Some newer
computers, primarily laptops, employ power conservation features that shut off
the communications port (serial port) within seconds after launching or
offloading a logger. The computer does this automatically without waiting for
the logger to be disconnected from the serial cable.
After
launching a logger, the port may shut down which will cause the logger to stop
logging. After offloading a logger, the
port may shut down which will stop the logger from switching to low power mode
and will eventually result in a dead battery.
Onset has
fixed this problem by holding the serial port open (preventing the port from
powering down) until you verify that the cable has been disconnected.
Note: If
you use a laptop to launch your loggers, run this test with and without battery
power.
If the
logger’s LED is not blinking, it means that the logger has stopped logging. Offload the logger and look at the data
file. Incomplete data files typically
contain only one data point if the serial port has shut down. If your data file is incomplete, then your
computer (most likely) has the serial port power problem. To avoid serial port power problems, unplug
the logger from the serial cable each time you launch or offload a logger.
If the
logger’s LED is blinking, you do not have the serial port power problem. In this case, you can safely disable the
Disconnect Logger dialog so that you are not prompted to remove the serial
cable every time you launch or offload a logger. To disable the warning: go to Edit/Preferences/Confirmation and
clear the “Show logger serial port UNPLUG Confirmations” item. (You can always
change it back later.)
Onset
suggests that you always verify logger operation by checking that the LED is
blinking when launching any logger on any computer.
For the
most up-to-date information, visit: http://www.HOBOhelp.com/HS_Support/4191_FAQs.html
or contact the dealer from which you purchased the product.