Isotech milliK Operating instructions

User Maintenance Manual/Handbook
Issue 3.02
Software version 3.0.0+
Firmware version 3.0.34+
Isothermal Technology Limited, Pine Grove, Southport, PR9 9AG, England
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Internet: www.isotech.co.uk
E-mail: [email protected]
The company is always willing to give technical advice and assistance where appropriate. Equally, because of the
programme of continual development and improvement we reserve the right to amend or alter characteristics and design
without prior notice. This publication is for information only.

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Contents
1Introduction .......................................................................................................................6
1.1 Unpacking....................................................................................................................6
1.2 Safety ...........................................................................................................................6
2Getting Started...................................................................................................................9
2.1 A Quick Tour of Your milliK .....................................................................................11
2.2 Driving your milliK.....................................................................................................13
2.2.1 The ‘Graph’ Window .........................................................................................14
2.2.2 The ‘Numeric’ Window .....................................................................................14
2.2.3 The ‘Settings’ Window.......................................................................................15
2.2.4 The ‘Instrument’ Window..................................................................................17
2.3 Battery Operation .....................................................................................................18
3Detailed Description by Function....................................................................................19
3.1 Using a PRT/SPRT with milliK ...................................................................................19
3.1.1 Configuring milliK to measure a PRT/SPRT .......................................................20
3.1.2 Determining Self-Heating of a PRT/SPRT..........................................................22
3.1.3 Using 3 or 4 Wire Measurement .......................................................................22
3.2 Using a Thermistor with milliK..................................................................................24
3.2.1 Configuring milliK to Measure Temperature with a Thermistor.......................25
3.3 Using a Thermocouple with milliK............................................................................26
3.3.1 Using Internal Reference Junction Compensation .............................................27
3.3.2 Using External Reference Junction Compensation ............................................27
3.3.3 Using an Ice-Point for the Reference Junction...................................................28
3.3.4 Configuring milliK to Measure a Thermocouple................................................29
3.4 Using a 4-20mA Transmitter with milliK...................................................................31
3.4.1 Configuring milliK to Measure a 4-20mA Transmitter ......................................32
3.5 Measuring the Difference Between Two Channels ..................................................33
3.6 Changing Graph Scales ..............................................................................................33
3.7 Using Rolling Statistics ...............................................................................................34
3.8 Logging Results to a File ............................................................................................35
3.8.1 Transferring Logged Data to a PC .....................................................................37
3.8.2 File Format for Logged Data..............................................................................38
3.8.3 Clearing Logged Data from Internal Memory....................................................38
3.9 Using the Thermometer Database ...........................................................................39
3.9.1 Creating a New Thermometer Entry................................................................39
3.9.2 Using a PRT with IEC60751 (2008) Conversion ...............................................41
3.9.3 Using a PRT with Callendar Van Dusen Conversion .........................................42
3.9.4 Using a PRT with ITS90 Conversion..................................................................43
3.9.5 Using a Thermocouple with Calibration Coefficients / Data Pairs ....................44
3.9.6 Using a Thermistor with the Steinhart-Hart Polynomial ...................................45
3.9.7 Using a Thermistor with Polynomial Temperature Conversion .......................46
3.9.8 Using a 4-20mA Transmitter with Linear Conversion.......................................47
3.10 Updating the Software...........................................................................................48
3.11 Using and Changing Passwords .............................................................................48
3.11.1 Recovering a Lost Password ..............................................................................49
3.12 Controlling Temperature Sources with milliK.......................................................50

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3.12.1 Creating a Temperature Profile.........................................................................52
4Connecting Thermometers to milliK...............................................................................54
4.1 Connecting PRTs/SPRTs to milliK .............................................................................54
4.2 Connecting Thermistors to milliK .............................................................................55
4.3 Connecting Thermocouples to milliK .......................................................................56
4.4 Connecting 4-20mA Transmitters to milliK ..............................................................57
5Calibration........................................................................................................................58
5.1 Standards Required for Calibration ...........................................................................59
5.1.1 Making a 4-Terminal Short-Circuit ....................................................................59
5.1.2 Making a 0mV Source in a Thermocouple Connector ......................................60
5.2 Checking the Calibration...........................................................................................60
5.2.1 PRT/SPRT Resistance Range ..............................................................................61
5.2.2 Thermistor Resistance Range (500k) –Span Check.......................................63
5.2.3 Thermocouple Voltage Range –Zero Check ....................................................63
5.2.4 Thermocouple Voltage Range –Span Check.....................................................64
5.2.5 4-20mA Transmitter Range –Zero and Span Check ........................................65
5.2.6 Reference Junction Compensation Accuracy.....................................................66
5.3 Adjusting the Calibration...........................................................................................67
5.3.1 Starting the Calibration Adjustment Feature .....................................................68
5.3.2 Adjusting SPRT (115Ω) Resistance Range..........................................................68
5.3.3 Adjusting PRT (460Ω) Resistance Range............................................................69
5.3.4 Adjusting Thermistor (500kΩ) Resistance Range ..............................................70
5.3.5 Adjusting Zero Voltage Offsets..........................................................................70
5.3.6 Adjusting Voltage Gain .......................................................................................70
5.3.7 Adjusting 4-20mA Transmitter Range................................................................71
5.3.8 Adjusting the RJC Sensor Calibration.................................................................72
5.4 Exporting Calibration information.............................................................................73
6Maintenance and Cleaning ...............................................................................................74
7Interfacing to milliK ..........................................................................................................75
7.1 Isotech Software........................................................................................................75
7.2 RS232 Interface .........................................................................................................75
7.2.1 Establishing an RS232 Connection .....................................................................76
7.3 Ethernet Interface .....................................................................................................79
7.3.1 Establishing an Ethernet Connection .................................................................79
7.3.1 Using SCPI Commands with the Ethernet Connection.....................................81
7.3.2 Using Remote Desktop Access..........................................................................82
8SCPI Command Set .........................................................................................................84
8.1 Command Terminators.............................................................................................84
8.2 SCPI Command Structure.........................................................................................84
8.3 SCPI Numeric Suffices...............................................................................................85
8.4 Parameters ................................................................................................................85
8.5 Units ..........................................................................................................................86
8.6 Making Measurements Using SCPI Commands ........................................................86
8.6.1 Measuring Resistance using SCPI Commands....................................................87
8.6.2 Measuring Voltage (with optional RJC) using SCPI Commands.........................87
8.6.3 Measuring Current using SCPI Commands .......................................................89
8.6.4 Measuring Temperature using SCPI Commands...............................................89
8.6.5 SCPI Commands ................................................................................................95

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8.6.6 Command: *IDN? ..............................................................................................97
8.6.7 Command [MILLik:]REMote..............................................................................98
8.6.8 Command [MILLik:]LOCal ................................................................................98
8.6.9 Command SENSe:FUNCtion[:ON]...................................................................99
8.6.10 Command SENSe:FUNCtion[:ON]? .................................................................99
8.6.11 Command SENSe:CHANnel .............................................................................99
8.6.12 Command SENSe:CHANnel? ..........................................................................100
8.6.13 Command SENSe[:RESistance]:RANGe[:UPPer]............................................100
8.6.14 Command SENSe[:RESistance:]RANGe[:UPPer]?...........................................100
8.6.15 Command SENSe:RESistance:WIRes...............................................................101
8.6.16 Command SENSe:RESistance:WIRes? .............................................................101
8.6.17 Command SENSe:CURRent ............................................................................101
8.6.18 Command SENSe:CURRent?...........................................................................102
8.6.19 Command SENSe:PROBe................................................................................102
8.6.20 Command SENSe:PROBe? ..............................................................................103
8.6.21 Command SENSe:UNITs.................................................................................103
8.6.22 Command SENSe:UNITs? ...............................................................................103
8.6.23 Command SENSe:RJC .....................................................................................103
8.6.24 Command SENSe:RJC? ....................................................................................104
8.6.25 Command INITiate[:IMMediate][:ALL] ...........................................................104
8.6.26 Command FETCh[:SCALar]?...........................................................................104
8.6.27 Command READ[:SCALar]? ............................................................................104
8.6.28 Command MEASure[:SCALar]:TEMPerature<channel#>? ..........................105
8.6.29 Command MEASure[:SCALar]:VOLTage[:DC]<channel#>? .......................106
8.6.30 Command MEASure[:SCALar]:RESistance<channel#> ................................107
8.6.31 Command MEASure[:SCALar]:CURRent?.......................................................107
8.6.32 Command MEASure[:SCALar]:RJC? ................................................................107
8.6.33 Command PROBe:UNLock.............................................................................108
8.6.34 Command PROBe:LOCK ................................................................................108
8.6.35 Command PROBe:COUNt? ............................................................................108
8.6.36 Command PROBe:NAMe<probe#> ............................................................108
8.6.37 Command PROBe:NAMe<probe#>? ...........................................................108
8.6.38 Command PROBe:TYPe<probe#> ..............................................................109
8.6.39 Command PROBe:TYPe<probe#>?.............................................................109
8.6.40 Command PROBe:MANufacturer<probe#> ...............................................109
8.6.41 Command PROBe:MANufacturer<probe#>? ..............................................109
8.6.42 Command PROBe:MODel<probe#>...........................................................110
8.6.43 Command PROBe:MODel<probe#>?..........................................................110
8.6.44 Command PROBe:SERial<probe#> .............................................................110
8.6.45 Command PROBe:SERial<probe#>? ............................................................110
8.6.46 Command PROBe:DATe<probe#> .............................................................111
8.6.47 Command PROBe:DATe<probe#>?............................................................111
8.6.48 Command PROBe:MINimum<probe#>.......................................................111
8.6.49 Command PROBe:MINimum<probe#>? .....................................................111
8.6.50 Command PROBe:MAXimum<probe#> .....................................................112
8.6.51 Command PROBe:MAXimum<probe#>? ....................................................112
8.6.52 Command PROBe:WIRes<probe#>.............................................................112
8.6.53 Command PROBe:WIRes<probe#>? ...........................................................112

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8.6.54 Command PROBe:CONVersion<probe#>..................................................113
8.6.55 Command PROBe:CONVersion<probe#>? ................................................114
8.6.56 Command PROBe:COEFficient<probe#> ...................................................114
8.6.57 Command PROBe:COEFficient<probe#>?..................................................115
8.6.58 Command PROBe:CVD:FORM.......................................................................115
8.6.59 Command PROBe:CVD:FORM? .....................................................................116
8.6.60 Command PROBe:ITS90:FORM<probe#> ..................................................116
8.6.61 Command PROBe:ITS90:FORM<probe#>?.................................................116
8.6.62 Command PROBe:CREate ..............................................................................117
8.6.63 Command PROBe:DELete<probe#>...........................................................117
8.6.64 Command PROBe:FIND? ................................................................................117
8.6.65 Command CALibrate:UNLock........................................................................117
8.6.66 Command CALibrate:LOCK ...........................................................................118
8.6.67 Command CALibrate:RESistance:GAIN ..........................................................118
8.6.68 Command CALibrate:RESistance:GAIN?.........................................................118
8.6.69 Command CALibrate:VOLTage:OFFSet<channel#>...................................119
8.6.70 Command CALibrate:VOLTage:OFFset<channel>? .....................................119
8.6.71 Command CALibrate:VOLTage:GAIN............................................................119
8.6.72 Command CALibrate:VOLTage:GAIN?...........................................................120
8.6.73 Command CALibrate:CURRent:GAIN............................................................120
8.6.74 Command CALibrate:CURRent:GAIN?...........................................................120
8.6.75 Command CALibrate:RJC:OFFSet ..................................................................121
8.6.76 Command CALibrate:RJC:OFFSet? .................................................................121
8.6.77 Command CALibrate:IDENtification...............................................................121
8.6.78 Command CALibrate:IDENtification? .............................................................122
8.6.79 Command CALibrate:IDENtification:LAST?....................................................122
8.6.80 Command CALibrate:PASSword.....................................................................122
8.6.81 Command CALibrate:VALid?...........................................................................122
9Specification ...................................................................................................................123
10 Approvals .......................................................................................................................126
10.1 CE Declaration ....................................................................................................126
10.2 FCC Statement ....................................................................................................126
10.3 Standards Applied ................................................................................................127
11 Revision History .............................................................................................................127

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1Introduction
The milliK precision thermometer provides a complete measurement and control interface
for users wishing to make high accuracy temperature measurements or calibrate
thermometers. It supports a wide range of thermometer types including 25ΩSPRTs, 100Ω
PRTs, thermistors, thermocouples and 4-20mA transmitters (self-powered and loop-
powered) and can control Isotech temperature sources, sequencing through a programmable
list of temperature set points whilst logging data to internal memory or a USB drive.
The milliK sets new measurement standards in its class (<±5ppm for SPRTs/PRTs, <±2µV
for thermocouples, <±50ppm for thermistors and <±0.01% for current transmitters). The
Windows™ CE operating system provides a simple and intuitive user interface and with a
wide range of interfaces (USB, RS232, ethernet) allows the user to access the comprehensive
features of the milliK. A USB keyboard and mouse can be plugged into the milliK to make
control and data entry with the milliK as simple as using a laptop PC.
1.1 Unpacking
Your product should comprise the following items:
milliK Precision Thermometer
power supply with interchangeable plug heads
two Lemo 6-pin connectors
null modem RS232 cable
this user manual
If any item is missing or damaged, please report this immediately to your supplier. If possible,
we recommend that you retain the packaging material in case you need to return the
instrument for calibration or service.
1.2 Safety
The milliK is a precision instrument, designed for use in a laboratory or light industrial
environment. It complies with the requirements of safety standard EN61010-1 (2001) and is
therefore safe to use in laboratory or light industrial environments. It is not intended for use
outdoors or in extreme environments (refer to specification in Section 9).

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!
The milliK is likely to be connected to thermometer sensors in use and the user should take
care to ensure that the complete system is safe. For example, metal sheathed thermometers
may be connected to the milliK and then placed in a furnace powered from a 230V electrical
supply. Single fault conditions in such a furnace could lead to the thermometer wires and the
front terminals of the milliK, to which they are connected, becoming electrically live and
therefore a hazard to the user. Suitable precautions should be taken, such as using an
isolating transformer in the supply to such a furnace. If you require further advice on safety
issues, please contact Isothermal Technology or one of our appointed distributors - we have
extensive experience of thermometry and can provide advice and equipment to help you.
Retain these instructions. Use only as specified in these operating instructions or the intrinsic
protection may be impaired.
Please observe the following safety precautions:
Do not use your milliK if it is damaged
Only connect the power supply to an electrical supply that conforms to the
specification given on its rating plate
This equipment is for indoor use within an ambient temperature range of 0°C to 40°C
with maximum relative humidity of 95%
This equipment is for use in moderate climates only. NEVER use the equipment in
damp or wet conditions
Avoid excessive heat, humidity, dust & vibration
Do not place liquid filled containers on the equipment
Do not use where the equipment (or any associated accessories) may be subjected to
dripping or splashing liquids
Ensure all cables and wires are routed safely to avoid tripping: also, to avoid sharp
bends and pinches
Clean only with a damp cloth. Do not wet or allow moisture to penetrate the
equipment. Do not use solvents; see section 6 for details of cleaning procedure
The product should be subjected to regular in-service inspections as required by local
regulations; a yearly interval is suggested
Do not apply earth test currents to any terminals nor to the shrouds of the USB,
RS232, or ethernet connectors
The product is designed to comply with EN 61010-1 and can be flash tested. It is
fitted with radio frequency interference suppressors. Therefore, it is recommended
that only a D.C. test be performed. Performing flash tests repeatedly can damage
insulation
This equipment contains no user-serviceable parts. Refer all repairs to qualified
service personnel. Contact Isothermal Technology or one of our appointed
distributors for details of approved service outlets
The power supply has been approved to the following safety standards:

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923 milliK manual Iss. 3.02
UL60950-1, 2nd Edition: 2007-03-27
CSA C22.2 No. 60950-1-07, 2nd Edition: 2007-03
EN 60950-1: 2006 including A11
BS EN60950-1: 2006
AS/NZS60950-1: 2003 including amendments 1, 2 and 3

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2Getting Started
The power supply operates from any standard AC electrical supply (90-264V RMS at 47-
63Hz), so unless your supply is unusual you can simply connect the power supply to a
suitable electrical outlet.
The power supply is fitted with a standard BS 1363 plug head but is provided with alternative
heads that cover the majority of electrical sockets used worldwide. If you need to connect to
an outlet socket that is not supported by the plug heads provided, you should source a
suitable adaptor to suit one of these connector heads. The plug head can easily be changed
by pressing the head release button on the connector head and sliding it off of the power
supply body:

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Plug the DC connector from the power supply into the “DC Power” socket on the rear of
the milliK. Press the on/off button on the front panel to turn on your milliK. The milliK will
load the operating system and software (25s) and then restore itself to the settings used
when it was de-powered. This manual provides comprehensive details on using your milliK.
In addition video tutorials are available on the Isotech website (see video tab at
www.isotech.co.uk/precision-thermometers/instruments/instruments/millik-precision-
thermometer).
Head Release Button
Do NOT insert plug head alone into socket