TeirmiLab - Use

This article describes how to use the  TeirmiLab.

Introduction

The TeirmiLab is a thermometer with some extra capabilities.
The design  allows for these features:

• Range -55 to 125°C (-67°F to +257°F)
• ±0.5°C Accuracy from -10°C to +85°C
• Reading in Celsius, Fahrenheit or Kelvin
• Alarm capability with visual and audio notification
• Offset capability for better tuning the sensor

It is possible to add more capabilities if needed, like data logger and remote connection capabilities.

Operations

Turning the unit On

Verify to have the temperature sensor connected to the instrument via its connector.

Then push the power button.
The light on the power button will flash, indicating that the instrument is powering on.
After approx 30 seconds, the power button light will be steady ON and the LCD display will show a welcome message for few seconds, followed by the temperature reading.
If for any reason the instrument is not starting correctly, the power will be removed automatically.
Contact the TheFwGuy for help if the problem persist.

Turning the unit Off

It is highly discouraged to remove the power supply from the instrument while is working!
Removing the power from the instrument could damage the memory card and thus having the instrument not working anymore (contact the TheFwGuy to restore functionality).
To correctly power down the instrument, push the power button.
The light on the power button will start to flash indicating that the power off procedure started.
When the power off procedure is completed and it is safe to remove the power, the light on the power button will stop to flash turning off, and the power will be removed automatically.

General settings

The instrument has two knobs just below the display.
One is used to bright or dim the display.
The other is an encoder with a switch.  Pressing the knob will change the instrument mode sequentially.
The available modes are :

1. Run  (default - the instrument starts on this mode)
2. Measurement unit setting
3. Enabling/Disabling alarm
4. Setting alarm value (only if alarm enabled)
5. Setting offset value
6. Reset the TeirmiLab
7. back to number 1

To change mode, simply press the encoder knob.

To change value, rotate the knob clockwise or counterclockwise

Note. Before to access the menu', it can require to push the encoder knob for a couple of seconds.

Measurement unit setting

The LCD  will  display on the top line "Set Unit" and on the bottom line "Celsius" or "Fahrenheit" or "Kelvin".

Turning the knob clockwise or counterclockwise will change the selection.

To exit from the Measurement unit setting mode, press the Mode button once.
The setting displayed will be used.

Enabling/Disabling alarm

The LCD will  display on the top line "Enable Alarm" and on the bottom line should be present the current status : On or Off (default Off).

Turning the knob clockwise or counterclockwise will change the selection.
If the selection is Off, pressing the Mode button will skip the Alarm Value step, going directly to the Set Offset Value selection.

If the selection is On, pressing the Mode button will go to the Setting Alarm Value selection.

Setting alarm value

The LCD will display on the top line "Set Alarm" and on the bottom line will be present the last setting for the alarm.

Turning the knob clockwise will increment the alarm value, turning it counterclockwise will decrements the alarm value.
The allowed range for the alarm is :

• Celsius, from -40 C to +120 C
• Fahrenheit from -40F to +248F
• Kelvin from 233K to 393K 

When the desired Alarm temperature is set, press the Mode button.

During the Run time, the TeirmiLab will display the current temperature in Green.

When the Alarm temperature is reached, the screen will become Red and a sound will be generated.

Press the Mode button once to reset the Alarm.

Set offset value

The LCD will display on the top line "Set Offset" and on the bottom line will be present the last setting for the offset.

Turning the knob clockwise will increment the offset value, turning it counterclockwise will decrements the offset value.

The offset is used to change the temperature reading in case the sensor measurements are not correct.

Reset the TeirmiLab

The LCD will display on the top line "Reset ?" and on the bottom line will be present the last choice as "Yes" and "No"

Turning the knob clockwise or counterclockwise will change the selection.

If the selection is "Yes", pressing the knob will cause the Reset.

The configuration file will be erased and re-created with the default values.

Errors

No sensor

When the TeirmiLab starts, it checks if the temperature sensor is connected properly.
If not, a Error message will be displayed on the LCD requesting to turn off the unit and connect the temperature sensor.
Follow the normal procedure for turning OFF the unit.

Unit not working

It is possible the unit can experience a not identified problem.
In that case the usual outcome is the unit frozen, no activity, no possibility to restart it.
If that happens, turn off the unit pressing the Power button as normally, however it will take at least two minutes to turn off and NO MESSAGES on the LCD will be issued !
This is NORMAL.
Don't disconnect the power.

If this happens often, notify the problem to TheFwGuy
The TeirmiLab program generates a log that can be examined in order to identify the problem.

Default

By default the TeirmiLab has :

• Alarm disabled
• Alarm value set to zero
• Measurement unit in Celsius
• Offset set to zero