Skip to content

Calibrate the spectrometer

Calibrate your spectrometer to improve the accuracy of the data collected.

Two point calibration

When calibrating the spectrometer, one point is referenced to the absence of light (dark) and the other point is referenced to the light transmitted through the solute used to create the solutions. Before calibrating the spectrometer, prepare a reference solution by filling a cuvette ¾ with distilled water.

  1. Connect the Spectrometer to Spectrometry.
  2. Select the Analyze Solution page at the top of the screen.
  3. Click Calibrate Dark from the bottom of the screen. The spectrometer will turn off light sources to perform a calibration. Cover the sample well with your finger to block any ambient light from entering the detector. A check mark will appear when the calibration is complete.
  4. Place the cuvette containing the reference solution into the spectrometer so that a clear side is facing the white light source icon. Handle the cuvette only on the lined sides and wipe the smooth sides clean with a lint-free cloth.
  5. Click Calibrate Reference from the bottom of the screen. A check mark will appear when the calibration is complete.

Calibrate Wavelength tool

While collecting data, you may notice that the peaks of your data are slightly displaced from their expected position after prolonged use. To account for this, you can use the Calibrate Wavelength tool to shift the data slightly. A Fiber Optic Cable (PS-2601) is required to perform this calibration.

  1. From the Analyze Light page, click the Calibrate Wavelengths button on the bottom toolbar. A slider labeled Wavelength Calibration will appear in the Tools menu at left.
  2. Insert the Fiber Optic Cable into the cuvette holder of the spectrometer. Ensure that the window on the cable's base faces toward the spectrometer's sensor.
  3. Point the probe of the Fiber Optic Cable towards a light source of known frequency or spectrum, such as a pen light or a powered spectral emission tube.
  4. Begin recording data. Ensure the probe remains pointed toward the light source at a fixed distance.
  5. Move the Wavelength Calibration slider to the right or left to increase or decrease the offset of the data. The graph data will move in response to these adjustments.
  6. Once the position of the peaks in the display approximately corresponds to their expected position, click Done next to the slider and stop data recording.