NPI TC-10 User manual

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS AND
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION FOR THE
TC-10
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
SYSTEM
VERSION 3.9
npi 2018
npi electronic GmbH, Bauhofring 16, D-71732 Tamm, Germany
Phone [phone]; Fax: [phone]
[email protected]; http://www.npielectronic.com

TC-10 User Manual
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
version 3.9 page 2
Table of Contents
1.Safety Regulations ............................................................................................................ 3
2.TC-10 Components .......................................................................................................... 4
3.TC-10 System ................................................................................................................... 4
3.1.System Description ...................................................................................................... 4
3.2.Description of the Front Panel ..................................................................................... 5
3.3.Rear Panel Elements .................................................................................................... 10
3.4.Electronic Control and Protection Circuits .................................................................. 10
3.5.Modes of Operation ..................................................................................................... 11
3.6.Setting the DESIRED TEMPERATURE .................................................................... 12
4.Grounding ......................................................................................................................... 12
5.Temperature sensors / Block diagram .............................................................................. 13
5.1.DIN Connector ............................................................................................................ 13
5.1.Available sensors ......................................................................................................... 14
5.2.Block diagram ............................................................................................................. 15
6.Operating Guide – Tuning Procedure............................................................................... 16
6.1.Operation with HPT-2A Heated Perfusion Tube (discontinued) ................................ 18
7.Literature .......................................................................................................................... 18
8.Technical Data .................................................................................................................. 19

TC-10 User Manual
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
version 3.9 page 3
1. Safety Regulations
VERY IMPORTANT: Instruments and components supplied by npi electronic are NOT
intended for clinical use or medical purposes (e.g. for diagnosis or treatment of humans),
or for any other life-supporting system. npi electronic disclaims any warranties for such
purpose. Equipment supplied by npi electronic must be operated only by selected, trained
and adequately instructed personnel. For details please consult the GENERAL TERMS
OF DELIVERY AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS of npi electronic, D-71732 Tamm,
Germany.
1) GENERAL: This system is designed for use in scientific laboratories and must be operated
by trained staff only. General safety regulations for operating electrical devices should be
followed.
2) AC MAINS CONNECTION: While working with the npi systems, always adhere to the
appropriate safety measures for handling electronic devices. Before using any device
please read manuals and instructions carefully.
The device is to be operated only at 115/230 Volt 60/50 Hz AC. Please check for
appropriate line voltage before connecting any system to mains.
Always use a three-wire line cord and a mains power-plug with a protection contact
connected to ground (protective earth).
Before opening the cabinet, unplug the instrument.
Unplug the instrument when replacing the fuse or changing line voltage. Replace fuse only
with an appropriate specified type.
3) STATIC ELECTRICITY: Electronic equipment is sensitive to static discharges. Some
devices such as sensor inputs are equipped with very sensitive FET amplifiers, which can
be damaged by electrostatic charge and must therefore be handled with care. Electrostatic
discharge can be avoided by touching a grounded metal surface when changing or
adjusting sensors. Always turn power off when adding or removing modules,
connecting or disconnecting sensors, headstages or other components from the
instrument or 19” cabinet.
4) TEMPERATURE DRIFT / WARM-UP TIME: All analog electronic systems are sensitive
to temperature changes. Therefore, all electronic instruments containing analog circuits
should be used only in a warmed-up condition (i.e. after internal temperature has reached
steady-state values). In most cases a warm-up period of 20-30 minutes is sufficient.
5) HANDLING: Please protect the device from moisture, heat, radiation and corrosive
chemicals.

TC-10 User Manual
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
version 3.9 page 4
2. TC-10 Components
The following items are shipped with the TC-10 system:
 TC-10 19” cabinet
 Power cord
 User manual
Optional accessories:
 Miniature temperature sensor (TS-100)
 Subminiature temperature sensor (TS-200)
Caution: The temperature sensors are very sensitive to mechanical stress, especially to bending.
Therefore, they must be handled with great care to avoid breaking of the insulation!
 Recording chamber
 HCS heated chamber stage
 ALA DIN connector cable assembly
 Thermal foil
 Objective heater
 HPC-G perfusion cube
 HPC-2 perfusion cube (low flow rate)
3. TC-10 System
3.1.System Description
The TC-10 temperature control system is designed for heating purposes in electrophysiological
experiments. The TC-10 system is housed in a 19 inch standard cabinet, with a built-in power
supply and cooling elements for the power devices. The TC-10 guarantees low noise operation
and has special protection features to prevent the preparation from damage.
The TC-10 incorporates two electronic thermometers for small semiconductor sensors (R2252,
i.e. the sensor has a resistance of 2252  at 25 °C), two digital temperature displays (XX.X °C),
a set-point control with direct readout (XX.X °C), a PI (proportional-integral) controller with
adjustable parameters, an output power control unit and a high-power output stage (DC,
continuous operation) for resistive (i.e. heat only) loads with electronic protection circuits. The
power output is short circuit protected, the output power is limited electronically. Maximal
output voltage is approximately 12V, the current is limited to 5A.
The system can be connected to the thermistors / heating elements in two ways:
Using separate cables for the sensors and the heating element or
Using the ALA DIN cable assembly that connects both, sensors and heating elements
A large variety of sensors and thermal elements are available (see also Optional accessories in
chapter 2). Please contact npi for details.

TC-10 User Manual
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
version 3.9 page 5
3.2.Description of the Front Panel
Figure 1: TC-10 front panel view

TC-10 User Manual
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
version 3.9 page 6
In the following description of the front panel elements each element has a number that is
related to that in Figure 1. The number is followed by the name (in uppercase letters) written
on the front panel and the type of the element (in lowercase letters). Then, a short description
of the element is given.
(1) DESIRED TEMP./°C potentiometer
Digital potentiometer to set the working temperature of the controller
system.
(2) TEMPERATURE °C A display
Digital display to indicate the temperature determined by SENSOR A or the
voltage at the POWER OUTPUT connectors (18 / 19). Switch (11) is used
to select one of these functions of display A.
(3) ALARM LED
LED to indicate that temperature SENSOR A (13) is not connected, broken or
short-circuited. The POWER OUTPUT (18 / 19) shuts down if this LED is on and
the MODE switch (14) is set to SENSOR A.
(4) GAIN potentiometer
Potentiometer (logarithmic scale) to change the GAIN parameter (amplification
of the error signal, see chapter 3.3) of the temperature controller (PI controller),
range: 10 to .
(5) INTEGRATION potentiometer
Potentiometer to set the INTEGRATION parameter (time constant) of the
temperature controller (PI controller), time range: 50 ms - 20 s.

TC-10 User Manual
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
version 3.9 page 7
(6) TEMPERATURE °C B display
Digital display to indicate the temperature determined by SENSOR B (16).
(7) ALARM LED
LED to indicate that temperature SENSOR B (16) is not connected, broken or
short-circuited. The POWER OUTPUT (18 / 19) shuts down if this LED is on and
the MODE switch (14) is set to SENSOR B.
(8) LIMITER potentiometer
Potentiometer to set the voltage range of the POWER OUTPUT (18 / 19),
100% = 12 Volt.
(9) HEAT LED
LED that indicates the status of the POWER OUTPUT (18 / 19) (LED on = heating).
(10) COMMAND INPUT 10mV/°C connector
BNC connector to set the working temperature of the controller system by an
external voltage signal. This input is scaled with the factor 10mV / °C.

TC-10 User Manual
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
version 3.9 page 8
(11) SENSOR A / PWR OUT switch (display mode switch)
Switch to select the mode of display A (2):
SENSOR A (upper position): the temperature determined by SENSOR A (13) is
displayed (XX.X °C)
PWR OUT ( (lower position): the voltage at the POWER OUTPUT (18 / 19) is
displayed.
(12) OUTPUT A 10mV/°C connector
BNC connector monitoring the temperature determined by SENSOR A (13),
sensitivity: 10mV / °C.
(13) SENSOR A connector
8-pole connector for temperature SENSOR A.
This connector also provides the POWER OUTPUT (18 / 19) for the heating unit
(max. 12V DC and 5A) for devices with the DIN connector cable assembly. (e.g.
HPC-G, see www.alascience.com).
(14) MODE switch
Switch to select the operation modes of the TC-10. Four
modes are available:
SENSOR A: the temperature determined by SENSOR
A (13) is used for the control system
DIRECT: the voltage at the POWER OUTPUT (18 /
19) can be set directly from the DESIRED
TEMPERATURE potentiometer (1) (0-12 V, no control)
EXT. SENSOR (EXTERN SENSOR): an external thermometer connected to BNC (15)
(sensitivity 1mV/°C) can be used for the controller loop
SENSOR B: temperature determined by SENSOR B (16) is used as feedback temperature in
the controller loop.
(15) EXT. SENSOR 1mV/°C connector
BNC connector to connect external thermometer with a voltage output of 1mV/°C
(see also (14)).

TC-10 User Manual
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
version 3.9 page 9
(16) SENSOR B connector
8-pole connector for temperature SENSOR B.
This connector also provides the POWER OUTPUT (18 / 19) for the heating unit
(max. 12V DC and 2.5A) for devices with the DIN connector cable assembly. (e.g.
HPT-2A, see www.alascience.com).
(17) OUTPUT B 10mV/°C connector
BNC connector monitoring the temperature determined by SENSOR B (16),
sensitivity: 10mV / °C.
(18) / (19) POWER OUTPUT Max. 5A DC connectors
Banana jack connectors for the heating unit. This output supplies a
maximum voltage of 12V DC and a maximum current of 5A.
POWER OUTPUT is also available at the SENSOR A (13) and
SENSOR B connectors (16) for devices with the DIN cable assembly.
(20) POWER pressure switch
Switch to turn POWER on (switch pushed) or off (switch released).
(22) Protective earth / (21) GROUND connectors
To avoid ground loops the internal ground of the system is floating, i.e.
it is not connected to the protective earth of the line cable while the
cabinet is always connected via the power supply cable (green / yellow
wire). The system can be grounded by connecting plug (21) protective
earth or (22) internal ground.
(23) SHUTOFF TEMPERATURE label
Label indicating the upper SHUTOFF TEMPERATURE (standard is 60 °C).
If the sensor measures the indicated temperature or more the POWER
OUTPUT is disabled.

TC-10 User Manual
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
version 3.9 page 10
3.3.Rear Panel Elements
LINE VOLTAGE SELECTION: The selector for the line voltage and the connector for the
power cord are located in a mains connection module on the rear panel of the instrument.
Caution: If operated with other line voltage the instrument may be damaged if the wrong line
fuse is installed!
FUSE: The fuse is also integrated in the mains connection module. The line fuse must be 3.15 A
slow (115 V) or 1.6 A slow (230 V). It must be replaced only by specified type (see above).
Please disconnect mains power plug before replacing fuse.
3.4.Electronic Control and Protection Circuits
CONTROL LOOP
The sensor / thermometer, PI-controller, output power stage and heating element form a closed
loop control system. The desired temperature signal is compared with the output signal obtained
from the thermometer giving an error signal. This signal is amplified in the PI controller and
transferred to the output stage where it is converted to a high-power output signal applied to the
heating element.
ELECTRONIC PROTECTION CIRCUITS
Each system is equipped with two protection systems:
1. Sensor inputs: an electronic shut-off function disconnects the output if the sensor is
disconnected, broken or short-circuited.
2. Output protection: the output current and voltage are limited electronically.
Important: The sensor used for the control must be in good thermal connection with the heating
wire, if not, overheating and damage may occur.
ALARM circuit
The internal thermometer (R2252 sensor) inputs are protected by the sensor alarm circuit (see
above). If this thermometer is used as input device for the PI controller, the ALARM circuit
disconnects the power output if the sensor is damaged or not connected. This state is indicated
by the red ALARM LED. If the DIRECT mode or EXT mode is used the ALARM circuit is
disabled.
ACCURACY
Measuring accuracy of the internal thermometer is 0.1°C, controller accuracy is 0.5°C or better
(depending on the amount of heated solution).