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DataRAM4 Particulate Monitor Forest Service User's Guide

Logging Data

From the 'MAIN MENU', press the 'NEXT' button to access the 'EDIT MENU'.

Select 'LOGGING PARAMETERS' by moving the cursor and press 'ENTER'. The following screen displays:

'LOG DATA' can be enabled or disabled by using the '+' or '-' buttons. To record data to memory, set the 'LOG DATA' to 'ENABLED'. When 'LOG DATA' is set to 'DISABLED', the instrument can still perform a run, but the data will not be recorded to internal memory.

'LOG PERIOD' represents how often a point will be written to the DataRAM's internal memory. Set the 'LOG PERIOD' to 5 minutes (00:05:00). For example, if the log period is set to 5 minutes, the DataRAM will average all concentration values over that 5-minute interval to obtain one data point. 'LOG PERIOD' can be set to any period between 1 second to 4 hours. Five minutes is a reasonable average reporting time for smoke management. It will provide enough detail about the smoke concentration dynamics of smoke management without the large variability found for shorter averaging times. To move the cursor in the horizontal direction from one significant digit to another, press either the '>' or '<' buttons. When the cursor is flashing over the numeral, use the '+' or '-' buttons to increase or decrease the number.

'TAG #' represents the storage location for each individual sampling run. This allows the DataRAM to store data from multiple runs while providing the user with the means to identify them. The TAG # displayed is always the next one available. Set the 'TAG #' to '01'. If the TAG# will not set to 01, there is stored data in that TAG#. If the data has been transferred to a laptop, delete the data from the TAG# (refer to the 'Deleting Data From the DataRAM' section).

'AUTO START' allows the DataRAM to start logging data at a specified time. Set 'AUTO START' to 'DISABLED' to start logging data immediately. To start logging sometime later, for example, to coincide with the start time of a gravimetric sampler, change the 'AUTOSTART' to 'AUTO' and set the desired start time. Press the 'EXIT' button to return to the 'EDIT MENU'.

Press the 'NEXT' button to return to the 'MAIN MENU'. At the 'MAIN MENU' move the cursor to 'START RUN' and press 'ENTER'. The following screen displays:

The top line indicates the current date and time.

'CONC' indicates the instantaneous mass concentration value.

'TWA' indicates the time-weighted average of mass concentration.

The 'L' in front of 'TWA' indicates that the DataRAM is logging data to the internal memory. An L will not be displayed if 'LOG DATA' is not set to 'ENABLED'.

'RUN TIME' indicates the elapsed run time in hours, minutes, and seconds since the 'START RUN' was last pressed and as indicated on the clock.

If the data results in negative numbers, return to 'ZERO/INI-TIALIZE' and perform another 'ZERO' session. If the 'ZERO' session is done in a polluted environment, the background will register high and subsequent data from a less-polluted environment will also be negative.

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