{"id":3855,"date":"2018-02-12T16:28:06","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T00:28:06","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-06-04T08:49:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T15:49:55","slug":"3855","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/3855","title":{"rendered":"Go Direct Drop Counter Troubleshooting and FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-drop-counter\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Drop Counter<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-DC<\/nobr>)<\/h3>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"\/manuals\/GDX-DC\">Specifications and User Guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/product.gdx-dc._hero.002.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<p>Press the power button on the sensor to turn it on. Connect your sensor as described in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/get-started\/go-direct\">Getting Started instructions for your device<\/a>. (The green LED will flash to indicate the sensor is connected.)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Primary Test:<\/strong> If your Drop Counter is not counting drops, check the alignment of the sensor beneath the tip of the reservoir or buret. Adjust the Reagent Reservoir so that the drop passes closer to the center of the opening.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secondary Test: <\/strong>The Drop Counter works best when the drops fall at a rate of 2 seconds per drop or slower.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\">If you cannot get it to count drops, use your finger or a pen to break the beam and see if this registers in the software.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/1136\/\">Do you have a drop counter?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/1462\/\">How can I improve my results with the Drop Counter?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3953\/\">Why is the Drop Counter calibration lost?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/4165\/\">I want to use my drop counter to get a graph of drops per second.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/15786\/\">Go Direct sensor does not connect to LabQuest 2 via Bluetooth.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/6827\/\">Troubleshooting Bluetooth Connections with Go Direct Sensors<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/12943\/\">What can I do if a Go Direct sensor's Bluetooth LED flashes red and green when I try to connect to it and the connection fails?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3857\/\">Will my device work with Go Direct Sensors via Bluetooth?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/til\/3085\/\">How do I know if my LabQuest will work with Go Direct Sensors and Go Wireless devices?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specifications<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Accurate drop counting at rates up to 6 drops\/s<\/li>\n<li>Dimensions:<br \/>\u26ac Opening for drops: 3 cm<br \/>\u26ac Openings for sensors (diameter): 7 mm and 13 mm<br \/>\u26ac Ring stand opening: 16 mm<br \/>\u26ac Total length: 15.5 cm, width: 4.5 cm, height: 1.8 cm<br \/>\u26ac Distance from center of ring stand opening to center of drop opening (ideal): 10.5 cm<br \/>\u26ac Distance from center of ring stand opening to center of sensor opening (ideal): 12 cm<\/li>\n<li>Connections:<br \/>\u26ac Wireless: Bluetooth<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> v4.2 (wireless range 30 m unobstructed) <br \/>\u26ac Wired: USB 2.0 full speed<\/li>\n<li>Battery: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vernier.com\/gdx-bat-300\">300 mA Li-Poly<\/a><br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (single, full charge): ~24 hours continuous data collection<br \/>\u26ac Battery Life (lifetime): 2 \u2013 5 years (typical)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Calibration<\/h3>\n<p>Calibrate? Not always. The sensor is set to use a default calibration of 28 drops\/mL. The sensor can be calibrated following the instructions below.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Place a 10 mL graduated cylinder below the slot of the Drop Counter.<\/li>\n<li>Fill the reagent reservoir about 3\/4 full with the titrant solution.<\/li>\n<li>Choose to calibrate the Drop Counter in your data-collection program.<\/li>\n<li>Open the bottom 2-way (on-off) valve to begin releasing drops through the Drop Counter.<\/li>\n<li>Release drops until there are 9-10 mL of liquid in the graduated cylinder.<\/li>\n<li>Close the bottom valve to stop the drops.<\/li>\n<li>Type the exact volume, to the nearest 0.1 mL, of liquid in the graduated cylinder in the Volume (mL) box of the Calibrate drops dialog box.<\/li>\n<li>Choose to stop the calibration routine of your program.<\/li>\n<li>The number of drops\/mL will be displayed.<\/li>\n<li>You can now continue with the titration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><strong>Note: <\/strong>You may manually enter a drops\/mL ratio that was done from a previous calibration.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Go Direct Drop Counter Calibration GDX-DC\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OMILYBi6ets?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Go Direct Drop Counter Calibration in Graphical Analysis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battery Troubleshooting<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sensor can be turned on when connected by USB but not when disconnected from USB, the battery either needs charging or has reached its end of life and can no longer hold a charge. <\/span><br \/>\u26ac <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, try charging the sensor for several hours. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sensor still won\u2019t turn on when disconnected from USB, try swapping the battery with a working sensor to see if the problem follows the battery or stays with the sensor.<\/span><br \/>\u26ac If the problem stays with the sensor, the battery is probably not the issue.<br \/>\u26ac If the problem follows the battery, <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the battery has likely reached its end of life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you intend to use this sensor wirelessly, its battery will need replacing<\/span>.<br \/><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/span><\/li>\n<li>See <a href=\"\/til\/4014\/\">How do I remove or replace a Go Direct battery?<\/a> for more information (including a <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/tO1hwxLjHS4\">video<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-very-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Rechargeable batteries are covered by a one-year warranty.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>Batteries <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should last two to five years in typical use. <\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Products<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-to-usb-c-cable\/\">Micro USB to USB-C Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-C-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-charge-station\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Charge Station<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-CRG<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/precision-volume-dispenser\/\">Precision Volume Dispenser<\/a> (<nobr>DC-DISP<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/stir-station\/\">Stir Station<\/a> (<nobr>STIR<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-ph-sensor\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> pH Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-PH<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-orp-sensor\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> ORP Sensor<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-ORP<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-conductivity-probe\/\">Go Direct<sup>&reg;<\/sup> Conductivity Probe<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-CON<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/drop-counter\/\">Drop Counter<\/a> (<nobr>VDC-BTD<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Replacement Parts<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/go-direct-300-mah-replacement-battery\/\">Go Direct&reg; 300 mAh Replacement Battery<\/a> (<nobr>GDX-BAT-300<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/micro-usb-cable\/\">Micro USB Cable<\/a> (<nobr>CB-USB-MICRO<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/microstirrer\/\">Microstirrer<\/a> (<nobr>MSTIR<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/reagent-reservoir-2-valves-and-tip\/\">Reagent Reservoir, 2 Valves, and Tip<\/a> (<nobr>VDC-RR<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/stopper-stem\/\">Stopper Stem<\/a> (<nobr>PS-STEM<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/product\/plastic-2-way-valve\/\">Plastic 2-Way Valve<\/a> (<nobr>PS-2WAY<\/nobr>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Specifications and User Guide Troubleshooting Press the power button on the sensor to turn it on. Connect your sensor as described in the Getting Started&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11015,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6525,1836,6524,6519,720],"class_list":["post-3855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-dcmain","tag-dropmain","tag-gdxdcmain","tag-gdxmain","tag-maintil"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11015"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3855\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vernier.com\/til\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}