G303
Leica Total Station Field Procedures Document
Preparations - Equipment - Set-up - Data Collection - When Finished

Field trip Preparations:

• Insure that the unit was properly stored from last use.
• All units should be clean and free of debris.
• Keep plugs clean and dry. Blow out any dirt lodged in the plugs of the connecting cables.
• Always use original transport case for each item
• Insure that both batteries are properly charged.
  The GKL-22 charger should be able to fully charge a NiCd battery within 14 hours.
  The charging procedure starts automatically whenever a battery is connected to the charger and a red control lamp indicates a fully charged battery.
  WARNING:  The battery chargers are intended for indoor use only.  Use only in a dry place, never outdoors.  Short-circuiting the battery terminals can cause fire.
• Finally, determine if you are using the TC605L or the TC800.  Except for some minor differences, these machines are essentially the same in appearance and operation.  The text is written for the TC605L.  Modifications for the TC800 will be shown in green.

Getting to know the equipment:

The TC605L	Foot Screw KeyPad Display Focusing Carrying Handle EDM Transmitter Battery Vertical Drive Horizontal Drive Serial Interface RS-232 Circular Level Optical Sight Tribrach Base Note: The TC800 is essentially the same except there is no numeric key pad.
The Transport Case	Instrument User's Manual Protective Cover Set of Pins Allen Key Diskette with TCTOOLS Spare Battery Data Cable (RS232)

On-site Set-up:

• Place Tripod firmly into the soil and raise legs to a comfortable height. The Telescope of the Total Station should be approximately at eye height or slightly lower. Make allowance for the instrument height once it is attached. Take into account that multiple people will be using the Total Station through the day and adjust the station height to the eye-height of the shortest group member. The Tripod can not be moved during a measurement session so get it right the first time!
• Use leg height adjustments to visually level the top surface of the Tripod. Check with the bull's-eye level of your Brunton compass
• Remove Tribrach (13) from instrument by rotating the black lever on the Tribrach counterclockwise until freed from the Tripod. Mount the Tribrach on tht Tripod with large aluminum screw. Insure you do not strip the threads.
• Verify that the three foot-screws (1) are in a neutral position (near center). This will allow for the greatest range of adjustments.
• Using the three foot-screws (1), level the Tribrach (13) using the bullseye level on the Tribrach.
• Mount the Total Station to the Tribrach base (13) and secure by rotating latch clockwise.
• Turn on the Total Station
• Press Menu
• Goto Level
• Release the Horizontal Drive gross adjustment screw (9)
• Rotate the Total Station so that the Eyepiece of the Telescope is between two of the three foot-screws. Using only these two foot-screws, level the instrument as indicated on the Total Station display. (off level and level images will be inserted)
• Rotate the Total Station one third of a turn and repeat using the next pair of foot screws. Repeat again for the third and final combination of two foot-screws. Then repeat all three combinations in the same order until perfectly level.
• Press the ESC key. For the TC800, press CONT
• Measure and record the instrument height using the small indentation on the right side of the Total Station. Set the Prism Rod to match the instrument height.
• Have one person walk out at least 10 meters due north, the farther the better. Using a properly declinated Brunton compass, shoot a bearing from the Prism rod to the Total Station. Adjust the Prism Rod position until the bearing is due south. Rotate the Total Station and sight the Prism. The Total Station should now be facing due North. It is critical during this step that the Prism Rod is exactly vertical and that the cross-hair in the Total Station Optical Sight is exactly in the center of the Prism. 
• Press the Menu key, go to set Horizontal. Set the Horizontal angle to zero and press enter.  Finally, press enter once again to return to the measurement screen.  For the TC800 press MENU, SET, Horizontal, CONT, CONT.
• The Total Station is now ready to take measurements.

Collecting Data:

• Begin with the Benchmark identified for you.
• Each team member should become proficient with each of the three responsibilities of operating the Total Station. The Rod Holder handles the Prism Rod; The Note taker records the point number and identifies the location of the point in words and on a sketch; the Sighter operates the Total Station by sighting the Prism in the crosshairs and digitally records the data.
• Insure that the Prism is pointing towards the Total Station.
• On the Total Station release the Gross Adjustment Levers on both the Horizontal (9) and Vertical (8) Drives. Site the white arrow on the top of the telescope (the Optic Sight, #12) towards the Prism rod. Lock the gross adjustment Levers.
• Now site through the Telescope at the Prism. Focus the eye-piece using the large Focusing ring (4) around the ocular. Use the Vertical (8) and Horizontal (9) Drives for fine adjustments to align the cross-hair into the center of the Prism.
• Press the distance key. Listen as the unit makes a measurement. If the conditions are such that a measurement is possible, you should hear a "beep (indication a measurement has been requested), some mechanical sounds like the shutter of a slow moving camera (this is the laser activating and emitting the laser pulse), and finally another "beep" when the measurement was successful.  If you hear the mechanical shutter noise repeat several times, the total station was unable to detect the returning laser beam.  Check that the prism is pointed towards the Telescope, move any obstacles and realigned the Telescopic sight to the center of the Prism and try again.
• When a acceptable reading has been taken the unit will "beep" and display the Horizontal Angle, the Vertical Angle, the Horizontal Distance, and the Vertical Elevation Difference from you instrument location. Inspect these values to make sure they are reasonable and record these values in a notebook or datalog..
• Press the REC key to record this measurement. The reading number will briefly flash on the screen. Record this and consult frequently with the Rod holder and Note taker to verify that this number is the same as that being recorded in your field notes.
• Continue taking measurements.

Disassembly:

• Turn off power to Station by pressing the DSP and "light" button simultaneously. For the TC800, simply press the OFF button. All data will be saved automatically.  
• Insure the horizontal and vertical drives are in the unlocked position. Remove the Station and Tribrach by unscrewing the large metal hand screw in the center of the tripod.  Place carefully into the case.  Replace yellow cap and attach with hand screw.
• Remove tripod legs from ground, shorten telescoping leg using hand screw near the center of the leg.  Be sure to retighten the screw when the leg is in the shortest position.  Bring legs together and bind with Velcro strap.

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