CAS DataLoggers provided the standalone monitoring solution for a homeowner who wanted to check the climate control system installed in his 2-room wine cellar. Maintaining a stable temperature is crucial to wine storage. Improper storage of kegs and wine bottles can have a negative impact; for example, white wine should be kept at temperatures of 50°-53.6°F (10°-12°C), and red wine at 53.6°-59°F (12°-15°C). The owner also needs to regulate humidity in the cellar or the corks will become too wet or dry, potentially spoiling the wine. The homeowner had been using typical glass thermometers for temperature verification, but these proved to be too error-prone, so he wanted to try data loggers to view conditions in each of the cellar’s rooms and provide better temperature measurement accuracy. What the owner needed was an affordable temperature and humidity monitoring solution to record and save enough readings to get a realistic environmental profile to find the coolest and driest areas.

Installation

The winery purchased a few dozen I-Plug USB Temperature and Humidity Data Loggers from CAS DataLoggers and placed 4 around the wine cellar. After setting their sample rates to take readings once every 30 minutes, the owner placed the data loggers in the cellar rooms using the provided adhesive pouches. Their compact size made them easy to place anywhere. He then activated each using the pushbutton start.

The data loggers began monitoring temperatures in the -40°C to +85°C (-40°F to 185°F) range while simultaneously recording humidity at an accuracy of 3% RH using their internal sensor. Measurements are accurate to a 0.01ºC resolution, and each datalogger’s memory stores up to 28,800 samples for extended data collection.

Usage

Meanwhile, the data loggers in the cellar closely monitor temperature and relative humidity in the rooms to help prevent the corks from getting overly dry or wet and keeping the wine aging as desired. When the I-Plugs’ memories are full, the owner uses each logger’s built-in USB interface to connect to his PC and look at the environmental data without needing a separate USB driver. With the free logger software, he can organize the data in graph and chart form and view it in several common spreadsheet programs including Excel.

Benefits

The owner is now using the data from the i-Plug temperature data loggers to verify that his climate control system has good coverage. In this way, the cellar’s temperature and humidity stays constant and ensures the wine’s high quality. Easy to configure and use, the I-Plugs are more precise than thermometers and perform standalone logging so he doesn’t have to keep an eye on them.

For further information on I-Plug USB Temperature and Humidity Data Loggers, temperature verification, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Application Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or request more information.

The post Temperature Verification in Wine Cellars Using a Data Logger appeared first on CAS Dataloggers.

In light of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for safe cold chain vaccine storage, pharmacies have an increasing need for electronic temperature monitoring and alarming. The new measures are aimed at keeping these fragile supplies stored at a constant of 35-46°F (2-8°C) to avoid spoiling, which the CDC claims occurs in 20-33% of providers. CAS DataLoggers received a call from a pharmacy director storing children’s vaccines who wanted a temperature monitoring product in line with the latest CDC recommendations. The leading question was, “What have you got that’s easy to use?”

Installation

In response, CAS DataLoggers provided the customer with 25 SwiTrace I-Plug USB Temperature Data Loggers. Using the provided adhesive pouches, staff placed one into each of the pharmacy’s two vaccine storage refrigerators storing the vaccine supplies. Each data logger used an internal sensor ranging from -22°F to 158°F (-30°C to +70°C) to record the temperature at a 90-second response time, closely monitoring even slight changes in temperature. All recordings are accurate to 0.5°C. Before installation, the product could be slowly damaged by low temperatures without any signs of freezing, but now the smart LEDs on the loggers provide clear visibility to offer staff the temperature status at a glance.

Usage

Each temperature logger is started with a quick button press and stopped the same way. When the product is in normal temperatures, the OK status light is clearly shown, and alarm status is indicated by either the Under or Over lights whenever safe temperatures are exceeded. Their small size and light 15g weight make them easy to place and transport and installation is over quickly since the staff doesn’t have to deal with any cables or interfaces.

Users can set sampling rates for the I-Plug loggers from as often as every second to once every 24 hours: in this case, the director has set them for a temperature check every 15 minutes. Each temperature logger’s 5,000 sample memory and 1-year battery life (rechargeable via PC) ensure long recording periods.

To get the data after recording is finished, staffers just use the built-in USB interface to plug the data loggers into the office PC and read the data, with no USB drivers required. Each single-use device carries a 1-yr warranty, and after use, the staff just recycle them and place another in the fridge.

Software

Using the free downloadable software, staffers send the data online in a database where they can view and print out detailed reports showing all the relevant temperature data. These visualizations not only prove best practices and improve product safety but also identify temperature fluctuations within the fridges so employees can take additional measures to stabilize their vaccines.

Compliant with Guidelines

The SwiTrace I-Plug data loggers also included a free Calibration Certificate available online expressly for the pharmaceutical industry, which further complies with the CDC guidelines. Additionally, direct-to-Web data transmission and traceability portals are also available for tracking and tracing settings, readings and displaying graphs online. This can be useful in cases when staff needs to ship any of their products and prove to receivers that it was kept at safe temperatures throughout the trip.

Benefits

The customer’s pharmacy has streamlined their medical monitoring and alarming with the I-Plug temperature loggers which help safeguard their cold chain vaccine storage. Ideal both for their fixed application and also for any transport in the future, the single-use temperature loggers ensure accurate monitoring for their temperature-sensitive products and services, increasing product safety. The built-in USB interface simplifies downloading data to a PC, and there’s no registration required or software drivers to install, which saves considerable time during setup.

For more information on SwiTrace I-Plug USB Temperature Data Loggers, cold chain vaccine storage or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs,
contact a CAS DataLogger Application Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or request more information.

The post Cold Chain Vaccine Storage Monitoring and Alarming appeared first on CAS Dataloggers.

CAS DataLoggers provided the temperature data logging solution for a customer who produced whole frozen turkeys for sale in supermarkets. Once frozen, the meat needed to be maintained at or below 0°F (-17°C) to avoid rapid spoiling and attendant health risks. Often, temperature levels will vary across products in separate trucks and even within the same trailer during frozen food transport. The company used to rely on manual temperature measurements upon delivery, but with regulations increasing along with receivers’ demands for documentation, management had a need for a reliable yet low-priced temperature monitoring and alarming solution. The device would also need to feature online reporting capabilities to provide a quick way to generate detailed reports for receivers.

Installation

CAS DataLoggers provided a convenient standalone solution: 50 I-Plug IPST8 USB Temperature Data Loggers. Drivers placed the devices directly onto the product
pallets, 2 per shipment. Each data logger uses an internal sensor to monitor temperature within a range of -22°F to 150°F (-30°C to +65°C) at a high 0.3°C accuracy. Each data logger’s quick push-button start makes operation easy, and their smart LEDs show temperature status at a glance. The temperature recorders have a sensor response time of 90 seconds, faster than many comparable products. Unlike other single-use data loggers, the I-Plugs are also equipped with a smart STOP button that sets the loggers to bookmark readings but keeps them recording until stopped or until reaching the end of their memory. This makes the loggers useful right up until the last mile.

Usage

The temperature logger’s 8,000 sample memory and 1-year battery life enable extended trips or multiple shorter hauls, and the sampling rate is user-selectable from 1 to 27 minutes depending on the number of days—for most of the customer’s shipments, they’re set to take a reading every 10 minutes. Their compact 2.8×1.3×0.6 inch size and 30g weight make them easy to place and transport.

The data loggers only go into alarm status when the user-set temperatures are exceeded over a certain period of time. Alarm lights clearly show whenever product temperatures are OK, Over, or Under, so during stops, it’s easy for drivers to do a quick temperature check. The built-in USB interface simplifies downloading data to a PC so users don’t need a USB driver to use the loggers. The data loggers are recyclable, carry a 1-year warranty, and also offer an optional Calibration Certificate online specifically for the food industry.

Software

The SwiTrace I-Plug Plus data loggers run on FREE software downloadable online from the manufacturer. When the loggers are finished recording, users just plug them into a PC and use the software to download the data, read it, and send it online in a database where it’s available for viewing in graph form by receivers. There’s no registration required or software drivers to install, and the process takes about 5 seconds. This innovative feature saves receivers the trouble of sending the data by email. Upon arrival, users can adjust the time zone, which is appreciated by receivers so they don’t have to spend time recalculating to their local time. The data can also be read and sent to the Web using an Android tablet with a free app.

Benefits

The I-Plugs were an effective low-priced solution for the supplier’s in-transit monitoring—now drivers keep tabs on the product on the road and give proof of their product’s quality to receivers. This electronically documented proof of quality leads to fewer shipments being rejected and further helps confirm their good reputation. Using the included software, users print out reports showing all the relevant data. Additionally, the direct-to-Web data transmission and traceability portal are convenient for tracking and tracing settings, graphs, and readings online.

For more information on our portable I-Plug IPST8 USB Temperature Data Loggers, frozen food transport solutions or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS DataLogger Application Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or request more information.

The post Delivering Proof of Quality in Frozen Food Transport appeared first on CAS Dataloggers.

CAS DataLoggers provided the greenhouse temperature control and monitoring solution for a small greenhouse currently cultivating several species of herbs for cooking and medicinal purposes. From potting to product, each variety has to be kept at ideal growing conditions before sale. From his own experience, the owner preferred to maintain the crop around 70°F (21°C) and an 80% relative humidity. Last year he had already installed a climate control system, but its effects were heavily localized within the space rather than uniformly spread out. Rather than having to keep checking thermometers placed around the walls, the owner wanted to use data loggers to record and save enough readings to get a realistic temperature and humidity profile to find these colder and drier zones. Once he could see this profile, he would be able to check all current readings against this accurate baseline.

Installation

Since the customer requested an inexpensive greenhouse temperature control solution, CAS DataLoggers provided his application with 50 SwiTrace I-Plug USB Temperature and Humidity Data Loggers. After setting their sample rates to once every 10 minutes, staff placed 15 of the loggers among the plants using the provided self-adhering pouches, with a few placed on hanging pots. Their compact size made them easy to place anywhere needed. Staff activated each using the push-button start, and the data loggers now record the local temperature across a -40°C to +85°C (-40°F to 185°F) range as well as logging the humidity at an accuracy of 3% RH using their internal sensor. Measurements are accurate to a 0.3ºC resolution, and each data logger’s memory stores up to 8,000 samples.

Usage

To collect the data after recording is finished, workers just use the built-in USB interface to plug the data loggers into the owner’s PC and read the data, with no USB drivers or other accessories required. After downloading the free software, the owner can view all this environmental data in the form of charts and graphs. In this way, workers can move the data loggers around to pinpoint the greenhouse’s cooler and drier zones so remedial measures can be taken.

Benefits

The greenhouse’s owner was new to data logging, so the I-Plug temperature and humidity data loggers were a user-friendly way for his business to get the benefits of automated data recording. Now the temperature and humidity data are all available in an organized, visual format on his PC, and this information is much more accurate than the thermometers previously used. Having established an environmental profile over weeks of sampling, the USB data loggers now show staff whenever the expected temperatures and RH go too high or low again.

For more information on the SwiTrace I-Plug loggers, greenhouse temperature control or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS DataLogger Application Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or request more information.

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