When
an instrument is initially connected to the computer and the Wizard
program is started, if no response is received, an error message will be
displayed: The
instrument is not responding, check connection.
Although
not all of these problems can be solved in the field, there are some short
procedures which can be used to quickly resolve the occasional problems of
a Micro or Mini series instrument.
1. The first
thing to do is to check the physical cable connections.
Next, try using a different computer and/or a different instrument
to see if the problem is a bad serial port.
If these initial steps produce no results, you should use the built
in communication program in the Wizard software to continue
troubleshooting.
2.
From the main menu of Wizard, select Utility and then Connect.
Along the bottom of the Connect screen, the communication
parameters are displayed. In
most cases, the settings should be: Com1,
19200 Baud, No Parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit.
To change any of these communication parameters, press the
<F2> key, and the Communication menu will be displayed.
Select and change any settings that may be incorrect.
Use the up/down arrow keys to select changes and the Enter key to
make them. Press the ESCape
key when finished to get back to the Connect screen.
3.
After parameter verification, you should have one of five
outcomes:
a) CL4>
or CL6> prompt is the normal
response.
b) lobat,
(will only appear after waiting at least 60 seconds), indicates that the
main batteries are below operating levels.
c) OK>
prompt means that the instrument has become deprogrammed.
d) Z
or Zzz means the instrument's
memory is full.
e) The screen
will remain completely blank.
4.
If there is a CL4> or CL6> prompt
and the instrument is still not responding, (which is unlikely),
please call Coastal and we will suggest additional tests.
5.
If the CL4> or CL6>
prompt is displayed, and then a lobat
appears after 60 seconds, the instrument is working correctly, but the
main batteries are below normal operation levels.
If there is data in the instrument that needs to be downloaded, first
check to see if the two 'AA' batteries (Micro logger), or the 9 volt
battery (Mini logger), both located inside the white electronic box, are
okay before any main 'D' battery stacks are removed.
When changing the batteries, remove all 3 stacks from the battery
board before replacing any stack. After
the 'D' stacks are replaced, you may then also replace the smaller
batteries if needed. You should also take this time to check the battery contacts.
6.
If an OK> was detected
during any of these procedures, the data logger program has been lost, (or
in extremely rare cases it has stopped running).
This can be caused if the instrument has had its batteries removed,
or if the power supplies are somehow shorted by the user.
To check, type: *RUN
and press Enter. If an OK> comes
back, the logger program has been lost, and the instrument needs to be
Reprogrammed. See separate
instructions: "Reprogramming
the Micro/Mini Logger."
7.
If a Zzz appears (Wizard
versions 5.05 and 5.07), the data capacity of the instrument's memory has
been reached, and the instrument has gone into a sleep mode in order to
preserve the data. This is a
normal function. Simply exit
the Connect screen and choose Read from the main menu.
The data will download. You
may then reinitialize the instrument.
If a Z
appears (Wizard version 5.06), the data capacity of the instrument's
memory has been reached, and the instrument has gone into a sleep mode in
order to preserve the data.
NOTE:
If there is critical data to be recovered, you might want to
contact Coastal before attempting to troubleshoot this problem on your
own!
However,
if you are in the field and need to attempt recovery, do so according to
the following directions:
a) Hold Ctrl C
keys down until you see the CL4> prompt.
b) Quickly
press Esc, then Y, then Enter. The
main menu will appear. Press
R, then Y, then Enter. If
this procedure takes more than 3 seconds, you will end up back at the Z
and will need to try again.
c) Once the
data has been read by completing step b), you will need to reinitialize
the instrument. Go back to
the Connect screen. Repeat
step a).
d)
Quickly press Esc, then
Y, then Enter. The main menu
will appear. Press I to
Initialize.
If your instrument is running Wizard 5.06, we highly
recommend that you contact Coastal to upgrade to version 5.07 in order to
avoid the above procedure in the future.
8.
A blank screen could indicate one of a few problems:
a)
The battery voltage could be below 6 volts (the minimum needed to
produce the lobat message);
measure the battery stacks with a DC volt meter to determine that case.
If so, replace batteries according to step 5 above.
b) There could be a problem with the wiring in the external
bulkhead connector. To
Next, disconnect the modular phone plug that connects the bulkhead
communications port (on top of instrument) to the in-line coupler
(underneath the top plate). Replace
with the modular phone plug at the end of the Interface Cable.
Retry Connecting to the instrument.
9.
If there is still no response from the logger, and there is no
required data in the instrument, it can easily be reprogrammed according
to the following directions:
a)
Disconnect the instrument from the computer.
b)
Open up the white electronic box and remove the yellow shunt that
connects the back-up batteries to the electronics (remember where this
shunt goes!). This shunt is located near the right hand edge of the
electronic board about 2 inches down on the right side.
c)
Disconnect the main battery supply by disconnecting the modular
phone plug on the battery board. (In
instruments with multiple battery boards, disconnect the modular plug
on the battery board whose cable comes through the white electronic
box, usually the top most battery
board.)
e) Wait
approximately one minute, then reconnect the main batteries by
reconnecting the modular plug.
f
) Reinstall the yellow shunt.
g) Reprogram
the instrument following separate instructions: "Reprogramming
the Micro/Mini Logger."
10.
If none of the above steps restores communications, the remaining
options would be:
a) Obtain or
have Coastal send a replacement MAX220 or MAX232 serial line driver.
b) Coastal
could possibly send an exchange set of electronics.
c) To be absolutely sure the problem is solved, consider sending
the entire system back for checkout and service.
