MicroLog Temperature & Humidity Data Logger Series by Fourtec

Overview

The MicroLog Temperature & Humidity Data Logger Series—engineered and manufactured by Fourtec—is a family of compact, portable, and field-deployable environmental monitoring instruments designed for long-term, unattended recording of temperature and relative humidity (RH) under diverse operational conditions. Built on precision capacitive RH sensing and high-stability thermistor or RTD-based temperature measurement, each model employs calibrated digital signal processing to ensure traceable metrological performance across its specified operating range. The series comprises six distinct models—EC600, EC650, EC700, EC750, EC800, and EC850—differentiated primarily by analog-to-digital resolution (8-bit to 16-bit), sensor accuracy, memory depth, sampling flexibility, and interface architecture. These loggers are not standalone indicators but integral nodes in validated environmental data acquisition workflows—commonly deployed in pharmaceutical cold chain validation, laboratory stability chambers, museum climate control, HVAC commissioning, and transport monitoring where regulatory-grade data integrity is required.

Key Features

• Compact form factor (72 mm × 22.9 mm, 55 g) enabling pocket carry, clip mounting, or integration into confined enclosures
• Dual-sensor architecture with factory-calibrated NIST-traceable temperature and RH elements
• Configurable sampling intervals from 1 second (EC800/EC850) to 2 hours (EC600–EC750), supporting both high-resolution transient capture and multi-year trend logging
• Robust housing rated IP54 (dust-protected, splash-resistant) or IP65 (dust-tight, water-jet resistant), suitable for indoor and semi-outdoor industrial environments
• Integrated display: 2-digit LCD (EC600/EC650) or 4-digit LED with decimal point (EC700–EC850) for real-time value verification and status indication
• Multi-channel expandability via external analog inputs (0–10 V, 4–20 mA), digital I/O, and dedicated sensor interfaces—including PT100, pH, soil moisture, light intensity, and conductivity transducers
• On-device alarm triggers with configurable thresholds and visual LED alerts for out-of-specification events

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The MicroLog series is compatible with ambient air, conditioned ducts, insulated transport containers, and controlled storage cabinets. Its certified IP rating ensures reliable operation in environments subject to condensation, particulate exposure, or intermittent washdown. All units conform to CE marking requirements under the EU Electromagnetic Compatibility (2014/30/EU) and Low Voltage (2014/35/EU) Directives. While not intrinsically safe, the devices meet RoHS 2011/65/EU restrictions on hazardous substances. For regulated industries, raw binary data files generated by MicroLab software support audit-ready export in CSV or PDF formats, facilitating alignment with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (when paired with appropriate user access controls and electronic signature protocols), ISO 17025 calibration documentation, and GxP-aligned validation documentation packages. The EC700–EC850 models—featuring ±0.2 °C temperature accuracy and ±2 %RH humidity accuracy—are routinely selected for USP environmental monitoring and EU Annex 15 qualification studies.

Software & Data Management

MicroLab—the official configuration and analysis suite—provides full lifecycle management: device initialization, sampling schedule definition, alarm threshold programming, real-time telemetry (via serial/USB), and post-acquisition data visualization. The software supports time-synchronized multi-instrument aggregation, statistical summary (min/max/mean/stdev), derivative calculation (e.g., dew point estimation), and automated report generation compliant with GLP/GMP documentation standards. Export options include timestamped CSV (for LIMS ingestion), annotated PDF (for QA review), and XML (for enterprise system integration). Audit trails record all parameter changes, download events, and firmware updates—enabling full traceability per ALCOA+ principles. No cloud dependency: all data remains locally stored unless explicitly exported, preserving data sovereignty and simplifying ITAR or GDPR-compliant deployments.

Applications

• Pharmaceutical warehouse and cold chain temperature mapping (ICH Q5C, WHO TRS 961)
• Stability testing chamber qualification per ICH Q1A(R2) and ISO 14644-3
• Museum and archive environmental compliance (BS 4971:2017, CEN/TS 16874:2016)
• Food processing facility HACCP monitoring and refrigerated transport validation
• Academic and industrial climatology field studies requiring ruggedized, low-power loggers
• Calibration lab reference environment monitoring alongside primary standards

FAQ

What is the maximum supported sampling duration for continuous logging?
Battery life is sampling-rate dependent: at 10-minute intervals, EC700–EC850 models typically operate for 18–24 months; at 1-second intervals, runtime reduces to approximately 3–4 weeks. Memory capacity (up to 52,000 samples) defines the upper bound before rollover or manual download.
Can the logger be used in condensing environments?
Yes—models with IP65 rating (EC700, EC750, EC800, EC850) are sealed against water jets and dust ingress, making them suitable for high-humidity zones where surface condensation occurs. However, prolonged submersion or direct steam exposure is not supported.
Is external sensor calibration traceable to national standards?
All optional external sensors (e.g., DT252 PT100, DT168 pH electrode) ship with individual calibration certificates referencing NIST or UKAS-accredited laboratories. Field recalibration is supported via MicroLab’s sensor offset adjustment function.
Does MicroLab support automated data archiving to network drives or SQL databases?
Native MicroLab does not include direct database connectors; however, its CSV export functionality enables seamless integration with third-party SCADA systems, LabVantage, or custom Python/Power BI pipelines using scheduled batch scripts.
How is time synchronization managed across multiple loggers?
Each unit maintains an internal real-time clock (RTC) with ±2 ppm accuracy. Synchronization is performed during initial setup via PC connection. For distributed deployments, users commonly implement a master-clock protocol using a GPS-referenced NTP server and post-process timestamps in MicroLab or MATLAB.