Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What components do I need to work with Veriteq data loggers?
Do Veriteq data loggers need to be connected to a computer in order to work?
How long can Veriteq data loggers record for?
Can I rent a system for a short term validation or mapping project?
What happens to the data and the logger during downloading? Does logging stop or does it carry on? Is the data cleared?
"Compact Precision Data Loggers". What does that mean?
Spectrum data loggers have 12-bit resolution. What is "resolution" and why is it important in data logging?

Logger Battery Questions

Do Veriteq loggers really have 10-year battery life?
How is this 10-year life achieved?
Why a ten-year battery? Isn't one year enough for most applications?
Should I turn the logger off when I am not using it to save battery power?
Are there any factors that will shorten battery life?
When the battery does run out, what can I do?
How often should I replace the battery in my logger?

Logger Size Questions

Why are Veriteq data loggers so small? What's the advantage?
What are we giving up by going small?

Product-specific Questions

	What components do I need to work with Veriteq data loggers?
	The minimum you need to start data logging with Veriteq products is: one or more Veriteq data loggers Spectrum Software (or one of our other data logger software packages) PC-Logger interface cable (serial or USB) any PC equipped with Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, or 2003 operating systems and an available serial or USB port, or Windows NT Version 4.0 with an available serial port.
	Do Veriteq data loggers need to be connected to a computer in order to work?
	No. Veriteq data loggers are completely standalone devices that are self-powered by a ten-year battery. They record data independent of a computer using their own internal memory. You only need a computer to setup and download the data logger when required.
	How long can Veriteq data loggers record for?
	The length of time Veriteq data loggers can record for is determined by the number of input channels enabled on the logger, the recording frequency (sampling interval), and the size of the memory (32K or optional 105K). For a general guide, refer to the Sample Interval & Duration Chart or refer to the specifications page (on this website) for the specific data logger model you are interested in.
	Can I rent a system for a short term validation or mapping project?
	Yes. You can also test drive our systems and have a percentage of the rental fee applied towards a purchase if you decide that Veriteq's system is a good fit. Contact or call us at 1-800-683-8374 for more details.
	What happens to the data and the logger during downloading? Does logging stop, or does it carry on? Is the data cleared?
	The logger keeps on recording throughout the downloading process. When a logger is downloaded, the software simply makes a copy of the data in the logger's memory and creates a file on the computer. No changes are made to the operation of the logger; the data on the logger is only cleared if that function is selected in software.
	"Compact Precision Data Loggers". What does that mean?
	"Data Loggers": Our focus is solely on the most accurate, efficient and time-saving technology to collect, store and report temperature and humidity data. We have found that monitoring and mapping operations in critical environments benefit from a data logger that has been combined with ultra-stable sensors, on-board memory that can over-write itself when needed, low power operation, long battery life, software functionality, ease-of-use, and communications flexibility. "Compact": The equipment required for most monitoring and validations has been a cause of forced downtime and lost productivity (sometimes lost product) in many applications. Most industries cannot afford this downtime. The small size of our loggers allows them to be placed in situ, without interrupting normal operations. Our loggers contain more technology than normal data loggers; they are actually small standalone sensing, recording, archiving and communications systems. Their portability, ease-of-use, and long battery-life make them a cost saving solution for many critical monitored environments. "Precision": Precision in this sense does not just refer to resolution (i.e. "12-bit") but all that the term "precision" connotes: premium quality, reliability, measurement accuracy, time accuracy, stability, in-calibration performance, and repeatability. The word "precision" is also a comparative term and we use it to differentiate ourselves from lower-cost data loggers which typically serve markets where accuracy and precision is not a priority concern.
	Spectrum data loggers have 12-bit resolution. What is "resolution" and why is it important in data logging?
	Resolution is the smallest change that can be distinguished by a measurement instrument. It is sometimes referred to as "sensitivity" or "precision" and is limited by the number of bits that the instrument uses to quantize the signal it is measuring. The greater the resolution of an instrument, the smaller the changes in the input signal that can be measured (or resolved). As an example, an 8-bit instrument can resolve to one part in 256 (2 to the power of 8), a 10-bit instrument can resolve to one part in 1024 (2 to the power of 10), and a 12-bit instrument can resolve to one part in 4,096 (2 to the power of 12). From this information, we know that a 12-bit logger has a resolution sixteen times better than an 8-bit Logger. Here's how this may look in a graph (31KB Acrobat file). To understand this even better, here's an example of resolution (and how it affects measurement accuracy) using a tape measure analogy: You have a 20-ft. tape measure. If the tape was labeled using 8-bit resolution, each marking on the tape would be about one inch apart - with no markings in between - just blank space. A "coarse" tape measure like this might be useful for building a treehouse or setting up a tent - but not much more. If the tape was labeled using 10-bit resolution, the tape would have a marking every quarter of an inch, a significant improvement. Maybe we could use this one for the garden shed or the compost box at the back. With 12-bit resolution, the tape measure will have markings every one-sixteenth of an inch, making it precise enough to build out that new addition to the family room.

Logger Battery Questions

	Do Veriteq loggers really have 10-year battery life?
	Yes. Veriteq loggers can record data continuously for 10 years (at a typical sampling rate of once per minute) without any need for a battery replacement. For a typical two-channel data logger that's over 10 million non-stop readings.
	How is this 10-year battery life achieved?
	Veriteq data loggers have been optimized from the start for exceptionally long battery life. This is accomplished through a low-power design architecture, high efficiency operating routines, and a long-life lithium energy cell. As an example, one of the biggest power consumers in any measuring instrument is the sensor circuitry. In a typical chart recorder this circuitry is powered continuously, a condition that can drain the battery rapidly. Veriteq data loggers only power this circuitry long enough to take a set of readings, typically for just a fraction of a second. After each set of readings, the circuitry is powered down (i.e. put into a "sleep mode") to conserve energy until the next reading. Another example of energy efficient operation is in the computation of accurate measurement readings. Many of the sensing technologies used on Veriteq loggers (i.e. thermistors and thermocouples) involve the use of highly complex calculations that require intensive computational processing to achieve accurate results. The Veriteq system has been designed to offload this power-consuming process onto the PC for both maximum efficiency and accuracy.
	Why a ten-year battery? Isn't one year enough for most applications?
	One of the main reasons for ten-year battery life is reliability. A ten-year life virtually eliminates the chance of data loss due to dead batteries. It also minimizes the need for replacement batteries and allows the battery to be soldered in for maximum dependability of the battery connections. These considerations are especially important in critical applications where the collected data is vital. As a comparison, a conventional data logger or recorder may have a one-year battery life. This shorter life can be problematic because the actual life of the battery may only be six months (or less) once it leaves the factory. This uncertainty can lead users to make frequent battery changes in order to avoid the possibility of data loss, a time-consuming practice, especially when dealing with a large number of units. Frequent battery changes require a user-replaceable battery design that can lead to further problems. User-replaceable batteries are susceptible to shock and vibration that can result in battery dislodgment. Also, battery holder contacts can and do oxidize, especially under varying moisture and thermal conditions, causing insulating deposits that interrupt or trigger intermittent battery operation.
	Should I turn the logger off when I am not using it to save battery power?
	Veriteq data loggers have a battery life of ten years based on continuous operation at one minute sample rates. To maximize battery life when not in use, set the logger to an infrequent sample rate such as once per hour.
	Are there any factors that will shorten battery life?
	Using sampling rates faster than one minute, continuous operation at extreme operating temperatures, and frequent PC downloading all serve to shorten battery life.
	When the battery does run out, what can I do?
	Contact Veriteq to return the logger for a factory battery replacement.
	How often should I replace the battery in my logger?
	For critical applications, we recommend replacing the battery eight years after purchase.

Logger Size Questions

	Why are Veriteq data loggers so small? What's the advantage?
	The most striking advantage of small size is usability. Smaller units are easier to carry around, easier to ship, easier to deploy, easier to use and far less obtrusive to the process being monitored. Our customers constantly tell us that our compact units are used, quite simply, far more often than existing bulkier alternatives.
	What are we giving up by going small?
	In most cases, nothing. Our experience has told us that most of our customers purchase data recording instrumentation because of a need to record just one type of measurement variable. In response to this, Veriteq data loggers have been optimized around specific sensors or input signals that result in more compact and efficient designs, without compromising accuracy or performance. In contrast, larger instruments typically have numerous bells and whistles designed to span a broad spectrum of possible functions and uses. This often results in overkill with an added penalty of size, cost and battery life. Larger instruments, for example, typically offer more input channels while Veriteq loggers employ a modular design. They also typically perform on-board processing in order to display real-time readings while Veriteq loggers efficiently off-load this process to a PC. Contact Veriteq to discuss any concerns you may have by transitioning away from larger data recording instruments.