testo 174T Mini Temperature Data Logger Kit

Overview

The testo 174T Mini Temperature Data Logger Kit is a CE-marked, EN 12830-compliant solution engineered for continuous, unattended air temperature monitoring in regulated cold chain environments. Designed around precision thermistor sensing technology and low-power microcontroller architecture, the device operates on a replaceable CR2032 coin-cell battery with automatic data retention during battery exchange — eliminating measurement gaps in long-term deployments. Each logger captures timestamped temperature values at user-configurable intervals (default 15 min), storing up to 16,000 records internally. The kit comprises three identical testo 174T loggers, a USB interface cable, and ComSoft Basic software distributed on CD-ROM — enabling configuration, data retrieval, visualization, and export to industry-standard Excel (.xlsx) formats. Its compact, IP54-rated housing ensures mechanical robustness and resistance to condensation in high-humidity cold rooms, freezers, and chilled transport units.

Key Features

• EN 12830 certification for temperature monitoring in food refrigeration and frozen storage — meeting EU regulatory requirements for traceability and audit readiness
• Automatic memory backup on battery depletion or replacement — guarantees data integrity across maintenance cycles
• Configurable logging interval (1 min to 24 h) via ComSoft Basic software, supporting both short-term validation studies and multi-month stability monitoring
• High-resolution internal clock with ±10 s/month accuracy, synchronized during each USB readout to maintain temporal fidelity across distributed deployments
• Integrated LED status indicator showing operational mode (recording, standby, error), battery level, and alarm activation
• Compact dimensions (90 × 58 × 23 mm) and wall-mountable design facilitate installation in spatially constrained locations including freezer door frames, near evaporator units, or adjacent to product loading zones

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The testo 174T is validated for ambient air temperature measurement only and is not intended for direct contact with liquids, vapors, or surfaces. It complies fully with EN 12830:2018 for “Refrigerated transport and storage of temperature-sensitive goods — Temperature recording equipment”, including mandatory requirements for measurement uncertainty (±0.5 °C within −25 °C to +25 °C range), time-stamping resolution (≤1 min), minimum memory retention (≥14 days at 15-min intervals), and tamper-resistant data storage. While not FDA 21 CFR Part 11–validated out-of-the-box, ComSoft Basic supports basic electronic signature workflows and audit trail generation (e.g., operator ID, configuration timestamps, export logs), facilitating alignment with GLP and GMP documentation practices when deployed under documented SOPs.

Software & Data Management

ComSoft Basic provides a Windows-native interface for device setup, real-time status interrogation, and post-acquisition analysis. Users can define start/stop conditions (e.g., delayed start, trigger-based logging), set upper/lower alarm thresholds with visual alert indicators on the logger display, and generate annotated PDF reports with embedded graphs and metadata (device ID, calibration date, operator name). All exported Excel files retain native datetime formatting, enabling direct import into LIMS or statistical process control (SPC) platforms. No cloud dependency or subscription is required — all data remains locally stored and under full user control. Firmware updates are delivered via downloadable packages from testo’s official support portal.

Applications

• Continuous temperature verification in retail supermarket freezer cabinets and chilled display cases
• Monitoring of cold storage areas in catering facilities, hospitals, and pharmaceutical distribution centers
• Validation of temperature uniformity in walk-in cold rooms and blast freezers per ISO 22000 and HACCP protocols
• Transport temperature logging during last-mile delivery of perishable foods and vaccines
• Baseline environmental qualification of warehouse zones prior to ICH Q5A-compliant stability storage

FAQ

Is the testo 174T suitable for measuring surface or liquid temperatures?
No — it is calibrated and certified exclusively for ambient air temperature measurement. Direct immersion or surface contact invalidates EN 12830 compliance and may compromise accuracy.
Can multiple loggers be managed simultaneously in ComSoft Basic?
Yes — the software supports batch configuration and sequential readout of up to 100 devices, with automatic assignment of unique IDs and folder-based data organization.
Does the device require annual recalibration?
testo recommends calibration every 24 months under normal use conditions; a factory calibration certificate (traceable to DKD/DAkkS) is supplied with each unit.
What happens if the memory becomes full before data retrieval?
The logger defaults to overwrite mode — oldest entries are replaced first — unless configured for stop-on-full operation via ComSoft Basic.
Is USB-C or Bluetooth connectivity supported?
No — communication is limited to USB-A via the included interface cable; wireless transmission is not implemented to preserve battery life and regulatory conformity.