Arroyo Instruments TECPak 585 Series User manual

Page 2 · TECPak User’s Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................3
Safety Terms and Symbols.....................................................................................4
Quick Start...............................................................................................................6
Installation ...............................................................................................................7
Operating Modes ....................................................................................................9
Settings..................................................................................................................10
Arroyo Control .......................................................................................................14
Front and Rear Panels ..........................................................................................15
Connecting to the TECPak ...................................................................................18
Installing the USB Drivers .....................................................................................18
Working With Thermistors.....................................................................................19
Working With RTDs ...............................................................................................21
User Calibration of Resistance Sensors ...............................................................23
Controlling the Temperature Rate of Change ......................................................24
External Fan Control .............................................................................................24
Resistive Heaters and Heat/Cool Only Modes .....................................................25
Gain Control and the PID Loop.............................................................................25
Using the AutoTune Function ...............................................................................26
Compensating for Cable Resistance ....................................................................27
Using the Analog Interface....................................................................................28
Specifications ........................................................................................................33
Error Messages .....................................................................................................35
Calibration, Maintenance and Service..................................................................37

TECPak User’s Manual · Page 3
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the TECPak from Arroyo Instruments. Your TECPak is a
combination of leading edge technology combined with years of experience in
the field of temperature control, and based on the proven designs found in the
5240 and 5300 Series TECSources.
The TECPak was design for system integration applications, or simply where a
user interface like that found on the 5300 Series TECSources is not required or
desired. With high TEC power options, both RS232 and USB computer
interfaces, analog interface, and small footprint, the TECPak will fit into almost
any temperature control application.
TECPak’s analog interface provides a way of both controlling and monitoring
the state of the instrument, with analog temperature set point, actual
temperature monitoring, stable indicator, and on/off control and status. This
allows for control in applications that do not have a computer interface.
The TECPak offers all the features you would expect from a modern
temperature controller, including:
Support for both thermistor and RTD sensors.
4-wire measurement mode for RTD sensors.
AutoTune for automatic PID parameter calculation
0.004°C temperature stability
0.01°C resolution for both set point and actual temperatures
4A/8V and 5A/12V standard configurations, with custom configurations
available
What’s in the Box
Along with the TECPak itself, a CD with electronic copies of this manual, the
Computer Interfacing Manual, and USB drivers are included. For USA
customers, a power cord is included. For non-USA customers, an IEC-60320-
C13 rated AC power cord must be provided.
Accessories
Arroyo Instruments also sells several accessories designed to work with the
TECPak. These include:
1260B TECSource Cable, 5A, 2m
This cable has DB-15 male/female connectors for interfacing to the
LaserMount or other connectorized fixtures, and supports up to 5A of
TE current and connections for the fan interface. A pigtailed version of

Page 4 · TECPak User’s Manual
this cable, with tinned ends for soldering into custom solutions, is
available as p/n 1261B.
1262B TECSource Cable, 10A, 2m
Similar to the 1260B cable, but adds wiring for 4-wire RTD sense, and
therefore only needed for RTD applications. Also adds 10 Amp
operating capability. A pigtailed version of this cable, with bare ends for
soldering into custom solutions, is available as p/n 1263B.
Pak Series Rack Mount Kit, 3 or 5 units (p/n 1402-RM)
For installing your TECPak or LaserPak into a standard 19” rack. The
kit accepts either 3 units for a 2U installation, or 5 units for a 3U
installation.
10kΩThermistor (p/n 1600)
Accurate to ±0.2°C.
RS-232 NULL Cable, 3m (p/n 1200-NULL)
USB Cable, 3m (p/n 1201)
Safety Terms and Symbols
The following safety-related terms are used in this manual:
Warnings (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 Arroyo Instruments for service or repair to
ensure the safety of the product is maintained.

TECPak User’s Manual · Page 5
Symbols
Power Off Power On
Caution, refer to manual Earth ground
Caution, risk of electric shock
General Warnings
WARNING
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.
WARNING
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 Arroyo Instruments or
personnel authorized by Arroyo Instruments.
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 · TECPak User’s Manual
Quick Start
The TECPak 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. This
section will show how you can quickly get the unit up and running in almost no
time.
The TECPak has a universal input power supply, accepting 90 to 240 VAC, and
50 or 60 Hz. This covers all conventional power worldwide, but ensure your AC
power meets these requirements.
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. The AC Power LED should light,
and the On / Error LED should remain dark.
Control of the TECPak can be done two ways: use the RS232 or USB computer
interfaces and control the instrument from the PC, or use the analog interface.
This quick start guide uses the computer interface. More information on the
analog interface can be found later in the manual.
Install the Arroyo Control software located on the CD that came with the
instrument (it can also be downloaded from our web site), located in the
Software folder on the CD. Once the software is installed, plug the instrument
into your RS-232 or USB interface. For USB users, the instrument may also ask
for drivers, which are also found on the CD.
Launch Arroyo Control, and in the TECSource panel (if one is not visible, click
Add Panel in the lower right of the window, and click Add a TEC Panel), select
the communications port to which your TECPak is connected. For USB users,
this will usually be the highest numbered port in the list. Click Connect, and
Arroyo Control will begin controlling the TECPak. Once connected, you will be
able to adjust settings, limits, and turn the output on or off.
Next, connect the cable between your LaserMount or other fixture and the
Output connector of the TECPak. We recommend using our cables as they
have been designed to work well with the TECPak. If using your own cables,
ensure they have been properly wired according to the pin-out of the TECPak
and your fixture.
Finally, set the set point to an appropriate temperature and turn the output on.
You will see the voltage 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 Settings… dialog.

TECPak User’s Manual · Page 7
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.
Installation
Installation of the TECPak is very straightforward, as the quick start section
above illustrated. This section will provide additional details and considerations
for installing your TECPak.
After unpacking the unit, make sure all packing materials have been removed
and nothing obscures the ventilation ports on the front and back of the unit.
The TECPak has a universal input power supply, accepting 90 to 240 VAC, and
50 or 60 Hz. This covers all conventional power worldwide, but ensure your AC
power meets these requirements.
Powering Up the Unit
Connect the AC power cord to the unit. Turn the power switch, located on the
AC power input power connector, into the on (|) position. The unit will go
through a quick power-up self-test, and return to the last known operating state.
The AC Power LED will light up, and the On / Error LED should remain dark until
the TEC output is turned on (if Automatic Output On has been enabled, the On
LED may light without user intervention).
CAUTION
Do not exceed 250VAC on the line input.
It is critical to maintain the proper voltage input into the
unit. If the actual voltage exceeds 250VAC, damage to
the unit may occur.

Page 8 · TECPak User’s Manual
Ventilation
The TECPak has vent holes on the front and rear of the unit. You must not block
these vent holes, or overheating may occur, causing damage to the unit.
Rack Mounting
A rack mount kit (p/n 1402-RM) for standard 19” racks is available for the
TECPak, and supports the rack mount of up to five units in either a 2U or 3U
high opening, depending on the orientation of the TECPak. Because the units
only ventilate from the front and rear, no air gapping is required above or below
the units, and they can be rack mounted immediately above other equipment
(no rack spacers required).
Warm-up and Environmental Considerations
In order to achieve the highest level of accuracy, the TECPak 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 +40°C ambient, and
ensure the instrument is properly ventilated, or the unit
may overheat and possible damage to the instrument
may occur.

TECPak User’s Manual · Page 9
Operating Modes
Control Modes
The TECPak offers three control modes: constant temperature mode (T Mode),
constant resistance mode (R Mode), and constant current mode (Ite Mode).
Changing the control mode can only be done through the computer interface,
either through Arroyo Control, or by sending the appropriate TEC:MODE
command.
Constant temperature mode uses the sensor constants to calculate the
resistance of the sensor 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.
Using Limits
The TECPak 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.
It is important to properly set these limits to protect your device from damage. If
you are uncertain on how to set the limits, please consult with your local
distributor or directly with the factory.

Page 10 · TECPak User’s Manual
Settings
All parameters of the TECPak can be viewed and changed over the computer
interfaces. In addition, the set point can be changed via the analog interface, if it
is enabled.
Most parameters can be changed using a standard command, as defined in the
Computer Interfacing Manual or through the Settings… dialog within Arroyo
Control. Below is a list of the most common settings and the corresponding
computer command to change it.
Name Description Factory
Default
Computer
Command
Basic Settings
Mode This set the operating mode (T
Mode, R Mode, or Ite Mode) of
the temperature controller.
T Mode TEC:MODE
Mount Specify the mount connected to
the TECPak. If using a
LaserMount, select the
appropriate model. Otherwise,
select User Defined.
User
Defined
TEC:MOUNT
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 TEC:LIM:ITE
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 TEC:GAIN
PID P The proportional term of the
PID loop. Will only be available
if Gain is set to PID.
1 TEC:P

TECPak User’s Manual · Page 11
Name Description Factory
Default
Computer
Command
PID I The integral term of the PID
loop. Will only be available if
Gain is set to PID.
0.01 TEC:I
PID D The derivative term of the PID
loop. Will only be available if
Gain is set to PID.
0 TEC:D
Sensor Sets the temperature
measurement sensor. Can be
Therm 100uA, Therm 10uA,
Therm, RTD, or RTD (4-wire).
Therm
100uA
TEC:SENS
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 TEC:LIM:TLO
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 TEC:LIM:THI

Page 12 · TECPak User’s Manual
Name Description Factory
Default
Computer
Command
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).
0.01kΩTEC:LIM:RLO
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).
45kΩTEC:LIM:RHI
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 TEC:TOL
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 TEC:TOL
H/C Mode This selects the heating and/or
cooling mode of the TECPak.
See the section below titled
“Resistive Heaters and
Heat/Cool Only Modes” for
more information.
Heat/Cool TEC:HEATCOOL

TECPak User’s Manual · Page 13
Name Description Factory
Default
Computer
Command
Ext Fan This selects the voltage for the
auxiliary fan power supply. See
the External Fan Control section
below for more information.
Off TEC:FAN
Ext Fan Pwr When Ext Fan is set to Custom,
this sets the specific fan voltage
from 4.0 to 12.0 volts. See the
External Fan Control section
below for more information.
12.0 TEC:FAN
Ext Fan
Mode
Controls when the fan operates.
See the External Fan Control
section below for more
information.
Auto TEC:FAN
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 TEC:FAN
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.
0.0080ΩTEC:CABLER
T Rate Selects a desired temperature
ramp rate in degrees Celsius
per minute. Set to 0.0°C/min to
disable rate limiting.
0.0°C/min TEC:TRATE
Sensor Settings
ThermA A term in thermistor equation. 1.12924E-03 TEC:CONST
ThermB B term in thermistor equation. 2.34108E-04 TEC:CONST
ThermC C term in thermistor equation. 0.87755E-07 TEC:CONST
RTD A A term in the RTD equation. 3.98480E-03 TEC:CONST
RTD B B term in the RTD equation. -0.58700E-06 TEC:CONST

Page 14 · TECPak User’s Manual
Name Description Factory
Default
Computer
Command
RTD C C term in the RTD equation. 4.00000E-12 TEC:CONST
RTD R0R
0term in the RTD equation. 100.00 TEC:CONST
Communications Settings
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 N/A, fixed at
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 REMERR
Terminal
Mode
Terminal mode simply echoes
any characters received over
the serial or USB interfaces.
No TERMINAL
Msg Term This controls the output
message termination, and can
be set to CR/LF, CR, LF, or
None.
CR/LF TERM
Arroyo Control
While most of the settings of the TECPak can be changed over the computer
interface using your own program (see the Computer Interfacing Manual for
more detail), in many cases you simply want to operate the instrument from the
PC like any other bench-top instrument.
As mentioned earlier in this manual, Arroyo Control is a free software
application that gives you 100% operating control of the TECPak, allowing you
to change limits, settings, and set points, as well as monitor the operation of the
instrument. From Arroyo Control, you can also enable the analog interface, and
set the precision of the analog set point. You can install Arroyo Control from the
CD or download it from our web site (go to the Software section).

TECPak User’s Manual · Page 15
Front and Rear Panels
The TECPak features four connections (in addition to the input power
connector). They are: USB, RS-232, analog, and output connectors. The first
three are located on the front of the unit, while the output connector is located
on the rear of the unit. In addition, the front of the unit has the input power
connector and two status LEDs.
TECPak Front Panel
TECPak Rear Panel

Page 16 · TECPak User’s Manual
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, 4, & 10 TE (-)
5 & 6 Earth Ground
7 Sensor+
8 Sensor-
11 Fan+
12 Fan –
14 Remote Sensor+*
15 Remote Sensor-*
Output Connector (DB-15 Female)
* Used in RTD 4-wire operation only.
Analog Interface Connector
The Analog Interface connection is a male DB-15, and has the following pin-out:
DB-15 Pin Description
1 On/Off Control Input
2 On/Off Status Output
3 Stable Output
4 Analog Temperature Monitor
5 Analog Temperature Set*
6 Ground
7 +5V Auxiliary Supply
8 Ground
Output Connector (DB-15 Female)
* Disabled when in RTD 4-wire measurement mode.
The +5V auxiliary supply is provided for external low-power electronics. Current
draw on this supply should not exceed 100mA. The Ground pin provides the
ground reference for the logic and analog inputs as well as the auxiliary power
supply. The analog interface is described in detail in the Using the Analog
Interface section below.
NOTE
RTD and fan functionality is only available on TECPaks
with serial number 130203819 or higher.

TECPak User’s Manual · Page 17
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 using the USB
interface, see the Computer Interfacing Manual which is included on the CD
that accompanied this product.
RS232 Connector
The RS232 connection is male DB-9 connector wired in a NULL modem
configuration.
Pin Description
2Receive
3Transmit
5Ground
1,4,6 Commoned together
7,8 Commoned together
9No connection
Shell Earth ground
RS232 Connector (DB-9 Male)
For more information on using the RS232 interface, see the Computer
Interfacing Manual which is included on the CD that accompanied this product.
LED Indicators
There are two LEDs: the upper green AC Power LED that is lit whenever the AC
power is turned on; and a lower green or red On/Error LED that will light green
when the unit is on and operating normally, or red when an error has occurred. If
the unit is operating, but has unacknowledged errors, then the On/Error LED will
be primarily green, but briefly flash red approximately once per second to
indicate the unit is operating normally, but previously encountered an error
(errors are automatically cleared by Arroyo Control, or can be cleared by
sending an ERR? or ERRSTR? query).

Page 18 · TECPak User’s Manual
Connecting to the TECPak
Arroyo Instruments carries two cable assemblies specifically designed for
connecting the TECPak to temperature controlled fixtures or devices. The
1260B or 1262B TECSource Cable (not included) is a two meter cable,
designed for use with Arroyo Instruments mounts and has DB-15 connectors on
both ends, one male and one female. The 1262B is typically only used for
applications requiring the 4-wire RTD measurement mode.
For custom applications, a two-meter cable with a male DB-15 on one end and
stripped and tinned leads on the other is available as part number 1261B or
1263B.
See the manual for your fixture for additional safety and operational information.
Installing the USB Drivers
Using the TECPak via USB is just as simple as using the serial port. In fact, once
you have installed the USB drivers, the instrument will appear as a virtual serial
port that you can use just like a normal serial port.
To install the drivers, simply plug in the instrument to your computer. When the
Add New Hardware wizard appears, insert the CD you received with the TECPak
and follow the on-screen instructions.
Once the drivers are installed, to determine the COM port number, go to Control
Panel and select System. Once the System Properties dialog appears, choose
the Hardware tab then click on the Device Manager button. When the Device
Manager appears, click on the plus sign to the left of Ports. The port identified
as an USB Serial Port is the TECPak. In the event you have multiple TECPak
instruments plugged in simultaneously, you will need to experiment to see which
instrument was assigned to which port. For example, you could change the set
point when the output was off to see which unit’s set point changed.
NOTE
Connections to the TECPak and the fixture must be
secure. Tighten any screws on the DB-15 connectors,
and make sure all connections are in good condition.

TECPak User’s Manual · Page 19
Working With Thermistors
The TECPak is designed to work with negative temperature coefficient (NTC)
thermistors, such as the BetaTHERM 10K3A1 thermistor used in the
LaserMounts. A thermistor works by translating temperature into resistance,
with resistance decreasing as temperature increases (hence the ‘negative
coefficient’).
Here is a typical response curve of a thermistor:
Typical Resistance vs. Temperature Graph
As can be seen be the graph, the resistance of the thermistor drops very quickly.
In the typical control range (0°C to 70°C), typical 10K thermistors offer good
sensitivity to changes in temperature, and this is the range in which most 10K
thermistors are typically used. 10K thermistors can be used at much higher
temperatures, but will suffer poorer temperature stability performance because
of the lower sensitivity. When evaluating the performance of a thermistor, it is
important to understand the resistance sensitivity of the thermistor at your
application temperature, which varies greatly by temperature and thermistor
types.
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
-10.00 10.00 30.00 50.00 70.00 90.00 110.00
Resistance (Ω)
Temperature (°C)

Page 20 · TECPak User’s Manual
The TECPak supports operation using a 10μA or 100μA constant current
source, which limits the upper control range to 450kΩand 45kΩ, respectively.
To minimize noise and maximize stability, you should select highest current
while still allowing you full operation across your required temperature range.
The typical setting is 100μA, but your application will determine the actual
needs.
The Steinhart-Hart Equation
As can 6be seen from the temperature versus resistance graph above,
resistance varies inversely with temperature in a non-linear fashion. This
relationship can be accurately modeled by polynomial equations, and one such
being the Steinhart-Hart equation:
3
)ln(*)ln(*
1RCRBA
T
The coefficients A, B, and C can usually be obtained from the thermistor
manufacturer. The TECPak defaults to the coefficients for the BetaTHERM
10K3A1 thermistor (A = 1.12924x10-3, B = 2.34108x10-4, C = 0.87755x10-7). You
can change the coefficients using the TEC:CONST command, or through the
Settings… dialog within Arroyo Control.