Read SD Card Feature for PowerPad® III Instruments

Issue 05 “WATTS CURRENT” TECHNICAL BULLETIN Spring 2015

Example shown - PowerPad

Model 8336

The AEMC

PowerPad

III series includes the

Model 8333, Model 8336, and Model 8435.

These portable three-phase power quality

analyzers are designed to measure RMS, many

different types of power and power quality, and

disturbances on electric distribution networks.

Recorded measurement trend data is stored in the

instrument’s removable 2GB SD card.

Until recently, the only way to transfer this data to

a computer has been to connect the instrument

via the USB cable supplied with the product, and

then download the data using DataView

with the

PowerPad

III Control Panel. This process can take

around 20 hours to complete for very large amounts

of data.

The new Read SD Card feature in the PowerPad

III Control Panel now streamlines this process.

For PowerPad

III instruments (except for the

waterproof Model 8435, for which the SD card is

not accessible) running ﬁrmware version 4.1 or later,

the Read SD Card option in the Control Panel’s File

menu lets you download the contents of the SD

card directly into your computer.

Note that the SD card contains trend recorded

measurement data only. Snapshot, transient, alarm,

and inrush data is stored in the instrument’s internal

Flash memory, and must still be downloaded via the

PowerPad

III Control Panel and a USB connection.

This article describes the basic steps required to

use the Read SD Card feature, including:

1. Remove the SD card from the instrument.

2. Insert the SD card into your computer, and

download the contents using the PowerPad

III Control Panel.

3. Replace the SD card in the instrument.

NOTE: This procedure does not apply to

the waterproof Model 8435. Removing

the SD card from the Model 8435 requires

sending the instrument to AEMC

or an

authorized repair facility.

Before You Begin

To use the SD Card feature, your computer must be

equipped with an SD card reader. It must also have

DataView

with the PowerPad

III Control Panel

installed.

You will also need the following to remove the SD

card from the instrument:

• Clean, dry, and well-lighted work surface.

• Coin or similar implement.

• Flathead screwdriver.

Before opening the back cover, your PowerPad

III

instrument must be powered OFF, with all probes,

sensors, and the power cord disconnected. This is

important, to prevent the risk of electric shock when

opening the battery compartment.

Read SD Card Feature for

PowerPad

III Instruments

By Bob Cooperman

Issue 05 “WATTS CURRENT” TECHNICAL BULLETIN Spring 2015

Step 1: Removing the SD Card

from the Instrument

Place the instrument face down on your work

surface. Put the instrument’s stand in the upright

position, with the stand’s pivoting brace supported

by the two tabs on the back of the instrument (see

the arrow in the illustration below). This ensures that

the brace does not interfere with the removal of the

battery compartment cover.

Locate the two fasteners on the battery

compartment cover. Using a coin or similar

implement, turn each fastener 90

counterclockwise

(the fastener slot will now be in the horizontal

position).

Using a ﬂat screwdriver or equivalent, gently

remove the cover from the compartment, taking

care not to damage the plastic cover holder.

Turn the instrument over and hold the battery as it

slides out of its compartment. Position the battery

out of the way, but do not unplug it.

Locate the SD card slot. The card is held in place

by a ﬂexible tab. While holding this tab down, gently

push the card to the left and release it. This spring-

releases the card from its slot.

Remove the SD card, and locate the write-

prevention slider on the left edge of the card. When

the card is ﬁrst removed from the instrument, it is

in the unlocked position (the slider is positioned

towards the card’s metal pins). To prevent the

card from accidently being overwritten during the

download procedure, you must move the slider to

the LOCK position (see below). The LOCK direction

is away from the metal tabs on the SD card.

Issue 05 “WATTS CURRENT” TECHNICAL BULLETIN Spring 2015

Step 2: Downloading the SD Card

Data to the Computer

Insert the card into an available SD card reader slot

on your computer. After a few moments, a prompt

appears asking whether or not you want to format

the SD card. The prompt should include the drive

letter; make note of this drive letter. Click Cancel in

response to this prompt. If you format the card,

you will lose all data stored on it.

Open the PowerPad

III Control Panel. In the menu

bar at the top of the screen select File, and then click

the option Read SD Card. This displays the Read

from SD Card dialog box.

Click “Search for SD card drive.” The Control Panel

searches the computer for any available SD cards,

and displays a drop-down list of any card(s) it ﬁnds.

Select the SD card, and click “Read from SD card.” It

should be the same drive letter that appeared in the

“format” prompt earlier. The Control Panel copies the

contents of the SD card into a Control Panel (.icp) ﬁle,

and opens the ﬁle in the My Campaigns folder.

If the SD card data includes an EN 50160 test, you

are now asked whether or not you want to download

the complete test. If you answer yes, the next

time the Control Panel is connected to the same

instrument; it will download the part of the EN

50160 test data that is not on the SD card, and

combine it with the part that is on the SD card.

If you answer no, it will open the recording as if

it were a simple trend, without the rest of the EN

50160 test data.

Step 3: Replacing the SD Card

Remove the card from the computer. There is

no need to use the Windows eject feature or the

“safely remove hardware” command before doing

so. Move the card’s write protection slider back

to the unlocked position (towards the metal tabs).

Then slide the card back into its slot until it clicks

and locks in place.

Replace the battery in the compartment, and

replace the compartment cover. Be sure the two

tabs on the bottom of the cover are properly

aligned in the slots on the back of the instrument.

Turn the cover fasteners 90º clockwise into

the closed (vertical) position. Finally, close the

instrument’s stand.

To ensure the SD card and/or battery have been

replaced properly; press the instrument’s Power

button. If the instrument does not turn ON,

open the battery compartment and ensure the

battery is properly connected.

With the instrument ON, press the Record

button.

• If the message “No Memory Card

Installed” appears, the SD card may not be

properly connected in its slot. Turn OFF the

instrument, open the battery compartment,

and ensure the SD card is properly seated

and the spring lock clicks in place.

If the message “Protected Memory Card” appears,

the write-protection slider is in the LOCK position.

Remove the card and position the slider in the

unlocked position.

About the Author:

Bob Cooperman is a Senior Software Developer

for AEMC

Instruments, Dover, NH.