Choose a platform below to see its compatibility requirements.

LabQuest

Interface	LabQuest App
LabQuest 3	Full support
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)	Full support
LabQuest (discontinued)	Full support

Computers

	Software
Interface	Graphical Analysis	Logger Pro	Logger Lite
LabQuest Mini	Full support	Full support	Full support
LabQuest 3	Full support	Full support	Incompatible
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)	Full support	Full support	Full support
LabQuest Stream (discontinued)	Full support 1	Full support	Full support 1
Go!Link	Full support	Full support	Full support
LabQuest (discontinued)	Full support	Full support	Full support
LabPro (discontinued)	Incompatible	Full support	Full support

Compatibility Notes

1. Connect LabQuest Stream via USB. Wireless connection is not supported.

Chromebook

	Software
Interface	Graphical Analysis
LabQuest Mini	Full support
LabQuest 3	Full support
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)	Full support
LabQuest Stream (discontinued)	Full support 1
Go!Link	Full support
LabQuest (discontinued)	Full support

Compatibility Notes

1. Connect LabQuest Stream via USB. Wireless connection is not supported.

iOS

	Software
Interface	Graphical Analysis	Graphical Analysis GW
LabQuest Stream (discontinued)	Full support	Full support
LabQuest 3	Full support 1	Full support 1
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)	Full support 1	Full support 1

Compatibility Notes

1. iOS and Android^™ devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.

Android

	Software
Interface	Graphical Analysis	Graphical Analysis GW
LabQuest Stream (discontinued)	Full support	Full support
LabQuest 3	Full support 1	Full support 1
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)	Full support 1	Full support 1

Compatibility Notes

1. iOS and Android^™ devices can only connect to LabQuest 2 or LabQuest 3 via Wireless Data Sharing.

Arduino

	Software
Interface	Arduino
Vernier Arduino® Interface Shield	Full support

LabVIEW

	Software
Interface	NI LabVIEW
SensorDAQ (discontinued)	Full support
Vernier myDAQ Adapter	Full support 1
Go!Link	Full support
LabQuest Mini	Full support
LabQuest Stream (discontinued)	Full support
LabQuest 3	Full support
LabQuest 2 (discontinued)	Full support
LabQuest (discontinued)	Full support

Compatibility Notes

1. You can only read the raw count/raw voltage output by this sensor. You must do the programming to convert to proper sensor units.

Texas Instruments

	Software
Interface	EasyData	DataMate	TI-84 SmartView	DataQuest	TI-Nspire Software
EasyLink	Full support 1	Incompatible	Full support 2	Full support	Full support 2
CBL 2 (discontinued)	Full support 3	Full support 3 4	Incompatible	Incompatible	Incompatible
LabPro (discontinued)	Full support 3	Full support 3 4	Incompatible	Incompatible	Incompatible
TI-Nspire Lab Cradle (discontinued)	Incompatible	Incompatible	Incompatible	Full support	Full support

Compatibility Notes

1. Use with TI-84 Plus calculators only.
2. Requires an Easy to Go! adapter
3. CBL 2 and LabPro interfaces cannot be used with TI-84 Plus CE calculators.
4. DataMate cannot be used with color screen TI-84 Plus calculators; use EasyData with these calculators.

1. Plug the sensor into the interface (LabQuest 3, LabQuest Mini, etc.).
2. Connect the interface to your device.
   • If using USB, connect to the USB port on your computer.
   • If using Bluetooth^® wireless technology, click your interface type and then select your device.
3. Prepare for data collection:
   • Vernier Graphical Analysis^®: Launch the app, if necessary, and click Sensor Data Collection.
   • LabQuest^® App: Choose New from the File menu.

The software will identify the sensor and load a default data-collection setup. You are now ready to collect data.

Need Additional Information?

Visit the following link:

www.vernier.com/start-lq-sensor

Connect the sensor following the steps in the Getting Started section of this user manual.

General Tips

• When the sensor is stored, it is a good idea to short together the leads in order to protect the sensor from high static potential that could damage the unit.
• Press the Reset button for a few seconds to zero the sensor.
• Pressing and releasing the Reset button with the leads connected to a voltage source such as a power supply or battery will cause an error in the reading and is not recommended, because it will short the power supply as well.
• Since the sensor is capable of measuring very small amounts of charge, it is critical to begin experiments by zeroing the sensor.
• You must be careful when handling the leads or you may alter the readings with stray charge. The insulator on the clip lead quickly becomes oily from handling, and fingers often carry small amounts of charge at high potential that can easily leak through the insulator and affect your reading. The best way to minimize this is by grounding your fingers, or wearing a grounding strap on your wrist, to remove any charge before releasing the positive lead from its ground connection. Start recording data before removing the lead from ground so you will be aware if any stray charge accumulates before making your connection. When connecting to static sources (not a fixed voltage like a battery), the Reset button can be used while connected to a passive charge receptor. Make sure the output reads zero after reset.
• The sensor is not differential; therefore the negative (black) side is always at ground potential. The supplied cable is shielded and has a low leakage dielectric. When using other cables, the unit should be tested to make sure the cable does not allow excessive leakage currents
• The negative (black) lead is the ground connection. The effects of stray static charges will be minimized by connecting the black lead to a metal ground plane below your experiment, such as a sheet of aluminum foil.
• Synthetic clothing can carry significant charge, as can the experimenter’s body. Grounding the experimenter by using a ground strap on one wrist will help.
• When not using a Faraday Pail and ground plane, it helps to connect a metal cup to the positive (red) lead. This cup adds negligible capacitance to the system, but makes it easy to see induced or deposited charges. Insulate the cup from the ground plane using a glass jar or beaker. Plastic does not work well because it will accumulate stray charge quickly.
• Complete all experiments quickly. Due to leakage currents in the cable and apparatus, the reading will rarely be reliable after 15 seconds.

Tips for Use with a Faraday Pail and Ground Plane

• Use of this sensor is simplified with the aid of a Faraday pail and ground plane such as found in the Vernier Electrostatics Kit (ESK-CRG).
• Since the sensor is capable of measuring very small amounts of charge, it is important to begin experiments by zeroing (resetting) the sensor. Simply press the Reset button on the sensor for a few seconds to zero the equipment. (Pressing the Reset button, internally shorts the leads, shorts the internal input capacitor and the internal integrator capacitor.)
• The sensor should be zeroed after initial power up.
• The sensor must be zeroed whenever a new range setting is chosen.
• During data collection, monitor the sensor reading. If an excess charge develops on the sensor, zero the sensor prior to a new data-collection run.

Experiment Ideas

• Use the sensor with a Faraday pail to investigate charging by induction. Bring a charged object near the pail. What charge is measured? Ground the pail and remove the charged object. What charge is measured?
• Use a Faraday pail to investigate charging by contact. Do this by dropping a charged object into the can. All of the charge on the object will be transferred to or induced in the can.
• Without a grounding strap, scuff your feet on carpet or pull off a sweater. Hold your hand near a Faraday pail. Do you induce a charge? What sign? Does a ground strap remove or reduce this effect?
• Charge various objects and determine the sign of the charge.
• Measure how quickly objects lose charge. Plot the charge as a function of time; this will take some minutes on a dry day.
• Use the Charge Sensor and Faraday pail to observe the separation of charge when two strips of invisible tape are pulled apart. On two 3 inch pieces of tape, make a tab by folding over the top of each. Stick the combination to the table top. Pull the combination off the table and run your thumb or finger along the smooth side of the tape to neutralize the combination. Then pull the top strip off the bottom strip. Individually insert each strip into the Faraday pail to measure the charge. Simultaneously insert them in the pail to measure the charge.
• Charge a Faraday pail by contact on the inside; add more charge. How much charge can you add from the inside of the can? Can you add as much from the outside? More? Less? Investigate.
• Use a second pail (not connected to the red lead as a detector) and charge it by induction. Do this by charging an insulating object, holding it inside the pail (inducing a charge on the outside of the can) and then briefly grounding the pail. Remove the charged insulator, and you’ve got a charged pail. Measure the charge by testing it by induction, or by touching it to the inside of the detector pail.

Many of these tips are based on suggestions from Robert Morse, Ph.D.

You do not need to calibrate the Charge Sensor. We have set the sensor to match our stored calibration before shipping it. You can simply use the appropriate calibration file that is stored in your data-collection program from Vernier.

Stored Calibration Values

±2 V setting in Volts	slope: 1.0 intercept: –2.5
±2 V setting in nC	slope: 10.0 intercept: –25.0
±10 V setting in Volts	slope: 3.3 intercept: –8.25
±10 V setting in nC	slope: 33.0 intercept: –82.5

Ranges:	±2 V (±20 nC) ±10 V (±100 nC)
Maximum input:	±150 V
Typical bias input current:	0.005 pA
Instrument time constant:	0.1 s

Do not wrap the cable tightly around the sensor for storage. Repeatedly doing so can irreparably damage the wires and is not covered under warranty.

The Charge Sensor is an extremely high impedance voltage sensor with a 0.01 μF capacitor in series with the input. The capacitor will accumulate charge until the source’s voltage is reached, i.e. equilibrium is achieved. Small amounts of charge can be measured even though their initial potential is higher than the input range of the sensor. The input circuit also includes a 1 MΩ resistor in series with the capacitor to protect the unit from large current surges. When used with a data-collection interface, connected by USB to a computer, or to an interface connected to AC power, the negative polarity (black) input lead is grounded to Earth.

For additional troubleshooting and FAQs, see www.vernier.com/til/1427

If you have watched the related product video(s), followed the troubleshooting steps, and are still having trouble with your Charge Sensor, contact Vernier Technical Support at support@vernier.com or call 888-837-6437. Support specialists will work with you to determine if the unit needs to be sent in for repair. At that time, a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number will be issued and instructions will be communicated on how to return the unit for repair.

Item	Order Code
Electrostatics Kit	ESK-CRG
High Voltage Electrostatics Kit	HVEK-CRG
Electrostatic High-Voltage Genecon	HVEK-GEN