Using the LabPro Interface


The LabPro interface provides a way to collect analog or digital signals and send them on to computer for storage and processing. The information on this page provides instructions for setting up the interface. Follow these links for information about the available analog and digital sensors.

Step 1: As shown below, the left side of the LabPro contains 4 ports for connecting analog sensors and a port for connecting the AC adapter (power supply).

Connect the AC adapter to its port and to a power outlet on the lab bench. After a few seconds LabPro will perform a self-check and you will hear a series of six beeps and see red, yellow, and green blinking lights at the top of interface's case. This indicates that the interface is performing correctly.

Step 2: Connect the analog sensors that you plan to use into any of the four analog channels.

Step 3: On the right side of the LabPro interface, shown below, you will find two digital ports and ports for making a serial or USB connection to a computer.

Connect any digital sensors that you plan to use into one of the digital ports.

Step 4: Connect the LabPro interface to your computer using the USB connection.

Step 5: Launch LoggerPro and select the appropriate interface. Upon opening, LoggerPro will show a data table and graph that are suitable for all sensors that it can identify. Those sensors that do not have Auto ID capabilities will need to be identified for LoggerPro using the LabPro icon.

The three buttons on top of the LabPro interface are not used when using a computer to store data. The three lights provide information on the interface's status:

  • red indicates an error condition
  • yellow indicates that LabPro is ready to collect data
  • green indicates that LabPro is collecting data

The internal speaker on the LabPro interface generates four kinds of sounds that provide additional information about the interface's status:

  • good beep - medium tone followed by a high tone
  • caution beep - medium tone followed by a medium tone
  • bad beep - two high tones
  • tick sound - key pressed on interface

Typical sound sequences are:

  • successful initialize on start up - bad beep, caution beep, good beep (total of 6 beeps), otherwise, three bad beeps if the initial self-test fails
  • overcurrent condition detected from sensor - five bad beeps
  • when LabPro initiates a self-test there are three good beeps followed by a good beep if it passes the self-test and a bad beep if it does not
  • if LabPro detects an error in the commands sent to it by LoggerPro, then there will be two bad beeps

last modified on August 12, 2003
send comments to David Harvey (harvey@depauw.edu)