SunScan User Manual v 1.05
Technical Reference section
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65
Workabout battery management
When you receive the Workabout, the installed battery pack may not be fully
charged. Connect the Workabout to the Docking unit and Charger immediately, so
that charging can proceed whilst you are learning to use the SunScan.
The charger is a trickle-charger and may take 14 hours to fully recharge the battery
pack. A fully charged Ni-Cd battery should easily give 2 or 3 full days use in the
field. You must then recharge the Workabout overnight if you want to continue with
daily use in the field.
Warning! In general, Ni-Cd batteries prefer to be fully discharged before being
recharged. Do not leave them continuously trickle-charging.
If you ordered a spare Ni-Cd battery pack it will not be charged initially. Charge it as
soon as you have the opportunity, so that you can replace an exhausted one without
delay.
To gain access to the batteries, open the battery drawer by pressing the black button
at the top left corner of the Workabout very firmly.
The Workabout will run equally well from 2 AA alkaline cells. Carry some of these
with you if there is any chance that your Ni-Cd will become exhausted when no
mains power is available for recharging.
Warning! Don't leave the Workabout without a main battery for more than a day or
two. Its back-up cell will last for several days only.
Beyond this time you may lose data in the internal memory (but Flashcard data will
not be affected).
If you get low battery warnings, even after fully charging the Ni-Cd pack, these can
be reset by removing and then replacing the pack.
Checking the desiccant
Both the SunScan probe and Beam Fraction sensor contain desiccant packs to
prevent internal condensation of moisture when they are used outside. The dryness
of the desiccant is indicated by a coloured panel on the outside of each housing. Blue
indicates dry, pink indicates that renewal is needed. The Workabout does not contain
desiccant.
Refreshing the desiccant
The desiccant pack can be regenerated by heating. Remove the pack from the probe
or BFS and heat the pack in an oven for a few hours at about 140ºC, then allow it to
cool down away from moisture before reinstalling it.
Access to the probe handle is as described above for probe battery changing. To
access the Beam Fraction sensor, prise upwards the red plastic strips on the lid, then
undo the four cross-head screws that are revealed.
