Tech Info Library

Spectrometer Troubleshooting and FAQs

About this FAQ

  • Created Jun 5, 2006
  • Updated Oct 24, 2012
  • Article #1557

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Support by Product

Absorbance and Emission Spectrophotometers:
SpectroVis Plus, order code SVIS-PL, $459
Vernier Spectrometer, order code V-SPEC, $1,299
Red Tide VIS-NIR Spectrometer, order code SPRT-VIS, $1,732
Red Tide UV-VIS Spectrometer, order code SPRT-UV-VIS, $2,987

Emission Only Spectrophotometers:
Red Tide Emissions Spectrometer, order code ESRT-VIS, $1,154

Spectrophotometers with Fluorescence capabilities:
SpectroVis Plus, order code SVIS-PL, $459

To see comparison graphs of different models of spectrophotometers, visit:
http://www.vernier.com/spectroscopy/comparison.html

TROUBLESHOOTING
-Primary Test: Are you using Logger Pro 3.6 (or newer)?
-Secondary Test: Is the USB cable securely connected?

RELATED TIL ENTRIES
General:
TIL 810: Can Logger Pro or LabQuest be used to collect data from spectrophotometers?
TIL 2065: How do I separate the light source from the detector of an Ocean Optics UV-VIS spectrometer?
TIL 1990: How do I connect a fiber optic cable to an Ocean Optics UV-VIS spectrometer?
TIL 2016: What is the difference between the two types of cuvettes you sell for Spectrometers and Colorimeter?
TIL 1846: Does the SpectroVis Optical Fiber work with any of the Ocean Optics Spectrometers?
TIL 1921: Do you sell replacement lids for my cuvettes?
TIL 2466: Do you accept donations of old spectrometers?
TIL 2571: Can the lamp in my SpectroVis or SpectroVis Plus be replaced?
TIL 2179: What is the difference between the V-SPEC and the SVIS-PL? Why does one cost so much more than the other?
TIL 2569: Why don't all of my spectrometers and/or Colorimeters read the same absorbance value for the same sample?

TIL 2520: What types of liquids can be poured into your Colorimeter or Spectrometer cuvettes without harming the cuvette?
TIL 1660: Where can I get glass or quartz cuvettes for your spectrophotometers?


TIL 2539: Why don't the absorbance readings for the Colorimeter or the spectrometers have units?
TIL 2202: Do I need to use 4-sided clear cuvettes if I am doing a fluorescence experiment with the Spectro VIS Plus?

Software Issues:
TIL 1898: Do Ocean Optics USB4000 (UV-VIS and VIS-NIR) Spectrometers Work with LabQuest?

TIL 2068: Logger Pro crashes after opening a qmbl file from LabQuest.
TIL 2463: Will my Ocean Optics USB 2000 spectrometers work with LoggerPro or LabQuest?
TIL 2276: How can I compare two emission spectra graphs in LoggerPro?

TIL 2177: How can I display both Absorbance and % Transmittance, from Spectrometer measurements, in Logger Pro 3?
TIL 2853: Is there a way to toggle on/off the colored background behind the absorbance spectrum graph?

Experiments:
TIL 1577: Do you have labs written for the Spectrometer?
TIL 1563: Can I do blackbody experiments with the Vernier or Ocean Optics Spectrometers, or with SpectroVis?
TIL 1683: Do you have a spectrometer that can measure DNA concentration and purity?
TIL 2178: Are there some readily-available substances I can use to measure fluorescence with a SpectroVis Plus?
TIL 2404: Can I use my spectrometer without collecting a full spectrum?
TIL 2540: Do you have an experiment written for quantitative analysis using the SVIS-PL fluorescence capabilities?
TIL 2578: How do I get an A260/A280 value with your UV-vis spectrometers in Logger Pro?
TIL 2224: Do you have instructions on how to use a spectrophotometer to conduct the Photosynthesis lab?
TIL 2553: Why can't I see better Hydrogen emission lines with my spectrometer?

Legacy:
TIL 2746: Can I use Logger Pro or LabQuest to collect data with my Spec 20 Spectrophotometer?
TIL 1211: There appears to be a timing error when using a Genesys 20 spectrophotometer with Spectro Pro.
TIL 1021: Why does my Genesys 20 spectrophotometer give me a framing error?

SPECIFICATIONS
Specs are different for each Spectrometer. See:
http://www.vernier.com/spectroscopy

TIL 2046: What is the the path length for the SpectroVis and the SpectroVis Plus

CALIBRATION
-Calibrate...
     In Absorbance mode? Yes.
     In Emission mode? No.
     In Fluorescence mode? No.

-Calibration process for Absorbance mode: Use a USB cable to connect the Spectrometer to a computer. Run Logger Pro 3.6 (or newer). Select Calibrate from the Experiment menu. Follow the instructions in the Calibrate dialog box.

RELATED VERNIER PRODUCTS
SpectroVis Optical Fiber, order code SVIS-FIBER, $69
400 μm diameter VIS-NIR optical fiber, order code VIS-NIR, $138
400 µm diameter UV-VIS optical fiber, order code UV-VIS, $138
Plastic Cuvettes (visible range), order code CUV, $15
Plastic Cuvettes (UV-VIS), order code CUV-UV, $89

SIMILAR OCEAN OPTICS PRODUCTS THAT WILL WORK WITH LOGGERPRO
all USB2000 models
all USB4000 models
*See the following for details:
TIL 1898: Do Ocean Optics USB4000 (UV-VIS and VIS-NIR) Spectrometers Work with LabQuest?
TIL 2463: Will my Ocean Optics USB 2000 spectrometers work with LoggerPro or LabQuest?

Need more assistance?

Fill out our online support form or call us toll-free at 1-888-VERNIER.

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