Flow Calibration Procedure; Inlet Port - Aethlabs microAeth MA200 Operating Manual

7.3. Flow Calibration Procedure

The on-board user interface on the front of the microAeth can be used to start the automatic flow calibration
process. Please note that the flow calibration must calibrate two flowmeters and therefore similar information
may be displayed on screen during the calibration of flowmeter one and two.
IMPORTANT: Before starting the automatic flow calibration process, the filter tape cartridge must be at
a new clean filter sampling location. The microAeth should be plugged into an external power source.
The only way to perform a flow calibration on the MA200, MA300, and MA350 is to use a microAeth MA
Series Flow Calibration Kit provided by AethLabs.
1) If the microAeth is not already at a new clean filter sampling location, use the left and right buttons to scroll
through the top level menu options to the 'Advance Tape' option. Otherwise skip to step 3.
2) Press the center button to select the 'Advance Tape' option. The microAeth will advance the filter tape
cartridge to a new clean filter sampling location.
3) Plug in the microAeth to an external power source.
4) Plug in the MA Series Flow Calibration Kit flowmeter to an external power source. Make sure the flowmeter
is turned on.
5) Connect the MA Series Flow Calibration Kit communication cable to the microAeth serial port and the
flowmeter mini-din 8 port.
6) Connect the outlet port of the MA Series Flow Calibration Kit flowmeter to the inlet port of the microAeth.
7) Make sure that all connections are tight and sealed so that no leaks are present.
8) Use the left and right buttons of the microAeth to scroll through the top level menu options to the 'Calibrate
Flow' option.
9) Press the center button of the microAeth to select the 'Calibrate Flow' option. The screen will display
'Switch to CAL CABLE. Press any button.'
10) Press any button to start the automatic flow calibration of the microAeth.
11) The microAeth will check flow and communications.
12) The screen will display 'Assessing Top Flow.'
13) If there is a communications issue, the screen will display 'NO COMMS DETECTED.' The screen will then
display 'Switch to DATA CABLE Press any button.' Press any button to return to the top level menu and return
to step 3.
14) If there is a flow issue, the screen will display 'NO FLOW DETECTED.' 'Switch to DATA CABLE Press any
button.' Press any button to return to the top level menu and return to step 3.
15) If there are no issues, the screen will display the max flow that can be reached and will then begin the flow
calibration.
16) To cancel the flow calibration at any point, press the center button. The screen will display, 'Switch to
DATA CABLE Press any button.' Press any button to return to the top level menu.
17) When the automatic flow calibration is complete, the screen will display 'Switch to DATA CABLE Press
any button.' Press any button to return to the top level menu.
44 microAeth MA Series MA200, MA300, MA350 Operating Manual
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7.4. Upgrading Operating System Firmware
The on-board user interface on the front of the microAeth can be used to upgrade the operating system
firmware via the 4-pin serial port. Upgrading the operating system firmware of the microAeth can be
accomplished through a terminal emulator using the AethLabs 4-pin Serial to USB converter cable.
Before using the AethLabs 4-pin Serial to USB converter cable, it may be required to install drivers
from Future Technology Devices International Ltd. (FTDI) in order for the converter cable to be
recognized by and used with the computer.
1) Unplug the microAeth from all external power sources.
2) Plug in the AethLabs Serial to USB converter cable to the 4-pin serial port of the microAeth. Plug in the
USB A plug of the cable into a computer where data will be download.
3) Open a terminal emulator (TeraTerm for Windows is highly recommended) on the computer and use the
following settings (as described in section 5.5.3):
Baud Rate
1000000
4) The terminal emulator should now display the on-board user interface options as the 3 button interface is
used by the user. More information that is hidden on the microAeth on-board screen will be displayed in the
terminal emulator.
5) Use the left and right buttons to scroll through the top level menu options to the 'Turn off' option.
6) Press the center button to select the 'Turn off' option.
7) Follow the instructions displayed in the terminal emulator to enter the bootloader.
8) 'Shutdown - Now (LEFT AND RIGHT) to enter Bootloader' is displayed. Press and hold down both the left
and right buttons at the same time.
9) If successful in entering the bootloader, the microAeth will display more information. 'Serial Decrypting
Bootloader Version x.xxL / Serial Number [MAxxx-xxxx] - 6F87' will be displayed.
10) If unsuccessful in entering the bootloader, the microAeth will turn off and nothing more will be displayed.
To try again, turn on the microAeth and repeat steps 4-8.
11) Follow the instructions displayed in the terminal emulator and bootloader to upgrade the firmware.
12) 'Press CENTER button to start bootload process, Press LEFT or RIGHT buttons to CANCEL' Press either
the left or right buttons to exit the bootloader and cancel the bootload process. The microAeth will shut off. If
no further actions are taken within 30 seconds, the microAeth will automatically shut off. To try again, turn on
the microAeth and repeat steps 4-11.
13) Press the center button to start the firmware upgrade. More information and 'Waiting for download... (you
have 30s)' will be display. The microAeth will wait 30 seconds for the user to send the firmware data file to the
microAeth through the terminal emulator. If a file is not sent to the microAeth, the instrument will timeout and
shut down. The microAeth no longer has a valid firmware loaded. Any time the instrument is turned on again,
only the bootloader will start. To try again, turn on the microAeth and repeat steps 10-12
14) Use the terminal emulator to send the firmware file to the microAeth. Transfer will begin immediately
and if the transfer successfully initiated, '*' star symbols will be displayed as the transfer progresses. Do not
interrupt the data transfer and upgrade. Wait until the process is fully complete and 'SUCCESS' is displayed.
15) If the firmware transfer and upgrade fails, 'BAD LOAD' will be displayed. The microAeth no longer has a
valid firmware loaded. Any time the instrument is turned on again, only the bootloader will start. To try again,
turn on the microAeth and repeat steps 10-13
16) If the firmware transfer and upgrade are successful, the data transfer will finish, 'GOOD LOAD' will be
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Data Parity Stop
8 bit none 1 bit
microAeth MA Series MA200, MA300, MA350 Operating Manual
®
Flow control
Xon/Xoff
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