Fourier MicroLog User manual

MicroLog & MicroLog Plus
User Guide
Eighth Edition
First print
Printed in February 2005

Contents
Using the Guide.............................................................................. 15
Chapter 1 MicroLog ..................................................................... 17
1.1. Overview......................................................................... 18
1.2. Getting Started ................................................................ 19
1.3. Working with MicroLog ................................................. 20
1.3.1. Data Displays............................................................... 20
1. Current data ........................................................... 20
2. Minimum and maximum values ............................ 20

3. Status messages...................................................... 23
1.3.2. Working Modes............................................................ 25
1.3.3. MicroLog’s Connections.............................................. 26
1. Connect MicroLog to a computer .......................... 27
2. Connect MicroLog to an external sensor ............... 29
1.3.4. Sleep Mode .................................................................. 30
1.3.5. Replacing the Battery ................................................... 31
1.4. Working with the MicroLab Software............................. 34
1.4.1. Installation.................................................................... 34
1. System Requirements............................................. 34
2. Install the Software ................................................ 35
1.4.2. Overview...................................................................... 37
1.4.3. Getting Started ............................................................. 38
1. Download data ....................................................... 38

2. Save data................................................................ 39
3. Open files............................................................... 41
4. Display properties.................................................. 42
5. Print a graph........................................................... 43
6. Print a table............................................................ 43
1.4.4. View the Data .............................................................. 45
1. Display options ...................................................... 45
2. Graph ..................................................................... 45
3. Table ...................................................................... 46
4. Data Map ............................................................... 47
5. The Cursor ............................................................. 49
6. Zooming and Panning............................................ 50
7. Crop the data.......................................................... 54
8. Format the graph.................................................... 55
9. Display alarm levels............................................... 56
10. Change the temperature units................................. 57

11. Export data to Excel............................................... 57
12. Copy the graph as a picture.................................... 58
1.4.5. Program MicroLog....................................................... 58
1. Setup ...................................................................... 58
2. Saving Setup .......................................................... 68
3. Start recording........................................................ 69
4. Stop recording........................................................ 69
5. Sensor calibration................................................... 70
Calibration password ....................................... 70
Humidity calibration........................................ 72
Temperature calibration................................... 75
6. Defining a custom sensor ....................................... 76
7. Communication setup ............................................ 78
1.4.6. Automatic Daily Download.......................................... 80
1. Prepare the MicroLog. ........................................... 80
2. Automatic download.............................................. 84

3. Manual transmission .............................................. 85
4. Viewing Daily Download data and status.............. 85
1.4.7. Toolbar Buttons ........................................................... 87
1. Main (upper) toolbar.............................................. 87
2. Graph (Lower) toolbar ........................................... 89
Chapter 2 MicroLog Plus ............................................................. 91
2.1. Overview......................................................................... 92
2.1.1. MicroLab Plus Default Window Layout ...................... 94
2.2. Getting Started ................................................................ 96
2.2.1. Installation ................................................................... 96
1. System Requirements ............................................ 96
2. Install the Software ................................................ 97
2.2.2. Setup the MicroLog Plus System ................................. 99

2.2.3. Saving data................................................................. 100
2.2.4. Activate Sound Alarm................................................ 102
2.2.5. E-mail Alarm Notification.......................................... 103
2.2.6. Change the temperature units ..................................... 104
2.2.7. Display Properties ...................................................... 105
2.3. Online Mode.................................................................. 106
2.3.1. Display options........................................................... 106
2.3.2. Meters view................................................................ 107
2.3.3. Multiple graphs View................................................. 109
1. The Cursor ........................................................... 111
2. Zooming............................................................... 112
3. Autoscale ............................................................. 112
4. The stretch/compress axis tool ............................. 113
5. Panning ................................................................ 113

6. Display alarm levels............................................. 114
2.3.4. Cradle Map ................................................................ 115
1. Setting up the Cradle Map ................................... 116
Add icons....................................................... 116
Load a picture................................................ 117
Lock Cradle Map........................................... 118
2.4. Offline Mode................................................................. 119
2.4.1. Offline screen............................................................. 119
2.4.2. Open files................................................................... 119
2.4.3. Print............................................................................ 121
1. Print a graph......................................................... 121
2. Print a table.......................................................... 121
2.4.4. Graph display............................................................. 123
1. Graph ................................................................... 123

2. The Cursor ........................................................... 123
3. Zooming and Panning .......................................... 124
Manual Scaling .............................................. 124
Autoscale ....................................................... 126
Default Zooming............................................ 126
4. Crop the data........................................................ 128
5. Format the graph .................................................. 128
6. Copy the graph as a picture.................................. 129
2.4.5. Export data to Excel ................................................... 130
2.5. Program MicroLog........................................................ 131
2.5.1. Setup .......................................................................... 131
2.5.2. Auto setup .................................................................. 140
2.5.3. Saving setup ............................................................... 142
2.5.4. Defining a custom sensor ........................................... 143

2.5.5. Sensor calibration....................................................... 146
1. Calibration password ........................................... 147
2. Humidity calibration............................................ 148
3. Temperature calibration....................................... 151
2.5.6. Communication setup ................................................ 152
2.6. Toolbar Buttons............................................................. 154
2.6.1. Main (upper) toolbar .................................................. 154
2.6.2. Graph (Lower) toolbar ............................................... 157
2.6.3. Cradle Map (lower) toolbar........................................ 159
Chapter 3 The Cradle.................................................................. 160
3.1. MicroLog Cradle Line................................................... 161
1. Alarm Cradle ....................................................... 161
2. Wireless Cradle with Alarm................................. 161

3.2. Operating the Cradle ..................................................... 162
3.3. Replace the Battery ....................................................... 165
3.4. Screw Terminals............................................................ 166
Chapter 4 The Receiver .............................................................. 172
Chapter 5 External Magnet Antenna........................................... 174
5.1. Connecting the antenna to the receiver.......................... 176
5.2. Connecting the antenna to the Cradle............................ 177
5.3. Preparing the Cradle to work with
the external antenna....................................................... 179

Chapter 6 External Sensors......................................................... 183
6.1. Temperature -50°C to 100°C ........................................ 183
6.2. Temperature -10°C to 10°C .......................................... 184
6.3. Temperature -100°C to 120°C PT100 adapter .............. 185
6.4. Voltage Sensor .............................................................. 186
6.5. Current Sensor............................................................... 187
6.6. pH Sensor...................................................................... 188
6.7. Contact Adapter ............................................................ 188

Specifications................................................................................ 190
MicroLog.................................................................................. 190
MicroLog Cradle ...................................................................... 193
MicroLog Plus Receiver........................................................... 196
Software ................................................................................... 197
Appendix: Figures......................................................................... 202
Index ................................................................................... 203

How to use this Guide
15
Using the Guide
MicroLog is a compact data logger used to monitor the temperature
and humidity of perishable goods. It can also be connected to
external sensors in order to monitor additional parameters, and can
be mounted onto a cradle for use with the Sound Alarm feature as
well as the wireless Daily Download tool.
MicroLog Plus is a sophisticated data logging system, which can
remotely monitor up to 200 MicroLogs simultaneously.
Chapter 1 of this guide details the operation procedures for
MicroLog as a stand-alone device, as well as how to work with its
software program, MicroLab.
If you are using the wireless MicroLog Plus system read Chapter 2,
which details the setup and operation of the wireless MicroLog

How to use this Guide
16
Plus system, while Chapter 3 deals with using MicroLog together
with a cradle. Chapter 4 covers connecting your MicroLog to a
receiver, Chapter 5 explains the use of external antenna, and
Chapter 6 deals with connecting it to external sensors.

MicroLog Chapter 1
17
Chapter 1 MicroLog

Chapter 1 MicroLog
18
1.1. Overview
MicroLog can be used as a stand-alone device to monitor
temperature and humidity levels. All viewing, exporting and
printing of the data obtained is done with just two keys. MicroLog
continuously displays the most recent recordings, along with the
maximum and minimum values for a selected time interval. Users
can also define minimum and maximum alarm levels for a specific
shipment, and the display screen will begin to flash if either level is
breached.
(Instructions for using the Sound Alarm feature can be found in
section 3.1.1)
The data stored by MicroLog can be downloaded to any computer
for further viewing and analysis using the MicroLab software, and
can be exported to a spreadsheet.

MicroLog Chapter 1
19
1.2. Getting Started
In order to save battery life, MicroLog is shipped in Stop Mode.
This means that before you can start recording, you must first
connect MicroLog to the PC and set it up with the accompanying
software. To set up MicroLog with the MicroLab software, refer to
section 1.4.
Once MicroLog receives the setup command, it begins logging the
data immediately.

Chapter 1 MicroLog
20
1.3. Working with MicroLog
1.3.1. Data Displays
1. Current data
When MicroLog is recording, the data from the sensors is
displayed alternately. The data obtained from external sensors is
displayed with a small EXT symbol.
When MicroLog stores the data, the LCD display briefly changes
to a “double dash” (- -) symbol.
2. Minimum and maximum values
You can display minimum and maximum values for any hour from
the last 24 hours and for any day from the last 30 days by using
MicroLog’s left and right keys: