Multi Channel Systems TC01 User manual

Temperature Controller TC01/02
Manual

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
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permission of Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH.
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and the author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting
from the use of information contained in this document or from the use of programs and
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directly or indirectly by this document.
© 2015Multi Channel Systems MCS GmbH. All rights reserved.
Printed: 16. 07. 2013
Multi Channel Systems
MCS GmbH
Aspenhaustraße 21
72770 Reutlingen
Germany
Fon [phone] - 0
Fax [phone]
[email protected]
www.multichannelsystems.com
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Products that
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of their respective holders and should be noted as such. The publisher and the author
make no claim to these trademark.

iii
Table of Contents
1Introduction 1
1.1 About this Manual 1
2Important Information and Instructions 3
2.1 Operator's Obligations 3
2.2 Important Safety Advice 3
2.3 Guarantee and Liability 5
3Installation and Operation 7
3.1 Welcome to the Temperature Controller TC01/02 7
3.2 Setting Up and Connecting the TC01/02 8
3.3 Operating the TC01/02 9
3.3.1 Starting the TC01/02 9
3.3.2 General User Interface 9
3.3.3 TC01/02 Menus 10
3.3.4 Setting a Temperature 10
3.3.5 Channel Configuration 10
3.3.6 Hardware Diagnosis 11
3.4 Controlling the TC01 / TC02 via TCX-Control Software 13
4Appendix 19
4.1 Control via Front Panel 19
4.1.1 Version: Standard 19
4.1.2 Version: Customer II 20
4.1.3 Version: Customer III 21
4.2 D-Sub9 Pin Assignment 22
4.3 Parameter Ranges 23
4.4 MCS Default PI Coefficients 23
4.5 Technical Specifications 24
4.6 Contact Information 25
5Index 26

1
1 Introduction
1.1 About this Manual
This manual comprises all important information about the first installation and the proper usage
of the temperature controller TC01 and 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 TCX in revision REV G.
The devices with a series number higher than SN 2000 are equipped with this function.

3
2 Important Information and Instructions
2.1 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.
2.2 Important Safety Advice
Warning: Make sure to read the following advice prior to install or to use 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: Obey always 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.
Malfunctions which could impair safety should be rectified immediately.

Temperature Controller TC01/02 Manual
4
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 mains 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. Keep the device and the power cords always dry.
Do not handle it with wet hands. Make sure the device and your experiment are set up in a way
that makes it impossible that any liquid spills onto the device or drips into the device from the
surface of the table.
 Do not short-circuit the outputs of the device.
Requirements for the installation and operation
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.
 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. Never cover the device,
not even partially, so that the air can circulate freely. Otherwise, the device may overheat.
 The connected heating elements produce heat and can get hot during operation.
 Do not touch the connected heating elements during operation and do not store flammable
materials nearby.
 Check in regular intervals that the connected heating element does not overheat.
 Regard the specifications of the connected heating element.
 Use and keep the device only in a dry environment. Fluids or damp air may damage or destroy
the device. Spilled liquid can damage or even completely destroy the electronics of the
instrument. Avoid it by all means.
 Edit the channel configuration only if necessary, and only with extreme care. Test new
configurations under personal supervision before operating the instrument unsupervised.
 The Maximum Power of the channel configurations should not exceed a value that is safe for use
with the connected heating element, the temperature protocol, and the experimental setup.

Important Information and Instructions
5
2.3 Guarantee and Liability
The General conditions of sale and delivery of Multi Channel System MCS GmbH always apply.
The operator will receive these no later than on conclusion of the contract.
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.

7
3 Installation and Operation
3.1 Welcome to the Temperature Controller TC01/02
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.
The temperature controller TC01/02 is used to control the temperature of a connected heating
element. It is available with one or two output channels TC01 and TC02, respectively. Handling
of both devices is similar and information in the TC01/02 manual applies to both.
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 TC01/02 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 provided with Pt100 sensors. Please see the manuals of the heating
elements that you are going to use for details.
The TC01/ 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 TC01/ TC02 does not interfere with the experimental setup.
The TC01/02 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. 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,
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.
 TCWY: Warming plate with heater and sensor.
 OP Table: Warming plate with heater and sensor, and rectal thermometer with thermocouple
sensor.
Note: Multi Channel Systems can provide a channel configuration for your application on request.
The TC01/02 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 TC01/ 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.

Temperature Controller TC01/02 Manual
8
3.2 Setting Up and Connecting the TC01/02
Provide a power supply in the immediate vicinity of the installation site.
1. Place the TC01/02 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 TC01/02.
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 TC01/02 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 TC01/02 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 TC01/02 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".

Installation and Operation
9
3.3 Operating the TC01/02
3.3.1 Starting the TC01/02
All functions are set in the menu of the TC01/02, including switching the TC01/02 on and off.
If the TC01/02 is switched off, it goes into standby mode. The instrument and display are only
switched off completely when the TC01/02 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 / Off. The TC01/02 starts to control the temperature
on the selected channels immediately. If the TC01/02 is connected properly, the actual
temperature and the setpoint temperature are displayed in the Temperature Control view.
3.3.2 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 high
lighted 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.

Temperature Controller TC01/02 Manual
10
3.3.3 TC01/02 Menus
Press the Select button to enter the Main menu. The other menu levels are shown
in the following illustration.
3.3.4 Setting a Temperature
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 TC01/02 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.
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.
3.3.5 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 to use 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 TC01/02 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 / Down buttons.
The following parameters can be modified:
 Proportional gain
 Integrator gain
 Maximum power

Installation and Operation
11
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.
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.
3.3.6 Hardware Diagnosis
This menu should be used for reviewing parameter settings or check the hardware performance
in case that you observe any trouble with the instrument. Each channel can be checked separately.
If the problem persists, please contact your local retailer. The highly qualified staff will be glad to
help you. Keep the displayed information at hand when contacting customer support.
There are four separate screen views with different sets of information in the Diagnosis menu.
You can toggle between the views by pressing the Up and Down buttons.
Diagnosis 1: Measured values
This diagnose screen view is used for checking the temperature sensor.
Temperature Actual temperature
Resistance 2 Cable resistance high side of sensor, see also chapter
"D-Sub9 Pin Assignment".
Resistance 1 Cable resistance low side of sensor, see also chapter
"D-Sub9 Pin Assignment".
Resistance X Sensor resistance plus cable resistance
Resistance S Sensor resistance
Board Temp Board temperature (The TC01/02 will switch off the channel outputs
and go into stand-by mode when the board temperature reaches 90 °C.)

Temperature Controller TC01/02 Manual
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Diagnosis 2: Controller settings
This diagnose screen view is used for reviewing and checking the user settings.
Setpoint Temp Setpoint temperature
P Gain Proportional gain
I Gain Integrator gain
Max Power Maximum output power
Diagnosis 3: Controller output
This diagnose screen view is used for checking the operation of the internal controller.
Power Set Output power set by the controller.
Power Out Actual output power (product of Current Out and Supply Voltage)
Duty Cycle PWM Duty cycle (internal value)
Current Out Current through the primary coil of the isolating transformer
Supply Voltage Supply voltage (from power supply)
Diagnosis 4: Heating element
This diagnose screen view is used for checking the connected heating element.
On/off Current channel state
HE Voltage Output voltage applied to heating element
HE Current Output current applied to heating element
HE Resistance Heating element resistance (voltage-current ratio)
HE Power Output power delivered to heating element (voltage-current
product), should be 80 - 90 % of Power Out, depending on
heating element resistance)

Installation and Operation
13
3.4 Controlling the TC01 / TC02 via TCX-Control Software
Instead of configuring your TC01/02 via the front panel controls, you can also connect it to
a PC with standard USB 2.0 cable and use the software TCX-Control. With this software, you
can control all functions of one or more TC01/02 and it is also possible to read out the actual
temperature values on your computer and save the data as a ".txt" file. Then you can import
this file into your custom evaluation software, for example, to plot a temperature curve.
However, the TC01/02 is also fully functional without the USB 2.0 interface.
Setting up the TCX-Control Program
Connect the TC01/TC02 to a USB port of your computer. Start the setup program. This will install
TCX-Control on your hard disk drive. Once you connected the TC01/ TC02 to your computer via
USB port, a hardware install dialog will appear. Follow the instructions on the screen to install
the driver for the TC01/TC02.
General User Interface of TCX-Control
Below you can see the main user interface of TCX-Control. The TCX drop down menu shows the
serial number of all connected temperature controllers. If you operate more than one TC01/TC02
at a time, you can select here which one you want to monitor.

Temperature Controller TC01/02 Manual
14
Two windows show the temperature on the two channels. The scaling of the y-axis is adjusted
automatically. The x-axis shows the absolute time taken from the system clock. The scale of the
time axis can be altered in the "Scale" drop down menu. Find in each channel window a "Power"
button to activate and deactivate the respective channel. The status "Off / On" is displayed.
If a channel is deactivated, the status "Off" is displayed above the "Power" button. Additionally
the status "Off" is displayed in red letters in the "Setpoint" window in exchange for the setpoint
temperature. The actual temperature is displayed as a number and plotted against time.
Click the "Info" button to display the "About" dialog, which shows basic information about
the TCX software.
In the select "Device" drop down menu, it is possible to select the type of instrument connected
to the respective channel.
Temperature values can be logged to a temperature file. Select a time interval and a file name
and press the "Start Logging" button. Time and temperature values will be logged at the
selected frequency. The extension of the file is ".txt".

Installation and Operation
15
With the "Export Data" option it is possible to start temperature logging retrospectively.
When pressing the "Export Data" button, all data from the memory of the TCX-Control software
up to the present time is exported to a file. Memory starts when the TCX-Control (NOT the
channel) is turned on. The memory holds a maximum of 24 hours of data. If the TCX-Control
software has been running more than 24 at the time the export function is used, only the last
24 hours will be saved. The frequency is fixed to 1 second. The extension of the file is "*.txt".
Extended Information
It is possible to display the extended information with all parameters from the TC01/02.
Click "Show extended information" button in the main menu.

Temperature Controller TC01/02 Manual
16
These values can be saved to an ASCII file by pressing "Export diagnostics". The default settings
for P and I coefficients and maximum power for the different devices can be modified under
Device configuration.
Use of the OP Table
The OP Table consist of a heating plate for keeping the animal warm, and a rectal thermometer
for measuring the body temperature of the animal. Both elements are equipped with a thermo
sensor. The heating plate has a Pt100 sensor together with a resistance heating element.
The rectal thermometer has a thermocouple sensor. Connect the heating plate via the D-Sub 9
connector to channel 1 of the TCX. Connect the rectal thermometer via the thermocouple
connector to channel 1 socket. Please read chapter “Setting up and Connecting the TCX”.
Enable the check box “Enable Heater Temperature Limit”, and select a temperature limit from
the “Heater Temp Limit” drop down menu. This way you make sure that the temperature of the
heating plate will not increase too much during the heating phase, and the animal will not suffer.
Enable the check box “Use Thermocouple as Temperature Senor” if you want to use the
thermocouple sensor of the rectal thermometer. If the check box is disabled, the sensor of
the heating plate is used for temperature control. To control the settings of both parameters,
they are displayed in the “Extended Information” menu.