Gamry Interface 5000 - Cell Cable Installation; Front-Panel USB LED

Installation
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Gamry’s Interface Power Hub is an especially convenient tool for organizing a system containing up to eight
Interface family instruments. It includes a 10-port USB hub and 48 V power-distribution in a rack designed to
hold the instruments. Unlike most instruments with multiple potentiostats in one box, you can easily remove
the Interface instruments in an Interface Power Hub for temporary use elsewhere in your lab.
Contact our main office or your local Gamry Instruments representative if you need assistance configuring a
system containing an Interface 5000 and different Gamry potentiostats.
Heat can be a problem in a multiple-potentiostat system. This subject is discussed in detail in Appendix E of this
manual.
Cell Cable Installation
The Cell Cables connect to two 15-pin D-type connectors located on the front of the Interface 5000 (see Figure
3-1). There are two cables: one that carries the cell current, called the Current Carrying Cable which mates with
the Current Connector, and one that senses the cell voltage, called the Sense Cable, which mates with the
Sense Connector.
The D-connector ends of the cables are connected to the appropriate ports on the front of the Interface 5000.
Always use the knurled screws on this cable to hold the cables in place.
A wide variety of lengths for cell cables are available for the Interface 5000. The Interface 5000 can
automatically detect which Gamry Instruments cables are connected and the Gamry Framework software can
then adjust the system performance for the characteristics of those cables.
Front-panel USB LED
The front-panel USB LED provides a simple test of two aspects of normal Interface 5000 USB operation. It has
four normal states:
• Unlit
The USB cable is disconnected or the USB connection is disabled by the host computer,
• Continuous
green
A valid cable connection has been made and the Interface 5000 USB processor is
receiving power from the USB cable,
• Flashing yellow
Valid USB messages are being transferred between the computer and the Interface 5000,
• Continuous red
A software download is in progress, or a USB communications error.
The flashing state only occurs when Gamry Instruments application software is running.
The current-carrying cable contains fuses that protect the instrument against excessive cell
current. See Chapter 4 for more information concerning these fuses.
We do not recommend using bus-powered hubs to expand your USB network: an externally
powered USB hub is required. Suitable hubs are available at most computer retailers.