Data Logger Applications

Perhaps the most common application for the use of the data logger in the world today is for temperature logging. The temperature data logger is used in factories, offices, hospitals, museums, road transport, and outdoors for environmental monitoring. Here is an outline of typical temperature data logger applications:

Temperature data logger use in factories
The monitoring and logging of temperature is vital in many manufacturing processes. In the food industry a temperature data logger is often used to ensure that unprocessed food is stored at the correct temperature in cold stores. It is also used in ovens and production lines to ensure the food has been heated to the correct temperature for the required length of time

In the semi conductor industry clean rooms and production processes must be kept at a constant temperature to ensure quality control. Here the temperature data logger is indispensable.

In brick works a temperature data logger is used in the oven through process to ensure that bricks are cured to the correct temperature.

Temperature data logger us in offices
Many companies will position a temperature data logger in main working areas throughout their building to verify that a comfortable temperature is maintained during working hours. Staff will sometimes complain that a room is either too hot, or too cold. A data logger can be used to record the actual temperature so that subjective judgments can be corroborated.

Temperature data logger use in hospitals
Hospitals use many types of data logger for temperature recording. Fridges and freezers where drugs and samples are stored will have a temperature data logger permanently installed. Incubators are also generally monitored for temperature and here a data logger is often used for historical data.

Temperature data logger use in museums and art galleries
In paintings many artefacts are extremely sensitive to temperature. It is common for a temperature data logger to be placed in each room, and often within individual display cases to monitor ambient temperature. In art galleries paintings are very sensitive to temperature. As well as placing a data logger in each room, sometimes a temperature data logger is also fitted within the frame of very old paintings, particularly those painted on wood.

Temperature data logger use in environmental monitoring
In addition to general weather monitoring the temperature data logger is used widely to log temperature over large areas where scientists and researchers need to have exact ground temperature data. Typical examples are glaciers, rain forests, mountain areas, and polar regions. A temperature data logger can also be used to monitor rivers and lakes.

Temperature data logger use in road transport
Sensitive or delicate goods, in particular foodstuffs can often be in transit for many hours or days by road. A data logger can be used to check that goods in refrigerated trucks have been maintained at the correct temperature throughout a journey. In the UK it is now a requirement to use a data logger to record temperature in vehicles used for livestock transportation.

Jim Furness is CEO of Omniinstruments Ltd, specialists in data loggers and other instrumentation solutions