CONTROL SOLUTIONS LogTag VFC400-USB Specification sheet

www.vfcdataloggers.com
VFC400-USB
Vaccine temperature
monitoring Data
Logger
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Product User Guide
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Document Release Version: 2.0
Published 1. October, 2021
Copyright © Control Solutions, 2018-2021
All rights reserved.
Control Solutions

VFC400-USB User Guide 2
Contents
Safety Information 4
Introduction 6
Features 7
Case 7
Buttons 7
Display and LED 8
External Probes 8
Power Supply 8
PDF 8
What You Need 9
Required Items 9
Optional Items 9
Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use 11
In the Office 11
On-site 11
Inserting the Batteries 12
Configuring the VFC400-USB for logging 13
Finalizing the configuration 21
Adding the Probes and the Power Supply 21
Display Overview 22
Powering the VFC400-USB 25
Low power operation 26
Audible Alarm 28
Real-Time Clock 29
Manually adjusting the time zone 29
Starting the Logger 32
Push button start 32
Push Button Start with Start Delay 33
During Recording 34
Switching Channels on the Display 35

VFC400-USB User Guide 3
Clearing an Alarm 38
Paused Readings 39
Marking a reading with an inspection mark 40
Probe is disconnected 40
Power Save 41
Clearing the Min/Max Values 42
Reviewing Day Statistics on the Display 43
Stopping the VFC400-USB 49
Plugging the VFC400-USB into a USB port 50
Accessing the files 52
Downloading the VFC400-USB to Control Solutions VTMC 53
Re-deploying the VFC400-USB 53
Interpreting the Data 54
Data Evaluation - Report 54
Data Evaluation - Data List 57
Data Evaluation - Day Summary 59
Resetting the Logger 61
Hibernating a VFC400-USB 62
Replacing the Batteries 63
Appendix 1 - Accuracy and Resolution 64
Temperature Accuracy 64
Temperature Resolution 64
Appendix 2 - Glossary 65

Safety Information VFC400-USB User Guide 4
Safety Information
The VFC400-USB PDF USB temperature logger contains two "AAA" non-rechargeable
batteries. These batteries can be replaced as detailed in Replacing the AAA batteries.
The logger also contains a non-rechargeable backup battery (LiMnO2 CR2032 coin cell).
When this battery indicates “LOW” ( ), it can be replaced by a
qualified technician. Please contact your distributor for further
information and also refer to the section about Powering the
VFC400-USB on page25.
Keep out of the reach of children!
Do not expose the logger to extreme temperatures as it may lead to the destruction of
the battery and may cause injuries.
Empty batteries should be recycled or disposed of according to your local regulations.
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Liability
Control Solutions’s standard warranty terms apply. A copy can be requested by emailing
[email protected]. In addition, Control Solutions shall not be held liable
lif the device was used beyond Control Solutions’s stated limitations;
lfor any claims due to the improper storage and use of the device;
lfor any problems with refrigeration units;
lfor the bad quality of the monitored goods, if any;
lfor incorrect readings if the device was used with a low battery; or
lfor consequential loss.
Battery Life
The batteries in the VFC400-USB designed to power the device for up to 12 months of
operation, provided
lfresh batteries from a reputable manufacturer are used;
lthe acoustic alarm is not active over long periods;
lthe recording interval is not shorter than 5 minutes; and
lthe device is stored and operated according to Control Solutions’
recommendations.

Safety Information VFC400-USB User Guide 5
Disclaimer
The VFC400-USB monitors temperature exposure and not the quality of the goods it
accompanies. Its purpose is to signal if product quality evaluation/testing is required.
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Typographical Conventions
Text in this font refers to buttons on the VFC400-USB.
Text in this font refers to option settings, dialogue boxes or actions to be taken in
Control Solutions VTMC.
Text in this font describes features of the product.
This text describes certain aspects of the product, where incorrect use of a
feature may lead to inadvertent loss of data.
This text contains important information for the correct operation of
your VFC400-USB.
This text contains information that explains some aspects of a feature in more
detail.
This text contains tips that help you get the best out of your VFC400-USB logger

Introduction VFC400-USB User Guide 6
Introduction
The Control Solutions VFC400-USB Vaccine temperature monitoring Data Logger
features a display, USB connectivity, data logging memory storing up to 16065
temperature readings per channel and a separate statistical memory, storing maximum
and minimum reading as well as alarm duration for each of the last 30 days.
During recording the display shows the following, alternating for each channel:
lThe current temperature (of the most recent reading)
lThe alarm status (within or outside the acceptance range)
lAn alarm trigger summary of up to the last 30 days (today and 29 days previous)
lThe current time and battery status
lMinimum and maximum temperatures since the start of the trip
Alarm events can be triggered when a number of readings are outside pre-set
temperature thresholds, and a “day alarm indicator” appears on the display.
Logged temperature data can be viewed on any PC by plugging the unit into a
computer’s USB port via a micro-USB cable. A PDF file is generated, which can be
accessed using free PDF software such as Acrobat Reader. The VFC400-USB can also be
downloaded to the free companion software Control Solutions VTMC, where you can
display data in chart, list or summary formats. The software also allows electronic
archiving and exporting to Control Solution Web Base VTMC (Vaccine Temperature
Monitoring Cloud) for managing your region/clinical storage & handling needs.

Features VFC400-USB User Guide 7
Features
The VFC400-USB Dual-channel temperature logger features a large display and USB
connectivity with a familiar LogTag feel.
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Case
lMounting lug for secure fastening of logger to fixtures
lMicro-USB socket with attached protective cap
lGold-plated, high-quality temperature sensor sockets
lRobust polycarbonate case, IP51
l2 user replaceable AAA batteries, accessible via a compartment at the rear of the
product
Buttons
lSTART/CLEAR/STOP button ( )
This is used to start the unit, and clear active alarms. It is also used to exit the
statistics review.

Features VFC400-USB User Guide 8
lREVIEW/MARK button ( )
This is used to review recorded data the trip directly on the display, to reset the
min/max data on the display and to stop the unit.
It is also used to place an inspection mark in the data.
lChannel button ( )
This button is used to manually switch the channels shown on the display.
Display and LED
The extra large display shows current, minimum and maximum temperatures and if
alarm events have occurred for the current day and up to 29 days in the past. Details of
any alarm event can be checked by inspecting the statistics history on the logger's
display or in more detail via Control Solutions VTMC. In addition, a red Alarm LED
shows if an alarm event has occurred.
External Probes
The VFC400-USB will accept external probes from the ST100 product range.
Power Supply
The same USB socket that is used for communication is also used for providing power to
the VFC400-USB, using an external 5V USB power supply. The AAA batteries maintain
all functionality when USB power is not connected. A long-life CR2032 lithium backup
battery maintains essential functions if the AAA batteries are empty and external power
is not supplied.
PDF
The VFC400-USB will generate a detailed PDFreport when plugged into a USB port of a
PC. The PDF report shows a summary of the trip, presents the data in chart and list
format and also includes a day summary page, showing an overview of the statistics
collected. A CSV file of the data list is also available.
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What You Need VFC400-USB User Guide 9
What You Need
Required Items
In addition to your Control Solutions VFC400-USB Vaccine temperature monitoring Data
Logger you will need the following:
la micro-USB cable to connect the VFC400-USB to your PC (it is recommended that
you connect each VFC400-USB via a permanently plugged in USB cable to protect
your computer’s USB socket)
lone or two external probes of the ST100 series
la PC running Windows 7 SP1 or later and Control Solutions VTMC 3 installed if you
wish to configure and download the logger
la PC with PDF reader software installed for viewing the generated PDF files
Optional Items
In addition to the above, following items are useful accessories:
la 5V/5W USB power supply, if you wish to power the unit permanently via the USB
socket
la wall mount bracket, which can be used, for example, to attach the VFC400-USB
to the side of a fridge

What You Need VFC400-USB User Guide 10
lone or two glycol temperature buffers, which simulate environmental behavior of a
vaccine vial

Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 11
Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use
Before your VFC400-USB can record temperature data you need to perform a few setup
steps.
In the Office
These steps are completed in your office, using a PC connected to the internet:
1. Install the batteries into the unit.
2. Download and install the latest version of Control Solutions VTMC 3. You can do
this from the Control Solutions Software Download page.
3. Configure the unit using Control Solutions VTMC software.
On-site
Once you have completed this process, you can take the logger to the location where it
will be installed:
1. Connect external power if you use the VFC400-USB in a stationery application.
2. Connect the probes and place the unit, preferably using a wall mount bracket.
3. Start the logger.

Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 12
Inserting the Batteries
The VFC400-USB operates with two AAA batteries:
1. Remove the screw from the rear compartment lid.
2. Remove the lid, exposing the battery compartment.
3. Insert the AAA batteries in the correct orientation, as shown. The polarity is
marked inside the battery compartment.
The battery compartment is a good place to keep the surplus sensor socket
covers. You may wish to remove these now for each channel you want to
use and add them to the compartment before closing it (see Adding the
Probes and the Power Supply).
4. Replace the rear cover and the screw.
5. Press any button to turn on the display.

Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 13
Configuring the VFC400-USB for logging
Before a VFC400-USB logger can be deployed, it must be configured with the parameters
required for starting and recording temperature values.
Loggers can be purchased unconfigured, or pre-configured, ready to be started, using
one of a number of different profiles that are available.
You can check if your logger is already configured or not by briefly pressing the
REVIEW/MARK button.
The logger is already configured to start
If your logger is configured to start it will show either
if the logger was pre-configured for a push-button start, or
if the logger was pre-configured for a Date/Time start.
If your logger shows one of these screens you may skip the configuration process.

Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 14
The logger is unconfigured
An unconfigured VFC400-USB logger is delivered to you hibernated (i.e. in a state of low
power consumption), and pressing the REVIEW/MARK button shows:
and then
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If your logger is unconfigured you must set it up with the parameters required for
lstarting and recording temperature values;
lprinting the PDF; and
ltriggering alarms.
This is done using Control Solutions VTMC software, which can also be used for
downloading and analyzing data:
lStart the Control Solutions VTMC software.
lRemove the protective cap from the logger's USB socket and plug the Micro USB
end of the cable into the socket. Plug the other end of the cable into a USB socket
on your computer and wait for the drivers to be installed.
lFrom the menu click LogTag - Configure; Control Solutions VTMC will display the
configuration settings currently stored in your VFC400-USB for reviewing or
editing.

Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 15
Standard Configuration Settings
The standard configuration is similar to those of other LogTag logger products and
includes settings such as User ID, start method, pre-start recording, logging interval
and duration, start delay, and password.
Figure 1: Standard configuration parameters for a VFC400-USB
Adjust the settings as required. For detailed information about each parameter please
read the section about Configuring a LogTag for logging in Control Solutions VTMC’s
User Guide or press F1 for help.
In this section you also decide which channels the VFC400-USB will record. Select CH1
only or CH2 only if you only wish to record temperatures measured by a single probe
(plugged into the corresponding socket marked CH1 or CH2) , or select Both for
recording both probes.
VFC400-USB Start Options
During configuration with Control Solutions VTMC you can decide when the VFC400-
USB starts taking temperature readings:
Push button start
The logger will start taking temperature readings as soon as you have pressed the
START/CLEAR/STOP button (see Starting the Logger on page32).
When you choose the push button start option, you can Enable pre-start logging (or
disable it) and also Begin recording after a delay.
Pre-start readings
If you enable pre-start readings, the VFC400-USB starts recording as soon as it is
configured and will continue to do so until you start the unit via the button. No alarms
are processed while pre-start readings are being taken, pre-start readings will not
appear in the PDF file after the logger was started, and no PDF file will be generated if

Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 16
only pre-start readings are present in the logger. Using pre-start readings is a good way
to avoid data loss if you forget to start the unit, as you can still access the data using
Control Solutions VTMC.
Start delay
If you configure the VFC400-USB to start after a delay period, the logger will not
immediately record temperature readings after you have pressed START/CLEAR/STOP, but
start a countdown timer instead, and record readings only after the timer has ended.
The value for the timer is set during configuration. If pre-start readings are enabled,
these will continue to be recorded during the delay period.
Date/Time start
The logger will start taking temperature readings at the date and time you enter during
configuration (local time). You cannot combine a date/time start with pre-start readings
or the start delay function.
Alarm Configuration Options
The VFC400-USB can display an alarm if one or more of the configured alarm trigger
conditions have been met. This is indicated on the display by showing the Alarm
Indicator and a Day Alarm Marker.
is shown for an alarm triggered today, other markers are shown for alarms triggered
on previous days, see Day Alarm Matrix Display while recording for details on which
marker is displayed for which day. Alarms are registered separately for each channel,
and will only be shown on the corresponding channel's screen. Additionally, the red
LED will blink every 4 seconds. The LED blinks until active Alarms on both channels are
cleared.

Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 17
Each alarm trigger condition consists of a threshold temperature value, an activation
type (which can be instant, consecutive or accumulative1) and a delay time, if it is not an
instant alarm.
If an alarm trigger condition requires readings to exceed an upper threshold temperature
it is called an upper alarm . If an alarm trigger condition requires readings to go below a
lower threshold it is called a lower alarm .
All alarm trigger conditions are entered in the Alarm Settings tab during configuration
of the logger with Control Solutions VTMC. Alarms are configured separately for each
channel. If you have chosen to log only one of the channels, the controls for the other
channel are not available.
The screen shows an example where:
lthe upper primary alarm for channel 1 is triggered when the temperature is 8°C or
above for an accumulative time of 10 hours.
lthe lower primary alarm for channel 1 is triggered when the temperature is 2°C or
below continuously for 1 hour.
Figure 2: Sample Alarm Configuration Settings for channel 1 of a VFC400-USB
lThe alarm parameters for the second channel can be entered on the next tab.
Figure 3: Sample Alarm Configuration Settings for channel 2
1
lInstant = one temperature reading is above (below) the threshold
lConsecutive = temperature readings are above (below) the threshold for the time defined in the activation delay
without interruption
lAccumulative = temperature readings are above (below) the threshold for the total time defined in the activation delay
time, but may not necessarily be sequential

Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 18
Once an alarm has triggered, the alarm indicator ( ) remains shown until the unit is
reconfigured. The day alarm marker remains shown until midnight, then it turns off
and the marker for the previous day is shown ( ) to indicate the alarm was registered
against what is now the previous day. When midnight passes next, this marker will
move to and so on.
Alarm Re-triggering
A note on alarm re-triggering: As soon as an alarm is triggered, the
corresponding delay time (but not any others) resets to zero and alarm
processing starts again. The alarm processing for all other alarm delays is not
affected. Therefore, accumulative or consecutive alarms will re-trigger, if the
alarm conditions are met again, and the Alarm Indicator ( ) and the Day Alarm
Marker ( ) will be shown, even if any previous alarm was cleared. Clearing an
Alarm does not reset any of the delay values.


Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 19
File Settings
Click the File Settings tab, select which files are generated when the VFC400-USB is
plugged into a computer's USB port, and what information these files contain. Select as
many file formats as you wish to generate.
Figure 4: VFC400-USB File settings screen in Control Solutions VTMC 3
These parameters influence the appearance of all files:
lTemperature units
The temperature unit for the PDF file is also used for all temperature values
shown on the display.
You cannot choose different temperature units for individual channels.
lDate and time format
lTime zone and MKT values
Following specifically influences the appearance of the PDF file:
lScaling parameters for the chart
lShowing or hiding grid lines
lShowing or hiding alarm threshold lines
lGenerating the data list
For detailed information about each parameter please read the section about
Configuring a LogTag for logging in Control Solutions VTMC’s User Guide or press F1 for
help.
The PDF file can not only be viewed in a PDF viewer, but can also be opened with
Control Solutions VTMC directly.

Preparing a VFC400-USB for first use VFC400-USB User Guide 20
Advanced Configuration Settings
Select Advanced Settings for additional configuration settings. These settings decide
how some of the elements are displayed on the unit's own display and set certain
options specific to the VFC400-USB.
Figure 5: VFC400-USB advanced configuration screen in Control Solutions VTMC 3
These parameters influence what appears on the display:
lPausing alarm/statistics processing (see Paused Readings on page39)
lSwitching off the display after 30 seconds (Power save, see Power Save on page41)
lAllowing a user to reset the trip's minimum and maximum values on the display
during recording (see Clearing the Min/Max Values on page42)
Following parameters influence specific behavior of the VFC400-USB:
lClearing and resetting alarms when the START/CLEAR/STOP button is pressed
lLeaving the alarm turned on, even if readings return to the normal temperature
range again
lAllowing the user to stop the logger with the START/CLEAR/STOP button
lAllowing the user to reset the logger with the START/CLEAR/STOP button
lEnabling the three tone sounder for the audible alarm
For detailed information about each parameter please read the section about
Configuring a LogTag for logging in Control Solutions VTMC’s User Guide or press F1 for
help.