Accessories
Alicat Scientific provides a range of hardware and software accessories to accompany our product. These accessories can be added to an order to create an “out of the box” ready to use laboratory package, or to minimize the additional components required for an integrated application.
Remote Display (RD)
The Remote Display (RD) option removes the standard display from the unit and allows it to be panel mounted. The RD is ideal for customers with embedded applications and for OEMs who want the versatility of the display in products where the mass flow meter or mass flow controller can’t be accessed.
TFT Color Display (TFT)
The thin film transistor (TFT) option replaces the standard monochrome LCD display with a dynamic, full color, back lit TFT display. The TFT display offers the same features as the standard LCD display in terms of displayed information and adds color for flow range, green indicating normal range, yellow for max range and red for overrange.
Local Set Point Module (LSPM)
The local set point module(LSPM) was designed to assist in “out of box” operation for pressure and flow controllers. It is an alternative method of supplying a control set point signal to the controller and may also be used as a remote digital display via the push-button switch. The LSPM is supplied with two female 8-pin mini din circular connectors that can pass through the RS-232 and 0-5Vdc signals. Electric supply for the controller may also be passed through these pins. All standard LSPMs may be panel mounted. When ordering a LSPM the range of the LSPM should match the operating range of the controller. A DC-62 connector cable is recommended to simplify connection of the LSPM to the controller.
RS-485 Communication
Since most computers have RS-232 communication onboard, Alicat has chosen RS-232 as the digital standard on all of its flow instruments. For those using RS-485 as their primary standard but would like to use an Alicat device, RS-485 is now available as an alternative to the standard RS-232 digital communication.
PROFIBUS (PROFI)
Alicat mass flow meters, mass flow controllers, pressure controllers, and pressure gauges can now be ordered with PROFIBUS communication.
Battery Pack (BPACK)
The 9Vdc battery pack may be connected to meters or gauges to facilitate portable operation. The battery pack, when installed, provides a female, 8-pin mini-din circular connector that may be used to continue accessing the RS-232 and 0-5Vdc signals for comparison, data recording or data analysis. Please note that units with the industrial connector, with 4-20mA signals or 0-10Vdc signals are not compatible with this accessory.
Connecting Cables
The electrical connector on all Alicat units is female. Male electrical connecting cables can be ordered for a combination of the following purposes:
- To provide power to the unit from a customer supplied voltage source
- To access output and input signals in communication
- To activate remote tare
DC-61: The 8-pin circular mini-din connector cable is 6′ long and has 1 male mating connector. The opposite end is blunt cut with color-coded wires.
DC-6RT: This is a right angle, 8-pin circular mini-din connector cable at 6′ long with 1 male mating connector. The opposite end is blunt cut with color-coded wires. This cable is typically used when overall device height is critical.
DC-251: This 8-pin circular mini-din connector cable is 25′ long and has 1 male mating connector. The opposite end is blunt cut with color-coded wires.
DC-62: The 8-pin circular mini-din connector cable is also 6′ in length, but is provided with a male mating connector on both ends. It is a straight pin-to-pin cable. This cable is typically used with the LSPM or the BB9 accessories.
MD8DB9: This is a male 8-pin circular din to female DB9 adaptor cable. It is 6’ feet in length and is typically used to simplify connection direct to a PC.
IC-10: This is a 6-pin industrial style locking cable that is 10′ in length and has 1 male mating connector. The opposite end is blunt cut with color-coded wires. This cable reduces available analog output signals to one parameter. This option is useful for industrial installations in which the cable must be securely connected to the device.
DB-15: The 15pin Dsub connector is a common connection for process control devices. The Dsub connector is installed in place of the standard 8 pin mini din that is normally used with the Alicat device.
Communication Module (BB9)
The BB9 is designed to help users quickly and easily connect up to nine Alicat flow and pressure devices to a single computer using standard DC-62 type connecting cables.
The BB9 is built into a light, yet rugged, composite chassis ideal for mounting in almost any location. A single RS-232 or RS-485 cable allows a user to independently monitor and operate as many as nine Alicat flow devices from a single computer. The BB9 will also power the Alicat devices it is controlling. In installations that require more than nine Alicat flow devices, multiple BB9s can be used to control up to twenty six Alicat devices.
The BB9 saves time and money by allowing users to quickly and easily connect multiple Alicat devices via a single point. The BB9 is also an ideal solution for multiple flow instrument installations where devices are a long distance from the control site.
USB Communication Module (BB9-USB)
The BB9-USB operates exactly as the BB9 described above. The difference is that the BB9-USB uses a standard USB interface instead of the RS-232 interface employed by the standard BB9. Like the standard BB9 the BB9-USB can be mounted in any orientation, made from the same rugged composite material and allows a user to monitor up to 9 Alicat devices via any supported computer using a single USB connection.
The BB9-USB saves time and money by allowing users to quickly and easily connect multiple Alicat devices via a single point. The BB9-USB is also an ideal solution for multiple flow instrument installations where devices are a long distance from the control site.
Power Supply
PVPS24U: This is a unregulated 24 Vdc, 120VAC, selectable plug style wall adaptor. It can be used with any Alicat style flow meter, flow controller, pressure controller or pressure gauge.
Industrial Carrying Case (ICC)
Alicat’s industrial carrying case is an ideal storage or transport solution for Alicat flow products. These molded plastic cases are gasket sealed providing an air and watertight seal. Alicat industrial cases also have a barometric relief valve to prevent damage to the case or to the Alicat flow instrument inside when the air pressure in the environment changes. The industrial case is a rugged and attractive storage accessory that complements any Alicat device.
Process Connections
Alicat carries a full line of fittings, filters, hoses and valves to work with all Alicat flow products.
Software
The standard RS-232 serial input and output signals on all of our units are designed to work with the RS-232 HyperTerminal® available on most PCs. It is possible to transfer text files to a variety of spreadsheet programs for data logging, graphs and analysis. There is no additional software required to use the RS-232 communication feature. However, Alicat Scientific offers the FlowVisionSC™ software application to improve the ease and efficiency of device monitoring and data capturing. FlowVisionSC™ is also compatible with RS-485.
You can also download the LabView drivers for Alicat’s meters and controllers from the Device Drivers download page.
Totalizer
The Totalizer is an optional function that can be added to any flow meter or flow controller. This option adds an additional mode screen that displays the total flow that has passed through the device. It is available in a variety of count resolutions (in 1 unit increments) and provides a maximum count of 6 digits that will vary by the chosen resolution of the count. The display totalizer can be ordered to freeze, roll-over to zero, or roll-over to zero with an error signal when maximum count is reached. The totalizer display will show elapsed time since the last totalizer reset in 0.1 hour increments.
