Temperature monitoring devices are becoming more versatile and efficient in both real time monitoring and user-friendly technological improvements. Even so, there may be times where it seems as though the temperature monitoring device is not operating optimally.

This not only impacts negatively on costs but also disrupts the smooth running of a facility. This makes it imperative that the problem be corrected as soon as possible. In this blog, we will discuss basic guidelines for trouble shooting so that you can identify the problem and use your device optimally. There are a number of questions you can ask when trying to discern what is the root cause of a problem.

 

Step 1# Are you using a single use or reusable device?

As the name suggests, single use devices are used only once and then they are discarded. The Tempsen Itag 3 and Tempsen Itag4 are both single use devices. In most cases, single use devices are used predominantly in the distribution of temperature sensitive products.

These can easily be mistaken for reusable devices, but will not work after the first use and will unfortunately need to be discarded after use.

 

Step 2#  Is there sufficient power supply?

Ensure that the temperature monitoring device is connected to a constant source of power where necessary. Temperature monitors such as the Berlinger Fridge Tag 3 SMS alert device need to be plugged in to a power source continually in order for them to operate. If the power fails there is a battery back-up which can be made use of temporarily.

There are instances where data loggers/ temperature monitors run only on battery power. Most single use and reusable temperature monitors that operate on battery power alone have 1 – 2 years of battery power available. The date of expiry for batteries is usually shown on the back of the device or indicated on the device display for your convenience.

 

Step 3# Is a software download/ installation needed?

Most reusable devices operate either using an online web hosting platform, or they require a software installation. Others, work with a built-in USB port from which reports are downloaded into PDF, therefore not requiring software.

Make sure to have gone through the relevant installation processes when using a new device.

 

Step 4# Check software administration rights

Make sure that you have the administrative rights to load necessary software and that it is accepted by the firewall or anti-virus programs installed on the computer. In many organisations, employees are prohibited from connecting a device to a USB port on a pc.

Should there be a difficulty, TMSA would need to be contacted to confirm the device security. The TempSen range of USB loggers, for example, will never access important data on a computer, as the MSD protocol prohibits the data logger from accessing this. TempSen USB loggers are secure and do not contain any malware – because of this the data loggers will not allow external files to be saved on them via USB connection.

 

Step 5# Check that the external sensor is connected

Some devices will indicate on the display if the external sensor is not correctly connected. The Berlinger Fridge Tag 2 and 3 will show this. If an external sensor indicator is not visible, simply unplug the external sensor and re-insert it into the temperature monitor.

If the problem persists and one is unable to record temperatures, there may be a fault with the external sensor, in which case, one should contact the supplier.

 

Step 6# Check the setting of the alarm parameters

Your device may have factory pre-set alarm parameters, which alleviates the need to set it up manually. Double check whether the device requires the user to manually configure the alarm limits to ensure that you receive notification of the alarm excursions. Depending on the device and settings, these may be shared on the device, on the report or in real-time by SMS or email.

The Tempsen Tempod reusable temperature data loggers all have user-configurable alarm limits, whilst the Tempsen Itag 3 PRO has factory pre-set alarm limits. This will limit the effectiveness of the temperature monitor, so we would highly recommend that you make sure of alarm limits prior to starting your device. If you are unsure as to which category your data logger falls under, please do contact us for assistance.

We hope that you found these guidelines useful. With a better understanding of these devices it becomes easier to avoid common errors and solve issues related to the correct use of temperature monitors and temperature data loggers. We would like to encourage individuals that the use of temperature monitors is relatively straight forward, with devices becoming more user friendly with each passing day.