Pam-2000 Fluorometer

Corey Yeaton, Post Graduate Researcher

Key

Red indicates past problems and remedies.

Blue indicates helpful web sites.

General Information

The pam-2000 unit needs relatively little care and maintenance during the course of a field season. If the unit is used at leas once every 3 months no special maintenance is required.

When the unit is turned on a green BLINKING led indicates normal functioning. If the green light is CONTINUOUS or stays off normal functioning has been disturbed. Turning the unit off and then on may reset the unit and restore normal functions. If it does not then turn off the unit, remove the four screws, the battery keeper plate, the battery, and then check the fuse.

An instruction manual, dark leaf clips, black clay, Walz business cards, product catalog, extra fuses for pam unit and charging unit, extra halogen bulb are also located in a compartment of the Pam hard case. Located in small zip lock bags are a standard fluorescence sheet (bright blue-located with the fiber optics cable) and extra fiber optic securing pins (4). In the same bag is one extra threaded insert. The threaded insert screws into the body of the Pam-2000 on either side of the fiber optic port holes. These threaded inserts are what the fiber optic securing pins screw into.  These inserts have a tendency to unscrew with the pins and fall out. Do not screw pins into the inserts too tightly, just snug. There is a note on the fiber optic port cover reminding users of this. Replace missing one with spare located in the hard case.

Currently the Pam-2000 has a new battery as of 03/01/03 inside the unit. The available external battery is the original battery that came with the unit. The external battery still functions well and can be used to augment power to the machine in times of extended use with out AC.

Battery Charger

The 2020L battery charger is new as of 03/01/03. The green led light at the top of the charger indicates charging.  Brightness of led indicates degree of charging; dim led equals low current and bright led equals high current. Pam unit can be charged simultaneously with external battery while Pam-2000 is in use.  The battery charger continuously charges internal battery while the machine is in use. It is NOT possible to over charge the Pam-2000’s internal battery due to voltage limited charging. If the green led does not light up while the Pam-2000 is in use then the fuse is blown or the charging unit has expired. First check both fuses in the charger. They are located next to each other on the electronics board. The charger comes apart easily via removing one screw. Each fuse is different so remember which slot the fuse came from.

Software

If any software problems are encountered there are two floppy discs are stored within a section of the Pams hard case. Software can also be acquired online at www.walz.com. George has indicated the software is probably compatible with Windows 95 through XP.

The most common problem encountered while using the Pam-2000 is software that will not initialize properly. When clicking on the software it will sometimes appear to initialize; the software info window will come up and go away but the software will not start. At this point the computer usually freezes. A control-alt-delete and end program command will usually free the computer. At this point the software should be uninstalled and reinstalled from the floppy or the Walz web site.  This problem has occurred 3 times in a several month period while using the Pam-2000 roughly every two weeks. This may have something to do with the Toshiba laptop being used with the Pam-2000.

Long Term Storage (more than 3 months)

Prior to long term storage the Pam-2000 and external battery  should be fully charged. At the three month point the unit and external battery should be unpacked and fully charged again to prevent battery degradation.