With Ophir's Smart Head technology sensors can be interchanged between different meters easily. The calibration and setting information is stored in the sensors Smart Head connector so it moves with the sensor to the new meter. It is recommended that you power off your Nova meter before removing the sensor, but the new Nova II and Vega meters detect that a sensor has been removed or attached and will power cycle themselves when doing this.

No, only Ophir power/energy sensors with the Smart Head connection will work with the Ophir power/energy meters.

Whenever we release a new version of StarLab we add support or deal with various other meter-specific issues. This may necessitate upgrading the meter firmware to the latest release. This release is included in the StarLab package and simply enter the Field Upgrade dialog in order to upgrade your meter to be up to date.

The energy meters will then sample at close to its maximum frequency. For instance measuring 10 KHz with a PD10 Sensor and Nova II where the maximum frequency for every pulse on the Nova II is 4 KHz: in this case, the Nova II will pick out pulses at a rate of close to 4 KHz and sample them, i.e. the Nova II will record 40% of the pulses.

If the firmware programming procedure doesn’t complete (), you should be able to recover and reprogram the StarLite firmware.

• Make sure to completely power down the StarLite, as is mentioned in the StarLite Upgrade Tool screen instructions (long press On/Off button).
• If unsure that StarLite has really shut down, it’s advisable to try disconnecting the USB cable and then power down the StarLite.
• Reconnect the USB cable.

Then proceed (again) with the StarLite Field Upgrade Tool: Turn StarLite on in the special ‘burn-in’ mode by pressing the two button combination as detailed in the onscreen instructions, (you should hear from the PC speakers the ‘ding dong’ tone associated with a device being connected to the PC), and then continue the steps as prompted. If problems continue, please contact Ophir-Spiricon Service at service@us.ophiropt.com.

See attached

No. The pyroelectric sensors must be the PE-C type sensors to work with the StarBright and StarLite meters.

Unless otherwise indicated, Ophir sensors and meters should be recalibrated within 18 months after initial purchase, and then once a year after that.

In all Ophir instruments, all adjustments, including zeroing internal circuits, are done from the software. This ensures simple and accurate realignment. The zeroing process helps eliminate internal biases in the unit which could affect accuracy and repeatability of measurements. It is recommended to re-zero the instrument every month or two for best performance. Specific instructions for doing this can be found in the User Guide/Manual for each instrument.

Yes, the battery needs to be replaced. A new battery should last 8 hours per charge. We recommend that you send the meter back for battery replacement and recalibration. User battery replacement is possible. For battery part numbers and ordering information, check out the Spare Parts.

Yes. We now offer a switchable universal power adapter/charger P/N  for the Ophir displays.

Our recalibration process is to not automatically upgrade the firmware in meters when they are sent in for recalibration, unless specifically requested to upgrade it. The reason for this is that we support many companies, such as medical companies, that have equipment validation processes that don’t allow changing the firmware version from the currently validated version. If you do want the latest firmware version installed, we will do that at no additional charge (for meters which are upgraded electronically) if it is specifically requested on the RMA request checklist form. For older meters (such as the Nova) that are upgraded through changing the EEPROM, a nominal fee is added, if firmware upgrade is requested. Note that upgrading the firmware does not affect the calibration.

The StarLite meter can be connected via USB to a PC (on which you would have the Ophir “StarLab” software application running, or for that matter your own application if relevant) – but that requires the optional add-on “StarLite USB Activation” (P/N 7Z11049).  (When we designed and released the StarLite, it was specifically meant as a lower-cost instrument, and one of the things we decided to leave out to keep it low cost was the available-by-default USB connectivity; we made it available instead as an optional add-on.) The StarLite USB Activation Code can be ordered together with a new StarLite, or for a StarLite that you already have.

Note that the StarLite does not need to have the USB Activation enabled in order to have its firmware upgraded (even though that is done using a USB connection to the PC).