Extech Instruments 42280A User manual

User Manual
Temperature & Humidity
Datalogger
Model 42280A

Table of contents
1 Introduction........................................................................1
1.1 Overview ..................................................................1
1.2 Product Features ........................................................1
1.3 Supplied Material........................................................ 1
1.4 Optional Accessories ..................................................2
2 Quick Start (en)...................................................................3
3 Product Description ............................................................4
3.1 Front Panel Description................................................4
3.2 Display and LED Indicators ........................................... 5
3.2.1 Display Description .......................................... 5
3.2.2 LED Indicators ................................................6
3.3 Button Descriptions..................................................... 6
3.4 Back of Meter ............................................................ 7
3.5 Bottom of Meter ......................................................... 7
4 Monitoring Mode .................................................................8
4.1 Monitoring Mode Overview ........................................... 8
4.2 Monitoring Mode Operation ..........................................8
5 MAX / MIN Memories............................................................9
6 Datalogger Mode............................................................... 10
6.1 Datalogging Overview ............................................... 10
6.2 Datalogger Configuration ........................................... 10
6.2.1 Configuring the Datalogger using a PC ............... 10
6.2.2 Configuring the Datalogger using the Front-
Panel Keypad................................................ 13
6.3 Starting the Datalogger .............................................. 14
6.3.1 Start Delay Timer ........................................... 14
6.3.2 Adding Markers using the MARK button.............. 14
6.3.3 Putting the Display to Sleep while
Logging ....................................................... 15
6.4 Stopping the Datalogger ............................................ 15
6.5 Downloading Data to a PC.......................................... 15
6.6 PDF Log Report ....................................................... 17
6.7 Text File Log Report .................................................. 19
7 Alarms ............................................................................. 20
7.1 Alarm Overview........................................................ 20
7.2 Alarm Types ............................................................ 20
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7.3 Alarm Thresholds ..................................................... 20
7.4 Alarm Delay Timer .................................................... 20
7.5 Alarm Alerts ............................................................ 20
7.6 Alarm Statistics ........................................................ 21
8 Relative Humidity Calibration ............................................. 22
8.1 Calibration Overview ................................................. 22
8.2 Calibration Process ................................................... 22
8.3 Calibration Notes...................................................... 22
9 Specifications................................................................... 23
10 Two-year Warranty............................................................. 24
10.1 Calibration and Repair Services................................... 24
10.2 Contact Customer Support ......................................... 24
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Introduction
1
1.1 Overview
Thank you for selecting the Extech 42280A Temperature & Relative Humidity
(RH) Datalogger. The 42280A is a portable, battery operated instrument that
monitors, displays, and logs Air Temperature, Dew Point Temperature (DP),
and Relative Humidity (RH).
The 42280A can monitor environmental conditions in a variety of residential
and commercial storage and in-transit locations.
The 42280A is easy to use, offering a large display monitor, a five (5) button
keypad, two (2) LED indicators, and an alert beeper. The 42280A is supplied
with PC software that makes configuring the logger, and setting global param-
eters, very convenient.
The built-in temperature and RH sensor offers high accuracy, quick response
to changes in ambient conditions, and can be field-calibrated using optional
RH reference solutions.
1.2 Product Features
• Large monitor simultaneously displays temperature, RH, date/time, and a
variety of function icons.
• Visual and audible temperature and RH alarms with programmable high/
low limits.
• Datalogger stores up to 24,000 temperature and 24,000 RH readings.
• Plug and play USB PC connectivity, USB drivers and additional software
not required.
• Download readings to a PC and easily generate logger reports.
• Wall-mount, detachable desktop stands, and tripod mount options.
• Battery power (4 x AA batteries, supplied) or optional 9 V adapter.
1.3 Supplied Material
The equipment listed below is supplied with the 42280A.
• 42280A meter with built-in sensor.
• USB cable for PC connection.
• Printed Quick Start documentation.
• Four (4) AA batteries.
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Introduction
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1.4 Optional Accessories
The following equipment can be ordered separately. Contact your Extech
sales representative for more information.
• 9 V power adapter. The adapter is recommended for long datalogging
sessions.
• Relative humidity calibration salt solution bottles for 33% and 75%
references.
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2 Quick Start
Install four (4) AA batteries in the rear compartment or use
the optional adapter to power the unit.
Short press the power button. The display will switch on.
Refer to Section 3.2 for display details.
Configure the 42280A using a PC (recommended) or the front-panel keypad. See Section
6.2.
Once programmed, long press the START/STOP button to
start logging readings. The green recording LED and the
REC display icon flashes while logging. The logger will not
start if it has not been configured.
Note that if the REC icon is visible, but not flashing, this in-
dicates that a Start Delay has been programmed (see Sec-
tion 6.2). The REC icon will flash when logging begins
(after the start delay).
Place the logger in the area that will be monitored. Short press the MAX/MIN button to step
through the highest and lowest recorded readings. Long press the MAX/MIN button to re-
set the MAX/MIN memories.
Long press the START/STOP button to stop logging. The
green LED and the REC display icon will stop flashing.
Connect the 42280A to a PC to generate the PDF and text file reports. See Section 6 for
complete details.
Short press the power button to switch off the 42280A.
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Product Description
3
3.1 Front Panel Description
Figure 3.1 42280A front panel.
1. Temperature (thermistor) and RH (capacitive) sensor.
2. Alarm LED. Flashes every 10 seconds in an alarm condition.
3. Audio beeper.
4. Power ON/OFF and Datalogger Start/Stop button (see Section 3.3 for
complete button operation instructions).
5. MAX/MIN and RESET button.
6. SET and ESC button.
7. Up arrow and Dew Point (DP) button.
8. Down arrow, battery status (BATT), and MARK button.
9. 9 V power adapter port (for optional adapter).
10. USB port.
11. Record LED flashes every 10 seconds while datalogging.
12. Display area (see Section 3.2 for complete display descriptions).
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Product Description
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3.2 Display and LED Indicators
3.2.1 Display Description
Figure 3.2 Display description.
1. Appears when Dew Point (DP) temperature is displayed on middle display
row.
2. Temperature (T1) reading (updates every 10 seconds or at the sampling
rate while datalogging).
3. High (H) and Low (L) Temperature Alarm indicators.
4. Temperature units of measure.
5. High (H) and Low (L) RH Alarm indicators.
6. Maximum (MX) or Minimum (MN) readings are displayed.
7. RH % reading (updates every 10 seconds or at the sampling rate while
datalogging).
8. Date and Time alternate at 5 second intervals. Year-Month-Date (Y-M-D).
Hours : Minutes : Seconds (H:M:S).
9. Lock mode. To unlock, the password must be entered while connected to
a PC. the password is set during the datalogger configuration process per
Section 6.2.
10. Low battery alert.
11. Recording (REC). Flashes once per second when the datalogger is active.
Note that if the REC icon is visible, but not flashing, this indicates that a
Start Delay has been programmed (see Section 6.2).
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Product Description
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3.2.2 LED Indicators
Two color LED indicators are located on the front panel. The red LED (Alarm)
is located on the left side of the meter display. It flashes every 10 seconds
when a temperature or RH measurement exceeds the programmed alarm lim-
its. The green LED (Record) is located on the right side of the meter display. It
flashes every 10 seconds while the datalogger is running.
Figure 3.3 Alarm LED (1) and Recording LED (2).
3.3 Button Descriptions
Short press to power ON/OFF. Long press to Start/Stop the datalogger.
Note that while the datalogger is running, you can short press this key to
switch the display off and on, to conserve energy (the unit will remain pow-
ered, only the display will switch off).
Short press to step through Maximum (MN) and Minimum (MN) readings.
Long press to reset the MX/MN memories. See Section 5 for additional MAX/
MIN information.
Short press to begin configuring the datalogger through the front-panel key-
pad. Long press to exit (ESC) the configuration mode. Refer to Section 6.2 for
complete information.
Short press to navigate upward in the configuration mode. Long press to
show/hide the Dew Point (DP) temperature calculation. Dew Point tempera-
ture is shown on the middle row of the display.
Short press to navigate downward in the configuration mode. Short press in
normal mode to view battery status (approximate number of days remaining).
Long press while datalogging to add up to eight (8) time-stamped markers to
the log report (see Section 6 for complete information).
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3.4 Back of Meter
The wall mounting hole (1) and the battery compartment (2) are located on
the back of the meter.
Figure 3.4 Back of meter showing wall mount hole (1) and battery compartment (2).
3.5 Bottom of Meter
The tripod mount (1) and the two detachable footer stands (2) are located on
the bottom of the unit.
Figure 3.5 Bottom of meter showing tripod mount (1) and the two footers (2).
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Monitoring Mode
4
4.1 Monitoring Mode Overview
The 42280A is in the monitoring mode when it is powered but not datalogging.
In the monitoring mode you can view measurement readings in real time and
perform other functions as detailed below. See Section 3.2 for a description of
the display characters.
4.2 Monitoring Mode Operation
In the monitoring mode, the following functions are available.
Monitor Air Temperature (T1) on top display row. The read-
ing is updated every 10 seconds.
To change the unit of measure for temperature, refer to the configuration information in
Section 6.2.
Monitor Relative Humidity (RH) on middle display row. The
reading is updated every 10 seconds.
Date and Time displays alternate at 5 second intervals on
the bottom row.
To change the date/time format see the configuration information in Section 6.2.
Short press the DP button to show the Dew Point tempera-
ture on the middle display row (replacing the RH measure-
ment). The Air Temperature (T1) will still be displayed on
the top row when DP is shown.
Short press the MAX/MIN button to step through the Maxi-
mum (MX) and Minimum (MN) readings. Long press the
MAX/MIN button to reset the MAX/MIN memories. See
Section 5 for more information.
Monitor the high and low temperature and RH alarms. The
front panel Alarm LED flashes and an H(high alarm) or L
(low alarm) will appear when a reading exceeds the high
or low alarm limit. See Section 7 for complete Alarm
information.
Check the battery status by short pressing the BATT but-
ton. The top display row will show the number of days of
battery life (approx.) remaining. When battery voltage is
very low, the battery status icon will appear on the display.
143 d (days remaining)
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MAX / MIN Memories
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The 42280A records and displays the highest and lowest temperature and
RH readings. Short press the MAX/MIN button to step through the highest
readings recorded (MX is shown), lowest readings recorded (MN is shown),
and back to real time readings (MX and MN indicators switch off).
Figure 5.1 Maximum and Minimum readings display showing the MX and MN indicators.
To clear the memories, long press the MAX/MIN button until MX/MN flashes
on the display.
The Average, Standard Deviation, and Mean Kinetic Temperature (MKT) cal-
culations are also recorded, but shown only on the PDF log report that the
42280A generates. See Section 6 for details.
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Datalogger Mode
6
6.1 Datalogging Overview
The datalogger has an internal memory that can store 48,000 readings
(24,000 temperature and 24,000 RH) for later transfer to PC. Before datalog-
ging can begin, the datalogger must be configured using a PC (recom-
mended) or with the front-panel keypad. Each method is explained in Section
6.2.
While datalogging, the green Record LED flashes every 10 seconds, and the
REC display icon flashes once per second. If the REC icon is visible, but not
flashing, when the logger is started, this indicates that a Start Delay timer has
been set during the configuration process per Section 6.2. The logger will
start and the REC icon will flash after the start delay has elapsed.
When a datalogging session has ended, you can transfer the readings to a
PC and generate reports in PDF and text file formats using supplied software.
6.2 Datalogger Configuration
The datalogger must be configured before it can log data. If you attempt to
start logging without configuring the logger, logging will not start. Once log-
ging has started, no changes to the logging configuration can be made. To
make changes, you must stop the logger, download the recorded data, and
configure it again.
You can set up a logger password during the configuration process. The pass-
word will then be required to configure the datalogger. Configure the datalog-
ger as explained in the following sections.
6.2.1 Configuring the Datalogger using a PC
Note: If the 42280A shows ‘dlF (datalogging file)’ on its display, when con-
nected to the PC, a datalogger file has been previously saved and is ready for
download.
Before configuring the datalogger, ensure that the PC time zone setting is cor-
rect. The datalogger automatically synchronizes with the PC time zone setting
during the configuration process.
1. Press the power button to switch on the meter.
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Datalogger Mode6
2. Connect the meter to the PC USB port using the supplied USB cable. The
meter’s USB port is located on its right side. The green Record LED will
glow while communication is being established. Once established, the
green LED will switch off, the text ‘PC’ will appear on the display, and the
PC will create a new external storage drive for the 42280A in Windows File
Explorer.
3. The storage drive will include a software application entitled ‘PDF Logger
Configuration Tool’. Launch this application to begin configuring the
datalogger.
Configure the software parameters as explained below. Note that the num-
bered items, below, are not sequenced as instructional steps, they simply ex-
plain each item on the configuration screen. The last step in the process is to
click ‘SAVE’ which confirms the configuration.
Figure 6.1 PC logger configuration screen. See numbered descriptions in table below.
Fig. 6.1 Parameter Description Default Setting
1 Tab
selections
Configuration: Click to open configuration
window.
Convert to PDF: Click to generate a PDF
report.
Convert to Excel: Click to generate a text
file.
Configuration
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2 Language Set the report language to English, Ger-
man, French, Italian, Spanish, or
Portuguese.
English
3Sampling
Rate
The rate at which readings are logged.
Select from 30 seconds to 2 hours.
5 minutes
4Start Delay Set a delay so that the logger will not start,
after the Start button is pressed, until the
delay time elapses. Can be set up to 24
hours.
0 minutes
5Unit of
Measure
Select ℃or ℉temperature units. ℃
6 Password Set a 16 character (maximum) alpha-nu-
meric password.
Disable
7Company
Name
Add a 20 character (maximum) text string
to logging reports.
n/a
8SAVE Click SAVE to complete the configuration. n/a
9 Alarm Types Single Alarm: Triggers immediately when
measurement exceeds the alarm limit.
Cumulative Alarm: Triggers when the
average measurement exceeds the limit.
Disable Alarm: No Alarm. See Section 7
for complete Alarm information.
Disable
10 Alarm Delay For Cumulative alarms only, a delay inter-
val can be set to delay an alarm trigger
until after the delay timer elapses. Adjust-
able from 5 minutes to 2 hours.
0 minutes
11 Temp. Alarm
Limit
Set the Temperature Alarm threshold
range from -22 to 158℉(–30 to 70℃).
32 to 140℉(0 to
60℃)
12 RH Alarm
Limit
Set the RH Alarm threshold range from 0
to 100% RH.
10 to 90%
13 Cancel Click to abort a configuration session. n/a
To complete and confirm the configuration, click ‘SAVE’, close the setup win-
dow, eject the 42280A from the PC (right-click the drive icon on the PC and
select ‘Eject’), and then disconnect the logger from the USB port.
Logging can now be started by long pressing the START/STOP button until
REC appears on the display.
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Datalogger Mode6
6.2.2 Configuring the Datalogger using the Front-Panel Keypad
• Short press the SET button to access the configuration mode.
• Use the up/down arrow buttons to step through the parameters (P1 through
P8).
• Short press the SET button to open a parameter.
• Use the up/down arrow buttons to change a setting.
• Short press SET to confirm a setting.
• Long press the SET button to exit the configuration mode. A parameter dis-
play code (P1 to P8) must be displayed in order to exit.
Note: If the 42280A shows ‘dlF’ (datalogging file)’ on its display, when you
press the SET button, this indicates that a log file is in the meter’s internal
memory and must be downloaded before you can configure the datalogger
with the keypad (see Section 6.5).
Parameter (P) Display Description
Sampling Rate
(P1)
Set the datalogging sample rate (Sr) from 30 seconds to
120 minutes. The middle row shows the setting, and the
bottom row shows Sfor seconds or Mfor minutes.
Start Delay
(P2)
Set the start delay time (Sd) from 0 minutes to 24 hours.
The middle row shows the setting, and the bottom row
shows Sfor seconds, Mfor minutes, or Hfor hours.
Alarm Types
(P3)
Select Single (Sin), Cumulative (Acc), or no Alarm (dis)
on the middle row. See Section 7 for Alarm type
descriptions.
Alarm Delay
(P4)
A time interval can be set to delay an alarm trigger (ALd),
adjustable from 5 to 120 minutes. Available only with the
Cumulative alarm. The middle row shows the setting and
the bottom row shows Mfor minutes.
Alarm Beeper
(P5)
The alarm beeper (ALb) defaults to the ON state. Set the
beeper OFF to save power.
Alarm Thresh-
old (P6)
Set the Alarm threshold (ALt). There are four screens for
this parameter: High Temp. limit (H), Low Temp. limit (L),
High RH limit (H, RH%), Low RH limit (L, RH%). The
programmable ranges are -22 to 158℉(–30 to 70℃) for
temperature, and 0 to 100% for RH. See Section 7 for
additional Alarm information.
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Units Setting
(P7)
Select ℃or ℉temperature units (Unt), shown on the
middle row.
Real Time
Clock (P8)
Set the logger’s real time clock (rtc) to the local time. Set
the Year (Y), Month (M), Day (D), Hours (H), Minutes (M),
Seconds (S) on the bottom row.
6.3 Starting the Datalogger
After configuring the datalogger, long press the Start button, until the REC dis-
play icon switches on, to start logging at the rate selected in the configuration
process. For example, if a 10 second rate is selected, one reading will be
logged every 10 seconds.
The REC display icon will flash once per second and the green Record LED
will flash once every 10 seconds, indicating that logging is in progress. If the
REC icon is visible, but not flashing, this indicates that a Start Delay has been
programmed in the configuration process per Section 6.2.
The displayed readings are updated at the sampling rate, in the datalogging
mode.
The red Alarm LED will flash if a measurement exceeds the programmed lim-
its. See Section 7 for details on Alarm functions.
For long logging sessions, use the optional power adapter to ensure no loss
of data resulting from low battery voltage.
6.3.1 Start Delay Timer
If a ‘Start Delay’ has been programmed in the configuration process, the REC
display icon will switch on but will not blink until the logging begins (after the
start delay time has elapsed). Set the delay time from 0 minutes to 24 hours in
the configuration process. For example, if 5 minutes is selected, logging will
begin 5 minutes after the Start button is pressed.
6.3.2 Adding Markers using the MARK button
If you wish to add a time-stamped Marker to the logging record, long press
the MARK button at any time during the logging session until the display
flashes three times. Markers will appear in the logging reports, up to eight (8)
markers can be added to a logging record. Markers are typically used to pin-
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point an exact time when the logger was moved to a new test location or when
a sudden environmental change was noticed, for example.
6.3.3 Putting the Display to Sleep while Logging
While the logger is running, you can short press the START/STOP button, just
as you would to switch the meter off, to switch off only the display. This is use-
ful for conserving battery energy.
In sleep mode, the meter is still powered and the logger is running, but the dis-
play is asleep. Sleep mode is only available when the logger is running. To re-
store the display from sleep mode, short press the START/STOP button again.
6.4 Stopping the Datalogger
To stop the logger, long press the START/STOP button. The REC display icon
and the green recording LED will switch off. Data is now ready to be down-
loaded to a PC. The datalogger will automatically stop if its internal memory is
full (48,000 readings).
6.5 Downloading Data to a PC
After a logging session, reconnect the logger to the PC using the supplied
USB cable and reopen the application ‘PDF Logger Configuration Tool’.
To save the logged data as a PDF, click the ‘Convert to PDF’ tab. To save the
logged data as a text file, for opening in a spreadsheet, click the ‘Convert to
Excel’ tab. Text files are tab-delimited ASCII files.
Refer to Sections 6.6 and 6.7 for descriptions of these reports.
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Figure 6.2 PC download window example.
1. Click the ‘Convert to PDF’ or the ‘Convert to Excel’ tab.
2. Select the desired report language.
3. Click the ‘SAVE’ button.
4. In the ‘Save As’ window, name the file, choose a storage location for the
log report, and click ‘Save’.
5. Click ‘CANCEL’ to abort the process.
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