You don’t have to be a technical expert in using Tinytag data loggers
You don’t need to be a technical expert using a data logger. Find out how to set up a data logger and offload data with this helpful article.
Tinytag data loggers are designed to be easy to set up and use so that you can start gathering data straightaway.
Each data logger needs to be activated and downloaded individually, and Tinytag Explorer software makes these processes straightforward and easy to do.
For full instructions on how to use your data logger and how to use Tinytag Explorer, please consult the relevant product manual and the Tinytag Explorer Quick Start Guide.
How to set up a data logger
Install Tinytag Explorer software on your PC.
Connect the data logger or radio receiver to your PC using a USB cable, USB Inductive Pad or LAN (Ethernet) cable (depending on the logger).
Click the ‘Launch’ button in Tinytag Explorer to start your data logger.
After launching, you will be able to adjust the settings of your data logger. These include a description for the logging run and alarms.
Once set-up is complete, the logger is ready to use, and you can unplug the logger from your PC.
Place the logger where it is going to record data and turn the logger on to begin recording!
How to offload data from your logger
Radio and LAN (Ethernet) loggers automatically transmit data to Tinytag Explorer.
Remove the data logger from its position at the end of the desired period of recording.
Connect the logger to your computer once again using a USB cable.
Open Tinytag Explorer and select the ‘Get Data’ option to start downloading data.
Data is initially displayed in a graph, but it can also be displayed as a table of readings. Data can also be exported into third-party software for more detailed analysis.
Data loggers can be used in any situation where it is useful to acquire data about environmental conditions. Common applications vary from climate research to vaccine monitoring high-temperature manufacturing!
Data loggers might be used for a variety of reasons, but are mainly used for:
assessing environmental conditions
quality control
ensuring compliance with industry and legal standards
academic research
The applications of data loggers are many and varied, and can include:
For more information on how data loggers are used in different industries and to view a selection of exciting case studies, check out our Applications page!
The Tinytag thermocouple #datalogger is a cost-effective and robust solution for monitoring high intensity processes such as chemical production and is able to measure from -200°C to +1370°C.
Assessing the efficacy of ventilation with CO2 monitors has been identified as a key strategy for enabling a safe and COVID-Secure return to work and school.
Since one of the primary ways that COVID-19 is spread is through the air by aerosols – airborne liquid particles that may carry infection – keeping these particles out of the nearby air by regularly introducing clean and fresh air into communal spaces (i.e. ventilating) is vital for preventing the spread of disease.
So how do you ventilate spaces effectively? And how do you know if ventilation practices are even working?
The UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), along with The Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers (CIBSE) (UK) and the Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations (REHVA) (Europe), have issued guidelines on how to improve ventilation in rooms. Their advice includes opening windows, ensuring regular breaks for occupants and increasing mechanical ventilation.
WHY IS CO2 MONITORING IMPORTANT?
Feeling that a room has become ‘stuffy’ or feeling drowsy after hours sat in a meeting room are sensations that are familiar to many-and they’re caused by a build-up of CO2.
Just like CO2, aerosols carrying infectious diseases that are exhaled by occupants will linger in the air without sufficient ventilation. The longer that a room is occupied, the greater the volume of infectious aerosols that will build up, and the greater the risk of infection.
It is possible to evaluate the level of ventilation available in a room just by assessing how occupants are feeling. For example, if a person perceives that a room feels ‘stuffy’, they may proceed to open a window to increase airflow rates. However, this method is ultimately reliant on guesswork, and occupants may not be able to detect simply by feeling alone when extra ventilation is needed until it is too late.
Monitoring CO2 levels eliminate guesswork from ventilation assessment and enable a systematic approach to increasing ventilation. By accurately measuring the volume of CO2 in the air, CO2 monitors provide hard evidence of when extra ventilation is needed – which might be a long time before occupants feel that the room could do with some fresh air.
The report from SAGE identifies that CO2 monitoring is particularly important in workplaces and schools, where it is most likely to be an effective indicator of ventilation rates.
In spaces that are used for extended durations by groups, i.e. offices and classrooms, CO2 measurements reflect the air quality with greater accuracy and give a good indication of ventilation conditions.
By contrast, CO2 monitoring is not as effective at indicating ventilation rates in large volume or low occupancy spaces, where airflow and dispersion of occupants may vary. In these areas, however, SAGE still recommends aiming to keep CO2 levels low (below 800ppm) as a good rule of thumb.
HOW TO IMPROVE VENTILATION WITH CO2 MONITORING?
After establishing what ventilation is available in a room, CO2 monitors should be used for two purposes:
To alert when extra ventilation is needed
To evaluate the efficacy of ventilation
CO2 monitors should be placed on an inside wall, with sensors facing away from windows or grilles so that the readings are as accurate to the inside conditions as possible. It is also recommended that they are placed in visible positions c. 1.5m off of the ground so that responsible persons can easily act upon their alerts.
Alarms show when extra ventilation is needed
Alarms on CO2 monitors can alert occupants of the immediate need to increase ventilation in a room by signalling that the CO2 concentration has exceeded acceptable levels.
As a visual indicator, CO2 alarms also help to boost awareness of the importance of ventilation. The CIBSE report suggests that involving school pupils in responding to CO2 alerts can help to increase ventilation efficacy by improving awareness.
The reports suggest that alarms should be set to alert when the CO2 concentration measures at or above 1000ppm. If or when an alarm is triggered, action should be taken to immediately increase air flow into the occupied space. Opening high windows is an effective strategy, especially in colder months, as it will sufficiently increase ventilation rates while not significantly lowering room temperature or causing a draught.
For schools with mechanical ventilation systems, the reports recommended maximising fresh air flow at all times.
Take informed action with long-term recorded data
With data loggers, CO2 levels can be recorded over time so that data can be viewed and analysed, and further action taken based on this evidence.
Data from CO2 monitoring should be used to assess whether ventilation measures are taking effect.
Time-stamped data from one room might show that instances of increasing natural ventilation-for example, by opening windows or doors-is effective at lowering CO2 levels. For a different room, with different dimensions and different available ventilation routes, analysis of data may reveal that there is a need to implement more significant measures to fully protect the health of occupants. Rooms which are shown to regularly record above 1500ppm should be identified and prioritised for improvements to ventilation.
A further advantage of monitoring with a CO2 data logger is that long-term recorded data can provide evidence of the need for significant or structural changes to be made, helping to support funding applications.
Robust, easy-to-use and quick to deploy, the Tinytag CO2 data logger is a simple and effective solution for indoor air quality monitoring.
Using a self-calibrating non-dispersive infrared sensor (NDIR), the data logger accurately measures and records carbon dioxide concentrations with outstanding long-term stability. The TGE-0010 model measures from 0 to 2000ppm and is ideal for measuring indoor air quality in busy classrooms or offices. A model measuring up to 5000ppm is also available for more specialised applications.
The data logger has an LED on its front which will flash red when an alarm has been triggered, enabling responsive action to high CO2 levels. The data logger can be wall-mounted or placed on surfaces to continuously monitor CO2 concentrations wherever is required. Compact and light-weight, the logger can be situated anywhere where there is a mains supply, and can easily be transferred between different locations for versatile monitoring throughout a building.
Data is offloaded and viewed in user-friendly Tinytag Explorer software, where it can then be exported to third-party programmes in a variety of popular file formats (.xls, .xml, .csv, .txt) for further analysis and presentation.
While low levels of CO2 are a good indication of effective ventilation, they are not confirmation of low aerosol transmission by themselves. Other transmission factors, including occupant density, occupant duration and the type of activity being performed in a room should also be taken into account when assessing transmission rates. A good COVID-19 risk management strategy should also comprise mitigation efforts for other transmission routes, for example, mask-wearing, social distancing and reducing occupancy time in rooms.
Can indoor environmental monitoring be simple, flexible & cost-effective for any budget?
Tinytag Ultra 2 indoor #dataloggers can be transferred between multiple monitoring points to gather temperature and RH data any time, anywhere. Find out more!
Tinytag data logger for construction, environmental and industrial applications
Rugged, waterproof and dustproof Tinytag data loggers are available for construction, environmental and industrial applications. Probes offer easy access to awkward areas a logger cannot reach such as pipework or can be used for monitoring extremes of temperature in production processes.
ENERGY DATA LOGGER The Energy Logger monitors voltage and current and determines power and power factor. Peak and average values can be recorded. Voltage is measured via the standard mains lead and current is measured using non-invasive flexible coils. It can be used for spot checks or longer term recording.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE
Tinytag data loggers accurately and reliably monitor temperature, humidity, power usage, CO2 and other environmental parameters. Made in the UK, Tinytags include compact units for indoor use and rugged devices for industrial and outdoor applications.
DATA LOGGER BY TINYTAG GEMINI – DATALOGGER: ROBUST ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SOLUTIONS
Temperature, humidity, energy, power, current and CO2 data logger
Tinytag data logger accurately and reliably monitor temperature, humidity, power usage, CO2 and other environmental parameters. Made in the UK, Tinytags datalogger include compact units for indoor use and rugged devices for industrial and outdoor applications.
Data loggers are electronic devices which automatically monitor and record environmental parameters over time, allowing conditions to be measured, documented, analysed and validated. The data logger contains a sensor to receive the information and a computer chip to store it. Then the information stored in the data logger is transferred to a computer for analysis.
Loggers in the Tinytag range monitor parameters including temperature, humidity, single and three phase power usage, CO2, mV, mA, voltage, pulses or counts.
BENEFITS OF USING A DATA LOGGER
Data logging can be done manually by constant human observation. An example of this might be recording the temperature changes over the course of an hour in a centrally heated room using a timer, thermometer, pen and paper. However, using an electronic data logger is much more effective, accurate and reliable than taking periodic manual readings. It does the job of all the tools mentioned above, saving time and expense.
The time taken to see the benefits of using data loggers will depend on the way in which the units are used. However, quantifiable benefits from the using loggers may often be seen within a very short time. Typically, only one or two logging runs are required to pinpoint areas that would benefit from extra attention.
The Aquatic 2 submersible data logger is specifically designed for under water applications. It is typically used for temperature monitoring in rivers, lakes and oceans, to monitor the effects of weather and climate change. The logger is also used for temperature recording in fish farms and in industrial water treatment applications.
Submersible temperature data logger with a built-in sensor
The TG-4100 temperature logger can be submerged at depths up to 500 metres for long periods. It monitors from -40 to +70°C. Its robust, high visibility bright yellow case has an attachment point allowing it to be securely positioned. It is ideal for fishery, river and ocean monitoring.
This logger requires Tinytag Explorer software and an inductive pad (ACS-3030).
TINYTAG DATA LOGGERS – AL THIKA PACKAGING LLC
Al Thika Packaging is the exclusive distributor of Tinytag company in the Middle East. Since 1994 till now Al Thika has been providing Gemini datalogger for robust environmental monitoring solutions for food, non-food & beverages industries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Al Ain – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Muscat, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and the many other Gulf countries.
Tinytag temperature data loggers come in a number of different case styles with different features to suit a variety of applications. They range from basic loggers designed to record temperature in product shipments or within buildings, to robust, waterproof devices that can be used for outdoor environmental monitoring including underwater, and in industrial applications. Data loggers with displays can also be supplied, and specialist ATEX validated units for recording conditions in intrinsically safe areas are also available. Where data loggers cannot be placed directly into an application, a wide variety of probes are available to withstand extremes of temperature such as those in ovens and cryogenic monitoring, and specific conditions such as pipework temperatures or compost. Whatever your application, location or the environmental conditions, Tinytag data loggers will provide the solution.
Temperature data logger by Tinytag Gemini
TEMP DATA LOGGERS MEASUREMENT RANGE
-40°C TO 85°C
Tinytag data loggers which can monitors temperatures ranging from -40 to +85°C using a built-in sensor, and has a connection for one of our range of thermistor probes for monitoring.
-40°C TO 125°C
Gemini data loggers which can monitors temperatures from -40 to +125°C using one of our range of thermistor probes, making it ideal for awkward to reach areas or where fast response time is required.
ABOVE 125°C
Tinytag data logger uses a PT100 probe for very high-temperature monitoring. PT100 probes monitor from -50 to +300/600°C, making the unit a versatile solution for many high temperature industrial and process applications.
BELOW -40°C
Tinytag data logger works across a wide temperature range using a PT1000 probe to monitor from -200 to +250°C, making it a versatile solution for diverse applications.
TINYTAG DATA LOGGERS – AL THIKA PACKAGING LLC
Al Thika Packaging is the exclusive distributor of Tinytag company in the Middle East. Since 1994 till now Al Thika has been providing Gemini datalogger for robust environmental monitoring solutions for food, non-food & beverages industries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Al Ain – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Muscat, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and the many other Gulf countries.
Tritonia Scientific Ltd. provides specialist diving support for underwater scientific research projects, either university-based programmes or in support of government agency science. Tritonia has used Aquatic 2 Tinytag data loggers for many years, using divers to deploy and retrieve these loggers as it removes the need for buoyed lines rising to the surface which could be pulled up or run over by mistake.
The recorded data has been used in numerous studies across a number of scientific disciplines. Aquatic temperature data is important for understanding how ecosystems function and the long-term consequences of anthropogenic drivers, for example, the steady rise in greenhouse gas emissions, and dynamic changes in temperatures. The monitoring takes place over a number of time phases and at different depths depending on the nature of the study, but some of the studies are now yielding long-term time series of over 20 years.
Typically the data loggers are used to verify seawater temperature proxies. An example of this is the long-lived molluscArctica islandica which is used by scientists to generate time-series using their growth rings. Tritonia’s temperature datasets can be used to match the modern growth rings against known temperatures. Another use is to deploy the loggers over a latitudinal range to generate temperature profiles against which scientists can compare the growth rates of subtidal kelp species in order to predict what the future impacts may be of warmer seas around the UK.
The data loggers monitor the changes in seawater temperatures at different depths, typically 10, 20 and 30 metres. Monitoring intervals on the long-term time series are set to either 10 or 12 minutes. Most of the data loggers used on the long-term monitoring have been deployed off the west coast of Scotland, but they have also been used on short-term experiments in the tropics and in both Polar Regions. The loggers are deployed in pairs just in case of any losses or failures.
Martin Sayer is Tritonia’s Managing Director and has used Tinytags since the mid-1990s when they were the first product that provided the capability of long-term temperature monitoring at low costs. He comments, “We have simply stayed with the product because of its reliability. The latest versions are easy to use and are very resistant to being used in such a challenging environment. They provide a reliable and cost-effective way of generating high quality subtidal temperature datasets.”
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