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Meter and Software FAQ

Each of the frequently asked questions below present common technical situations and simple solutions. Please review the questions below and see if the solution listed can assit you.

WaterLink DataMate 10

The items below are related to the WaterLink DataMate 10 water analysis application.

Q: Why does DataMate 10 report “Could Not Connect to Database” when I launch it?

  1. Close all error messages and DataMate 10
  2. Press the Windows Key on your keyboard to open the Windows search bar and type “Services”
  3. Select “Services” from the search results.
  4. In the “Services” window, navigate down to “SQL Server (DATAMATE)”
  5. Right-click “SQL Server (DATAMATE)” and select “Start” or “Restart” if “Start” is unavailable.
  6. Reopen DataMate 10.

Q: I am testing using ’02 series disks, but it is not producing salt results... Where are they?

  1. Ensure DataMate 10 is up to date by observing the version number in the bottom right hand corner of the applicaton.  If the version is below 10.8.1 you need to update. Visit Datamate.lamotte.com and download the update package.
  2. In the customer’s pool or spa info, ensure the Sanitizer is set to “Chlorine Generator” and that a Salt Generator is selected.
  3. Salt results should now transfer normally

Q: Will my computer be able to run WaterLink Datamate 10?

A: WaterLink DataMate 10 is compatible with Windows 7 and Windows 10. We recommend the following hardware:

  • 3 ghz Pentium 4, Core 2 or better processor
  • 1gb of Ram of more
  • 1 gb available hard drive space

WaterLink® Spin Meters

The items below are related the WaterLink Spin and the WaterLink Spin Touch meters.

Q: WaterLink® Connect Reports “Connecting to Meter” with no dropdown options (Classic Only)

  1. Unplug both the USB and Power cables from the meter and wait about 10 seconds.
  2. Plug the USB cable in first and then the power cable.
  3. Open WaterLink Connect. If the meter is still not connecting, proceed to step 4.
  4. Plug the USB cable from the Spin meter into a different USB port on your computer (You may have to try multiple ports). If the meter is still not connecting, proceed to step 5
  5. Unplug the power and USB cables from the meter and turn off the computer.
  6. Once Computer is shut down, unplug the computer from its power source or turn off the entire outlet.
  7. Wait for 30 seconds and plug the computer back in and reboot it.
  8. Once the computer has rebooted, reconnect the meter to the computer with the USB cable. Then plug in the power to the meter.
  9. If it is still not connecting contact Software Support.

Q: WaterLink® Connect reports “Connecting to Meter” with no dropdown options AND meter is blinking rapidly:

A: Classic Meter

  1. Press Windows key on your keyboard and type “ADCUSB”
  2. Select ADCUSB from the search results.
  3. A blue “Bootloader” window should be visible. From it, press the “Program” button and wait for the process to complete. (Note: If this process reports an error of any kind, close all messages, close ADCUSB using the “Exit” button, unplug the power and USB cables from the back of the meter, wait about 10 seconds, then plug the meter back in and start over at step 1. If the problem persists, contact support.)
  4. Press the “Exit” button to close ADCUSB.

A: Spin Touch Meter

  1. Press Windows key on your keyboard and type “Spin Touch”
  2. Select the “Spin Touch Utility” from the search results.
  3. A blue “Bootloader” window should be visible. From it, press the “Program” button and wait for the process to complete. (Note: If this process reports an error of any kind, close all messages, close the Spin Touch Utility using the “Exit” button, unplug the USB cable from the back of the meter, Power off the meter using the button on the front, wait about 10 seconds, then plug the meter back in and start over at step 1. If the problem persists, contact support.)
  4. Press the “Exit” button to close ADCUSB.

Q: There is some yellow and brown coloring in the outer wells in my reagent disc. Is this Normal?

A: Yes, all discs will have some coloring in the bottom of the wells. This is just the dried chemical reagent for each test factor. When filled with water, these reagents will react to product test results.


Q: I consistently getting zero Alkalinity, High Copper, and strange Hardness readings. Why is that?

A: In many cases, this is because the incorrect disc is selected at the time of testing. Ensure the disc type you have is the one selected in the “Disk Type” dropdown in WaterLink Connect before you press “Start Test.” Disk Types are labeled on the top of the foil pouch and on the outside label of the box. Look for numbers like 101, 202, and 302. If you do not have a selection for your disc type it is likely you will need to update your program.


Q: How often does my WaterLink Spin meter need to be calibrated?

A: Generally, your Spin meter does not need to be recalibrated. Unlike other photometers, the Spin’s calibrations do not “drift” over time. However, it is possible for your Spin meter to outright lose it’s calibration settings. When this happens, it’s fairly obvious that your results are wrong because they will be VERY wrong.


Q: Individual results like hardness or CYA are just a bit off. Can these individual calibrations be adjusted?

A: The Spin meter is an “all or nothing” kind of device. There are not individual calibration settings for individual test factors. The meter is either completely calibrated or it’s not. Generally, when a single factor is producing unusual results, it’s not related to the meter, but to the disk. Either there’s not enough water in the disk, or – less likely – there’s a manufacturing defect in the disk.


Q: The results from my Calibration Check Disk or Meter Check disk do not match the documented ranges. Does my meter need to be calibrated?

A: Very likely, yes it does.

For Spin Touch meters, you can perform this calibration yourself.

  1. Place the Calibration Check Disk/Meter Check Disk into your meter
  2. From the touch screen, tap the “Settings” gear, then tap “Calibration,” and finally, “Start the Calibration.”
  3. Wait for the meter to report success

For Classic Spin meters, please contact software support.