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Testing Potentiostat Setup

Last Updated: 5/17/19 by Neil Spinner

ARTICLE TAGS
  • test setup,
  • potentiostat setup,
  • potentiostat test
Article Contents/Section Navigation
  1. Testing Potentiostat Setup
    1. Launch AfterMath Software
    2. Verify Instrument Status
    3. Confirm Connections
    4. Review Instrument Status

1Testing Potentiostat Setup

This is often the first step involved in the initial system testing of a new Pine Research potentiostat (both WaveDriver and WaveNow models).  The content in this post can also be found in the respective user guides for these potentiostats.
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1.1Launch AfterMath Software

Launch AfterMath, Launching AfterMath which should already be installed on the computer, AfterMath Downloads and log into AfterMath (see Figure 1).  Click “OK” on the AfterMath Login dialog window to start the program.
 
Initial Login Screen when Starting AfterMath

Figure 1. Initial Login Screen when Starting AfterMath

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1.2Verify Instrument Status

Turn on the instrument using the main power switch and wait for the potentiostat to appear in the AfterMath instruments list.  The instrument should appear along with its serial number under the “Instruments” node (see lower-left portion of the screenshot shown in Figure 2).

NOTE: The name that appears under the "Instruments" node in AfterMath will be specific to the exact potentiostat being tested.  In the example shown in Figure 2, the instrument being tested is a WaveDriver 200 EIS Bipotentiostat/Galvanostat.

AfterMath Screenshot with Connected Instrument Circled

Figure 2. AfterMath Screenshot with Connected Instrument Circled

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1.3Confirm Connections

Check the status LED on the front panel of the potentiostat.  After about fifteen seconds, this LED should be green, indicating that the instrument is idle (see Figure 3).  Also, the USB indicator light should flicker occasionally.
 
Indicator Lights on the Front Panel of the WaveDriver/WaveNow Potentiostat

Figure 3. Indicator Lights on the Front Panel of (1) WaveDriver 200; (2) WaveDriver 100; (3) WaveDriver 40; and (4) WaveNow/WaveNano/WaveNowXV Potentiostats

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1.4Review Instrument Status

Examine the instrument status display (see Figures 4 and 5).  The information on the “Idle” tab may initially indicate that the cell is disconnected.  If desired, the controls on this tab can be used to apply a known idle condition to the cell.  In the example shown in Figure 4, the instrument (WaveDriver 200) is connected to the external cell, and both working electrodes are set to idle under potentiostatic control while applying 1.2 V to the first working electrode (K1) and 0.0 V to the second working electrode (K2).  In the second example shown in Figure 5, the instrument (WaveDriver 100) has only one working electrode channel (K1), so the settings for the second working electrode (K2) are grayed out.
 
AfterMath Instrument Status Window showing External Cell Idle Conditions (WaveDriver 200)

Figure 4. AfterMath Instrument Status Window showing External Cell Idle Conditions (Two Working Electrodes)

 
AfterMath Instrument Status Window showing External Cell Idle Conditions (WaveDriver 100)

Figure 5. AfterMath Instrument Status Window showing External Cell Idle Conditions (One Working Electrode)

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