Common “C” Flags and Detector “A” Flags

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Q. What are the common “C” flags and Detector “A” flags for my Thermo Scientific™ 5014i Beta Continuous Ambient Particulate Monitor and 5030i SHARP particulate monitor? How do I go about converting them into information I can use to diagnose and troubleshoot my instrument?

A. C flags & A flags are parameters to be captured within the data logging menu under other measurements. They can be downloaded using the iPort software program as long as they were selected to be captured in the data logging menu of the instrument. You also have the ability to send a clink commands through the iPort terminal window as in the example below. The commands are 5014i>aflags & 5014i>cflags respectively.

They are reported as 8 hexadecimal digits (or flags) that represent the status of the mode, pressure and temperature compensation, concentration units, concentration modes and alarms. To decode the flags, each hexadecimal digit is converted to binary. It is the binary digits that define the status of each parameter.

In the Main Menu, choose Instrument Controls > Datalogging Settings > select Content > select Field > Other Measurements. Listed in the menu under other measurements as common flags and det. flags.

C flags represent common alarms, mechanical, electronic, or ambient alarms such as filter tape change, interface PCB or ambient rh.

In the example above the hexadecimal digit of 00001000 converts to binary 0001. Inserted into the bracket to find the corresponding code. In the example above we are getting the heater turned off alarm.

A flags represent detector, flow, and status alarms such as Neph. sample alarm, vacuum alarm, and heater status.

In the example above for “A” flags we have 3 hexadecimal flags to report. E signals 3 alarms vacuum, flow (pressure menu) represented as pflow, and flow (flow menu) represented as fvol. 1 signals Neph. LED current. 4 signals Neph. temp.

Using the C flags & A flags data will help you to narrow down the areas to investigate when troubleshooting issues you might be having with your instruments.

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