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8" Pressure Chart Recorder
Articles
- How to Change Charts
- Why Did the Chart Stop Turning?
- Why Doesn’t the Chart Recorder Respond to Changes?
- Why Isn’t the Chart Keeping Time or Running Slow?
- Why Won’t the Chart Recorder Rotate?
- How Do I Adjust the Pens?
- How to Change Pens
A Snapshot of Changing Charts
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Causes and Troubleshooting:
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The chart may be hung up or restricted, possibly caused by a rip on the outer edge of the chart. The chart may also be caught between the arm and pen arm platform. that the gears are not binding or slipping by manually advancing the chart one full rotation with the chart rotation button.
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Unit may also be locked up. This can be confirmed by pressing any of the buttons on the keypad. If the unit is locked up, there will be no response to button presses.
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The recorder may appear to be working, but the readings won’t change and the chart will not rotate. To correct this, remove the battery and AC power (if applicable) for a minute and then re-power.
| Trouble Symptoms | Probable Causes | Suggested Corrections |
|---|---|---|
| Unit is locked up. | Can be confirmed by pressing any of the buttons on the keypad. If the Chart Recorder is locked up there will be no responses to button presses, however, the unit may appear to be working, but the readings won’t change and the chart will not rotate. | Remove power and battery then re-power |
| K-type Thermocouple is used. | The probe may need to be replaced or the extension cable | Replace the probe with another K-type thermocouple probe or remove the extension cable if applicable. |
| Chart Recorder will not operate at all. | Caused by an interruption of power | Remove batteries and transformer, wait about 1-minute and power back up. This does not affect the unit’s functionality or calibration in any way. |
| Why won’t the pen respond to changes? | If the pen will not move from the bottom of the chart scale, there may be a leak in the system. The unit will need to be serviced and re-calibrated. | Make sure the pen arm screw is snug, not allowing the pen to swing freely. |
| Instrument is not responding to a key press? | The key may be pressed too hard. The recorder may be locked up. If so, there will be no response to button presses. The unit may appear to be working, but the readings won’t change and the chart will not rotate. | If your instrument is not responding to a key press, try using slower, firmer key presses. remove the AC power and the battery, wait a moment, and then re-power |
Causes and Troubleshooting:
-
The chart may be hung up or restricted, possibly caused by a rip on the outer edge of the chart.
-
The chart may also be caught between the arm and pen arm platform.
-
The incorrect chart may have been installed for the selected chart speed.
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To ensure that the gears are not binding or slipping, manually advance the chart one full rotation with the chart rotation button.
| Symptoms | Probable Causes | Suggested Corrections |
|---|---|---|
| Hung up chart | A rip on the outer edge of the chart | Check to see if the chart is caught between the arm and pen arm and adjust accordingly |
| Penn has too much tension | Too much tension can cause the chart to pinch the dial plate | Ensure that the pen does not have too much tension |
| Bad battery | The battery is inserted inccorectly or a dead battery | Check that the battery is inserted in the correct way or replace battery. |
| Chart is inserted wrong | Chat could also be ripped or torn | Ensure the center strip of the chart is inserted properly into the black center hub of the recorder |
| Ticking Sound | From the clock | the clock should tick once every second for a 24-hour unit and once every 7 seconds for a 7-day unit |
About Pen Adjustment
- Pen adjust may be needed if the pen(s) and display do not match.
- Before proceeding check your calibration date, the unit may be due for a recalibration, if so contact Dickson.
How to use Adjust the Pens
Pen Adjustment:
- While the unit is on, press and hold both the Pen Home button and the On/Off button (making sure to press the Pen Home button first so the unit will not turn off).
- The led will blink rapidly between amber and green for about five seconds, the LED will then turn green, release the Pen Home and On/Off buttons. The led will flash amber and green for one second and the led will turn off.
Warning
Pressing the On/Off button will exit the adjustment and return the unit to normal operation. Each time the pen home or On/Off button is pressed, the adjustment currently in progress will be stored. The unit will take one minute to exit Pen Adjust Mode once the On/Off button is pressed.
One Pen Model:
The red pen will move to the outer edge of the chart and is ready to be adjusted.
- Use the Adjust-Up and Adjust-Down buttons to move the pen to the maximum temperature line on the chart.
- Once the pen is set, the Pen Home button will move the pen to reaffirm the new pen position.
- Press the On/Off button to exit pen home adjust.
Two Pen Models :
Both pens will move to the outer edge of the chart, and then the shorter red pen will move to the current position.
- Use the Adjust-Up and Adjust-Down buttons to move the pen to the maximum temperature line on the chart.
- Once the shorter red pen is set, the Pen Home button will move the shorter red pen to the outer edge of the chart and the longer blue pen will move to its current position.
- The Adjust-Up and Adjust-Down buttons will adjust the longer blue pen position.
- Once the pen is set, the Pen Home button will move the longer blue pen to the outer edge of the chart and the shorter red pen will move to its new position.
- Each time pen home is pressed the two pens will switch positions (moving the most recently adjusted position) until the On/Off button is pressed to exit pen adjust model
Warning
Pressing the On/Off button will exit the adjustment and return the unit to normal operation. Each time the pen home or On/Off button is pressed, the adjustment currently in progress will be stored. The unit will take one minute to exit Pen Adjust Mode once the On/Off button is pressed.
Changing Pens Can Be Easy and Important
Learn more in Chart Recorder Topics
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