Readme: epsilon EC update This document describes changes made in the epsilon EC computer program since it was introduced. The epsilon EC manual is only available in an electronic format. Both HTML and PDF versions are on the installation disk and an HTML version is on the BASi web site. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update August 21, 2009 USB communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 2000, XP, and Vista BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.13.77-USB BAS ComServer Ver. 1.08 Firmware Ver. 2.03 Hardware Update Ver. 1.61.07 Manual Ver. 2.10.73 Serial communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.13.77 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 98/Me and 3.09 for 2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.72 Hardware Update Ver. 1.51.07 Manual Ver. 2.10.73 Additions/changes: 1. Bug fix in the serial installation file. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update August 6, 2009 USB communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 2000, XP, and Vista BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.12.76-USB BAS ComServer Ver. 1.08 Firmware Ver. 2.03 Hardware Update Ver. 1.61.07 Manual Ver. 2.10.73 Serial communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.12.76 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 98/Me and 3.09 for 2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.72 Hardware Update Ver. 1.51.07 Manual Ver. 2.10.73 Additions/changes: 1. Bug fix in CV that was introduced in version 2.10.73. Some saved data files would not open. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update June 22, 2009 USB communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 2000, XP, and Vista BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.11.75-USB BAS ComServer Ver. 1.08 Firmware Ver. 2.03 Hardware Update Ver. 1.61.07 Manual Ver. 2.10.73 Serial communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.11.75 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 98/Me and 3.09 for 2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.72 Hardware Update Ver. 1.51.07 Manual Ver. 2.10.73 Additions/changes: 1. Bug fix in CV that was introduced in version 2.10.73. If scan rate was 11 mV/s or lower, then data was missing last data point. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update March 6, 2009 USB communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 2000, XP, and Vista BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.10.73-USB BAS ComServer Ver. 1.08 Firmware Ver. 2.03 Hardware Update Ver. 1.61.07 Manual Ver. 2.10.73 Serial communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.10.73 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 98/Me and 3.09 for 2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.72 Hardware Update Ver. 1.51.07 Manual Ver. 2.10.73 Additions/changes: 1. The feature, Ohmic potential (iR) compensation, has been added to all potentiostatic techniques. Previously it was only available with CV and LSV. 2. Maximum data file length has been increased from 32,000 points to 64,000 points for techniques CV, CPE, DCPA, CP, OP, MCA, and MCCV. 3. Converted files for SW and SWSV now have four columns of data: potential, difference current, forward current, and reverse current. 4. Scan Rate with CV has been increased from 10,000 mV/s to 25,000 mV/s. 5. One can select several options for end of experiment cell conditions with CPE. In addition to the default setting of cell off, one can now leave the cell on at the same potential as the run or at a specified potential. 6. With CPE and CP, if the run is ended by attaining a threshold limit, then the multi-run and sequential techniques will now continue with the next run rather than aborting the whole sequence. 7. Bug fixed with CPE where after a CPE run was manually stopped, one would have to click Run, Stop, then Run to get experiment to run again. 8. Bug fixed in CV technique where on rare occasions the epsilon program froze. This was due to rounding errors causing differences between the wave form generation length and the data acquisition length. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update February 1, 2008 USB communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 2000, and XP BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.00.71-USB BAS ComServer Ver. 1.03 Firmware Ver. 2.01 Hardware Update Ver. 1.61.07 Manual Ver. 2.00.71 Serial communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 2.00.71 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 98/Me and 3.09 for 2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.50a Hardware Update Ver. 1.51.07 Manual Ver. 2.00.71 Additions/changes: 1. Added Save to pdf to the Print options. When selected Acrobat Reader is opened and a pdf file is created of the current data display. This gives much more consistent printouts between printers. Note that Acrobat Reader must be installed on the computer to use this feature. 2. The number of runs in Multirun and the number of cycles in Sequential Techniques has been increased from 999 to 9999. 3. Added a feature that will allow one to display and print selected segments of cyclic voltammograms. 4. In Cyclic voltammetry, when Data +IBM- change peak parameters dialog box is open, only the peak lines for the selected segment are shown. This aids in inspecting and manually redrawing the baselines for the peak finding. 5. The maximum delay between runs has been increased from 25 to 3600 s with Multirun and from 1200 to 3600 s for Sequential Techniques. 6. If a Sequential Techniques is saved and then opened, the order of the techniques will now be in the order when the file was saved, rather than the chronological order of creation of the techniques. 7. The selection of display option of grid/zero lines/no grid of the active data displayed is now saved upon exit of program and this will be used next time the program is opened. Any new techniques started or old data opened will be displayed with the option used in the active data window. 8. Select Colors and Fonts dialog box now has an All Black radio button to easily set all colors to black to improve printout to black and white printers. 9. When CPE is aborted the cell no longer remains on. This bug is in the version 1.6 software, but not in the Version 1.5 software. 10. Due to the digital waveform generator, there are only certain values of scan rate that are possible. If a non-valid value is entered, the scan rate will automatically be changed to the closest valid value. In previous versions, the scan rate was increment to the next valid value. In some cases, this caused scan rate creep from run to run. For example, if a scan rate of 1021 is entered and Applied or Run, it will jump to 1031 (actual scan rate is 1030.9) which is correct. However with each Apply/Run, it continued to increment to 1042 (1041.7), then 1053 (1052.6), then 1064 (1063.8), then 1075 (1075.3), where it would stay at 1075. 11. The channel 2 internal dummy cell resistors for MCCV and MCCA are now connected when selected in the Parameters dialog box. 12. A 60 Hz sample period bug is fixed. Rounding errors could cause the data acquisition relative to the potential waveform to creep with each data point. This affected some results from experiments with a wide potential window and long sample intervals. This pertains to techniques Differential Pulse, Square Wave, Normal Pulse, Sampled Current, Differential Pulse Stripping, and Square Wave Stripping. The 50 Hz sample period was/is fine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update June 25, 2007 Serial communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 1.60.70 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 98/Me and 3.09 for 2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.50a Hardware Update Ver. 1.51.07 Manual Ver. 1.60.70 USB communication epsilons Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 2000, XP, and Vista BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 1.61.70 BAS ComServer Ver. 1.00 Firmware Ver. 2.01 Hardware Update Ver. 1.61.07 Manual Ver. 1.60.70 Additions/changes: 1. Computer communication via USB port rather than serial (comm.) port for all EC epsilons shipped after June 20, 2007. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update June 17, 2005 Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP (NOTE THAT NT OPERATING SYSTEM IS NOT SUPPORTED IN THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE. Microsoft no longer supports NT). BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 1.60.70 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 98/Me and 3.09 for 2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.50a Hardware Update Ver. 1.51.07 Manual Ver. 1.60.70 Additions/changes: 1. The BASi PWR-3 can be connected to the accessories port and be controlled through the epsilon software. The techniques that can be used with the PWR-3 are Cyclic Voltammetry, Linear Sweep Voltammetry, Controlled Potential Electrolysis, Chronoamperometry/Chronocoulometry, and DC Potential Amperometry. 2. Two square wave voltammetry problems are fixed. A. Sometimes when the frequency is 8 Hz or lower, the last few point were missing and one would have to manually stop the experiment. B. If one manually stops an experiment, then the display is incorrect. 3. In the last update, the allowed path and file length was increased from 50 characters to a limit determined by the operating system on the computer when saving files individually. The allowed path/file length has been increased when saving files automatically such as with Run Options or Sequential Techniques. 4. Change made to prevent the occasional display of an error message when exiting the epsilon program. 5. CS Link dialog box now always displays the correct comm port number. 6. Symbols now allowed for an interval of 1 (every data point). 7. Data transfer from epsilon to computer is more thoroughly checked. If any data is missing, the run is aborted and a warning message is displayed. 8. Method of saving epsilon configuration has been modified. For 2000/XP it is with registry keys. With 98/Me it with an ini file. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update September 17, 2004 Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 98, Me, 2000, and XP (NOTE THAT NT OPERATING SYSTEM IS NOT SUPPORTED IN THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE. Microsoft no longer supports NT). BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 1.50.69 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 98/Me and 3.09 for 2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.50a Hardware Update Ver. 1.51.07 Manual Ver. 1.50.69 Additions/changes: 1. Added Multi-Channel Chronoamperometry Technique to Bi-potentiostat package. 2. The allowed path and file length has been increased from 50 characters to a limit determined by the operating system on the computer. 3. The method of saving the configuration when exiting EC epsilon program has changed. This should solve problem for XP users that unless one is logged in as administrator or has full access to program, one could not save the .ini file when exiting. Thus, one had to use Windows Task Manager to exit program. The comm port number is now saved as part of the configuration. 4. The BASi RDE-2 can be connected to the accessories port and be controlled through the epsilon software. 5. The number of digits reported for peak heights has been increased from three to 4. 6. Software change for square wave voltammetry and square wave stripping voltammetry. A sample period of 1 ms is no longer allowed when working in the frequency range of 126 Hz to 250 Hz. This change is due to intermittent missed points. 7. The data analysis for Chronoamperometry/Chronocoulometry now works for single step experiments also. 8. Saved Sequential Techniques Method files created with Version 1.40 software can not be loaded into Version 1.50 software. Note that the individual data files created by those Methods can still be loaded into the Version 1.50 software. 9. In Cyclic Voltammetry, the number of segments is checked when entered rather than after clicking the Apply button. Thus, the appropriate potentials are active automatically and this reduces the number of clicks and warning messages when changing segments. 10. A printable (.pdf) file of the manual is installation in the epsilon folder. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update June 23, 2003 Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, and XP (NOTE THAT NT OPERATING SYSTEM WILL NOT BE SUPPORTED IN THE NEXT SOFTWARE UPDATE. Microsoft no longer supports NT). BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver.1.40.67 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 98/Me and 2.04 for NT/2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.41a Hardware Update Ver. 1.40.53 Manual Ver. 1.40.67 Additions/changes: 1. Updated Chemical Test Instructions in Manual. 2. Sequential Techniques has been added. This feature allows one to string together up to six techniques with some delays and trigger out capability and to repeat the cycle up to 999 times. Implementation of this feature requires the purchase of the Methods Package. 3. Area between the curve and baseline is now reported with peak finding. 4. An external trigger in can start runs. 5. Chronopotentiometry now allows an auto-termination limit of 9999 mV, if on the 10 V range. 6. For Controlled Potential Electrolysis experiments, a stabilizing capacitor between the auxiliary and reference leads is switched in to stabilize the potentiostat circuit. The Auto default Large (0.1 uf) capacitor can be manually changed to a small (0.01 uf) or no capacitor. 7. The minimum allowed applied current with Chronopotentiometry and Double Step Chronopotentiometry has been changed from 1000 pA to 50 pA. Note that for applied current between 10 nA accuracy of 1+ACU- is not guaranteed. For example, the epsilon may have 30 pA background current and the current may drift by 5 pA over an 8 hour period. The epsilon must be individually calibrated to improve the accuracy. 8. The techniques DC Potential Amperometry, Controlled Potential Electrolysis, Open Circuit Potential vs Time, and Chronopotentiometry were supposed to be able to run for 32000s, but the experiments were stopping after about 2 hr. A bug was fixed in the firmware so it will now run for the full time. 9. The sample interval selection has been increase to 2, 5, 10, 30, and 60 sec for the techniques DC Potential Amperometry, Controlled Potential Electrolysis, Open Circuit Potential vs Time, and Chronopotentiometry. Time unit of minutes has been added to the parameters of DC Potential Amperometry and Controlled Potential Electrolysis. Thus, with a maximum file length of 32,000, the maximum run time for these techniques has been increased from over 8 hr to over 22 days. 10. Controlled Potential Electrolysis calculation of Net Charge is now correct all of the time. Previously, when with Polarographic convention and oxidative current and IUPAC convention with reductive current, the background charge was added to the total charge, rather than subtracted from it. 11. NOTE THAT NT OPERATING SYSTEM WILL NOT BE SUPPORTED IN THE NEXT SOFTWARE UPDATE. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update October 15, 2002 BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver.1.31.64 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 9X/Me and 2.04 for NT/2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.30a Hardware Update Ver. 1.20 Manual Ver. 1.30.64 Additions/changes: 1. Fixed bug in the conversion of files to Digisim format. Previously, converted file names could be truncated. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update September 4, 2002 BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver.1.30.64 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 9X/Me and 2.04 for NT/2000/XP Firmware Ver. 1.30a Hardware Update Ver. 1.20 Manual Ver. 1.30.64 Additions/changes: 1. XP installation is added. 2. The error message that appeared upon exiting epsilon program when using Windows 2000 does not appear anymore. 3. Multi-Channel cyclic voltammetry has been added for bipotentiostat customers. 4. Sample Current Polarography has been added to the Basic Plus techniques package. 5. Chronopotentiometry experiments can be automatically terminated when an entered potential is attained. 6. Square Wave Voltammetry upper frequency limit has been changed from 500 Hz to 2000 Hz. 7. File subtraction has been added. 8. Graphical file overlay has been added. It is in the Graph-Display Menu. When the Overlay graph appears, right click on the display to obtain the options and use Setup to select the data files. 9. Color settings have been added to the .ini file. 10. Semi-integral and semi-derivative math operations on cyclic voltammetry data have been added. 11. The Notes section in all converted files is now correct. In previous version, if many files were converted simultaneously, all converted files contained the Notes section of the first file converted. 12. Comm link indicator has been added to status bar of main window. The indicators are COMM1, COMM2, COMM3, COMM4, or DEMO. This is necessary for distinguishing between multiple open files when controlling more than one epsilon from a single computer. 13 +ACI-File not found+ACI- error message occurs when loading data files if the file string length exceeds 80 characters. The string includes full path, the file name, and extensions. If this error message appears, shorten the file name or path length in order to read the file. 14. Maintenance and Troubleshooting sections have been added to manual. 15. A warning message will appear upon opening the Epsilon Windows program if the firmware has not been upgraded to Version 1.30. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update November, 2001 BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver.1.20.62 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.02 for 9X/Me and 2.04 for NT/2000 Firmware Ver. 1.20a Hardware Update Ver. 1.20 Manual Ver. 1.20.62 Additions/changes: 1. NT/2000 Version is available. The installation disk contains three different installation programs to use depending upon the computer operating system: 98/Me, NT, or 2000. If 2000 Service Packages have been installed, then an error message appears upon exiting epsilon program. Simply close the error message, no problems have been observed. We will fix this in a future version. 2. Differential Pulse Voltammetry/Polarography is now available if Basic Plus package option is purchased. 3. Linear Sweep Stripping Voltammetry is now available if Basic Plus package option is purchased. 4. Differential Pulse Stripping Voltammetry is now available if Basic Plus package option is purchased. 5. Square Wave Stripping Voltammetry is now available if Basic Plus package option is purchased. 6. Cell Stand selection option in the Experiment menu. Options are for C3 and CGME in SMDE mode. If it is SMDE, then the number of pre-run drops is specified and whether knock is enabled. The pre-run drops are formed with the cell On at the Initial Potential for most potentiostatic experiments. For stripping experiments, the pre-run drop potential is the Deposition Potential. Note that for Controlled Potential Electrolysis, Galvanostatic experiments, and Open Circuit Potential vs. Time, the pre-run drops do not occur. 7. Run Options has been added to all the parameter dialog boxes. This allows data to be automatically saved after the run. It also allows an experiment to be automatically repeated up to 999 times. Stir/purge can be activated after the run is completed. Run Options are disabled for Galvanostatic experiments and Open Circuit Potential vs. Time. 8. Function (Hot) keys have been added. F2 Select Technique F3 Open File F4 Save File F5 Run/Stop F6 Parameters Dialog Box 9. Multichannel Amperometry technique has been added. This requires the purchase of an additional board. This bipotentiostat technique monitors current vs. time with the electrodes at dc potential. The current axis can be zoomed during the run with this technique only. 10. The Manual Setting dialog box under the Experiment Menu contains 50/60 Hz line frequency selection and a Default Display Type (IUPAC/Polarographic) selection box. These settings are saved in the initialization file. 11. Symmetrical peak finding has been added. 12. Square Wave Voltammetry data structure has changed. Old files will not be read by the new version. Options are: 1. Read data in to old epsilon.exe file that has been installed into epsilon directory as Epsilon+AF8-110.exe for 9X/Me or Epsilon+AF8-NT+AF8-110.exe for NT/2000. or 2. Contact BAS about converting the old files to the new format. 13. Controlled Potential Electrolysis, DC Potential Amperometry, Chronopotentiometry, and Open Circuit Potential vs. Time data file structures have changed. The old files can be loaded to the new software, however the Raw Data cannot be displayed. Save the old epsilon.exe file to obtain raw data. 14. Note that the internal countdown timers for Quiet Time and Deposition Time in the hardware are accurate and the experiment runs as entered. However, the Windows display countdown timers are approximate. Thus, particularly with long times, the countdown display may disappear and data acquisition begin before the display counts down to 0 seconds. 15. Cyclic Voltammetry and Linear Sweep Voltammetry bugs are fixed. Some combinations of scan rate and potential window did not run correctly due to the digital nature of the instrument and irrational numbers generated during calculations (e.g., if scan rate was a multiple of 3). +ACI-Bad+ACI- runs were obvious and the typical 1, 2, and 5 sequence of scan rates functioned correctly in older versions of software. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update February 26, 2001 BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 1.10.54 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.0 Firmware Ver. 1.10a Hardware Update Ver. 1.20 Manual Ver. 1.10.54 Additions/changes: 1. Square wave Voltammetry is now available if Basic Plus package option is purchased. 2. Normal Pulse Voltammetry/Polarography is now available if Basic Plus package option is purchased. 3. Double Step Chronopotentiometry is now available if Basic Plus package option is purchased. 4. BAS 100B/W and CV-50W cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry .txt files can be imported into epsilon software. One limitation is that the Sample Interval must be 1 mV. Also, if segment number +AD0- 0 or iR comp is used, then the header in the .txt file must edited before importing. The segment number must be changed to the appropriate number (2 or 3), and the two lines regarding iR comp parameters must be deleted. 5. Technique Selection has changed from a simple list to tree format. 6. Techniques in the selection tree are marked as (Demo) if the epsilon is not connected or the techniques are not activated. If a Demo technique is selected, then the Open File dialog box will automatically open to load a file. 7. A new version of the Hardware Update program is included. This program is required for updating firmware and upgrading valid techniques. It is opened by selecting +ACI-Update Hardware+ACI- in the Experiment menu. 8. Controlled Potential Electrolysis can be automatically terminated by Current Ratio, Minimum Current, or Total Charge. 9. During a Controlled Potential Electrolysis experiment, Time, Current, Current Ratio, and Charge are shown and updated every second in a pop-up window. When the experiment is completed, the total Time, Initial Current, Final Current, Current Ratio, Total Charge and Net Charge are reported and saved with the file. Net Charge is Total Charge minus a +ACI-background+ACI- charge. The background charge is calculated by multiplying the total time with the average current of the last five data points. 10. The line frequency can be specified as 50 Hz or 60 Hz in the Manual Settings dialog box under the Experiment menu. Correct selection is required for noise minimization. Known Bugs 1. Manual Zoom works in some cases and not in others. These bugs will be fixed in a future version. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update October 23, 2000 BAS epsilon EC Windows software Ver. 1.04.01 BAS ComServer Ver. 2.0 The embedded code Ver. 1.03a Manual Ver. 1.04.01 Additions/changes: 1. Chronoamperometry/Chronocoulometry experiment now has Q vs. t, I vs. 1/t1/2 (Cottrell plot), and Q vs. t1/2 (Anson plot) plots. The plots can be selected by right click on display, place pointer on Select- Graph, then choosing the desired display. The Results of the best linear fit of the lines of the later two plots are available by right click on the appropriate display graph place pointer on Data, then click Calculate CA-SIR. 2. Cyclic Voltammetry and Linear Sweep Voltammetry files can be converted into a Digisim compatible format (+ACo-.use). Since Digisim has less potential parameters than epsilon, care must be used when setting up the experiment so that the files can be converted and imported into Digisim for fitting. The restrictions are the segment number can be 1, 2, or any even number (any odd number of segments other than one will not be converted). If the number of segments is four or greater, then the Final Potential and the Switch 2 Potential must be the same. 3. Program exit sequence has changed. The new sequence will exit the program immediately if all data files have been saved. If a data file has not been saved or the data has been modified (e.g., smoothed) since it was saved, then a save data query message will appear. This message contains a Cancel button that will cancel the exit sequence. 4. Auto/manual selection of filter and gain are now saved with data file. Old files have the values used in the experiment saved, but when loaded, the selection is always automatic. 5. In galvanostat mode, changed a relay setting to reduce leakage current from a few nA to 10s pA. 6. Changed the minimum allowed current from 100 pA to 1000 pA. 7. Controlled Potential Electrolysis experiments can now be