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MANUAL.TXT
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1999-01-13
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CONTENTS:
1. Introduction.
2. Installing Software
2.1 DOS Version
2.2 Windows Version
2.3 Macintosh Version
3. Logging Data.
3.1 NOMAD Setup.
3.2 Launching NOMAD.
3.3 Reading Data from NOMAD.
4. Handling Data.
4.1 Viewing Data.
4.2 Saving Data.
4.3 Exporting Data.
4.4 Printing.
5. NOMAD Specifications.
6. Ordering Information.
___________________________________
1. Introduction.
The NOMAD datalogger is an inexpensive miniature recorder
for temperature and relative humidity. NOMAD's companion
software for Windows, DOS, and Macintosh provides an
interface for logging and subsequent handling of recorded data.
Features:
* 16,192 records;
* Record length from 4 hours, 29 min to over 2 years;
* Nonvolatile EEPROM memory
(Data is retained even upon power loss);
* Over 2 years operation on replaceable battery life;
* 4 different launch modes;
* Average, minimum, or maximum recording;
* Programmable alarms;
* Single or wrap around recording;
* PC or Macintosh compatible;
* External RTD sensor for temperature dataloggers;
* Windows/DOS user friendly Omega Software to view
plots (Windows only), make prints, and export data for
use in other programs.
* Weighs only 2 ounces (including the battery);
The NOMAD datalogger has an optional external
RTD sensor, suitable for use with OM-NOMAD-T
temperature dataloggers only. The user interface
software for the unit is placed on one diskette
for Windows/DOS versions, and a different
diskette for Macintosh versions. See the Ordering
Information section of this manual for part numbers.
2. Installing Software.
2.1 DOS Version.
First, verify that your computer clock
is set to the correct time. NOMAD
obtains its time stamp from your computer.
Insert the diskette into your floppy disk drive.
At the DOS prompt type: Install A: C:
and then press enter (or return).
This command assumes that your hard drive is C: and
your floppy drive is A:
For any other letter designations of hard
drive and floppy drive, substitute the
appropriate letters.
To start NOMAD in DOS, type
CD:\NOMADOS and then press enter (or return).
Then type NOMAD and press enter (or return).
2.2 Windows Version.
First, verify that your computer clock is
set to the correct time. NOMAD obtains
its time stamp from your computer.
Next, make sure all other Windows programs
have been closed! Having open programs
may conflict with the installation process,
causing the computer to lock up.
If this occurs, you will need to reboot
your computer.
In addition, make sure that all anti-virus
programs have been unloaded from memory.
These programs have been found at times to
conflict with the installation process.
You may need to temporarily remark
out the Windows startup commands for these
programs. For example, Norton
Anti-Virus for Windows 3.11 can
be disabled by putting the characters
"rem" in front of the line
load=NWPOPUP.EXE C:\NAV\NAVTSRW.EXE
in the C:\Windows\win.ini file.
Don't forget to delete the "rem"
characters, once you have completed
installing the NOMAD software.
Otherwise, your anti-virus software
will never execute.
Insert the diskette into your floppy disk drive.
From File Manager (Windows 3.1 or 3.11) or
Start (Windows 95), choose Run.
Type A:\SETUP and press enter (or return).
This command assumes your floppy drive
is A:
For any other letter designation of floppy
drive, substitute the appropriate letter.
Follow the directions on the screen
to complete installation. The installation
program will make a program group called NOMAD.
Click on this icon, and then on the NOMADRH
icon to start the NOMAD sofware.
2.3 Macintosh Version
First, verify that your computer clock is
set to the right time. NOMAD obtains
its time stamp from your computer.
Insert the diskette into your floppy disk
drive. Double-click on your hard drive
icon, opening the hard drive directory.
Double-click on the new icon for
the floppy disk. Drag the icon called
"NOMAD Datalogger" onto your hard
disk directory, thereby copying
all necessary files.
To start NOMAD, open the newly created
"NOMAD Datalogger" folder on your
hard drive. Click on the NOMAD icon.
You will see all the NOMAD subdirectories
listed on the top of your screen.
3. Logging Data.
3.1 NOMAD Setup.
Open the battery door of the NOMAD. The serial
number label is visible at the base of the
battery door cavity. This serial number
indicates the model number of your unit,
OM-NOMAD-T for temperature dataloggers,
and OM-NOMAD-RH for temperature/humidity
dataloggers.
Insert the battery into the NOMAD, with the
polarity as shown by the battery icon label.
The LED on the NOMAD will give a single bright
flash, indicating proper initialization of
the unit.
Attach the NOMAD datalogger via an appropriate interface
cable to the RS-232 serial port of your computer. For an IBM PC
computer the cable is available with a 9-pin female or a 25-pin
female D-sub connector. To purchase the cable see the Ordering
Information section of this manual.
If you wish to use the external RTD sensor with
OM-NOMAD-T temperature dataloggers, make sure
to plug it in at this time to the socket labelled
"Temp Probe" in the NOMAD unit.
>From the Windows program manager, select the NOMAD icon
and start the program. The NOMAD datalogger main menu
screen will appear.
Choose "COM port" from the "Setup" menu to set and test
serial communication with the datalogger. By default the
NOMAD software attempts to communicate via the COM1
port. If you set a different COM port, the software saves your
selection and uses it during future sessions.
If the NOMAD is not connected or the COM port is not available,
an error message "Port is available, but no NOMAD was detected"
is displayed. Check the cable connections and COM port
settings on your computer, and select "Setup" again to test
communication. If you still get an error message,
choose an alternate COM port setting.
3.2 Launching NOMAD.
After successfully completing a communication test
the NOMAD datalogger can be launched. Choose
"Configure & Launch Datalogger" from the "Logger" menu.
The program establishes a serial link with the NOMAD and
opens the "Launch the Datalogger" dialog window.
You can enter up to 48 characters of arbitrary descriptive
text to the "Memo or Description" entry box. This text is saved
in the NOMAD memory during the launching process and then
retrieved along with the recorded data during the readout process.
There are 4 different ways to start data recording.
a) Now.
Recording starts immediately after launch. After launch
the LED on the NOMAD starts blinking once per second,
indicating normal activity of the unit.
b) At time specified below.
Recording starts at the time shown in the entry box that
appears on the screen when this option is selected. You
can type in the desired time, maintaining the format shown
next to the entry box. Make sure that your computer system
clock is properly set because the NOMAD uses this clock to
calculate the startup time you selected. After launch, the
LED on the NOMAD starts blinking once per second, indicating
normal activity of the unit.
c) When button on datalogger is pressed.
Recording starts when the button on the NOMAD is pressed.
After the button is pressed the LED on the NOMAD starts
blinking once per second indicating normal activity of
the unit.
d) After delay starting when button is pressed.
Recording starts after the delay that begins when the button
on the datalogger is pressed. The delay is shown in the entry
box that appears on the screen when this option is selected.
You can type in the desired delay time maintaining the format
shown next to the entry box. The delay time shouldn't exceed
180 days. After the button is pressed the LED on the NOMAD
starts blinking once per second, indicating normal activity
of the unit.
There are 2 different data recording options when the NOMAD
memory is full. The NOMAD may either stop recording data or
it may start overwriting the oldest data. In addition, The
datalogger stops recording when it is connected to the computer,
and the computer begins data readout data or tries to launch the
NOMAD again. In the latter case, new data starts filling the
memory from the beginning, overwriting the previous record.
By pressing the "Sampling Option" pushbutton you can
choose to record maximum, minimum, average, or one sample
every interval. If maximum, minimum, or average is chosen,
the datalogger takes 4 samples over the interval and uses these
4 points for the maximum, minimum, or average calculation.
The "Sampling Interval" pushbutton allows you to select the
interval at which the data is recorded. The highest sampling rate
available internally is 1 sample per second. This means that the
minimum sampling interval is 1 second for sampling option set
to "single", and 4 seconds for the other sample options. If you
select a sampling interval of less then 4 seconds, and then
select a sampling option of minimum, maximum or average,
the program will automatically adjust the sampling interval to
4 seconds. The displayed total record length indicates the
recording time available until the NOMAD memory is full.
This number depends on the memory size and sampling
interval.
By pressing "Temperature Alarm" or "R.H. Alarm" pushbuttons,
you can adjust and enable corresponding alarm levels. If an
alarm condition occurs, the LED on the datalogger
flashes brightly when the button on the NOMAD is pressed.
This feature gives you the opportunity to check for an alarm
condition without leaving the logging mode and communicating
with a computer.
The displayed NOMAD Version Number is a firmware version
number which allows you to distinguish between subsequent
versions of the datalogger. Sample capacity indicates the
amount of memory available. The system time is the computer
current time. The NOMAD automatically sets its clock by
reading the time from the computer. If the computer time is
incorrect, use the appropriate DOS, Windows, or Macintosh
commands to set the computer clock.
3.3 Reading data from NOMAD.
Choose "Readout" from the "Logger" menu. The program
establishes a serial link and starts reading data from the
NOMAD. At this point the NOMAD stops logging data.
Upon completion of the readout process Plot #1 is displayed.
This plot shows the results of your logging session.
Note: If you are using a NOMAD-RH unit, you will
see plotted lines for both temperature and relative
humidity in your plot. If you are using
a NOMAD-T unit, you will see a plotted line
for temperature and a flat line (RH = 0%) for
relative humidity in your plot. You can turn off
this flat humidity line, per section 3.1 below.
4. Handling data.
4.1 Viewing data.
The plot displayed shows the entire record taken during
a logging session. The serial number of the NOMAD that
recorded the data appears underneath the horizontal axis.
On the top of the plot, there is descriptive text entered by the
user during the launch. You can increase or reduce the size of
the plot by changing the size of the plot window. You can view
a part of the record in detail by creating another window with
your mouse. Press the left button on your mouse, hold it down
while simultaneously dragging the mouse. The name "Plot #2"
is assigned to the new window. Subsequent child windows can
be created the same way. The number assigned to the new
window is one greater than the largest number used. To close
the window choose "Close view" option from the "View" menu,
or use a system menu of the plot window. When you close
the last open window, the data file closes automatically. If the
plot you are about to close was created during the readout and
has never been saved, you are prompted to save the record to
a file before closing the window.
You can choose to display only the temperature data, only
the humidity data, or both of them simultaneously. To do this,
choose "Plot" from the "Setup" menu and check the appropriate
box. This same window allows you to select deg. C or deg. F as
units of temperature.
4.2 Saving data.
You can save the data you have recorded to a file
by choosing "Save As" from the "File" menu.
The default file name has the following structure:
xxx-xxxx.ddf
where the first 3 digits describe the number of days since the
beginning of the year until the day the NOMAD was launched,
and the next 4 digits describe the launch time. The default
extension of the file name is "ddf". For instance, the name
033-1546.ddf is assigned if the NOMAD was launched
on February 2, at 15:46. The default file name can be replaced
with any other name desired.
4.3 Exporting data.
The recorded data can be exported to 4 different spreadsheet
formats including Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows and Microsoft
Excel. From the main menu choose "Setup" and then
"Export data" to select the desired export format and the
items to be exported. Open the file of interest using the "File"
menu. Choose "Export data summary" from the "View" menu
(The "Export Data" menu is inactive when the plot is displayed).
A brief summary of the data to be exported appears on the
screen. Review this data and click on the "Export to File"
pushbutton . Your data is transferred to the spreadsheet format
file that has the same name as your data file with an extension
".txt". When working with the exported file using a spreadsheet
program you need to format the "Date & Time" column. For
instance, if you chose to work with Microsoft Excel select
"Cells" from the "Format" menu and then choose the desired
format.
4.4 Printing.
To print the plot of interest use the "Print plot" option from
the "File" menu when you have the plot displayed. To print
the data in a tabular format use "Print Export Data" option
from the "File" menu after the plot is displayed and the
"Export Data Summary" option is selected from the "View"
menu. Also, you can export data first, and then print it from
the corresponding application.
5. NOMAD specifications.
Temperature channel:
--------------------
Operating range with: -10 to 70 deg C. (14 to 158 deg F)
internal sensor
Accuracy with internal: +/- 1.8 deg C
sensor
Operating range with: -40 to 123 deg C (-40 to 253 deg F)
external sensor
Coefficient of Error: +/-.025% full scale/Deg C
with external sensor
Resolution: better than 0.9 deg C
Sensor: 1k ohm RTD, alpha = 3750 ppm/deg C (internal and external)
Note: External sensor cannot be used with NOMAD-RH units.
Humidity channel: (NOMAD-RH units only)
---------------------------------------
Measurement range: 20% to 90% RH noncondensing
Operating temperature range: 0 to 40 deg C
Accuracy: +/-5% RH at 25 deg C, 60% RH
Sensor: bulk polymer resistive
RH response: 60% RH step change in less than 5 minutes
Measurement Interval:
---------------------
Sampling Interval: Programmable from 1 second to 3 hours
EEPROM memory size: 16K data samples
Battery: one 3.6V AA Lithium operating for more than 2 years.
6. Ordering information.
Model # Description
---------- ---------------------------
OM-NOMAD-T-16 Temp. datalogger 16K memory
(16,192 samples)
OM-NOMAD-RH-32 Temp/RH datalogger 32K memory
(16,192 samples)
OM-NOMAD-RTD External temp. sensor with 6ft cable
(For use with OM-NOMAD-T-16 only)
OM-NOMAD-CP9 RS-232 cable for IBM PC, 9 pin
female D-sub. connector
OM-NOMAD-CP25 RS-232 cable for IBM PC, 25 pin
female D-sub. connector
OM-NOMAD-CM RS-232 cable for Macintosh
OM-NOMAD-WIN Windows/DOS software, 3.5" disk
OM-NOMAD-MAC Macintosh software, 3.5" disk
OM-NOMAD-BATT Replacement battery