PCE INSTRUMENTS PCE-UX 3081 Moisture Analysers

Basic information

Intended use
PCE-UX moisture analysers are solely designed to quickly measure moisture and dry matter in solid, viscous and fluid substances using thermogravimetric analysis. A sample is weighed while being dried by infra-red heat.

Common features for all PCE-UX devices:
Short measurement time, gentle and even drying of samples, high reproducibility
Automatic or time-controlled measurement shut-off

PCE-UX 3081/ PCE-3081WQ
Special device for extra large samples, e.g. in the chipboard industry 2 temperature-controlled ceramic heaters Temperature range: 40 – 220 °C/ 300 °C Stainless steel drying tray 240 x 110 mm

PCE-UX 3011/ PCE-3011Q/ PCE-3011HQ

Temperature-controlled infra-red heater 250 W
Temperature range: 40 – 200 °C/ 360 °C/600
Stainless steel drying tray 111 mm diameter

PCE-UX 3031
Special device for gypsum industry
2 temperature-controlled heaters for separate measurement of free and chemically bound moisture in gypsum products Temperature range: 40 – 360 °C Stainless steel drying tray 111 mm diameter

Safety instructions

• Always transport the device in an upright position and protect it from impact.
• Always operate the device on a level surface, using a vibration-free base.
• Avoid draughts.
• Never touch the (luminous) heater when it is hot, as there is a risk of injury!
• Always disconnect the plug from the mains supply before performing any work on the device (e.g. changing the heater)! Repairs should only be carried out by a qualified technician.
• Please take extra care when using flammable samples! You may need to contact the manufacturer for advice.
• Please be careful not to drop any sample particles next to the tray support plate.
• Carefully remove any particles with a vacuum cleaner.
• Only use accessories specifically designed for use with PCE-UX devices.
• Do not move the device during measurement, as this will result in measuring errors.
• Do not leave any substances in the measuring tray, if they are not being measured.
• Devices should only be shipped in the original packaging using the original packaging material.
• PCE-UX moisture analyzers are stand-alone units and are not designed to be used in continuous production runs. Any such use is at your own risk.

Warranty

PCE Instruments undertakes to repair faulty devices within the warranty period, free of charge, if the defect is a manufacturing fault. This warranty covers the repair of spare parts and working hours required. It does not cover normal wear-and-tear and soiling and staining of the device. A&P Instruments will not accept any freight costs.

This warranty does not apply to:
improper use of the device, use of the device for purposes other than those stated by A&P Instruments, mechanical damage or damage caused by fluids or sample matter, incorrect set up or wrong electrical wiring, mechanical damage of the load cell e.g. as a result of being overloaded

Transport, packaging, and installation site

• Please check the packaging and device for any damage upon delivery.
• Please retain the original packaging in case you need to return the goods to A&P Instruments.
• Please only use the original packaging when returning the goods.

Accessories supplied:

Start-up

1. Place the device on a stable, vibration-free surface, as level as possible and protected from draughts. The most suitable locations are the corners of a room, rooms with only one entrance and heavy tables on concrete floors.
   Remove the protective film from the front foil.
2. Swing the heater back until the resistance.
3. Place the tray holder on the device:
   First place the tray holder carefully on the two pins, the distance between the housing and the tray holder should be approx. 1.5 – 2 mm. Do not exert to much power on the balance!Then put on the shielding plate unit.
   To remove the tray holder, first carefully lift up the shielding plates and then carefully pull out the tray holder in the middle with very slight tilting movements, do not exert too much power!
4. Next place one of the two drying trays supplied on the tray holder using one or two sets of tongs. The notch in the reflector tray acts as an access gap for easy positioning of the tray.
5. Check that the voltage indicated on the type plate matches the local mains voltage.
6. The power cable is inserted into the device’s power jack and a suitable earthed mains supply. After the power supply has been connected, the device can be switched on or off using the on/ off button on the back of the device. Once the device is switched on, the current software version is shown, followed by the weight display.
7. In order to prevent weighing system measuring errors, the device should be switched on 20 minutes before being used to allow for heat compensation. If weight values vary in the display’s milligram range during this period, this is considered normal within this phase. If the device is switched off using the reset (on/ off) button, it does not require a warm-up period, if switched on again with the same button.
8. PCE-UX moisture measuring devices are supplied, so that in most cases substances can be measured immediately. If you are not satisfied with the result, the measurement parameters can be adjusted:

Printer

The PCE-UX Thermo paper is stable for 10 years.

Operation

Display and buttons

Menu

Menu settings
The device’s Preferences menu can be accessed using the ‘up’ or ‘down’ button.

In this instruction manual, it is assumed that the ‘down’ button follows the menu item sequence.
The menu is operated using a standard structure:

If you confirm a wrong entry with ‘set’, press ‘esc’ and ‘set’ to reselect and change the menu item.

Temperature control

• The temperature that is set on the device relates to the thermal radiation that hits the sample to be dried.
• The thermal radiation is an electromagnetic wave for the transmission of energy. As this energy creates heat in the sample, the moisture evaporates from the sample. The temperature is used to set the energy that allows the moisture to evaporates from the material (more temperature is more energy).
• The set temperature is not to be equated with the temperature to which the material or the environment heats up.- The material or ambient temperature is a consequence of the drying process, not the cause of the drying.

Automatic shut-off or timer

The automatic mode dries the sample until a constant weight is reached and then switches off the heater.

1. Weight loss in mg a value should be defined here which corresponds to approx. 0.1 % of the original sample e.g. original sample 10 g = 10 mgWhen the weight loss <= the mg weight specified here within the interval period defined below, the measurement is completed, if at least the start of query time limit has expired.
2. Query interval in secs. an interval should be selected here, so that the sample is not dried for too short a period but also not for far too long. A period of 20 to 30 secs is normally adequate. None /10-99 secs can be selected.
3. Start of query in minutes
   Specify the drying period required for the samples without automatic mode. The factory-set 3 minutes are usually adequate. This value should be increased for extremely low temperatures, so that the device does not switch itself off prematurely. This affects the PCE-UX 3031 in particular, when free moisture is being measured at 45°C. You can select 1-99 mins.The timer setting is the same as described for the quartz heater.It is possible to select a drying time of 1 – 180 mins
   The automatic settings are the same as described for radiant heate

Printer options

For devices without a printer, the number of prints must be set to ‘1’!

Data output for external printer (other manufacturer)

Data output for external printer (other manufacturer)

Follow the menu instructions and use a F1 weight to calibrate the scales.

The reason for this, please look at “potential errors”.

The first two letters on the second line stand for Automatic (A) and Timer (T).

You can also lock the menu to prevent accidental changes to drying parameters.

If you forget the PIN, you can obtain a new one from PCE Instruments.

Saving drying parameters in the program memory
If your device has a program memory, appears in the top left of the display
“QP” for type PCE-UX3081 and PCE-UX3081WQ and a number of.

• depending on which heater the program memory was activated for from the manufacturer, here for the infra-red heater.
• The standard parameters are set fom the manufacturer at the program memory place 1 .
• The different drying parameters can be saved or be changed with button.
• Drying parameters are: temperature and the parameters of the automatic or the timer.
• Here you can choose between the 9 memory places.
• Then the menu set the temperature, the weight loss, the query interval and the query start.
• All other parameters and settings are not saved individually to the memory place.
• Changes for the quartz heater to the unit of measurement, printer settings, data output, device ID, date and time, Buzzer and language, same as temperature and the parameters of the automatic system affect all program memories at the same time.

Moisture analysis process

The device should be connected to the mains supply and switched on with a drying tray. A weight value is displayed.
Set scales to zero using the ‘tare’ button, display ‘0.000 g’.

Swing the heater over the sample, switch on the heater switch and the drying phase begins. Header data is now printed for devices with a built-in printer. The sample is dried until it has reached a constant weight; the heater then switches off automatically. The time and measurement value is printed for devices with a printer.
If you do not wish to make any measurements, please always ensure that the heater is swung back to its rearmost position!

• Measurement values are displayed for the entire length of timethe heater is positioned above the sample.
• The device should not be moved from its position during measurement, as this causes measurement errors.
• The external printer prints the following at the start of the measurement:
• Model, device ID, date, time, heater temperature, timer or shut-off parameters, initial weight
• And after the device has finished measuring, once the heater has been swung back to its rearmost position: Measurement value, measurement time, substance, initials
• Please ensure drying trays have cooled down before using for measurement.
• If the measurement ends before it is complete, the display shows:
• For substances which are difficult to remove from the tray after being dried, we recommend using foil trays, which can be made quickly and economically from aluminum foil using the PCE-UX foil press.

Data interface

Weighing data, temperature and drying data are also shown on the display via a standard USB flash drive and serial interface.
Depending on the model, a separate PCE-UX 3092 printer or a computer can be connected to the device.

Interface description

Model: V24 RS 232 serial data transmission and USB flash drive

Data cable
Moisture balance – DataChannel

If the computer receiving the data has an internet connection, the system automatically installs a driver and creates a COM interface, as soon as the computer is connected to the moisture analyser.
If this is not the case, the driver must be manually installed in the device manager.
Special software is required for transmitting data to a PC:

ULTRA X DataBridge
Data can be exported in four different data formats: . xls; .PDF.
The software is extremely easy to install and use:
Connect devices, place CD in PC, the installation is self-explanatory.

Accessories

 

Overview of menu setup via the UP button

Potential errors

Care and maintenance

• Please ensure that no pollutants enter the device.
• Always keep the area around the tray holder clean.
• Do not use compressed air to clean the device.
• Do not overload the scales, max. 400 g.
• Protect device from moisture and impact.
• For ideal care and maintenance, we recommend taking out a service contract.

Technical data

Technical data subject to change without notice
PCE-UX moisture analysers are stand-alone units and not suitable for use in continuous production runs. We shall not accept any liability for incorrect readings!

Disposal

• For the disposal of batteries in the EU, the 2006/66/EC directive of the European Parliament applies. Due to the contained pollutants, batteries must not be disposed of as household waste. They must be given to collection points designed for that purpose.
• In order to comply with the EU directive 2012/19/EU we take our devices back. We either re-use them or give them to a recycling company which disposes of the devices in line with law.
• For countries outside the EU, batteries and devices should be disposed of in accordance with your local waste regulations.
• If you have any questions, please contact PCE Instruments.

PCE Instruments contact information

Germany
PCE Deutschland GmbH
Im Langel 26 D-59872 Meschede Deutschland
Tel.: +49 (0) 2903 976 99 0
Fax: +49 (0) 2903 976 99 29
info@pce-instruments.com
www.pce-instruments.com/deutsch

United Kingdom
PCE Instruments UK Ltd Trafford House Chester Rd, Old Trafford Manchester M32 0RS United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 161 464902 0
Fax: +44 (0) 161 464902 9
info@pce-instruments.co.uk
www.pce-instruments.com/english

The Netherlands
PCE Brookhuis B.V. Institutenweg 15 7521 PH Enschede Nederland
Telefoon: +31 (0)53 737 01 92
info@pcebenelux.nl
www.pce-instruments.com/dutch

France
PCE Instruments France EURL
23, rue de Strasbourg 67250 Soultz-Sous-Forets France
Téléphone: +33 (0) 972 3537 17
Numéro de fax: +33 (0) 972 3537 18
info@pce-france.fr
www.pce-instruments.com/french

Italy
PCE Italia s.r.l.
Via Pesciatina 878 / B-Interno 6 55010 Loc. Gragnano Capannori (Lucca) Italia
Telefono: +39 0583 975 114
Fax: +39 0583 974 824
info@pce-italia.it
www.pce-instruments.com/italiano

United States of America
PCE Americas Inc.
1201 Jupiter Park Drive, Suite 8 Jupiter / Palm Beach 33458 FL USA
Tel: +1 561-320-9162
Fax: +1 561-320-9176
info@pce-americas.com
www.pce-instruments.com/us

Spain
PCE Ibérica S.L.
Calle Mula, 8 02500 Tobarra (Albacete) España
Tel. : +34 967 543 548
Fax: +34 967 543 542
info@pce-iberica.es
www.pce-instruments.com/espanol

Turkey
PCE Teknik Cihazları Ltd.Şti.
Halkalı Merkez Mah. Pehlivan Sok. No.6/C 34303 Küçükçekmece – İstanbul Türkiye
Tel: 0212 471 11 47
Faks: 0212 705 53 93
info@pce-cihazlari.com.tr
www.pce-instruments.com/turkish

Denmark
PCE Instruments Denmark ApS Birk Centerpark 40 7400 Herning Denmark
Tel.: +45 70 30 53 08
kontakt@pce-instruments.com
www.pce-instruments.com/dansk

FAQ

• What should I do if I encounter a manufacturing fault?
  If you encounter a manufacturing fault within the warranty period, contact PCE Instruments for free repairs. Do not attempt to repair the device yourself.
• Can I use the device for continuous production runs?
  No, the PCE-UX moisture analyzers are stand-alone units and not suitable for continuous production runs. Using them in such a manner is at your own risk.

Documents / Resources

PCE INSTRUMENTS PCE-UX 3081 Moisture Analysers [pdf] User Guide PCE-UX 3081, PCE-UX 3081WQ, PCE-UX 3081 Moisture Analysers, PCE-UX 3081, Moisture Analysers, Analysers

References

• User Manual