New software versions and Thermochrons

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

For those that use Thermochrons with Blue Dot Readers, you may need to plug in your Blue Dot Reader, go into Device Manager and un-install the driver directly before installing. We are more than happy to walk you through this process if you need help. Maxim has changed their driver system and these new drivers are included in software versions T-TEC v11.7 and 11.8. They do not play well with older Thermochron drivers. Those that do not use Thermochrons and Blue Dot Readers probably will see no effect.

The new T-TEC v11.8 no longer removes your key on installation and no longer asks for confirmation.

T-TECW v11.8 issues and bugs

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Versions prior to software v11.8 seems to overwrite your key when installing. Please save a copy of your key (t-tecw.key in C:\T-TECW)! Software v11.8 will ask if you wish to allow it to overwrite on installation/update. Say 'NO!'

Very recently, we have heard of three computers, that all seem to be running Vista, that has experienced issues when going to View > Zoom. So far, as we understand it, the program window is vertically divided into six parts, with the odd-numbered sections missing all data, and the cursor is unresponsive (no zooming is allowed).

If you have or are experiencing these problems, please contact us and let us know. We are working on it, and it has only just been brought to our attention. Please bear with us, this may take some time.

T-TECW v11.8

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

We have now updated the software to v11.8, correcting a strange experience where the graphs are horizontally displaced (skew). Only a very few that we know of experienced this feature, but if you are experiencing something, please try this software. Please let us know, one way or the other, about the updated software.

T-TECW v11.7

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The T-TEC Software for downloading has been upgraded to version 11.7. It is available for download right now.

It includes the latest Thermochron drivers and an update so that the graph viewer now functions on Windows 7.

Note: we strongly recommend you uninstall the previous version before installing 11.7.

Christmas Closing 2009

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

We are closed from Friday 18th December 2009 til the 5th of January 2010. Thanks to all our customers and suppliers for their business this year, and we hope to hear from you next year :)

The Blog and Comments

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Due to abuse by spammers, comments are no longer allowed on blog posts. The link directly to the blog has also been removed for maintenance purposes.

High Temperature logging

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

For logging of high temperatures the first question is: Is it possible to insert the sensor probe into the place of interest and keep the data logger outside? If so, the new T-TEC data logger for Pt100 is a great choice. The T-TEC 7-3P and T-TEC 6-3P range H is accurate to within 1 degree C up to +300 degrees C. Probes can be made to suit the application.

If it is not possible to keep the data logger outside, the new SterilCyl Data logger is capable of logging up to +140 degrees C (up to 10 bar) inside an autoclave or steriliser. The accuracy is +/- 0.3 degrees with calibration certificate. SterilCyl can also be used inside cans and bottles when they are going through pasteurisation.

Infra Red Thermometers

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Infra Red Thermometers are great for quick check of temperature of goods delivered. To get a good reading it is important to aim at a place where the true temperature can be found. For instance, when checking ice cream containers, aim at the bottom, not at the lid, where there is only air underneath. It is preferable to check goods, while they are still in the chiller, as even short exposure to room temperature or sunlight will make a reading impossible. The Infra Red Thermometer can only "see" the outer surface. This is why Temperature Technology now offers infra red thermometers that also have the added function of a probe thermometer. RT300 has a built in probe and RT302 a connector for a handheld type K probe.

foodpro 2008

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

At foodpro 2008 we will be showing T-TEC Data loggers for a whole range of uses within food production.

The T-TEC 7 data loggers with special meat probes are a great tool to manage cooking and smoking of smallgoods. The cooling down time is easily proven as well.

Thermochron Data loggers have many uses, following product from cooking or baking to chilling, freezing and transport.

TempTec-R reader for Thermochron is handy for reading a number of Thermochron data loggers, for instance in crates, chillers, production facilities. The TempTec-R is then taken back to the PC for download.

The new cylindrical stainless Steel data loggers are small enough to go into bottles and cans and pass through sterilisation and provide a record of the process.

There will be much more at BOOTH 5038.

We look forward to seeing you there

foodpro 2008
Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
21-24 July 2008

milli-Ampere dataloggers

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Temperature Technology manufacture and retails instruments for recording of temperature and related physical quantities. A part of the related physical quantities is milli-Amperes.

Many instruments, such as transducers, measure data, such as temperature, and send out a signal 4-20mA or 0-10V, which can be recorded and stored by our T-TEC A milli-Ampere or T-TEC V Volt datalogger.

The real benefit of the T-TEC A milli-Amp (mA) or T-TEC V volt data logger comes from the calibration program, TTCal. TTCal is included with the data logger and allows the user to scale the milli-Amp reading to any other reading they prefer, for example, pH.

Common measurements that are translated to 4-20mA or 0-10V by transducers:

turbidity
dissolved oxygen
pH
ppm
pressure
milli-Amperes
0 to 100%
Humidity
Temperature

If you have instrumentation that outputs data in 4-20 mA or 0-10 V, T-TEC dataloggers and software can translate and record that data. You can leave the equipment while it is recording and later download the measurements to your PC or laptop for graphing, statistics, printouts and export to spreadsheets.

The T-TEC A and T-TEC V Data loggers come complete with input cable and a special scaling program where matching pair values (from your transducer) are entered. The display on the T-TEC 7 logger will then show the scale in your specific units, and this scaling is also used in graphs and lists of measurements. The units on the display can be changed to 'none', V, mA, 2 or %.

Thermometer calibration in Adelaide

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Looking for calibration services in Adelaide? At Temperature Technology, we can calibrate thermometers up to 100°C.

Many restaurants and cafes need to show Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) that the food they are keeping and serving are cooked and kept at correct temperatures. However, it is also important to ensure the correct working order of the equipment. Some EHOs and some quality systems demand that recent calibration certificates are produced.

Our calibration certificates include the date, the instrument, the instrument serial number, what it has been tested for (eg. temperature), the level of accuracy claimed, and the test results at 0°C, 5°C, 25°C and 60°C (reference, measured and difference). Sometimes, the level of accuracy is more important at narrower temperature ranges, and so our testing procedure can be changed to test and record accuracy at different temperatures.

The calibration certificate also includes the serial number and type of the NATA-traceable calibrated thermometer, as well as the date and signature of one of our directors.

What IP68 means for T-TEC temperature dataloggers

Wed, 28 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

T-TEC temperature data loggers, notably the T-TEC A: mA data logger, T-TEC E: single sensor temperature datalogger, T-TEC F: dual sensor temperature data logger, T-TEC P: single sensor temperature datalogger with Pt100 sensor, are listed as being IP68.

IP68 is a code, defined in the standard IEC 60529, that "classifies the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects (including body parts like hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water in electrical enclosures".

IP68 for the dataloggers, essentially means that they are dustproof and waterproof, enabling them to be placed into all sorts of environments, regardless of dust and water levels. This includes in shipments of fish, hanging under the shade of orchard trees, or even in the dishwasher.

Our temperature dataloggers were built to be long-lasting and go nearly anywhere!

How to read a liquid crystal thermometer

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Liquid crystals work by reflecting light. The crystal turn with the changing temperature and reflect different colours like millions of tiny prisms. Liquid crystal thermometers are safe and durable, but must be kept away from direct sunshine.

To read a liquid crystal thermometer, read the brightest colour. If two numbers are equally bright, read the temperature in between. Accuracy is ±0.5°C.

Liquid crystal thermometers retailed by Temperature Technology

Temperature Technology sells different types of liquid crystal thermometers, the main two are the promotional liquid crystal thermometer and the baby bath thermometer.

The promotional liquid crystal thermometer consists of a laminated plastic band with a number of temperature sensitive liquid crystals, each in a field with the corresponding temperature (°C) printed.

When activated by the ambient temperature the liquid crystals will reflect the light and show colours from tan to blue within a range of approximately 2°C for each crystal.

20 years of TT210

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The 6th of May 2008, marks the 20th anniversary of the TT210 Temperature Recorder. The TT210 is a special instrument: A chart recorder with a Pt100 sensor that is portable and will run 4-6 weeks on a standard 9V alkaline battery. Back then the TT202, which has a bimetal sensing element, was very popular, but we got quite a few enquiries for a similar instrument with a remote sensor. The TT210 was developed with the help of many people, importantly Ole Andersen from our old company HBO Instruments, Copenhagen, and Bob Fairweather from Philips at Hendon. It was originally made with a hybrid circuit, the forerunner for the integrated circuits. Among the users are hospitals and laboratories, where the high accuracy and portability makes it very handy.

What's special about the Temp Tec 816

Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Recently, we posted our datalogger comparison table in response to some journal articles. Doing that however, we realised that one of our gems didn't shine in that comparison chart. That hidden gem is the Temp Tec 816.

What's so special about the Temp Tec 816: Vaccine Fridge Monitor?

The TempTec 816 is a combination of min/max thermometer, a datalogger and an alarm function. It has a display that shows the actual temperature and buttons to press to see the minimum, maximum temperatures since last reset. It also records the data, which can be downloaded to a computer and graphing software.

The manual minimum and maximum readings are available at any time and essential where there are requirements for manual log keeping as well as electronic monitoring.

The real shine of the Temp Tec 816 is the alarm functions. It will turn on both visual and audible alarms:

If the temperature gets too high or too low for a period longer than the chosen grace period.
If the temperature gets too high or too low for an accumulated time, even if the temperature does recover within the grace period each time.
If a sensor breaks or is disconnected, the display will show -SEN.

Possible reasons for accumulated alarms:

Refrigerators may be dependent on the ambient temperature. Over night, or during the weekend, they may get colder as the room temperature drops.
Over time, the refrigerator may lose gas and become less efficient.
Staff could accidentally change the setting of the refrigerator.
The power could get turned off or there could be a power black-out (the TempTec 816 is battery-operated, and thus independent of mains power).
The thermostat may become faulty.
The fridge door could be left open.

The TempTec 816 is your automated helper: silently keeping track of internal temperatures with a green light blinking and warning you if there is a problem. It has provision for 2 connections to external alarms for dialer, buzzer, general alarm system etc. as well.

ARBS 2008 Wrap-up

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Thank you to all who came and spoke to us at ARBS 08 last week, in Melbourne. Here is a picture of Freya in our stand. We had more than twenty customers come up to us during the exhibition to tell us how happy they were using our products and services. That made our exhibition!

It was an exciting time, and it's always good to catch up with customers in Melbourne. We hope to see you all again at the next ARBS, in Sydney, in two years time, if we don't catch up before.

T-TEC Data loggers used in research

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Amazing things achieved with the T-TEC loggers:

Turbilla, Christopher., Lawb, Bradley S. and Geisera, Fritz., 2003, Summer torpor in a free-ranging bat from subtropical Australia, Journal of Thermal Biology, 28(3) pp223–226
Turbilla, Christopher., 2005, THERMOREGULATORY BEHAVIOR OF TREE-ROOSTING CHOCOLATE WATTLED BATS (CHALINOLOBUS MORIO) DURING SUMMER AND WINTER, Journal of Mammalogy, 87(2) pp318–323
Steadman, Kathryn J., 2004, Dormancy release during hydrated storage in Lolium igidum seeds is dependent on temperature, light quality, and hydration status, Journal of Experimental Botany, 55(398) pp929-937
Steadman, K J., Bignell, G P., and Ellery, A J, 2003, Field assessment of thermal after-ripening time for dormancy release prediction in Lolium rigidum seeds, Weed Research, 43 (6) , 458–465
Beatty DT, Barnes A, Taylor E, Maloney SK, 2008, Do changes in feed intake or ambient temperature cause changes in cattle rumen temperature relative to core temperature?, Journal of Thermal Biology, 33(1) pp12-19
Stockman, Cathernine Anne., 2006, The Physiological and Behavioural Responses of Sheep Exposed to Heat Load within Intensive Sheep Industries, Doctorate of Philosophy thesis, Murdoch university.
Reese, Nicola, 2000, A Study of Isodon obesulus obesulus and the effects of Pest Species in Melville Gully, Belair National Park, Honours thesis for Bachelor of Science, Flinders University, South Australia
Bonner, Joanna Gay, 1999, Winter Roosting Habits of Three Insectivorous House-dwelling bats (Genera chalinolobus, mormopterus, nyctophilus) in Southern Temperature Australi, School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University.
Turbilla, Christopher., Körtner, Gerhard., and Geiser, Fritz., 2003, Natural use of Heterothermy by a Small, Tree-Roosting Bat during Summer, Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 76(6):868–876

Imagine what you could do with one?

Temperature Datalogger Checklist

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Recently, Shane van de Vorstenbosch wrote a series of articles in journals such as 'The Hotel Engineer' and 'The Hospital Engineer', suggesting various features to look for when selecting your temperature data logger.

Originally, our answer was included in this blog post, however, after discussion, we realised its potential usefulness, and have shifted it over into its own page under 'Dataloggers' .

Here is Temperature Technology's answers to the supplied checklist: Temperature Technology's temperature datalogger checklist and comparison chart.

Updated Software and Manual downloads

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The T-TEC Software and Manual for downloading has been upgraded to version 11.6 and 11A2, respectively. They are available for download right now.

ARBS 08

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

We are heading towards Melbourne in two weeks time. The ARBS 08 will be open on the 21 - 23 April in the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. This year we will be displaying the full range of T-TEC Data loggers as well as the new TempTec 816 Data Logger with display, alarms, Min/Max. Also on display will be the good old TT series chart recorders and the TempTec-R Thermochron reader. Freya and Kirsten are looking forward to see you at booth no. 401. Ask us about the RT-3 Promotional Thermometers.

Welcome

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Welcome to Temperature Technology's new blog and new look. Please let us know if you experience any problems with the new site, missing pages, missing links, design not working or anything. There are always a few gotchas with anything new. We are sorry for whatever inconvenience this causes. We hope to be regularly updating this blog with news and information we hope will be useful to you.