Programming the TL-30
Programming a TL-30
Before you can use the TL-30 you must to program it with settings that will allow you to easily identify
if the environment temperatures were outside your required temperature range. The following steps
will show you how to program a TL-30.
1. Start the 3M Temperature Logger software.
2. Connect the TL-30 to your computer using a USB to mini-USB cable. Keep the TL-30
connected to the computer until you have completed programming the TL-30.
3. Press the “Wake up” button on the TL-30 to enable it to communicate with the software.
NOTE: The connection on the TL-30 will go into a sleep mode if you do not program it or read
the data in 10 minutes. If this happens, the software will prompt you to press the Wake up
button.
4. Here are the basic settings to program the TL-30:
Data Logging Frequency (min): This controls how often the TL-30 will take a temperature
and save it. The range is between 1 minute and 120 minutes.
Duration (days): This controls how many days the TL-30 will continue to record temperatures.
The TL-30 can save up to 50,000 readings so if you set the logging frequency to 1 minute you
can record temperatures for 35 days only. If you set the logging frequency to 120 minutes you
can record temperatures for up to 360 days.
Upper Limit: The TL-30 will record all temperatures up to +80 C (+176 F). The Upper limit is a
temperature that you want to monitor to ensure the environment does not go above this
temperature value.
Lower Limit: The TL-30 will record all temperatures up to -40 C (-40F). The Lower limit is a
temperature that you want to monitor to ensure the environment does not go below this
temperature value.
Select temperature Unit: Select either Celsius (C) or Fahrenheit (F) as the scale.
5. Next click on the Advanced Configuration button.
This screen is used to configure how the TL-30 starts and stops as well as other settings such
as how the LED light will work, adding a password for security, and comments to the recipient.
Select Startup Mode: This will control how and when the TL-30 will start to take temperature
readings. If you select Manual then the TL-30 will not start to record temperatures until you
press the red Start/Stop button on the TL-30 for 3 seconds – the green light will flash 6 times to
confirm the start. Once you press the Start button you can set a time delay before the first
temperature is recorded. This is important so that the TL-30 can get adjusted to the
environment that it will be in. If the TL-30 does starts to record temperatures before it is in the
correct temperature range you will see data that is outside the configured limits.
Select Stop Mode: This will control how the TL-30 will stop taking temperature readings. If
you select Automatic + Manual, then it will stop either at the total amount of time (duration) or
if you press the Start/Stop button for 3 seconds or more (the red light will flash 6 times to
confirm the stop.
If you choose Automatic then the TL-30 will only stop recording when you reach at the total
amount of time (duration).
Password Setting: (Optional) You can choose to password protect this TL-30 so that you
cannot read the data or re-program it unless you know the password. NOTE: If you forget the
password there is no way to recover the data or re-program this TL-30.
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Programming the TL-30
LED Option: This is an important setting as it will affect the life of the battery. The TL-30 will
record all temperatures between -40 C and +80C but if at least one temperature is outside the
upper or lower limit values you entered, then you can configure how the LED lights can tell you
there is a problem. There are three options for the LED:
No LED flashing: To check if all the temperatures recorded are within your limits, you
must press the CHECK button on the TL-30. If the green light comes on then all temperatures
are within the limits. If the red light comes on then there is at least one temperature that is not
within the limits.
Real time Red LED flashing: The red LED will flash at 20-second intervals when the
temperature exceeds the lower or upper limit preset in the [Setup] tab. It stops flashing when
the temperature returns within the preset limits.
Continuous LED flashing: The green LED flashes at one-second intervals when all
data points are within the temperature limits. The red LED flashes at 20-second intervals when
one or more data points exceed the temperature limits. This setting will use more battery
power than the other two.
Shipper Information: You can enter a note to the recipient such as instructions on how to
return the TL-30.
6. When you have finished entering these settings click OK at the bottom of the screen to return
to the main Setup screen.
7. To program the TL-30 with these settings click the Configure Logger button on the main
Setup screen. You may see a message that asks if you want to overwrite the data and settings
that are currently on the TL-30. Click Yes to program the TL-30 with these settings or click No
to return to the main Setup screen.
Saving the Program settings for future use
If you will be using the same settings for other TL-30s, you can save these so that you do not
have to re-enter them every time.
To save the settings, click on File – Save Setting. You will be prompted to enter the name of a file
for these settings. The default location for this file will be in My Documents\ 3M Temperature
Logger\Setup. To load the settings into the software, go to File – Load Setting and select the file
that contains the settings you want to use to program the TL-30.
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