The LabPro is packaged so it can be used right out of the box with a minimal amount of set-up time. To familiarize yourself with all the features found on the LabPro, visit Vernier's web site to take a look at the LabPro and learn about the features which make it unique. In addition, Vernier provides a list of "Frequently Asked Questions" which explain in-depth all the features associated with the LabPro.

In addition to "Using the LabPro with Logger Pro software on a Windows PC," the following links will guide you through each of the listed processes:

Using the LabPro with Logger Pro software on a Windows PC


The following steps will take you through the set-up and the use of the LabPro with a Windows PC and Logger Pro software to conduct a simple temperature experiment. You will need the following materials to do the experiment:

  • Logger Pro software
  • Windows PC
  • LabPro
  • Vernier stainless steel temperature probe
  • 400 milliliter beaker
  • 100 milliliters of tap water
  • An ice cube

1. Open the back cover of the LabPro unit and insert the batteries.

Note: An AC adapter is included with the LabPro which may be used instead of batteries.

2. Attach the LabPro unit to the computer using one of the the provided connections. Since we are using a Windows PC, the two connections available are a PC serial cable or a USB cable.

Note: For a more detailed look at the different types of connections, visit the following links:

3. Attach the Stainless Steel Temperature to "~CH 1" on the LabPro unit.

4. Open the Logger Pro software by clicking on the icon located on the desktop. Note: This will appear after loading the software on your computer.

5. The software will detect the auto-ID sensor, set the data collection parameters which are 1 sample per second for 200 seconds. The program will display a window with a graph and a data table.

6. Place approximately 100 milliliters of room temperature tap water in a 400 milliliter beaker.

7. Click the Collect button at the top of the Logger Pro screen.

8. After approximately 10 seconds, place the temperature probe in the water.

9. Observe the data table as the data points are collected. At approximately 60 seconds, place an ice cube in the beaker with the water and the temperature probe. From the data table, record in seconds the time at which you added the ice cube.

10. The data collection will automatically stop at 200 seconds. Click on the Analyze menu and choose Examine. The cursor will become a vertical line. Move the cursor to the point on the graph where the temperature is the highest. Record this value.

Note: This will be among the first data points collected.

Note: The box at the top left hand corner which shows the time and temperature will change as you move the cursor along the graph line.

11. Move the cursor down the graph line and find the lowest temperature.

What was the change in temperature and how long did it take to reach the lowest temperature?

12. Save this experiment, on your desktop, as "tempexperiment." The data table and graph will used in the skill development activity entitled, "Logger Pro Software: Analyzing Data."

 

 

 

 

 

13. Click on the "File" menu, then click "Save As..." A box will appear and you can choose where to save the completed experiment.

14. Change the "Save in:" to "Desktop."

15. Change the file name from "Untitled" to "tempexperiment" and click the Save button.

Using the LabPro with a TI-83 Plus Calculator

Note: The LabPro can also be used with the TI-73, TI-82, TI-83, TI-86, TI-89, TI-92, and TI-92 Plus.

1. Insert the LabPro unit into the cradle.

2. Snap the calculator into the top of the cradle, so the calculator and the buttons on the top of the LabPro are visible.

3. Place one end of the link cable into the I/O port in the lower end of the calculator.

4. Plug the other end of the link cable into the port on the lower end of the LabPro.

5. Turn the calculator on.

6. Reset the memory on your calculator by pressing "2nd" then "MEM" which is the + key. Then choose "RESET" which is 7 by scrolling down or clicking the 7 key.

7. Choose 1,"All RAM" then 2, "RESET" on the next screen. A warning will be displayed that says, "Resetting RAM erases all data and programs from RAM."

8. A screen will be displayed that says "RAM cleared." Press "ENTER" and the word "DONE" will appear on the screen.

9. Put the calculator in receive mode by pressing "2nd" then "LINK." Arrow over so that "RECEIVE" is highlighted then press "ENTER."
Larger view of calculator screen with the location of the 2nd and LINK buttons circled in white.
10. The calculator will display a "Waiting" screen. Press the "TRANSFER" button on the LabPro unit. The LabPro unit detects which calculator is connected and sends the appropriate version of the DataMate software to the calculator.

11. The calculator will display a "Receiving" screen. When the calculator has received the program, "Done" will be displayed on the screen.

12. Plug the temperature probe into "~CH 1" on the left hand side of the LabPro unit. Remember that the probes should be plugged into the channel ports in the appropriate order using channel 1 first, channel 2 second and channel 3 last. If you are only using one probe, use channel 1 only.

13. To run the DataMate program, click the "APPS" button on the calculator and then arrow up or down to highlight the DataMate program. Press "ENTER."

Larger view of calculator screen with the location of the APPS button circled in white.
Larger view of calculator screen with the location of the ENTER button circled in white.

14. A screen is displayed which says, "CHECKING SENSORS." If the calculator has identified the temperature sensor correctly, a screen will be displayed that says, "CH 1: TEMP (C) and the current reading as determined by the temperature sensor.

15. DataMate automatically loads a default temperature experiment and the main screen is displayed.

The following steps will take you through completing the same simple temperature experiment that you completed above using the Logger Pro software, but now you will be using the TI-83 Plus calculator.

1. Place approximately 100 milliliters of room temperature tap water in a 400 milliliter beaker.

2. Click on 2 which is "START." A real-time graph of the temperature will be displayed.

 

3. After approximately 10 seconds, place the temperature probe in the water. Wait an additional 20 seconds and add one ice cube to the the beaker with the water and the temperature probe.

4. After approximately two minutes, click on the "STO›" key. Your graph will be displayed on the screen.

5. Use the arrow keys to move through each data point on the graph. The graph can be saved for retrieval at a later time.

Larger view of calculator screen with the location of the STO button circled in white.
Larger view of calculator screen with the location of the Arrow buttons circled in white.
Saving an Experiment on a TI-83 Plus Calculator

1. From the graph window, press "ENTER" to return to the main screen.

2. From the main screen menu, select 1 which is "SETUP."

3. Choose 4 which is "SAVE/LOAD."

4. Choose 1 which is "SAVE THE EXPERIMENT."

Note: From this window you can also choose 2 which is "LOAD EXPERIMENT," 3 which is "DELETE EXPERIMENT" or 4 which is "DELETE ALL EXPERIMENTS."

5. You will then be prompted to "ENTER NAME" after choosing 1 which is "SAVE THE EXPERIMENT."

6. Choose "2nd" then "ALPHA" to use the letters which are above the keys to type in a name for your experiment. The name can be up to 20 characters in length with a combination of both letters and numbers.

7. After typing in a name for your experiment, press "ENTER" and a "SAVING...." message will appear. Once the experiment is saved, you will be returned to the "EXPERIMENT MENU." Press 5 to return to the "SETUP MENU" and then 1 to return to the main screen.

Larger view of calculator screen with the location of the 2nd and ALPHA buttons circled in white.
Retrieving a Saved Experiment from a TI-83 Plus Calculator

1. On the main screen menu, select 1 which is "SETUP."

2. Choose 4 which is "SAVE/LOAD."

3. Choose 2 which is "LOAD EXPERIMENT."

4. Select an experiment to load. Click on the number which corresponds with the name of the experiment you want to load and press "ENTER." A "LOADING....." message is displayed.

5. Once the experiment is loaded, you will be returned to the main screen.

6. To retrieve the graph, choose 5 which is "TOOLS" and then 2 which is "RETRIEVE DATA."

7. The graph will be displayed.

Using the LabPro Remotely
LabPro has the capabilities to collect data without being connected to a computer or a calculator. This can be accomplished by using the Quick Setup feature along with the auto-ID sensors. After the data is collected, the LabPro can be connected to a calculator or a computer to retrieve and analyze the data.
Setting up the LabPro for Remote Data Collection

Note: This LabPro feature will only work with auto-ID sensors.

1. Connect an auto-ID sensor to the LabPro.

2. Press the Quick Setup button on the LabPro. The yellow LED light above the buttons on the LabPro will blink twice and two beeps will be emitted to verify that setup is complete.

3. To collect data, press the START/STOP button on the top of the LabPro. The green LED light above the buttons on the LabPro will blink during the data collection.

Note: The length of time for data collection is dependent on the type of sensor being used and will vary from sensor to sensor.

4. The green LED light will stop blinking when data collection is complete.

The following instructions will take you through a remote data collection using three auto-ID sensors.

You will need the temperature probe, light sensor, and barometer. The following instructions will help you to setup the LabPro before you start your data collection, then the data can be easily manipulated after the collection is complete.

1. Open Logger Pro to create an experiment file in which to upload data after the remote collection is complete.

2. Connect the LabPro to the computer. Click on Experiments and turn off Live Readouts by clicking on it to remove the arrow.

3. Choose Setup, then Interface to determine that LoggerPro recognizes the LabPro as the interface.
4. The window below should open up. If not, check your connections on the LabPro and the computer. Click OK.
5. Next choose Setup, then Sensors.
6. Click on CH1 and add the temperature sensor to CH 1 by clicking on the drop down menu next to Sensor.
7. Click on CH2 and add the light sensor by clicking on the drop down menu next to Sensor. The setting should be 150K which is appropriate for sunlight.
8. Click on CH3 and add the barometer by clicking on the drop down menu next to Sensor. Click OK.
9. Next, choose Setup, then Data Collection.
10. The window below will open up. The mode tab should be selected and the drop down menu should indicate "Real Time Collect."
11. Click on the Sampling tab.

12. Click on the Time Units near the bottom and change to minutes, change experiment length to 5 minutes and the samples/minute to 60. Click OK.

Note: The data collection can be set up for longer periods, but for the purposes of this introduction to remote collection, we will keep it short.

13. Click on Remote, then Setup LabPro.

14. Read the listed steps to collect data remotely with the LabPro and then click on Setup.

15. Disconnect the LabPro from the computer and save the experiment setup on your computer desktop as weatherstationexp.

16. Connect the sensors to the LabPro. Place the temperature probe in CH 1, the light sensor in CH 2, and the barometer in CH 3. Place your LabPro outside where it will not be disturbed for the 5 minute time period.

Click on the Start/Stop button on the LabPro to begin collecting data.

17. After the 5 minute period, open the weatherstationexp in LoggerPro. Choose File, Open.

18. The dialog box below will open. Choose weatherstationexp and click Open.

19. The experiment setup will open in LoggerPro.

20. Click on Remote, Retrieve Data From LabPro. Connect the LabPro to the computer.

21. The remotely collected data will be imported to LoggerPro. Edit the x and y axis so that all the collected data is visible. Add an appropriate title and save your LoggerPro file.
Retrieving Data From the LabPro Using a Computer and Logger Pro Software

1. Open Logger Pro. This menu message will appear. Click on Cancel.

2. Select "Remote" then "Retrieve Data from LabPro."

 

3. A message window will appear which says "Connect LabPro now........"

4. Connect the LabPro to the computer.
5. The data collected remotely with the LabPro will now be transferred to the Logger Pro program.
Note: The labels and units on the graph and data table may need to be changed depending on the sensor used to collect data.
Retrieving Data From the LabPro Using the TI-83 Plus Calculator

1. Connect the LabPro to the TI-83 Plus calculator.

2. To run the DataMate program, click the "APPS" button on the calculator and then arrow up or down to highlight the DataMate program.

3. To retrieve the data choose 5 which is "TOOLS" and then 2 which is "RETRIEVE DATA."

4. The graph will be displayed on your calculator screen.

Note: Refer back to Retrieving a Saved Experiment, if you need additional help.

Additional Notes:

  • Both the LabPro and CBL 2 have a 12,000 point maximum (that would be 6,000 points if you used
    two sensors, 3,000 points for three sensors, and so on).
  • Quick Setup will only collect 99 points at a predetermined rate. Quick Setup can only be used with auto-ID sensors.
  • Either interface can be set up (from the computer or calculator) to collect as many points as you wish.

On the computer:

  • Setup a real-time experiment with the parameters (data collection, sensors, interface) you want and then click the Setup LabPro from the Remote menu.

On the calculator:

  • Setup a Time Graph experiment with the desired parameters and then choose the Manual Trigger from the Advanced Time Graph Options. The calculator has limited memory, so you can run into problems when collecting a large number of samples. Once that amber light is visible on the LabPro or the CBL 2, you are ready to begin collecting data. Do not press the Quick/Setup button. Just press Start/Stop to begin (or end) your experiment.

©2000-2002 April A. Cleveland for Science Junction, NC State University.
All rights reserved.
URL: http://www.ncsu.edu/sciencejunction/route/usetech/MBL/mbluse.html
Last updated 07/30/02

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