Alpes Lasers TC-3 User manual

Page 2 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................3
Safety Terms and Symbols...................................................................
Quick Start............................................................................................ 6
Installation............................................................................................ 7
Front Panel Operation.........................................................................10
Settings and Menus............................................................................13
Rear Panel.......................................................................................... 19
Connecting to the TC-3.......................................................................20
Selecting the Fixture...........................................................................21
Remote Mode Operation.....................................................................21
Installing the USB Drivers...................................................................22
Working With Thermistors...................................................................23
Working With RTDs.............................................................................2
User Calibration of Resistance Sensors...............................................26
Working With AD590s and LM335s.....................................................26
External Fan Control...........................................................................27
Resistive Heaters and Heat/Cool Only Modes......................................29
Gain Control and the PID Loop............................................................29
Using the AutoTune Function..............................................................30
Using the AutoTune Function Remotely..............................................32
Compensating for Cable Resistance....................................................33
Internal Power Management...............................................................33
Specifications...................................................................................... 35
Error Messages...................................................................................37
Maintenance, Calibration and Warranty..............................................39

TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 3
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the TC-3 Temperature Controller from Alpes
Lasers. Your TC-3 is a combination of leading edge technology
combined with years of experience in the field of temperature control.
With a crystal clear VFD display, high power outputs, multi-sensor
support, both RS232 and USB computer interfaces, and small footprint,
the TC-3 will fit into almost any temperature control application.
Unlike other temperature controllers in its class which use inexpensive
7-segment LED displays, the TC-3 takes advantage of its large VFD
display to simultaneously display set point temperature, actual
temperature, current, and voltage.
The user interface of the TC-3 is engineered to make using the
instrument straightforward. With its text-based menus, there is never
any confusion over which setting is being changed, and parameters
are displayed in clear English (no cryptic numbers or LEDs to decode).
The TC-3 offers all the features you would expect from a modern
temperature controller, including:
•AutoTune for automatic PID parameter calculation
•0.00 °C temperature stability
•0.01°C resolution for both set point and actual temperatures
•60W (5A/12V) and 120W (10A/12V) output power
Accessories
Alpes Lasers also sells several accessories designed to work with the
TC-3. These include:
•TC-LLH cable
This cable links the TC-3 controller to the Laser Laboratory
Housing.
•TC-HHL
This cable links the TC-3 to the High Heat Load housing. It
includes an extra BNC port to connect the laser driver.
•The TC-3 is made with the same technology than the
temperature controllers from Arroyo and Arroyo
products are compatible with it.

Page 4 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
Safety Terms and Symbols
The following safety-related terms are used in this manual:
•arnings (noted by the WARNING heading) explain dangers
that could result in physical injury or death;
•Cautions (noted by the CAUTION heading) explain conditions
that could result in damage to the instrument, other
equipment, or your device.
•Notes (noted by the NOTES heading) are not safety-related,
and are intended simply to point out important information.
If, at any time, any of the following conditions exist, or are suspected
of existing, discontinue use of the unit until it can be inspected by
qualified service personnel:
•Visible damage to the unit, including damage or stress caused
during product shipment;
•Storage of the unit outside the standard storage temperature
or humidity rating, or prolonged storage under harsh
conditions;
•Failure to operate properly.
If needed, contact your distributor or Alpes Lasers for service or repair
to ensure the safety of the product is maintained.

TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 5
Symbols
Power Off Power On
Caution, refer to manual Earth ground
Caution, risk of electric shock
General arnings
ARNING
This instrument is intended for use by qualified
personnel who understand the shock and laser
hazards and are familiar with safety procedures
required to avoid injury. Read this manual
completely before attempting to use this product.
ARNING
To avoid electrical shock, ensure a 3-prong power
cord is used, and is plugged into a earth-grounded
receptacle. Failure to do so can result in severe
injury or death.
CAUTION
There are no user-serviceable parts inside. All
service and repair work shall be done by Alpes
Lasers or personnel authorized by Alpes Lasers.
Modifications done by non-authorized personnel
will void the warranty. Please see the Service
section later in this manual for instructions on
how to obtain service for this instrument.

Page 6 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
Quick Start
The TC-3 was designed with ease of use in mind, and you will likely
have little need for this manual for almost all of the features the unit
offers. The main Starter Kit Manual contains a Quick Start section that
contains specific features related to the lasers provided by Alpes
Lasers – this section covers more general grounds.
After unpacking the unit, ensure that the voltage selection on the Input
Power Connector (IPC) on the back of the unit is set to the correct
voltage. This is critical, as incorrect voltages can damage the unit. The
TC-3 is typically shipped in the 120V configuration from the factory,
but may be set to your local voltage. Make no assumptions and change
the voltage as needed. For more information, refer to the IPC section
below.
Once the voltage selection has been completed, plug the AC cord into
the unit and into the wall outlet. Turn on the power switch located on
the IPC, and the unit will power up, displaying the model information
and firmware version number.
Press the MENU button to enter the menu, and using the knob, turn to
the right until the I Lim setting is displayed. Press the knob to edit the
setting, and adjust the limit as appropriate to your Peltier. Press the
knob again to save the value. Make the same adjustments to the high
and low temperature limits (T-High Lim and T-Low Lim), as
appropriate for your application.
The unit may come pre-programmed for the laser it was bought with.
However, if you are using a different thermistor, you will need to verify
the Steinhart-Hart coefficients are set correctly. Navigate to the
Sensor Coeffs sub-menu, pressing the knob to enter the sub-menu.
Adjust the constants to reflect the values for your thermistor.
Once you have made all your adjustments, press the MENU button to
exit the menu (in the future, if you’re only changing one value, you do
not need to press the knob --- pressing the MENU button while
changing a value will save the value and exit).
Next, connect the cable between your fixture and the Output connector
of the TC-3. We recommend using our cables as they have been
designed to work well with the TC-3. If using your own cables, ensure
they have been properly wired according to the pin-out of the TC-3
and your fixture.
Finally, set the set point to an appropriate temperature and press the
Output button. The output will turn on and you will see the voltage

TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 7
and current begin driving the fixture to the set point you have chosen.
Depending on the thermal size of your fixture, it may take seconds or
several minutes to reach the set point.
If you notice the temperature is oscillating around the set point and not
stabilizing, you may need to adjust the Gain setting in the menu. You
can use the AutoTune feature to automatically calculate the best PID
values, or select from a set of eight factory preset values that typically
cover most applications. To use the factory gains, if the temperature is
quickly jumping up and down, the Gain will typically need to be
reduced. If the temperature is slowly moving up and down, try a higher
Gain. You may need to experiment with several gain settings to find
the ideal value, and for even finer control, you can set the Gain to PID
and directly set the PID control values.
It’s that simple. For more detailed operating and installation
instructions, read on.
Installation
Installation of the TC-3 is very straightforward, as the quick start
section above illustrated. This section will provide additional details
and considerations for installing your TC-3.
After unpacking the unit, make sure all packing materials have been
removed and nothing obscures the ventilation ports on the back and
bottom of the unit.
Changing the Voltage Selection
Before powering on the unit, ensure that the voltage selection on the
IPC is set correctly. Improper voltage selection can easily damage the
unit. Changing the voltage selection requires that you remove the
voltage selection module from the IPC.
Remove the power cord from the unit. Using a small, flat-blade
screwdriver, insert the tip of the screwdriver into the two small
openings above and below the voltage indication to release the voltage
selection module from the IPC, as shown in the picture below.

Page 8 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
Input Power Connector (IPC)
Once the module has been removed, remove the small, white voltage
selection tumbler from the module, and then re-insert so that the
desired voltage is shown. Re-insert the module into the IPC.
Powering Up the Unit
Once the correct voltage selection has been made, connect the AC
power cord to the unit.
Turn the power switch, located on the front of the unit, into the on (|)
position. The unit will display the current firmware revision, go through
a quick power-up self-test, and return to the last known operating
state.
Ventilation
The TC-3 has vent holes on the rear and left side of the unit. You must
not block these vent holes, or overheating may occur, causing damage
to the unit.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 250VAC on the line input.
It is critical to select the proper voltage selection
prior to applying power to the unit. If the actual
voltage exceeds the voltage selection by +/-10%,
damage to the unit may occur.

TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 9
Rack Mounting
Rack mounting kits (p/n 1401-RM-1 or p/n 1401-RM-2) for standard
19” racks are available at Arroyo Instruments for the TC-3, and
supports the rack mount of one (1401-RM-1) or two (1401-RM-2)
units in a 2U (3.5”) high opening. Because the unit draws air from the
side, and therefore inside the rack housing, be sure that the internal
rack ambient temperature (which will typically be several degrees
higher than room ambient) does not exceed the unit’s operating
temperature.
arm-up and Environmental Considerations
In order to achieve the highest level of accuracy, the TC-3 should be
powered on for at least one hour prior to taking measurements. In
addition, ensure that the unit is not operating outside the ambient
temperature range or humidity conditions.
CAUTION
Do not operate the unit above + 0°C ambient,
and ensure the instrument is properly ventilated,
or the unit may overheat and possible damage to
the instrument may occur.

Page 10 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
Front Panel Operation
Operation of the TC-3 is very straightforward. The sections below will
help familiarize you with the front panel, the display, and the menu
structure.
The front panel is designed for simplicity in operation. There are three
buttons on the front panel: Output, Menu, and the adjustment knob.
The Output button is used to turn the output on and off. Whenever the
output is on, the blue Output On LED will be lit.
The Menu button is used to enter the TC-3 menu. When in remote
mode, it acts as a Local button, returning the instrument to local
mode.
The large adjustment knob located on the right hand side of the unit is
used to change the set point or parameters in the menu. It also acts as
a push button, primarily as an enter button, when making changes in
the menu. When in the main screen, pressing the knob will change
from Normal to Large display mode.
There are four LEDs: a green power LED that is lit whenever the AC
power is turned on; the blue Output On LED that indicates the TC-3 is
actively controlling the temperature; a red Error LED that indicates an
error has occurred; and a yellow Remote LED that indicates the unit is
being controlled via a computer.
Whenever an error is generated, the red Error LED will light, and the
error will be displayed on the VFD display. There may be one or more
errors, but only the first error will be displayed. To display the next

TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 11
error, press Menu button. To clear all errors, press the knob. A list of
error codes can be found in the Error Messages section below.
When the unit is in remote mode, the yellow Remote LED will be lit.
More information about how the instrument behaves in remote mode
can be found in the Remote Mode Operation section below.
Control Modes
The TC-3 offers three control modes: constant temperature mode (T
Mode), and constant resistance mode (R Mode), and constant current
mode (Ite Mode).
Changing the control mode is done through the menu by changing the
Mode parameter to T Mode, R Mode, or Ite Mode.
Constant temperature mode uses the sensor constants to calculate the
resistance of the thermistor at the desired or actual temperature.
While most users will only need the temperature control mode, the
constant resistance mode allows you to bypass the sensor equation
and directly select the sensor set point. This can be useful when only
the desired sensor value is known, or when the sensor-to-temperature
conversion values are not available for your sensor.
Main Display Screen
On the main display you will find the set point and two or three
measurements, depending on the configuration you have chosen. An
example display is shown below:
Sample Display
The set point will depend on the control mode you have selected.
When in T Mode, the set point will be temperature. When in R Mode,
the set point will be in the active sensor’s units (ohms for thermistor
and RTD, uA for AD590, and mV for LM335). When in Ite Mode, the set
point will be in amps.
Measurements
The second line of the display contains the measurements appropriate
for the control mode. In T Mode, the actual temperature, current, and
voltage can be displayed, depending on the display mode. In R Mode,
the actual sensor value is displayed instead of the actual temperature.
In Ite Mode, the actual temperature is displayed.

Page 12 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
No Set Point Error
Because TC-3 Temperature Controller uses a digital PID loop, it will
always stabilize at the set point, and you will never have a
temperature offset, which is different that most other temperature
controllers.
Using Limits
The TC-3 supports three different types of limits: temperature, sensor,
and current. There is both a temperature high and temperature low
limit, and if the actual temperature exceeds either of these limits, the
output will be shut off. Likewise, both high and low limits exist for the
sensor (R limits), and the output will be shut off if the sensor
measurement exceeds either of these limits.

TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 13
Settings and Menus
All parameters of the TC-3 can be viewed and changed within the
menu. The menus are constructed with the most used parameters first.
To change any setting, press Menu to enter the menu then rotate the
knob to select the parameter to change. Press the knob to begin
changing the value. As a visual indication that you are in edit mode,
you will see an asterisk appear next to the value. Once you have made
your change, press the knob or Menu button to store the value.
Pressing the Menu button will store and exit the menu, while pressing
the knob will store the value but leave you in the menu to make
additional changes.
Some settings are contained inside a sub menu, such as
communications settings. To access the sub menu, simply press the
knob to enter the sub menu when its name is displayed.
Below is a complete list of available settings:
Menu Description Factory
Default
Root Menu Main Menu
Mode This set the operating mode (T Mode, R
Mode, or Ite Mode) of the temperature
controller.
T Mode
Mount Specify the mount connected to the TC-
3. If using a LaserMount, select the
appropriate model. Otherwise, select
User Defined.
User
Defined
I Lim I Lim sets the current limit of the
temperature controller. The limit should
be set to a value that is suitable for
your Peltier device.
3A
Gain Gain controls the response of the
temperature controller. A higher gain
value will cause the controller to
respond more quickly to the difference
between the set point and the actual
temperature, while a lower value will
cause it to respond more slowly. Select
PID for direct access to the PID
parameters. Read more on setting gain
below.
30

Page 14 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
Menu Description Factory
Default
PID P The proportional term of the PID loop.
Will only be available if Gain is set to
PID.
1
PID I The integral term of the PID loop. Will
only be available if Gain is set to PID.
0.01
PID D The derivative term of the PID loop. Will
only be available if Gain is set to PID.
0
Sensor Sets the temperature measurement
sensor. Can be Therm 100uA, Therm
10uA, Therm, LM335, AD590, RTD, or
RTD (4- ire).
Therm
100uA
T-Low Lim T-Low Lim is the lower temperature
limit. If operating in T Mode and the
actual temperature drops below this
value, the output will be turned off.
Temperature limits not monitored in R
Mode or Ite Mode. Limit monitoring can
also be disabled in software (see
TEC:ENAB:OUTOFF command).
-99°C
T-High Lim T-High Lim is the upper temperature
limit. If operating in T Mode and the
actual temperature rises above this
value, the output will be turned off.
Temperature limits not monitored in R
Mode or Ite Mode. Limit monitoring can
also be disabled in software (see
TEC:ENAB:OUTOFF command).
125°C
R-Low Lim R-Low Lim is the sensor low limit. If
operating in R Mode and the actual
sensor measurement drops below this
value, the output will be turned off. R
limits are not monitored in Ite Mode.
Limit monitoring can also be disabled in
software (see TEC:ENAB:OUTOFF
command).
0.01kΩ

TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 15
Menu Description Factory
Default
R-High Lim R-High Lim is the sensor high limit. If
operating in R Mode and the actual
sensor measurement exceeds this
value, the output will be turned off. R
limits are not monitored in Ite Mode.
Limit monitoring can also be disabled in
software (see TEC:ENAB:OUTOFF
command).
5kΩ
Tol Time Tolerance time is the amount of time, in
seconds, that the actual temperature
must be within the set point
temperature +/- the Tol Temp value for
the unit to be considered in tolerance.
5 seconds
Tol Temp Tolerance temperature is a temperature
band (in °C) around the set point
temperature. When the actual
temperature is within this band for
longer than the Tol Time setting, then
the unit is considered to be in tolerance.
0.1°C
H/C Mode This selects the heating and/or cooling
mode of the TC-3. See the section
below titled “Resistive Heaters and
Heat/Cool Only Modes” for more
information.
Heat/Cool
Ext Fan This selects the voltage for the auxiliary
fan power supply. See the External Fan
Control section below for more
information.
Off
Ext Fan Pwr When Ext Fan is set to Custom, this
sets the specific fan voltage from .0 to
12.0 volts. See the External Fan Control
section below for more information.
12.0
Ext Fan
Mode
Controls when the fan operates. See the
External Fan Control section below for
more information.
Auto
Ext Fan Off When Ext Fan Mode is set to Delay,
this setting defines the number of
minutes to delay turning off the fan
after the TEC output has been turned
off. See the External Fan Control section
below for more information.
5 minutes

Page 16 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
Menu Description Factory
Default
Cable R The resistance of the cable and
connectors, in ohms. This setting allows
for accurate voltage measurement at
the TEC by removing the voltage loss of
the cable.
0.0080Ω
AutoTune PID AutoTune PID Function
See using the AutoTune Function later
in this manual for details on this item.
Sensor Coeffs Sensor Coefficients Menu
ThermA The A term in the Steinhart-Hart
equation.
1.1292 E-03
ThermB The B term in the Steinhart-Hart
equation.
2.3 108E-0
ThermC The C term in the Steinhart-Hart
equation.
0.87755E-07
RTD A The A term in the RTD equation. 3.98 80E-03
RTD B The B term in the RTD equation. -0.58700E-06
RTD C The C term in the RTD equation. .00000E-12
RTD R0The R0 term (in Ω) in the RTD
equation.
100.00
AD590 M The slope term in the AD590
correction equation.
1.00000
AD590 B The offset term, in °C, in the AD590
correction equation.
0.000
LM335 M The slope term in the LM335
correction equation.
1.00000
LM335 B The offset term, in °C, in the LM335
correction equation.
0.000
Sens Cal M The slope term for user sensor
calibration of RTD or thermistor
measurements.
1.0000
Sens Cal B The offset term for user sensor
calibration of RTD or thermistor
measurements.
0.00 Ω

TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 17
Menu Description Factory
Default
Comm Menu Communications Menu
Baud This sets the baud rate for the RS232
serial port. See the Computer
Interfacing Manual which is included
on the CD that accompanied this
product.
9600
Err While
Rmt
To turn off the display of errors while in
remote mode, set this value to “No”. To
display errors while in remote mode, set
this value to “Yes”.
Yes
Terminal
Mode
Terminal mode simply echoes any
characters received over the serial or
USB interfaces.
No
Msg Term This controls the output message
termination, and can be set to CR/LF,
CR, LF, or None.
CR/LF
Sys Menu System Settings Menu
Disp Mode Display mode, which is used to control
the layout on the main screen. Normal
will display four values, typically the set
point temperature, read back
temperature, current, and voltage.
Large will display the read back
temperature, sensor, or current,
depending on the mode (T, R, or ITE
mode, respectively). When changing the
set point, the set point will be displayed
during the set point change.
Normal
Brightness The vacuum florescent display can be
set to one of eight brightness levels.
100%
Audible
Beep
This setting controls when the unit
produces audible feedback. Set to No to
prevent sound, or Yes or audible alerts
such an error messages.
Yes
Lockout
Knob
Lockout knob allows you to disable knob
operation from the main display. This
prevents accidental changes of the set
point. The knob will always work in the
menus regardless of this setting.
No

Page 18 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
Menu Description Factory
Default
Knob
Speed
Controls the adjustment speed of the
knob. Possible values are slow, medium,
and fast.
Slow
Edit User
Cal
Enable or disable editing of user
calibration values. This is not a
persistent value and will always resets
to No on power up.
No

TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 19
Rear Panel
In addition to the input power connector described above, there are
three connectors on the rear panel of the TC-3: Output connector, USB
connector, and RS232 connector.
TC-3 Rear Panel
TEC Output Connector
The Output connection is a female DB-15, and has the following pin-
out:
DB-15
Pin
Description
1, 2, & 9 TE (+)
3, , & 10 TE (-)
5 & 6 Earth Ground
7 Sensor+
8 Sensor-
11 Fan+
12 Fan – (Analog
Ground)
13 ID
1 Remote Sensor+
15 Remote Sensor-
Output Connector (DB-15 Female)
Using the ID Pin
For operation above 5A, the ID pin (pin 13) must be connected analog
ground (pin 12), and make sure all three TE+ and all three TE– pins are
connected.
Using Remote Sensor
The remote sensor pins (pins 1 & 15) are used in RTD -wire mode,
and provide a remote measurement of the RTD voltage to eliminate
voltage measurement errors. See Working With RTDs below for more
information.
USB Connector
The USB connector is a standard Type B female connector, and can be
plugged into any USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 port. For more information on

Page 20 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual
using the USB interface, see the Computer Interfacing Manual
which can be found on the Arroyo Instruments Website.
RS232 Connector
The RS232 connection is male DB-9 connector wired in a NULL modem
configuration.
Pin Description
2 Receive
3 Transmit
5 Ground
1, ,6 Commoned together
7,8 Commoned together
9 No connection
Shell Earth ground
RS232 Connector (DB-9 Male)
For more information on using the RS232 interface, see the Computer
Interfacing Manual which can be found on the Arroyo Instruments
Website.
Connecting to the TC-3
Alpes Lasers carries two cable assemblies specifically designed for
connecting the TC-3 to temperature controlled fixtures or devices. Part
number TC-LLH is a meter cable, capable of up to 5A of TEC current,
designed for use with Alpes Lasers LLH mount.
Part TC-HHL can support 3A of TEC current and is designed to be
used with Alpes Lasers HHL housings.
NOTE
Connections to the TECSource and the fixture
must be secure. Tighten any screws on the DB-15
connectors, and make sure all connections are in
good condition.