 90 white Ba cl 2H O SAL T 97 ge yellow K SO gt 20 Lit A Greenspan Humidity Fixed points of Binary Saturated Aequeous Solutions Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards Vol 81A No1 01 02 1977 Robinson R A and Stokes R H Elec
27. en started the measurement time is displayed in addition e sample number is displayed as well below the measurement time if the logging function is activated or if a protocol was stored This allows an allocation of the measured values to a specific sample e There is a stable indicator which changes its colour from yellow to green and indicates the progress of the measurement The greener the progress bar the closer the measurement is to be completed e After reaching a stable measurement value the respective measurement values at this point are displayed in green colour underneath the yellow current measurement information 12 www novasina com 4 1 1 Information bar The information bar is located in the footer of the measurement screen and provides helpful information as operating conditions to the user The various information are displayed alternately Text or Symbol Description Remarks _____ Date Time Current date and time Please touch display to access the Please touch display to access the menu menu Press icon for more information To gather more information about a displayed symbol press on it Symbol descriptions see further down Press icon to abort beep Press on the speaker symbol to stop The beep appears once the mea the beep surement is finished sD Card m The SD card is write protected This text is displayed in light red Please unlock the card by
28. error present System needs to be 2 more to inputs press icons etc rebooted Sometimes it is accompanied by error messages of the operating system 1 4 if it occurs several times a month The measures should be performed according the sequence as listed in the row Measure s 1 Send a picture of the displayed message and firmware version to your local Novasina representative 2 Turning the instrument off and then on again If an ordinary turn off is not possible please disconnect the power connector from the instrument for at least 5 seconds 3 Use another appropriate sensor cell 4 Error in the instrument Please contact your local Novasina representative 5 The used sensor is not compatible with the instrument 6 Perform a firmware update if latest version is not currently installed See chapter 9 3 7 Double check connection to the external chamber Is the connecting cable plugged in properly 8 External chamber is defective Please contact your local Novasina representative 9 Perform an update as described in chapter 9 3 Double check if the used SAL T standards are in good shape check chapter 8 1 Make sure you have waited at least 45 min after inserting the SAL T into the chamber before you performed the calibration Temperature difference between chamber and sample is too big Wait till sample temperature is lower www novasina com 37 OJUI 5 BEER opoo 19S ojepdn
29. ers which can be mounted in front of the sensor if your product contains volatiles and or aggressive substances as acids polyols alcohols or aroma Make sure you have inserted the correct filter once such components are present in the sample e Sensors that are not used should be stored in a clean sun protected environment at room temperature and ambient humidity f LabTouch aw is not in use keep the measurement chamber empty and closed e Never clean the sensor nor the instrument using agressive chemicals or mechanical abrassive media If the instrumentis contaminated with product use a soft towel and water to clean it Dry it well afterwards e Under no circumstances connect the sensor to an Ohmmeter or another measuring device This may damage the sensor and will expire the warranty of the sensor Any warranty will expire if one or more of the previous mentioned points counteracts Measurements up to 1 000 aw The new sensor of the LabTouch aw is capable to perform measurements up to 1 00 aw 100 rh A built in heating system protects the measuring cell from saturation and therefore against destruction Just note that a calibration is only possible up to 0 97aw 9796rH Error Codes First Level Support The most important error codes are described in this chapter Please take a picture of the instrument and describe exactly what you have done previously if problems occur and error codes not listed below are displa
30. ers can increase the measurement time and they incativate the IR temperature measurement Novasina provides the following protection filters for the LabTouch aw e eVC 21 filter Chemical filter protects against short chained organic acids as acetic and formic acid and other carboxylic acids butyric acid etc and oxidizing agents as hydrogen peroxide and chlorine and as well againts diluted sulfur dioxide e eVC 26 filter Chemical filter protects against various substances as nitrogen oxides amines aldehyde solvents aromatic hydrocarbons oil vapours fine dust particles 32 www novasina com e Redox filter Chemical filter protects against volatiles containing primary and secondary alcohols attention ethanol is an exception eVALC filter or special alcohol cell has then be used gylcerin glycols aroma perfumes flavours etc e eVALC 1 alcohol filter Chemical mechanical filter protects against fine dust or alcohol ethanol till a content of 0 5 mass percent in the sample 10 5 1 How to check protection filters for saturation All filters are apsorption type thus they will become saturated after some time and loose their functionality It is of crucial importance to check the filter for saturation Please proceed as follows 1 Select a SAL T standard which has an aw value close to the procudts which are normally measured with the instrument 2 Shake the standard and place it into the measurement cha
31. gger gt Display last results e From the appearing list of the last 10 measurements the respective one can be selected and the detailed information as measurement result aw time etc is displayed 7 1 2 Erasing of Logged Stable Measurement Values e Select the Chamber settings menu which can be found on the main menu screen and choose Data logger gt Display last results e Scroll to the end of the list by pressing the arrow down symbol e Then press on Clear all results and confirm the appearing query with Yes 7 2 Logging on SD Card There is a possibility to log various data on a SD card which comes with the instrument and has to be inserted on the right hand side of the instrument The measurement values can be logged in arbitrary intervals between 2 till 60 seconds In addition it is possible to store the recorded values stable actual as digitally signed text file The stored data can be analyzed using the Novalog MC software or Excel on the SD card separate folders are issued for each chamber named as Ch0 Ch1 Ch2 depending on how much chambers are installed Within those directories the files XXXXLOG txt log files und XXXXPRO txt protocol are stored XXXX corresponds to the sample number 22 www novasina com AN 7 2 1 Handling of the SD Card Both SD and SD HC cards can be used but they need to be FAT formatted Please note the following important notices SD cards must only be
32. gt Adjust touch panel e ouch the screen at exactly those positions indicated with a cross Use a soft tip pen no ball pen e system accepts the adjustment only if you touch the white area within 30 seconds after activation of the last cross www novasina com 10 9 6 Upgrade the LabTouch aw As different versions with more or less features are available the user has the possibility to upgrade the system making those new features accessible Please contact the Novasina representative to learn more about the different features of the basic and the advanced version e To activate the new features please proceed as follows e Goto System settings gt Maintenance gt Set options code e Take a picture of the screen showing the set option code and send it together with the license upgrade order to your local Novasina represen tative e Press No to close the active window e As soon as you have received the new option code select again the menu point Set options code Now press Yes and enter the new code Afterwards mount the little sticker with the new license code included in the delivery of the needed license code on the bottom of the LabTouch aw and keep the new license in a safe place where it can be found whenever needed The new license code is needed again if the option has to be reactivated after a complete loss of data i e exchange of main board 9 7 Communication Interface Maintenance
33. hen it is dirty or at least on a yearly base otherwise it could influence the measurement 5 units are included in the delivery of the instrument Chemical protection filter Some samples do have volatiles components ingredients thus the measuring cell has to be protected from damaging gaseous substances This is done by various filter systems which are provided by Novasina To select an appropri ate filter system consult the Novasina protection filter systems data sheet or contact your local Novasina distribution partner Thanks to these filter systems the lifetime of the measurement cell can be extended considerably As most of the filter material do absorb the volatile component and get saturated by time a regular check is mandatory to avoid a contamination of the sensor by an ineffective saturated filter system Novalog MC SD Software This optional Windows software allows the analysis and graphic design of the stored data on the SD card As it is included in the advanced version you have to buy it separately if you own a LabTouch aw basic version www novasina com 2 6 License Types After the purchase of an upgrade the new license has to be activated in the menu Set option code Please check chapter 9 6 to get an instruction how to proceed in such a case Please be aware that the firmware may be updated as well The demo license allows the user to temporarily activate of all possible features e Ademo license remai
34. ile as it is Please double check if the folder contains three differentfiles LabTouchC bin LabTouchM bin and LabTouchS bin Prior to starting the process make sure that all external chambers are connected if some are available Go to System settings gt Maintenance System update and con firm with YES The update is performed in various steps Please note that the system is restarted during the update process Do not touch anything or discon nect anything during this procedure Note The system is designed in a way that an update can be re initialized in case it is aborted by incident i e loss of power etc Please use only files which are distributed by your official Novasina repre sentative The use of other files can irreversibly damage the instrument and cause loss of warranty 9 4 Intensity of the Backlight Go to System settings gt Maintenance gt Display settings gt Back light brightness to adjust the intensity of the backlight according to the environmental light conditions 9 5 Touch Screen Calibration Carefully pes and briek stele on the erter of ths tanget Repeat a thua tanget noes around the schaun 30 The touch screen is factory calibrated and readjustment is normally not necessary If a touch is not recognized at the place it should a readjust ment might correct it e Goto System settings gt Maintenance gt Display settings
35. ings and two manual ones To program the Stability time respectively to select one of the predefined stability settings press chamber settings on the main menu screen and select the menu Stable mode Pre settings F Fast stability observation time is set to approximately 2 minutes A Average stability observation time is set to approximately 4 minutes S Slow stability observation time is set to approximately 6 minutes Product Recommended settings Powders Jam Tomato Sauce Dried Meat Fruits Cereals Chocolate Fish Cheese S Bakery Products Fresh Meat Butter The determination of the most appropriate stability time can be done as following e Choose a suitable pre set stability mode F A or S e Startameasurementwith the sample which you wantto optimize or find outthe stability time After stability is reached do not open the chamber and take out the sample letitin for another 30 60 minutes Now compare the stable value with the current one both values can be seen on the measurement screen e Ifthe deviation is more than 0 005aw choose the next higher stability pre setting level e fthe measurement takes too long more than 120 minutes choose the next lower stability pre setting level Note The optional Novalog MC software offers the capability to read out and display the stored measurement values on the SD card on a computer With the help of the graph it is easier to find the most appropriate stability time f
36. ists of modular assemblies in combination with the unique resistive electrolytic Novasina measurement technology which is part of the aw sensor The aw measurement signal is electronically processed tog ether with the IR infrared sample temperature measurement and an additional temperature monitoring in the instrument s body Recorded data can be stored on an external removable SD card The mains are supplying the instrument and optional external chambers The touch screen allows intuitive programming of the instrument as well as easy access to the various menus The LabTouch aw comprises a semi temperature stabilization of the measu rement chamber which allows heating but no cooling For checking and adjusting the instrument humidity standards can be used 23 Instrument Overview y Touch screen Front view color display Data storing slot SD card reader Ventilation slits Button to start up the instrument do not block and open chamber The measurement cell including infrared temperature measurement is located in the inner part of the LabTouch aw 6 www novasina com White pre filter in front of the electrolytic Infrared temperature sensor measurement cell sensor for sample surface temp measurement Sealing to eliminate air ex Metal indentation for filled change with environment sample cup insertion The inner part of the measurement chamber is equipped with all the characteristic sensors
37. mber Close the chamber and wait for 45 minutes Take the reading 3 Compare the reading with the theoretical value at this point and at the measurement temperature 4 If the deviation is more than 0 005aw do a calibration Note the date of calibration 5 If the calibration interval gets shorter i e from 30 days to 20 days at least two times in a row replace the filter The more frequent calibration is an indication for sensor contamination 6 Byreplacing the filter you get an idea about the exchange internval install date to exchange date and you can define a standard filter exchange interval A Attention Defective or wrong mounted filters do not fullfil their function and provide the risk of instrument or sensor damage Such filters must be replaced immediately 10 6 Replacing a CM 2 Sensor Unit Note The LabTouch aw contains sensitive electronic assemblies Please protect these items from electrostatic discharge esd by discharging yourself at a grounded conductive surface e g radiator before you open the housing of the instrument e Switch off the instrument and disconnect the mains from the system e Open the measurement chamber and dismount the 4 screws of the cover plate using the hexagon wrench which was delivery with the instrument The housing cover can now be separated from the upper measurement chamber plate NOTE The upper measurement chamber plate is still connected to the lower housi
38. moving the colour little bar on the left side of the SD card SD Card is not ready x The SD card is not ready for operation dea is displayed in light red Calibration validity expired The sensor of the respective chamber This information appears only if chamber X needs to be recalibrated a warning for next calibration has been activated see chapter 8 7 This text is displayed in light red colour Filter exchange required The protection filter of the respective This text is displayed in light red chamber X chamber has to be exchanged colour Demo license expires in Demo license expires in The instrument will be rebooted XX XX h XX XX h once the time has expired 4 1 2 Symbol SD Card The status of the SD card is displayed as a symbol on the right side of the measurement screen footer Symbol Description Remas No symbol SDeardisnotinsered TI SD card is inserted correctly It is allowed to remove the SD card in this status and ready for operation SD card is accessed by the SD card must no be removed otherwise the file system system and structure could be damaged gt loss of data A problem with the SD card has Remove SD card and re insert the card after 10 x being recognized by the system sec Are initialization may solve the problem If not replace the card SD card has been write protec SD card can be removed without problems ted by the small bar on the left side of the card Important
39. ng by a ribbon cable Do not loosen or remove the ribbon e Look for the board which covers the sensor and remove it by grabbing the PCB on the side walls and firmly lifting it e Remove now the two screws which fix the actual sensor in the measuring head and remove the sensor unit completely out of the head WWW novasina com 39 Note 15 recommended to exchange the white sensor protection filter as well Press the sinter filter downwards and insert a new one e Insert now the new measuring sensor in the respective place and fix it with the two screws Warning Never apply any pressure with any item on the top of the measuring cell This mightdamage the sensor protection filter and makes the sensor uesless e Always remove the measuring sensor while exchanging the sinter filter otherwise you risk that the sensor and a purchase of a new one would be required Every measuring sensor is protected with a password The factory setting is 8808 Do not forget to adjust the password according to your requirements otherwise the protection can t be assured Important Make sure you mount back the cover correctly Special care has to be taken for the 4 screws fixing the cover to the cover plate Screw them tightly If cover is not closed properly measurement problems can occur 10 7 Important Notes About The Sensor The sensor supplied with the Novasina Lab Touch aw 15 factory tested and fully calibrated at the foll
40. nished in a non Individual chamber displayed chamber The currently active chamber will be displayed As this option is only available in the ad All chambers vanced version this icon will not be dis Multiple chambers will be played in the basic version displayed Switch from the main menu to the measu This function is available in the sub menus rement screen as well Access the submenu system settings where all system parameters can be System programmed settings Access the sub menu chamber settings where all chamber parameters can be Chamber programmed settings Shut down switch off the instrument Please switch off the instrument only by using this function to avoid loss of data logging data etc analyzing Status of each chamber at a glance flas This icon changes its size depending on stable hing LED s the number of connected chambers O analyzing Analyzing Measurement is on going stable Qanalyzing Q Stable Stable Measurement is finished www novasina com 15 4 3 Navigation in Sub Menus Navigation through the sub menus is simple and only 4 different icons are available to do it E Close a sub menu and return to the menu above Close all sub menus and return to the measurement screen N This icon is only displayed if there are menu Move one menu point upwards Se points upwards the visible area This icon is only displayed if there are menu Move one menu poin
41. ns active till the instrument is switched of and or is valid for 12 hours maximum e maximum of 10 demo licenses are available on the instrument It is possible that some of the demo licenses have been already used by Novasina due to internal testing e To activate a demo license go to system settings gt Set option code and enter DEMO License type BASIC ADVANCED DEMO Online connection to a PC via RS 232 or X X USB interface Novalog MC useable as data vizualization software 3 Putting into Operation 31 Installation The LabTouch aw measurement instrument is delivered with all necessary accessories to operate the instrument properly Upon receipt please double checkif everything is present according to the scope of delivery and immediately notify your Novasina sales partner if anything is missing or broken Do not put damaged or incomplete measuring instruments into operation The equipment must be installed in a laboratory on an planar surface avoiding vibrations strong heat radiation air flow dust direct sunlight exposure and strong electromagnetic sources Make sure the power socket is not in too much distance to the instrument It is recommended to store the accessories in close proximity to the instrument WWW hovasina com 9 3 2 Putting into Operation T Pom e Check if the local mains voltage matches with the identification plate of the supplied external power supply and plug it t
42. o the socket Plug the external power supply cable to the instrument socket on the back of the LabTouch aw Note The LabTouch aw is very efficient and requires only little electrical power The power supply fits with the latest norms fulfills energy star level IV so the instrument can be switched on permanently and kept ready for measurements at any time The LabTouch aw should only be switched off if no measurements are performed for a longer time period i e more than one week 3 3 Basic Operations of the Instrument Chamber Chamber 1 Chamber 7 10 This chapter describes the basic operations as starting up and shutting down of the LabTouch aw as well as other functions 3 3 1 Start up procedure To start up the instrument proceed as follows Close the instrument if it has been opened e Power up the instrument by hitting the black button in front of the instru ment which also can be used for opening the instrument Abeep indicates the initialization of the starting sequence e hesystemis started up which is indicated by two different start up screens e The start up sequence is finished after approx 1 minute and the measu rement screen appears e The current measurement values are displayed as soon as the sensor is ready to measure e duration of the pre heating phase depends on the existing humidity and temperature in the measurement chamber In general it takes 2 3 minutes www nova
43. ogMC software by selecting Actual to PC respectively Stable to PC after pressing the printer symbol e Actual to PC and Stable to PC are not displayed without a connection to NovalogMC 8 Sensor Calibration The electrolytic sensor can be verified at any time by using the Novasina SAL T standards which are included in the delivery or which have been bought through the local Novasina distributor These reusable standards generate defined and reproducible humidity respectively aw values If verification fails a calibration can be performed in an easy way Note The calibration values will be stored in a small memory located on the sensor board It is not required that a calibration is performed at all available calibration points Perform a two point calibration with one point below and one above of the normal measurement range bracket calibration 24 www novasina com For example Your samples are always around 0 700aw It is sufficient if you use the 589erH und die 75 9erH SAL T standards for calibration If verifica tion is requested calibrate at 58 rH and 84 rH and use the 75 rH SAL T standards for verification 81 How to Handle SAL T Standards Correctly The Novasina SAL T standards are not labeled with a due date The shelf life itself depends on the handling and storage conditions Experiences in the field have proven that those standards can be good for 3 5 years if handled correctly To achieve the best possible sh
44. om factory An information screen appears if the calibration has been performed and stored correctly Press OK to confirm Afterwards the instrument switches to the main measurement screen www novasina com 8 5 Deleting Calibration Points Note that a deletion of one calibration point just deletes the stored value not the point itself Thus if the respective SAL T standard is placed into the mea surement chamber the system recognizes the point again This procedure is normally not required but makes sense if one of the following situations is present or happened e If there is a requirement to calibrate a sensor completely It is then useful to delete the stored calibration points to see the ones which had been already calibrated during this run otherwise cal is still displayed behind every calibrated value e lfacomplete calibration is required but you do not have all of the supplied SAL T standards available Keep in mind that a deleted point is much better than one calibrated the wrong way The LabTouch aw calculates the missing point from the two nearest ones mostly one above and one below of the deleted point 8 5 1 Perform a Deletion of a Cal Point Go to Chamber settings gt Sensor calibration gt Clear calibration point A list with all calibrated points is displayed e Select the point to be deleted and confirm the request with Yes sensor calibration iCnamnper 1 Note eg
45. or a specific product WWW novasina com 21 Manual setting and query Beside the pre settings the instrument offers the ability to enter a stability time manually This feature should only be used by experienced users as the cor relation between water activity and product properties have to be understood Manual While selecting Manual in the menu stable mode an additional menu Stability observation time appears right underneath A stability time from Chamber menu chamber 0 JE Temperature contro bel 1 30min can be entered there bass Stable mode Manual time Lmin Query Data logger y E If Query is chosen in the stable mode menu the user is asked every time aboutthe desired stability mode while starting a measurement This option is only useful if various samples are measured with the instrument so that the operator does not have to change this parameter everytime and adjustthe unit ra Logging Functions This chapter describes the logging functionalities of the LabTouch aw 7 1 Automatic Logging of the Last 10 Measurements The last 10 measurements are logged automatically This feature is very use ful if the measurement value has not been written down before opening the chamber since opening leads to a display refresh 7 1 1 Displaying of Stable Measurement Values e Select the Chamber settings menu which can be found on the main menu screen and choose Data lo
46. owing seven value reference points 0 11aw 0 33aw 0 58aw 0 75aw 0 84aw and 0 90aw and 0 97aw Humidity sensors are subject to certain ageing phenomena which manifest themselves in deviations from the original value Due to this reason every sensor undergoes a 3 month ageing proces at Novasina so that the drift can be reduced to the lowest level possible Nevertheless slight deviations by time are inevitable but they can be compensated by recalibration Thus it is recommended to periodically check the performance of the sensors by ve ritying the current value taken at the humidity reference points compare it to the reference value and recalibrate the instrument if required The standards are reusable and a shelf life of approx 3 5 years depening on the handling and storage conditions All calibration data are stored on the intelligent sensor Thus a new sensor can be inserted into the LabTouch aw and measurements can be performed without any calibration 34 www novasina com 11 Correct handling of the sensor Note Before starting the measurement The Novasina sensor is a very sensitive high precision device Please observe the following rules in order to avoid measuring errors or even destruction of the sensor e Do not let fall either the sensing element nor the LabTouch aw and strictly avoid shock vibrations Do not perform a measurement if the white pre filter is not mounted e Use Novasina protection filt
47. placement This operating instructions is valid for software versions V1 30 or higher 12 Important Notes Intended use The Novasina LabTouch aw is intended to be used for measuring WATER ACTIVITY under strict adherence to the information and notes given in this manual Any use beyond this scope is considered to be a violation of the intended purpose and may endanger your safety or could result in irreversible product damage and loss of all warranty claims Any use of this Novasina instrument other than intended is at the customer s own risk and by no means the manufacturer nor the supplier will be liable for any resulting damage Safety instructions e he Novasina LabTouch aw system should only be serviced maintained and repaired by qualified people who are familiar with the equipment e he LabTouch aw system must not be used in hazardous zones or similar areas The design is made for the laboratory use only e No explosive materials and no highly inflammable substances may be measured in the measurement chamber system e Just use the original power adaptor from Novasina part number 2600505 Before connecting the unit to the mains ensure that e The mains voltage is within 90 260V at 50 or 60Hz Please check the type plate of the system The power cable between the mains and the instrument is not damaged e he Novasina LabTouch aw system may only be used under the specified operating conditions see chapter 10 e Ob
48. rflow of humidity measure 2 4 Pe emm qe 10 Requested scanning instance can not be 2 5 adjusted 20 Sensor data structure is not compatible 2 6 5 99 Unknown error 2 3 6 5 4 No response from the measurement chamber 7 1 8 4 A firmware update of the chamber is required as 9 the current settings are outdated which results in communication failure 9 The master firmware is outdated and needs to be updated thus no communication with the measure ment chamber possible 36 www novasina com Message Problem Due to a CRC error the system was booted from 9 4 a reserve partition thus the currently running firm ware is not up to date Sensor calibration 5 not possible as the actual va 10 3 4 nee RATE lue is out of the calibration window of the respecti lock in range of a cal Point ve humidity standard The sensor might be contaminated or defective There was a change to a license with less options Settings which are no longer available with the current license were adjusted E USE not available If this error message appears please restart the ON LN E instrument to have the USB port available and 3 system restart is performed activated Restart system If the USB interface is not used a restart is not necessary In this case the activation is done auto matically dsuring the next restart Instrument does not react any There is a fatal
49. serve and strictly adhere to the local regulations regarding the handling of mains powered devices e Use only genuine accessories and spare parts available from your Novasina supplier or visit the homepage www novasina com e This instrument must not be modified in any way without the written permission of the manufacturer e Never open the instrument without removing the mains power cable first www novasina com 2 General Product Description 21 System Overview The LabTouch aw system has been specifically developed for determining the water activity in a test sample like food cosmetics or pharmaceuticals Water activity is defined as the current volume and availability of free water in a sample and should not be directly compared with the water content g water g sample The water activity is given as the aw value and ranges between O absolute dryness and 1 100 relative humidity and is a relative sample mass independent measurement Only this free water takes an active part in the exchange of moisture with the ambient air and can possibly form the ideal medium for microbiological growth on the surface and influences the biological functions of microorganisms which has an impact on the microbiological stability plus chemical and physical properties of a product opecial laboratory equipment is required for water activity aw value determination which quantifies the air humidity directly over a sample in a closed chamber
50. sina com 3 3 2 Shut down procedure To shut down just press the red shut down button on the main menu screen gee aos Confirm the shut down process with YES H geg zm A im T ox t Important Always shut down the instrument before you disconnect it from power otherwise there might be a loss of data and settings 3 3 3 Adding an Additional Chamber LabClick aw The Lab Touch aw can be equipped with two additional chambers called LabClick connect a chamber make sure that you have a Lab Touch aw advanced version If this is not the case upgrade the instrument first see chapter 9 6 Please proceed as follows e Shut down the instrument e Connect the first LabClick aw with the LabTouch aw using the small con nection cable Plug it into socket on the back side of the LabTouch aw e Repeat the same with the second LabClick aw but use the CH2 socket on the back side of the LabTouch aw e Start up the LabTouch aw USB connection LabClick aw Chamber 1 The LabTouch aw should recognize the connected chamber chambers auto matically If not please double check if the cable is connected correctly Serial power line 90 260 VAC LabTouch aw 50 60Hz b 8 Note LabClick aw e The connector cable comes with every LabClick aw Please use the original Chamber 2 cable to ensure proper function It works as power supply and data transfer from and to the L
51. t downwards e N points downwards the visible area 4 4 Menu Chamber Settings All chamber related settings as stable observation time or calibration can Chamber settings chamber 0 L Temperature contro ke be done in this menu If multiple chambers are connected each chamber is Stable mode Manual preseted via this submenu just choose the respective chamber as active and LB Simin program the set up afterwards Data logger Sensor calibration id Thetable below should give an overview about the available functions Detailed descriptions will be given thereafter Menupoint Description Remark Factory default setting Temperature Setting of measurement tempera Details see chapter 5 2 Off control ture control or switch off Stable mode Pong Mode for stability obser Details see chapter 6 2 A Average vation time Stabilit Programmable stability time only T Lc available if stable mode Manual Details see chapter 6 2 2 5 min observation time and Query have been selected Monitoring of adherence of nomi nal temperature only available if Details see chapter 5 2 stemperature control is activated Sub menu for programming the Sample number 0000 Data logger Details see chapter 7 m logger and or logging functions Interval recording 10 sec Sensor Enter sub menu for sensor aiu bd Details see chapter 8 calibration calibration Stability check temperature
52. tection filter in front of it The sensor is a very sensitive element with a chemical filter protection on the top Every cleaning with chemical or mechanical means touching pressurized air cleaning etc will destroy the measuring sensor inevitably Possible warranty claims expire instantly 10 3 Cleaning of the Infrared IR sensor Clean the IR sensor with a humid cotton bud Watch out not using strong forces on the window of the IR sensor A contaminated IR sensor leads to longer measurement times but not to wrong measurements 10 4 Periodic Recalibration with Humidity Standards Like all precision measurement instruments the Lab Touch aw must be chek ked periodically and if necessary recalibrated This procedure was already described in the chapter 8 Only in this way you can secure the accuracy of your measurements The Novasina SAL T humidity standards are applicable for this procedure If required the standards can be provided with an certificate issued by international accredited lab 10 5 Replacing Protective Filters Always use protection filters to protect the measuring sensor from contamina tion by unwanted particles or volatile components Various filters are available for different type of volatiles Please consult the filter selection data sheet or contact your local Novasina agent if you need help Such chemical protection filters have to be replaced periodically due to the fact that they get saturated Filt
53. trolyte Solutions Butterworths London 1959 Wexler Humidity and Moisture Vol 3 Fundamentals and Standards Robert E Krieger Publishing Company Huntingon New York 83 Factory Calibration Delivery Status Every LabTouch aw as well as every new replacement sensor CM 2 is de livered with a factory calibration at 7 points 0 11 0 33 0 58 0 75 0 84 0 90 and 0 97 including a factory certificate For verification and possible calibration there are 4 different SAL T salt tablets included in the delivery but additional ones can be bought if necessary www novasina com 25 8 4 Calibration and Verification Sensor calibration Chamber 2 Galibrare Serge St sensor password Morning expired calibration Calibration chamber 2 Are you Sune calibrate at aw 0 5297 Calibration chamber 2 Calibration completed success Wanning expired calibration 26 Off To ensure the integrity of the Lab Touch aw please set up a defined standard verification interval Best case is if it is done before each measurement batch or every morning A one point verification is fairly enough Please make sure that verification is done at least every week It helps to see first contamination issues sensor pollution or aging effects and supports the user in making the right corrective measures Before you start a calibration make sure e Environmental or preseted temperature is between 15 C 59 F
54. y parameters are displayed underneath the progress bar Thus as closer the deviation comes to 0 001aw within the programmed stability observation time frame the greener the bar will get If the equilibrium has been established and thereby the values considered as stable but questionable due to a remarkable temperature difference bet ween sample surface IR sensor and the second temperature sensor in the instrument s body the display of the stability values is retarded A respective notification below the stable indicator is shown A similar notification is issued if the values are considered as stable but the programed temperature could not be reached and stability check temperature has been activated If temperature control 15 switched off so will be retarded temp www novasina com e 7 e Stable mode Slow Average Fast Manual Query 6 2 2 Program Stability Time The required stability time for a reliable water activity measurementis specific for each product To make your decision easier you can find some recommended settings in the table below Please feel free to contact the responsible Novasina distributor in your area or Novasina AG in Switzerland www novasina com or info novasina ch if you need assistance in selecting an appropriate stability time for your sample Please provide as much information as possible about the ingredients inclu ding volatiles You can choose from three pre sett
55. yed or if the problem can not be easily fixed on site Send those information to your local Novasina distributor e Please send us as well a picture about the currently installed firmwa re version It can be found in System settings gt Info e Send as well a picture of the displayed values once Chamber set ting gt Info has been selected WWW novasina com Message Problem Cause Reason Measure s explanation see BENI next page Error message during system See chapter 9 3 update 1 A protocol print out by pressing the print button Insert a SD card or connect the instru has been performed but no media SD Card or ment to a PC with direct connection to a computer with NovalogMC is available to store or print out the data running Nova logMC software There is a problem with the sensor The displayed number after Sensor Error has the following me anings 1 Data structure of the sensor is damaged CRC 2 3 4 meos qnem 2 The required heating voltage can not be estab 2 5 lishes 5 3 Capability Sensor The programming of the sensor is outdated and does not provide the functionality as requested by the instrument 4 Capability Instrument 6 The currently installed sensor is not supported by the instrument 5 Sensor data can not be read out during operation 6 Error IR temperature measurement 11 2 4 7 Error NTC temperature measurement 8 AD Over or Unde
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