The E-600 instruments shipped through around the end of March of 1995 have used Version 1.XX (e.g. V1.00 through V1.14) programming. Likewise, the WinE600 Windows software used to interface to those instruments has been either Version 0.XX or Version 1.XX up to V1.02.

A number of significant enhancements have been added to the E-600 programming (in both the E-600 itself and the WinE600 Windows interface software) which required a major revision (V2.XX). The following features have been added to V2.XX instruments:

1. The probe serial number and stored background data are now stored with each log data point. Storing the probe serial number permits identification of data origin even if the data logging probe is switched frequently during the data logging process.

2. Crossover correction factors have been added to the channel parameters permitting the instrument to perform automatic upper-to-lower window and lower-to-upper window crossover correction. The most important application of this technology is in removing unwanted alpha-to-beta crossover when the E-600 is being used with alpha/beta probes.

3. The scaler count time variable was moved from the instrument parameters to the channel parameters. This permits the user to match the scaler count time with the channel type. For example, alpha channels quite often require a longer counting time than beta channels.

4. The instrument parameters now allow the user to specify the origin of the log data source ID as either internal/aux (internally assigned or input through the auxiliary serial port from a device such as a bar code reader), internal only or auxiliary only. This enhancement was customer requested to allow the user to lock out the use of the internally assigned log data identifier if a bar code reader is attached.

5. An instrument parameter was added to enable the user to enable or disable the audible beep generated by the instrument each time it automatically changes range when auto-ranging is enabled. Many users find it distracting to hear the audible beep when the V1.XX E-600 auto-ranges. Others see it as a necessity to warn the user than the instrument is moving up or down in ranges when auto-ranging is enabled. With V2.XX, each type of user can have it his/her way.

Due to the nature of these changes, it has been necessary to change the format of the instrument and channel parameter data records used by the E-600, the E-600 smart probes and WinE600 Windows program. For this reason, smart probes used on V1.XX E-600s are not directly compatible with V2.XX E-600s. This application note guides the user through the process of upgrading an E-600 and smart probes from V1.XX to V2.XX.

The first step is to determine whether or not you need to upgrade your E-600 and WinE600 programming to utilize these new features. You may already be using V2.XX.

Prior to changing the programming in either the E-600 or the PC you must first print the configuration information for each E-600 and each smart probe. This step assures that you have the necessary information to restore your instrument and probe calibrations following the programming upgrade.

To print the configuration information, start the V1.XX WinE600 program, connect the E-600 and select Calibrate, Print Calibration Report from the Main Menu.

Repeat this step for each smart probe you have been using with your V1.XX E-600(s). Print one report for each E-600 you own to preserve the E-600 instrument configuration.

In addition, you will want to save the probe information to disk files which are later translated by the new WinE600 V2.XX program and uploaded into your probes/instrument when requested.

Following the printing step described above, select Edit, Save Setup to Disk, Smart Probe Parameters for each smart probe and save these parameters to a disk file with a .SMA extension.

Any conventional probe parameters you are using will presumably already exist in a disk based file since you must restore them from disk each time you change conventional probes. If the conventional probe parameter set stored in the E-600 has not been saved to disk, select Edit, Save Setup to Disk, Conventional Probe Parameters and save these parameters to a disk file with a .CON extension.

Change Out the E-600 Programming

If you are experienced at working on sensitive electronic equipment and you are confident that you will not damage your E-600, you may elect to purchase the upgrade EPROM chip from Eberline (P/N PGME600V2) and perform the installation. If you are not, contact Eberline customer service at (505) 471-3232 X612 to arrange for this service.

The following steps should assist you in changing the EPROM if you decide to perform the upgrade yourself.


Disassembly

1. Unplug any connected probes and remove the battery access cover and remove the three "C" cell batteries. Install an approved wrist grounding strap to prevent electrostatic discharge damage.

2. Remove the four 9/64 allen head screws at the rear (handle end) of the instrument. Pull the dual board set about 1/4 inch to the rear and after noting their orientation, unplug the two connectors (handle keypad and speaker) from the handle and the two connectors (mode switch and instrument keypad) which are wired into the instrument. The handle and base plate assembly are now free from the instrument.

3. Remove the four 9/64 allen head screws at the front (probe connector end) of the instrument. Gently slide the board assembly out the front of the case while monitoring (through the back) that the mode switch and instrument keypad wires do not tangle with any components on the top board. You do not have to remove the board set completely. Stop after the EPROM (component A15, 28 pin device with a version sticker over the window) is exposed.

4. Note that the notch on the EPROM (pin 1 end) is facing to the outside of the board. Carefully remove the EPROM with a small, flat screwdriver being careful not to pry on adjacent components.

5. Install the new EPROM with the notch facing to the outside of the board.

Assembly

6. Gently push the board set in from the front of the case making sure the boards are inserted into their tracks. Pay careful attention to all wiring harnesses. Exposed wires must be carefully held against the board to prevent damage by the guide rails when inserting the board set. Very little force should be required to insert the board set. If force is required, you have a wiring interference problem to sort out prior to pushing the boards into the enclosure.

7. Once the board set is fully inserted into the enclosure from the front, install the four allen head screws into the front cover.

8. Pull the board set slightly aft of the rear of the enclosure and re-plug the four plugs you removed in step 2 making sure the connector polarity is observed. Pay particular attention to the small ribbon cable which connects the handle assembly to the instrument. It is easy to install this connector incorrectly.

9. Attach the rear handle/cover assembly with four allen head screws and install the batteries and battery cover.

If you have taken less than four minutes to perform this EPROM exchange, congratulations are in order. You have beat the times of Eberline's own technicians who have seen the insides of many E-600s.

Now that you have upgraded the programming in the E-600 to V2.XX, you will not be able to use your V0.XX or V1.XX WinE600 program to edit parameters. Install your new V2.XX WinE600 program in a new disk directory before proceeding. For example, if your original disk directory is named E600, you may want your new directory to be named E600V2. Use the install utility on the distribution disk to perform the installation.

Next, copy all smart and conventional probe parameter files from the old E600 directory to the new E600V2 directory. Use the file manager and copy all files with an extension of either .CON or .SMA.

Next, use the V1.XX to V2.XX probe parameter file translator built into WinE600 V2.XX to convert the V1.XX conventional and smart probe parameter files to be compatible with your E-600 V2.XX programming. To do this select Edit, Translate V1.XX Parameter Files from the main menu. The translation will be done in one to three seconds unless you have more than a couple of dozen files to translate. A count of translated files is displayed at the end of the translation. If you find you missed one or more of your old files, copy them to the new WinE600 V2.XX directory and re-run the translator. Only the un-translated files will be converted.

Edit Instrument

Parameters Connect the E-600 to the computer and turn the mode switch to Check. Select Utility, Default Parameters, Use Instrument Defaults to restore the default instrument parameters. Click on the Instrument Parameters tool bar button and using your printout for a reference, restore your instrument parameters to their previous state. Notice that the Log ID Source and Beep on Auto-Range fields are new and must be edited to your preference. The scaler count time field is no longer present in the instrument parameters as it has been moved to the channel parameters.

Select Utility, Instrument Thresh. Cal. from the main menu and edit the lower and upper threshold slope and intercept values to agree with your printout.

Edit Conventional Probe

Parameters Select Utility, Default Parameters, Use Conv. Probe Defaults from the main menu to restore the default conventional probe parameters.

Select Edit, Load Setup From Disk, Conventional Probe Parameters and select the conventional probe parameters you wish loaded into the E-600. Since you translated this file in a previous step, the previously used configuration is now restored.

Click on the Conv. Probe tool bar button and using your printout for reference, verify that the conventional probe parameters are restored to their previous state.

Click on the Conv. Channel tool bar button and using your printout for reference, verify that the conventional probe channel parameters are restored to their previous state. Set the scaler count time for each channel to the desired integration time. Verify that the crossover factors are set to 0.0 on all channels until you have performed a crossover factor calibration. (See Eberline E-600 Application Note, Using Crossover Correction with the E-600)

Edit Smart Probe

Parameters Turn off the instrument, connect a smart probe and turn the instrument to Check mode.

Select Edit, Load Setup From Disk, Smart Probe Parameters and select the smart probe parameters you wish loaded into the attached smart probe. Since you translated this file in a previous step, the previously used configuration is now restored.

Click on the Smart Probe tool bar button and using your printout for reference, verify that the smart probe parameters are restored to their previous state.

Click on the Smart Channel tool bar button and using your printout for reference, verify that the smart probe channel parameters are restored to their previous state. Set the scaler count time for each channel to the desired integration time. Verify that the crossover factors are set to 0.0 on all channels until you have performed a crossover factor calibration.(See Eberline E-600 Application Note, Using Crossover Correction with the E-600)

Verify that the smart probe is properly initialized by turning the E-600 off then on and verifying that the probe model scrolls across the lower right hand corner of the E-600 display and the probe fail icon is not turned on.

Repeat the above steps for each smart probe.

As illustrated by the above procedure, upgrading your E-600 and smart probes to V2.XX is not difficult, yet it does take some time and effort.

A great deal of user supplied information has been gained from the first year of E-600 field operations. The good news is that the format of the E-600 and smart probe parameters are unlikely to change again soon since all the foreseeable enhancements have been implemented.