Inclinometers

No, because that just isn’t practical. Here’s a suggestion:

1. Make a precise measurement of offset before you leave the office. Write down the measurements per the instructions in the manual.
2. Now you’re at the first inclinometer. Insert the instrument and take a measurement at the top of the hole. Note the inclinometer ID and measurement value on paper. Then do the normal spiral survey.
3. Now you’re at the next inclinometer. Repeat the steps above. You’ll probably see a slightly different value for the top of hole measurement. You shouldn’t see a huge difference. Be sure to note the inclinometer and the value. You can calculate the change later.
4. When you return to the office to crunch the data, you’ll have to enter the precise offset measurement. For the first inclinometer, you’ll enter the measurement as obtained at the office. For the other inclinometers, enter the precise measurement + the change from the top-of-hole measurement.

The spiral routine requires a minimum of two passes through the casing, but better results are obtained by four passes through the casing: the first oriented in the A0 direction, the second in the A180 direction, the third in the B0 direction, and the last in the B180 direction.

With English spiral sensors, readings must be taken at depths that are multiples of 5 feet. With metric spiral sensors, readings must be taken at depths that are multiples of 1.5 meters. This requirement affects the way you must record readings with the Digitilt DataMate. See instructions below.

Click this link to download the manual: Spiral Sensor Manual. Here are some abbreviated instructions.

1. Lower the spiral sensor to the bottom of the casing. Note the cable depth.

2. Choose Read – Record. Choose an installation, and step through the installation parameters.

3. Set Sens Type to Spiral.

4. Set Start depth to the multiple of 5 feet or 1.5 meters nearest to the cable depth that you noted in step 1. (For example, if the cable depth is 159 feet, set the start depth to 160 feet.)

5. Set End depth to 5 feet or 1.5 meters.

6. Take the first reading without moving the sensor. (In our example, the DataMate displays a start depth of 160 feet, even though the sensor is actually at 159 feet. The reading will be labelled 160 feet. This difference in depth has very little, if any, effect on the reading.)

7. The DataMake displays the next depth. This time raise the sensor to the indicated depth. (In our example, example, the DataMate prompts 155 feet. Raise the sensor to 155 feet and record the reading.

8. Continue taking readings at the prompted depths, rotate the sensor 180 degrees for the second pass. Then take readings in the B0 groove and finally in the B180 groove.

DigiPro2 can generate a graph from your spiral data. Use the graph to decide if the spiral is significant enough to affect your readings. If you decide to use the spiral data, DigiPro2 can generate a spiral corrections dataset. To generate a spiral corrections dataset, DigiPro2 needs the spiral data, the inclinometer ID (the spiral routine looks for the deepest and shallowest depth and the interval), and the precise offset measurement, number of passes, and the cable offset if available. See Spiral Correction in the DigiPro2 manual.

1. Are you using up-to-date software? Check our downloads page for DigiPro2.
2. Check your interface cable. If your DataMate has an I/O socket, you must use a cable that has a DB9 connector. If your DataMate has a USB socket, you must use a cable that has a USB connector. They are not interchangeable.
3. Can you connect the interface cable to your PC? Most modern PCs have only USB ports. If your cable has a DB9 connector, you must use a serial-to-USB adaptor. If your adapter doesn’t work, try downloading a new driver from the manufacturer’s website.We currently stock a USB-to-serial adapter from Sabrent. Our part number is 56704018. The most current driver can be downloaded here.
4. Check that the DataMate displays: “Waiting for PC.” (Choose Comm on the DataMate menu). When you click retrieve new or retrieve all, the DataMate should display “Linked to PC.” If you don’t see that message, try step 5 below. If you do see that message, but then it returns to “Waiting for PC,” the cable may be bad.
5. Check the comm menu in DigiPro 2 and DMM. It shows what comm ports are available. Choose a different port. If you are using a serial-to USB adaptor, try the comm port with the highest number.
6. The PC software remembers which comm port number was used last. If your DataMates use different cables, they also use different comm ports. The software might remember the “wrong” comm port number so it can’t communicate. Go to the comm menu to select the correct comm port number.

Is your USB Driver working? Here is a simple test.

1. Switch off the DataMate. You can leave the USB cable connected.
2. Open the comm menu in DigiPro 2 or DMM. You’ll see a list of comm ports. Check their numbers.
3. Close the comm menu.
4. Switch on the DataMate (and plug in the USB cable if you disconnected it)..
5. Open the comm menu in DigiPro 2 or DMM. Look at the list. Do you see a new comm port number?

• If you see a new comm port, use that one with the DataMate.
• If you don’t see a new comm port number, the driver is not working. Follow the steps below.

Identify the problem: USB chip or USB driver?

1. Open the device manager via the control panel. Or use the command line like this: in Win XP, click Run and enter ” devmgmt.msc.” In Win 7, enter “devmgmt.msc” in the search field.
2. The device manager appears. Look for a yellow warning triangle. It is probably labelled “Other.”
3. Right click on the item. Choose Properties.
4. The Properties dialog appears. Choose the “Details” tab.
5. At the top of the Details tab, there is a droplist. Click the droplist and choose “Hardware Ids.”
6. Two lines of text appear.

• If you see “BE40” embedded in either line, you must update the USB chip in the DataMate.
• If you see “6001” embedded, you must update the latest USB driver. See below.

Installing the latest USB Driver

1. Click the Driver Tab.
2. Click the Update Driver button.
3. Allow Windows to search the internet and update the driver automatically:

• Win 7 searches the internet and installs the driver.
• Win XP shows a dialog. Choose yes to allow a search and click Next. Then choose yes to allow automatic installation, and click Next.
• If Windows has problems installing this driver, use the alternative method below.

Alternative method for installing the USB Driver

1. Download the installer program: CDM21216_Setup.exe.
2. Run the installer program.

Use the drawing at right. Wire colors may vary, so they are not listed. You’ll have to look at both connectors to identify the wire colors. Note that this cable works only with the original DataMate.

Use the drawing at right. Wire colors may vary, so they are not listed. You’ll have to look at both connectors to identify the wire colors. Note that this cable works only with the DataMate II.

Yes. We recommend that everyone migrate to DigiPro2. Here’s why:

DigiPro and DMM were written in Microsoft VB6. Microsoft discontinued support for VB6 development tools some time ago, making bug fixes and further development nearly impossible. In addition, Microsoft warned that Windows 7 would not support for the VB6 runtime. In fact, they relented and included some VB6 runtime support in Win7, but it is certain that DigiPro and DMM will stop running in some future update of Windows.

For that reason, we developed DigiPro2 to replace both DMM and DigiPro. Development took over a year, but it is written in C# and is guaranteed to run on future updates of Windows. We encourage everyone to migrate to DigiPro2 sooner rather than later.

Follow these steps to navigate to the Contrast menu.

1. Switch power off and then on again.  (The hidden cursor is now on Read)
2. Press the right-arrow key 3 times, then press Enter. (Cursor is now on Utilities)
3. Press the right-arrow key 5 times, then press Enter. (Cursor is now on Contrast)
4. Press down arrow until characters reappear.

DataMates manufactured before 2009 were supplied with a Sonnenschein A206-6.5S battery. DataMates manufactured from 2009 are supplied with a EnerSys NP7-6 battery.

We switched to the EnerSys NP7-6 battery because the A206-6.5S batteries are now difficult to obtain. They will become completely unavailable sometime in 2010.

If you must replace an older Sonnenschein battery, please ask us if we have any in stock. If we do not have any in stock, then we can supply the EnerSys NP7-6 battery. You will also need to buy a new battery bracket, since the EnerSys battery has a differerent size and shape. Note that the combined cost of the battery and the bracket is not much different from the cost of the Sonnenschein battery by itself.

Normally, you don’t have to do this. However, if a technician at Slope Indicator has recommended the reset, follow these instructions: Resetting the DataMate . Be sure to ground yourself and the DataMate to prevent damage from static discharges.