Thank you for purchasing a Simple Logger (SL) Series instrument. For best results:
read these operating instructions carefully
comply with the precautions for use
Information or useful tip.
Battery.
The product has been declared recyclable after analysis of its life cycle in accordance with
the ISO14040 standard.
Indicates conformity with European directives and with regulations covering EMC.
Indicates that, in the European Union, the instrument must undergo selective disposal in
compliance with Directive WEEE 2002/96/EC. This instrument must not be treated as
household waste.
Precautions
This instrument is compliant with safety standard IEC 61010-2-030, for voltages up to 75VDC between the input
terminals. Failure to observe the following safety instructions may result in electric shock, fire, explosion, and
damage to the instrument and/or the installation in which it is located.
The operator and/or the responsible authority must carefully read and clearly understand all
precautions to be taken prior to using the instrument. Thorough knowledge and awareness of electrical
hazards are essential when using this instrument.
Observe the conditions of use, including temperature, relative humidity, altitude, pollution degree, and
location of use.
Do not use the instrument if it appears damaged, incomplete, or improperly closed.
Before each use, check the condition of the housing and accessories. Any item on which the insulation
is deteriorated (even partially) must be set aside for repair or disposal.
All troubleshooting and metrological checks must be done by accredited personnel.
Measurement leads should not exceed 3’ (1m) in length.
Definition of Measurement Categories (CAT)
CAT IV corresponds to measurements taken at the source of low-voltage installations.
Examples: power feeders, counters and protection devices.
CAT III corresponds to measurements on building installations.
Examples: distribution panel, circuit-breakers, machines or fixed industrial devices.
CAT II corresponds to measurements taken on circuits directly connected to low-voltage installations.
Examples: power supply to domestic electrical appliances and portable tools.
Upon receiving your shipment, make sure that the contents are consistent with the packing list. Notify your
distributor of any missing items. If the equipment appears to be damaged, file a claim immediately with the
carrier and notify your distributor at once, giving a detailed description of any damage. Save the damaged
packing container to substantiate your claim.
Ordering Information
Simple Logger Model SL01 (voltage, 5VAC)……………………………………..…….……....... Cat. #2156.01
Simple Logger Model SL10 (voltage, 100mV
Simple Logger Model SL11 (voltage, 1V
Simple Logger Model SL12 (voltage, 10V
Simple Logger Model SL13 (voltage, 50V
Simple Logger Model SL20 (current, 4 to 20mA
Simple Logger Model SL30 (pulse)…….…….……………………..…..……………….……....... Cat. #2156.30
Simple Logger Model SL31 (event)…….……………….……………………..…..…….……....... Cat. #2156.31
Simple Logger Model SL40 (temperature, RTD, PT1000)…….…..………..…..…….……....... Cat. #2156.40
Simple Logger Model SL50 (temperature, thermocouple)…….…..………..…..…….……....... Cat. #2156.50
All models include 2 AA batteries, USB cable, safety card, and quick start document
The Simple Logger (SL) Series are easy-to-use single-channel data loggers designed for recording
measurements over time. These instruments measure voltage (5V
20mA
Measurements are recorded and saved in the instrument’s internal flash memory. A single recording is stored
at a time; to start a new recording you must download and delete the previous one if it exists. (Downloading is
not strictly required, but we recommend it because otherwise the data will be lost.)
All models are configured from a computer running the dedicated Simple Logger Control Panel software,
downloaded free from the AEMC web site. This program also enables you to connect to the instrument, view
measurement data in real time, download a recording, print this data as a report, and export it as a Microsoft
Excel-compatible spreadsheet.
SL Series models are powered by two non-rechargeable AA batteries. The instrument can also run on USB
power when connected to a computer or power supply.
The basic setup and operation described in §1 through §2.4 apply to all SL Series instruments. Model-specific
information is provided in §2.5, and model-specific specifications are listed in §3.
), pulse, event, or temperature (RTD, PT1000, and thermocouple), depending on model.
DC
1.1. Battery Installation
To install or change batteries:
1. Press the tab of the battery compartment cover and
slide it down and off.
2. Insert two new AA batteries, ensuring correct
polarity.
3. Replace the battery compartment cover; ensuring it
clicks shut.
4. Before using the instrument, erase the instrument
memory (see §2.2).
The instrument turns ON when you install batteries. The
instrument remains ON until you remove the batteries, or
until they run down and can no longer power the
SL Series instruments accept test leads and sensors that
measure voltage (5V
20mA
), pulse, event, or temperature, depending on model. In
DC
or 0.1, 1, 10, and 50VDC), current (4 to
AC
addition, the SL40 RTD, PT1000 thermometer records
temperature using an external sensor.
Each instrument has two input terminals for connecting 24 to 12
AWG leads. These are held in place by fastening screws (see
the illustration on the left). Insert the leads into the terminals,
observing the polarity indicated on the instrument front label, and
tighten the screws to hold them in place.
To ensure optimal performance, we recommend using leads 3
feet (1m) or shorter.
1.4. Simple Logger Control Panel Download
Your computer must be connected to the internet to download the Simple Logger Control Panel.
1. Connect the instrument to your computer using the USB cable provided.
2. A popup Windows Explorer window appears on your desktop, containing the file INSTALL.URL.
Double click this file to open the Simple Logger Control Panel download page in your web browser.
3. The download page lists English, Spanish, and French versions of two files: sl.exe and sl.zip. The .zip
file contains a single file, sl.exe. If your network security prevents downloading .exe files, click sl.zip;
otherwise click sl.exe.
4. Specify a location for the downloaded file. This must be one of your local drives (not a network drive).
For example, you can download the file to your desktop and run it from there.
5. If you downloaded sl.exe, go to step 6 below.
If you downloaded sl.zip, unzip it to your desktop.
6. Double-click sl.exe to start the Simple Logger Control Panel (SL CP) program. The Control Panel
automatically connects to the instrument when launched.
7. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Help to display the Help menu, and then click Help Topics. The SL CP will download the Help file from the AEMC web site and place a copy on your
computer.
8. The Simple Logger Control Panel Help opens. This contains instructions for setting the instrument
time and date, viewing real-time data, configuring recording sessions, downloading data, printing a
report, exporting data to a spreadsheet, and all other Control Panel tasks. Consult the Help as
needed when performing these tasks.
1.5. Firmware Check/Upgrade
AEMC may periodically upgrade the firmware that controls your instrument’s operation. You can download
firmware upgrades to ensure your instrument has the latest functionality.
To ensure your instrument is running the latest firmware:
1. With the instrument connected, open the Simple Logger Control Panel.
2. Click Help in the menu bar.
3. Select Firmware Upgrade to determine whether or not the connected instrument is running the latest
firmware. If not, a dialog box appears asking whether or not you want to upgrade now; click Yes to
upgrade. Otherwise, a message is displayed informing you that your instrument’s firmware is up to
date. (Note that by default, the SL CP checks for new software each time it opens, and new firmware
each time it connects to an instrument.)
The front indicator LED light blinks one or more times, pauses 5 seconds, then repeats the blink sequence.
The number of blinks indicates the instrument status:
# of
blinks
1 (Standby): The instrument is in Standby mode, ready to start recording.
2 (Recording): An active recording is in progress on the instrument.
3 (Memory full): The instrument is in Standby and data is in the instrument’s storage memory. You must
download and delete this data before starting a new recording session (see § 2.2). Note that downloading is
not strictly required, but we recommend it because otherwise the data will be lost
4 (Memory erase pending): The instrument is “armed” for erasing memory. This sequence only repeats
twice, if the button is not pressed within 12 seconds the recording remains in memory (see § 2.2.1).
5 (Erasing memory): The instrument is actively erasing memory.
2.2. Erasing Memory
The instrument memory can be erased either manually via the instrument’s button or through the Simple
Logger Control Panel. Note that when you change batteries, you must erase the memory before using
the instrument.
2.2.1. Button
1. With the instrument LED in the “3-blinks” (memory full) state, press the button and hold it down for at
least one second, until the indicator light remains ON.
2. Release the button. The indicator light blinks 4 times, pauses for 5 seconds, and blinks 4 times again,
indicating the instrument is “armed” for erasing memory. (This sequence takes about 12 seconds.)
3. If you do not press and hold the button within 12 seconds, the “armed” state ends and data remains in
memory. If you press and hold the button for one second within 12 seconds, the instrument begins
erasing memory. During this process (which takes several minutes) the indicator light blinks 5 times,
pauses 5 seconds, and repeats this sequence until all data is erased.
4. When memory is clear, the light blinks once every 5 seconds, indicating the instrument is in Standby
mode and is ready to record data.
2.2.2. Simple Logger Control Panel
Ensure the instrument is connected to the computer via USB cable. Then do the following:
1. In the Simple Logger Control Panel, select the instrument in the navigation frame. Then check the
Connection Status in the Real-Time Data frame. If the connection status is Disconnected, click
Instrument in the menu bar and click Connect.
2. Click Instrument to display the Instrument menu. If the instrument is not actively recording and there is
a recording in memory, the Erase Memory option is active.
3. If the Erase Memory option is active, select it. A message appears asking you to confirm the deletion.
If you schedule a recording, you can still manually start a recording on the instrument until the
Although setting the instrument clock is not required to run a recording (the time and date can be adjusted after
the recording is downloaded), as a good practice we recommend keeping the instrument’s date and time
accurate.
1. In the Simple Logger Control Panel, click Instrument in the menu bar and select Set Clock.
2. Complete the fields for the instrument’s date and time and press OK. You can also click Synchronize with PC Clock to set the instrument to the computer’s current date and time, and close the Date/Time
dialog box.
2.4. Recording Data
A recording session can be started and stopped either from the instrument or through the Simple Logger
Control Panel. Note that the Control Panel is required to schedule and configure the recording. A standalone
recording must be started manually (using the instrument’s current configuration settings) and stops after 43
days, or if one of the following occurs:
The button is pressed
Memory becomes full
Batteries lose power
Instrument memory must be empty to start a recording session (see § 2.2). Only one recording
can reside in memory at a time.
2.4.1. Standalone Recording
Ensure the indicator light blinks once every 5 seconds, indicating the instrument is in Standby mode. Then do
the following:
1. Press the button for at least one second until the indicator light remains ON.
2. Release the button. The indicator light blinks twice and pauses 5 seconds, indicating a recording is in
progress. (This “2-blink” sequence repeats throughout the recording session.)
3. To stop the recording, press the button for at least one second until the indicator light remains ON.
Then release the button. The instrument light blinks 3 times and pauses 5 seconds, indicating a
Recording sessions end automatically if 43 days elapse or batteries lose power.
2.4.2. Recording via the Simple Logger Control Panel
Ensure the instrument is in Standby mode (indicator light blinks once every 5 seconds) and connected to the
computer. If it is in “3-blink” (memory full) mode, erase the recording now (§ 2.2). Then do the following:
Recorded data can be downloaded to the computer, viewed on the screen, printed as a report, and exported to
a Microsoft Excel-compatible spreadsheet. See the Control Panel Help for details.
recording is stored in memory.
1. In the Simple Logger Control Panel, select the instrument in the navigation frame. Then check the
Connection Status in the Real-Time Data frame. If the connection status is Disconnected, click
Instrument in the menu bar and click Connect.
2. Click Instrument and select Configure. The Configure Instrument dialog box appears.
3. Complete the fields of this dialog box as instructed by the Control Panel Help. These fields determine
when the recording starts and ends. Depending on instrument model, there are options to define
scaling and other settings that affect how recorded data is displayed (see § 2.5).
4. Click OK to write the settings to the instrument.
scheduled recording starts. A manual recording will cancel a scheduled one.
The Simple Logger Control Panel allows you to configure how data measured by these instruments is recorded
and displayed. The available settings depend on which model instrument is connected. The following table
shows which configuration options are available for each model.
Scaling includes settings that determine how the recorded data “scales” to units of measure.
Low defines the value when the instrument measures its lowest input.
High defines the value when the instrument measures its highest input.
Units defines the units of measure. If you leave this setting blank, the instrument's default unit of
measure is used.
For example, the Model SL13 can be connected to sensors that measure flow rate in liters per second. If you
set Low to 0, High to 100, and Units to L/S, the following will be in effect:
When sensor input = 0 (the SL13’s lowest input), the measurement will appear as 0 L/S.
When sensor input = 50V (the SL13’s highest input), the measurement will appear as 100L/S.
Measurements between the Low and High readings will be automatically calculated and displayed in
accordance with this scale.
The Filter setting defines a sliding "window" of measurements over which each reading is averaged. This
helps smooth the graph and reduce the effects of electrical noise. For example, if Filter is set to 10, each data
point in the graph is calculated and displayed as the average of its measured value and the previous nine
measurements. Options are 1 (the default) through 10. A setting of 1 results in no measurement filtering.
Note that the Scaling and Filter settings do not change how "raw" data is recorded, only how it is displayed. All
measurements are stored as originally recorded by the instrument, and can be restored to their original values
by changing the Scaling and Filter settings at any time after download.
2.5.3. Thermocouple Type (Model SL50)
The TC Type setting lets you select among the thermocouple types supported by an SL50 instrument. Options
are J (the default), K, N, T, E, R, and S.
2.5.4. Cold Junction Compensation (Model SL50)
Selecting the Enable CJC compensation option enables the use of a secondary measurement of the
reference junction temperature of the instrument's thermocouple. This temperature reading is then used to
correct for the voltage generated between the instrument's input and the thermocouple connector. By default,
this option is set to the last configuration written to the instrument. This option can be changed at any time after
download. The required data is always recorded.
2.5.5. Rising/Falling Events (Model SL31)
Events can be defined as either Rising (starts when the instrument measurement transitions from a normal
reading to a high reading) or Falling (starts when the measurement goes from normal to low). By default, this
option is set to the last configuration written to the instrument. This can be changed by de-selecting the option
Events start with a rising value. This option can be changed at any time after download.
To ensure that your instrument meets factory specifications, we recommend that it be sent back to our
factory Service Center at one-year intervals for recalibration, or as required by other standards or internal
procedures.
For instrument repair and calibration:
You must contact our Service Center for a Customer Service Authorization Number (CSA#). This will ensure
that when your instrument arrives, it will be tracked and processed promptly. Please write the CSA# on the
outside of the shipping container. If the instrument is returned for calibration, we need to know if you want a
standard calibration; or a calibration traceable to N.I.S.T. (includes calibration certificate plus recorded
calibration data).
Cost for repair, standard calibration, and calibration traceable to N.I.S.T. are available.
NOTE: You must obtain a CSA# before returning any instrument.
TECHNICAL AND SALES ASSISTANCE
If you are experiencing any technical problems, or require any assistance with the proper operation or
application of your instrument, please call, mail, fax or e-mail our technical support team:
NOTE: Do not ship instruments to our Foxborough, MA address.
The instrument is warranted to the owner for a period of two years from the date of original purchase against
defects in manufacture. This limited warranty is given by AEMC
whom it was purchased. This warranty is void if the instrument has been tampered with or abused, or if the
defect is related to service not performed by AEMC
®
Instruments.
The warranty does not apply in the following cases:
Inappropriate use of the equipment or use with incompatible equipment.
Modifications made to the equipment without the explicit permission of the manufacturer’s technical staff.
Work done on the device by a person not approved by the manufacturer.
Adaptation to a particular application not anticipated in the definition of the equipment or not indicated in
this user’s manual.
Damage caused by shocks, falls, or floods.
Full warranty coverage and product registration is available on our websit
Please print the online Warranty Coverage Information for your records.
What AEMC® Instruments will do:
If a malfunction occurs within the warranty period, you may return the instrument to us for repair, provided we
have your warranty registration information on file or a proof of purchase. AEMC
option, repair or replace the faulty material.
®
Instruments, not by the distributor from
®
Instruments will, at its
REGISTER ONLINE AT:
Warranty Repairs
What you must do to return an Instrument for Warranty Repair:
First, request a Customer Service Authorization Number (CSA#) by phone or by fax from our Service
Department (see address below), then return the instrument along with the signed CSA Form. Please write
the CSA# on the outside of the shipping container. Return the instrument, postage or shipment pre-paid to:
Caut
ion: To protect yourself against in-transit loss, we recommend you insure your returned material.
NOTE: You must obtain a CSA# before returning any instrument.