Multi Channel Systems TC02 User manual

Temperature Controller TC02 •Publication 20221020 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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Temperature Controller
TC02
USER MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Temperature Controller TC02 •Publication 20221020 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Important Safety Advice ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Guarantee and Liability ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Operator's Obligations....................................................................................................................................... 6
Terms of Use for the Program ............................................................................................................................ 6
Limitation of Liability.......................................................................................................................................... 6
Hardware: INSTALLATION AND OPERATION ........................................................................................................... 7
Welcome to the Temperature Controller TC02.................................................................................................... 7
Setting Up and Connecting the Temperature Controller TC02.............................................................................. 8
Operating the TC02............................................................................................................................................ 9
Controlling the TC02 via TCX-Control Software.................................................................................................. 13
Setting up the TCX-Control Program ................................................................................................................. 13
APPENDIX............................................................................................................................................................ 16
Control via Front Panel..................................................................................................................................... 16
Version: Standard ............................................................................................................................................ 16
Version: Customer II ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Version: Customer III........................................................................................................................................ 18
D-Sub9 Pin Assignment.................................................................................................................................... 19
Parameter Ranges............................................................................................................................................ 19
MCS Default PI Coefficients .............................................................................................................................. 19
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS................................................................................................................................. 20
Contact Information............................................................................................................................................. 21

IMPRINT
Temperature Controller TC02 •Publication 20221020 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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IMPRINT
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted without the express
written permission of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, the publisher and the author assume no responsibility for errors
or missions, or for damages resulting from the use of information contained in this document or from the use of programs and source code that
may accompany it.
In no event shall the publisher and the author be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage caused or alleged to have been
caused directly or indirectly by this document.
© 2022 Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH. All rights reserved.
Printed: 20.10.2022
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH
Aspenhaustraße 21
72770 Reutlingen
Germany
Phone [phone] - 0
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.multichannelsystems.com
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Products that are referred to in this document may be either
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be noted as such. The publisher and the author make no
claim to these trademarks.

IMPORTANT SAFETY ADVICE
Temperature Controller TC02 •Publication 20221020 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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IMPORTANT SAFETY ADVICE
Warning: Make sure to read the following advice prior to installation or use of the device and the software. If you do not
fulfill
all requirements stated below, this may lead to malfunctions or breakage of connected hardware, or even fatal injuries.
Warning: Always obey the rules of local regulations and laws. Only qualified personnel should be allowed to perform laboratory
work. Work according to good laboratory practice to obtain best results and to minimize risks.
The product has been built to the state of the art and in accordance with recognized safety engineering rules. The device may only
→be used for its intended purpose;
→be used when in a perfect condition.
Improper use could lead to serious, even fatal injuries to the user or third parties and damage to the device itself or other material damage.
Warning: The device and the software are not intended for medical uses and must not be used on humans.
MCS assumes no responsibility in any case of contravention.
Malfunctions which could impair safety should be rectified immediately.
High Voltage
Electrical cords must be properly laid and installed. The length and quality of the cords must be in accordance with local provisions.
Only qualified technicians may work on the electrical system. It is essential that the accident prevention regulations and those of the employers'
liability associations are observed.
•Each time before starting up, make sure that the power supply agrees with the specifications of the product.
•Check the power cord for damage each time the site is changed. Damaged power cords should be replaced immediately and may
never be reused.
•Check the leads for damage. Damaged leads should be replaced immediately and may never be reused.
•Do not try to insert anything sharp or metallic into the vents or the case.
•Liquids may cause short circuits or other damage. Always keep the device and the power cords dry. Do not handle it with wet hands.
Requirements for the Installation and Operation
Make sure that the device is not exposed to direct sunlight. Do not place anything on top of the device, and do not place it on top of another
heat producing device, so that the air can circulate freely.
•Do not use the constant vacuum pump for perfusion with flammable or aggressive (corrosive) liquids.
•Do not store flammable materials nearby during operation.
•Check in regular intervals that the constant vacuum pump does not overheat.

IMPORTANT SAFETY ADVICE
Temperature Controller TC02 •Publication 20221020 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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Orient the Equipment Properly
Do not orient the equipment so that it is difficult to manage the disconnection device.
Explanation of the Symbols used
Caution / Warning DC, direct current
Guarantee and Liability
The General conditions of sale and delivery of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH always apply. The operator will receive these no later than
on conclusion of the contract.
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any and all tests and data generated by the use of the device
or the software. It is up to the user to use good laboratory practice to establish the validity of his / her findings.
Guarantee and liability claims in the event of injury or material damage are excluded when they are the result of one of the following.
→Improper use of the device.
→Improper installation, commissioning, operation or maintenance of the device.
→Operating the device when the safety and protective devices are defective and/or inoperable.
→Non-observance of the instructions in the manual with regard to transport, storage, installation, commissioning, operation
or maintenance of the device.
→Unauthorized structural alterations to the device.
→Unauthorized modifications to the system settings.
→Inadequate monitoring of device components subject to wear.
→Improperly executed and unauthorized repairs.
→Unauthorized opening of the device or its components.
→Catastrophic events due to the effect of foreign bodies or acts of God.

IMPORTANT SAFETY ADVICE
Temperature Controller TC02 •Publication 20221020 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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Operator's Obligations
The operator is obliged to allow only persons to work on the device, who
→are familiar with the safety at work and accident prevention regulations and have been instructed how to use the device;
→are professionally qualified or have specialist knowledge and training and have received instruction in the use of the device;
→have read and understood the chapter on safety and the warning instructions in this manual and confirmed this with their signature.
→It must be monitored at regular intervals that the operating personnel are working safely.
Personnel still undergoing training may only work on the device under the supervision of an experienced person.
Terms of Use for the Program
You are free to use the program for its intended purpose. You agree that you will not decompile, reverse engineer, or otherwise attempt
to discover the source code of the software.
Limitation of Liability
Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of any and all tests and data generated by the use this device.
It is up to the user to use good laboratory practice to establish the validity of his findings.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH or its suppliers be liable for any
special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, injuries, damages for data loss, loss of business
profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or any other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use the program
or the provision of or failure to provide support services, even if Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH has been advised of the possibility of such
damages.

HARDWARE
MEA-IT-System •Publication 20220729 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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HARDWARE: INSTALLATION AND OPERATION
Welcome to the Temperature Controller TC02
This manual comprises all important information about the first installation and the proper usage of the temperature controller TC02.
It is assumed that you have a basic understanding of technical terms, but no special skills are required to read this manual.
Make sure you read the "Important Information and Instructions" prior to install or to operate this temperature controller.
The thermocouple function is added to the standard temperature controller TC02 in revision REV G. The devices with a series number
higher than SN 2000 are equipped with this function.
Warning: Improper use, especially a too high setpoint temperature or an inappropriate channel configuration, for example,
a too high maximum power, can lead to overheating the heating elemen
t. Overheating can lead to fire hazards and even
fatal injuries. Only advanced users should edit the channel configuration and only with extreme care.
The temperature controller TC02 is used to control the temperature of a connected heating element. It is available with two output channels TC02.
The thermocouple function is added to the standard temperature controller in revision REV G. The devices with a series number higher than
SN 2000 are equipped with this function.
The TC02 is designed for use with Pt100 sensors, which allow a very precise temperature recording and control. Pt100 sensors feature the highest
available accuracy and linearity over a wide temperature range. All heating elements that are part of products from Multi Channel Systems MCS
GmbH are equipped with Pt100 sensors. Please see the manuals of the heating elements that you are going to use for details.
The TC02 uses a Proportional-Integrator (PI) based technology. The setpoint temperature is reached fast and the accuracy is extraordinarily high.
The outputs are galvanically isolated against ground, that is, the TC02 does not interfere with the experimental setup.
The TC02 is a general purpose temperature controller for use of almost any kind of heating element. The PI coefficients are preset in the channel
configuration defaults for MCS products. You can set up your own custom configurations to use the temperature controller for your specific
heating elements.

HARDWARE
Temperature Controller TC02 •Publication 20221020 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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Preset configurations are available for use with the heating elements that are part of the following products provided by Multi Channel Systems
MCS GmbH.
•MEA2100: compact stand-alone system for recordings from microelectrode arrays with 60, 2 x 60 or 120 channels with integrated
amplification, data acquisition, online signal processing, real-time feedback, and integrated stimulus generator.
•USB-MEA256: compact stand-alone system for recordings from microelectrode arrays with 256 channels with integrated amplification,
data acquisition, and analog / digital conversion.
•MEA1060-INV: 60 channel preamplifier and filter amplifier for microelectrode arrays on inverted microscopes. The same channel
configuration applies to MEA1060-INV-BC amplifiers.
•MEA1060-UP: 60 channel preamplifier and filter amplifier for microelectrode arrays on upright microscopes. The same channel
configuration applies to MEA1060-UP-BC amplifiers.
•PH01: Perfusion cannula with heater and sensor.
•TCW1: Warming plate with heater and sensor.
•OP Table: Warming plate with heater and sensor and rectal thermometer with thermocouple sensor.
The TC02 heats actively, but the cooling is passive. Therefore, the minimum temperature is defined by the room temperature. A room
temperature beyond 5 °C is not recommended.
For advanced applications, the TC02 can be remote controlled via the USB port. The actual temperature values can be read on the connected
computer and saved as a text file. You can then import this file into your custom evaluation software, for example to plot a temperature curve.
You can also set up custom programs for applying automated temperature protocols to the connected heating element. Advanced hardware
diagnosis features ensure a superior experimental control.
Setting Up and Connecting the Temperature Controller TC02
Provide a power supply in the immediate vicinity of the installation site.
1. Place the TC02 on a dry and stable surface, where the air can circulate freely and the device is not exposed to direct sunlight.
2. Plug the external power supply cable into the supply power input socket on the rear panel of the TC02.
3. Connect the external power supply to the power outlet.
4. Optional, for recording temperature curves or remote control: Connect the USB cable to a free USB port of the data acquisition computer.
5. Connect the TC02 to the heating element. Use the cable that is delivered with the heating system or use a custom cable. The cable
is plugged into the female D-Sub9 socket. (Channel 1 and Channel 2, if you have a TC02). See also chapter "D-Sub9 Pin Assignment"
in the Appendix.
6. Use of OP Table: Connect the TC02 to the heating element of the heating plate. Use the cable that is delivered with the heating system
or use a custom cable. The cable is plugged into the female D-Sub9 socket labeled with "Channel 1". Connect the TC02 to the rectal
thermometer. Use the provided cable and connect the rectal thermometer via the thermocouple connector (type T) to the socket labeled
with "Thermocouple 1".
Note: Multi Channel Systems can provide a channel configuration for your application on request.

HARDWARE
Temperature Controller TC02 •Publication 20221020 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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Operating the TC02
Starting the TC02
All functions are set in the menu of the TC02, including switching the TC02 on and off. If the TC02 is switched off, it goes into standby mode.
The instrument and display are only switched off completely when the TC02 is disconnected from the power supply. Most of the power
consumption of 6 W in standby mode is used by the power supply unit.
In the main menu on the display, select “On” or “Off”. The TC02 starts to control the temperature on the selected channels immediately.
If the TC02 is connected properly, the actual temperature and the setpoint temperature are displayed in the “Temperature Control" view.
General User Interface
The front screen display shows the actual temperature and the setpoint temperature. You can enter the next menu levels by pressing
the "Select" button. Go to a menu command with the "Up" and "Down" buttons and press “Select” to select the command highlighted
by an arrow and to enter the next menu level. The functionality of the button array on the front panel is described in the following.
Up
Goes to the menu command above or increases the displayed parameter value. Tip once to increase the value
in a small single step, press longer for larger steps.
Down
Goes to the menu command below or decreases the displayed parameter value. Tip once to increase the value
in a small single step, press longer for larger steps.
Select
Press this button to switch from "Temperature Control" view to the "Main" menu. Selects the command
highlighted by an arrow in the menus and enters the next menu level.
Back
Leaves the menu level and goes back to the next higher menu level. Settings that were selected or modified are
applied and saved automatically when leaving a menu.
TC02 Menus
Press the "Select" button to enter the "Main" menu. The other menu levels are shown in the following illustration.

HARDWARE
Temperature Controller TC02 •Publication 20221020 • www.multichannelsystems.com
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Setting a Temperature
1. Press the "Select" button to enter the main menu.
2. Move the arrow to the desired channel by pressing the "Up" and "Down" buttons, for example to Channel 1.
3. Press the "Select" button. The "Channel" menu is displayed.
4. Move the arrow to "Set Temperature" and press the "Select" button. The current setpoint temperature is displayed.
5. Modify the displayed value by pressing the "Up" and "Down" buttons.
6. As soon as you leave the menu, the new setpoint temperature is saved. If you do not press a button in the time range of a minute,
the new setpoint temperature is also saved, and the screen is reset to the "Temperature Control" view.
Channel Configuration
Warning: Improper use, especially a too high setpoint temperature or an inappropriate channel configuration, for example,
a too high maximum power can lead to overheating the heating element. Overheating can lead to fire hazards and even fatal
injuries. Only advanced users should edit the channel configuration and only with extreme care.
We recommend using the factory default settings for use with MCS products. You can modify these settings with the "Edit" command,
if required. If you want to restore the factory default settings, select the configuration that you would like to reset, and then select "MCS Defaults".
For safety reasons, the "Edit" menu is locked each time the TC02 is switched off. You need to unlock it first by selecting "Unlock Edit"
in the "Setup" menu. The channel parameters are changed in the same way than the temperature. From the "Channel" menu, go to
"Configuration", select "Edit", and then select the parameter that you would like to change, and modify it with the "Up" and "Down" buttons.
The following parameters can be modified:
•Proportional gain
•Integrator gain
•Maximum power
Example:
You are using a MEA1060-UP amplifier for upright microscopes on channel 1, and a perfusion cannula PH01 on channel 2 of a TC02.
You have to configure each channel for the appropriate instrument. Select, for example MEA2100 for channel 1 and PH01 for channel 2
in the "Channel Configuration" menu of the TC02.
Important: Please note that there will always be an intrinsic offset between the setpoint and the actual temperature of the connected heating
element, depending on the heating element used, the proximity of the sensor to the heating element, and the experimental setup. This offset
needs to be determined empirically and taken into account when programming the temperature settings. The accuracy of the TC02 ensures that
this offset remains stable in a fixed experimental setup, provided that the environmental conditions, for example, the flow rate, are not changed
during the experiment.
Note: The factory default parameters were optimized for an ambient temperature. The configuration for use with the PH01 were optimized
for a medium flow rate. Under extreme conditions, you may have to adjust the configuration for your experimental setup.