Stand-alone data loggers are high precision measurements recorders widely used in all industrial and service sectors. They are often found in storage areas, in transport, for a first monitoring layer of sensitive areas, or in establishments receiving visitors (ERP).
The places where data loggers are most commonly used are very varied, and here are a few typical applications:
- Refrigerated lorries and containers, to ensure cold chain traceability for chilled or frozen transport.
- Laboratory storage areas (refrigerated cabinets, etc.)
- Supermarket fresh and frozen aisles
- Museums (public or conservation areas)
- Document archiving centers
- Logistics warehouses
- Healthcare (hospital pharmacies, analysis laboratories, drug storage, etc.)
- In the food service industry (and more broadly throughout the agro-food sector), for cold room temperatures, or oven and cooking oil temperatures, etc.
- In climate-controlled production (electronic assembly, storage areas, insulation booths, etc.).
These recorders are also the instruments of choice for HVAC-R technicians to carry out mapping, which consists of studying the behavior of climatic conditions over several days in certain volumes whose indoor air needs to be controlled. Sauermann also provides this very special service, particularly for large-volume mapping.
Data loggers are autonomous, mobile air parameters recording instruments
Data loggers have the advantage of being highly mobile and totally autonomous. They can easily be attached in the smallest nooks and crannies to monitor, record, and archive various air parameters over many days with high accuracy. They can be moved around without difficulty, and offer a very high level of battery life, averaging one year. Their built-in memory stores all measurements taken at programmable intervals (up to a million points). Measurement data can then be easily retrieved via a wireless connection or USB interface.
What are the different types of data logger?
Dataloggers can be divided into several categories:
- Stand-alone data loggers: their data is stored in internal memory, and can be downloaded via a wired USB connection.
- Wireless data logger: measurements are also stored in internal memory, but can be sent in real time or at regular intervals via a wireless network, most often WiFi®, but sometimes also a more conventional radio connection (868 MHz).
- Long-range data loggers: these higher-end measuring instruments offer all the classic functions of data loggers, but are also connected to a special, independent wireless network, designed for long-range data transmissions in environments where there are many obstacles to the transmission waves. TrackLogs are good examples of this with their LoRa® communication network. As this ad-hoc wireless network is independent, it offers greater security than shared WiFi® networks.
Data loggers are also differentiated according to the air parameters they measure:
- Temperature loggers: some use thermocouple technology.
- Hygrometry data loggers: these instruments measure relative humidity, and also offer a thermometer function for temperature.
- Pressure and differential pressure loggers: these data loggers specialize in measuring atmospheric pressure, or comparing two pressures to derive a differential pressure.
- Multifunction data loggers: these more advanced devices measure a variety of parameters, including temperature, pressure and hygrometry, as well as CO2, current, voltage, pulse counting, light and even water pressure, depending on the probes connected to their housing. They are also called climatic condition recorders when they specialize in monitoring indoor air parameters.
When should an air data logger be used?
There are several typical uses for air data loggers:
- Permanent, continuous monitoring over a given period, to study the climatic conditions of a building (mapping).
- Traceability of storage and transport conditions for climate-sensitive products (food industry, etc.).
- Direct monitoring of a confined space, with display of measurements and audible and visual alarms if set points are exceeded, so that operators can be warned directly on the spot.
How do I configure and collect data from a data logger?
Data loggers are very easy to configure in terms of measurement frequency, campaign duration, setpoints for alarm thresholds, time configuration and schedule of measurement sessions, etc. In many cases, this configuration is carried out directly in a file that can be accessed directly from the device when connected to a computer. Very often, this configuration is carried out in a file that can be accessed directly on the device when it is connected to a computer.
At any time, the points stored in the recorder's internal memory can be exported to any data file (Excel, CSV, etc.). They can then be transferred to a computer for further processing. Loggers can also automatically generate PDF files with compiled graphs to trace the measurement period, without the user having to compile the data himself. An easy means of traceability for users needing to produce this type of report quickly. Data transfer can be manual (USB connection) or automatic via a wireless connection.
A software solution is usually supplied with loggers, although it is often not essential (the stand-alone logger must be able to operate independently in all aspects of its use).