Page 2 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Table of Contents Introduction.......................................................................................... 3 Safety Terms and Symbols................................................................... 4 Quick Start............................................................................................ 6 Installation............................................................................................ 7 Front Panel Operation........
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 3 Introduction Thank you for choosing the TC-3 Temperature Controller from Alpes Lasers. Your TC-3 is a combination of leading edge technology combined with years of experience in the field of temperature control. With a crystal clear VFD display, high power outputs, multi-sensor support, both RS232 and USB computer interfaces, and small footprint, the TC-3 will fit into almost any temperature control application.
Page 4 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Safety Terms and Symbols The following safety-related terms are used in this manual: • Warnings (noted by the WARNING heading) explain dangers that could result in physical injury or death; • Cautions (noted by the CAUTION heading) explain conditions that could result in damage to the instrument, other equipment, or your device. • Notes (noted by the NOTES heading) are not safety-related, and are intended simply to point out important information.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 5 Symbols Power Off Power On Caution, refer to manual Earth ground Caution, risk of electric shock General Warnings WARNING This instrument is intended for use by qualified personnel who understand the shock and laser hazards and are familiar with safety procedures required to avoid injury. Read this manual completely before attempting to use this product.
Page 6 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Quick Start The TC-3 was designed with ease of use in mind, and you will likely have little need for this manual for almost all of the features the unit offers. The main Starter Kit Manual contains a Quick Start section that contains specific features related to the lasers provided by Alpes Lasers – this section covers more general grounds.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 7 and current begin driving the fixture to the set point you have chosen. Depending on the thermal size of your fixture, it may take seconds or several minutes to reach the set point. If you notice the temperature is oscillating around the set point and not stabilizing, you may need to adjust the Gain setting in the menu.
Page 8 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Input Power Connector (IPC) Once the module has been removed, remove the small, white voltage selection tumbler from the module, and then re-insert so that the desired voltage is shown. Re-insert the module into the IPC. CAUTION Do not exceed 250VAC on the line input. It is critical to select the proper voltage selection prior to applying power to the unit. If the actual voltage exceeds the voltage selection by +/-10%, damage to the unit may occur.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 9 CAUTION Do not operate the unit above +40°C ambient, and ensure the instrument is properly ventilated, or the unit may overheat and possible damage to the instrument may occur. Rack Mounting Rack mounting kits (p/n 1401-RM-1 or p/n 1401-RM-2) for standard 19” racks are available at Arroyo Instruments for the TC-3, and supports the rack mount of one (1401-RM-1) or two (1401-RM-2) units in a 2U (3.5”) high opening.
Page 10 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Front Panel Operation Operation of the TC-3 is very straightforward. The sections below will help familiarize you with the front panel, the display, and the menu structure. The front panel is designed for simplicity in operation. There are three buttons on the front panel: Output, Menu, and the adjustment knob. The Output button is used to turn the output on and off. Whenever the output is on, the blue Output On LED will be lit.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 11 error, press Menu button. To clear all errors, press the knob. A list of error codes can be found in the Error Messages section below. When the unit is in remote mode, the yellow Remote LED will be lit. More information about how the instrument behaves in remote mode can be found in the Remote Mode Operation section below.
Page 12 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual No Set Point Error Because TC-3 Temperature Controller uses a digital PID loop, it will always stabilize at the set point, and you will never have a temperature offset, which is different that most other temperature controllers. Using Limits The TC-3 supports three different types of limits: temperature, sensor, and current.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 13 Settings and Menus All parameters of the TC-3 can be viewed and changed within the menu. The menus are constructed with the most used parameters first. To change any setting, press Menu to enter the menu then rotate the knob to select the parameter to change. Press the knob to begin changing the value. As a visual indication that you are in edit mode, you will see an asterisk appear next to the value.
Page 14 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Menu Description Factory Default 1 PID P The proportional term of the PID loop. Will only be available if Gain is set to PID. PID I The integral term of the PID loop. Will only be available if Gain is set to PID. PID D The derivative term of the PID loop. Will only be available if Gain is set to PID. Sensor Sets the temperature measurement sensor. Can be Therm 100uA, Therm 10uA, Therm, LM335, AD590, RTD, or RTD (4-wire).
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 15 Menu Description Factory Default 45kΩ R-High Lim R-High Lim is the sensor high limit. If operating in R Mode and the actual sensor measurement exceeds this value, the output will be turned off. R limits are not monitored in Ite Mode. Limit monitoring can also be disabled in software (see TEC:ENAB:OUTOFF command).
Page 16 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Menu Cable R AutoTune PID Description The resistance of the cable and connectors, in ohms. This setting allows for accurate voltage measurement at the TEC by removing the voltage loss of the cable. Factory Default 0.0080Ω AutoTune PID Function See using the AutoTune Function later in this manual for details on this item. Sensor Coeffs Sensor Coefficients Menu ThermA The A term in the Steinhart-Hart equation. 1.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 17 Menu Description Comm Menu Communications Menu Factory Default Baud This sets the baud rate for the RS232 serial port. See the Computer Interfacing Manual which is included on the CD that accompanied this product. Err While Rmt To turn off the display of errors while in remote mode, set this value to “No”. To display errors while in remote mode, set this value to “Yes”.
Page 18 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Menu Description Knob Speed Controls the adjustment speed of the knob. Possible values are slow, medium, and fast. Edit User Cal Enable or disable editing of user calibration values. This is not a persistent value and will always resets to No on power up.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 19 Rear Panel In addition to the input power connector described above, there are three connectors on the rear panel of the TC-3: Output connector, USB connector, and RS232 connector.
Page 20 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual using the USB interface, see the Computer Interfacing Manual which can be found on the Arroyo Instruments Website. RS232 Connector The RS232 connection is male DB-9 connector wired in a NULL modem configuration.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 21 Selecting the Fixture The TC-3 has integrated support for other commencially available mounts, such as the 204 TEC Butterfly LaserMount. To simplify operation when using these mounts, you can change the Mount setting in the menu to the mount type you are using.
Page 22 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Installing the USB Drivers Using the TC-3 via USB is just as simple as using the serial port. In fact, once you have installed the USB drivers, the instrument will appear as a virtual serial port that you can use just like a normal serial port. To install the drivers, simply plug in the instrument to your computer. When the Add New Hardware wizard appears, insert the CD you can find on the Arroyo Instruments Website and follow the on-screen instructions.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 23 Working With Thermistors The TC-3 is designed to work with negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistors, such as the BetaTHERM 10K3A1 thermistor. A thermistor works by translating temperature into resistance, with resistance decreasing as temperature increases (hence the ‘negative coefficient’). Here is a typical response curve of a thermistor: 50000 Resistance (Ω) 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 -10.00 10.00 30.00 50.00 70.
Page 24 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual required temperature range. The typical setting is 100μA, but your application will determine the actual needs. The Steinhart-Hart Equation As can be seen from the temperature versus resistance graph above, resistance varies inversely with temperature in a non-linear fashion.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 25 The TC-3 automatically determines which equation to use based on the conditions at the time of the measurement. 2-Wire versus 4-Wire Measurements One concern in using RTDs are their relatively low resistance (typically 100Ω at 0°C), and small Ω/°C. Because of these two factors, the resistance of the cable used to connect to the sensor can become a significant error in the sensor measurement.
Page 26 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual User Calibration of Resistance Sensors In some applications, having the ability to compensate, or calibrate, the sensor measurement is desired, such as referencing to an internal standard or to match the readings of another instrument. This is supported on the TC-3 by using the Sens Cal M and Sens Cal B menu entries to apply an offset and/or slope compensation to thermistor or RTD readings (LM335 and AD590 sensors have separate M and B settings).
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 27 Also unlike thermistors and RTDs, these IC sensors produce a linear response, making conversion to temperature a very straightforward calculation. AD590 sensors produce 1µA/K, so that 0°C (which is equal to 273.15K) would produce 273.15 µA. Similarly, LM335 sensors produce 10mV/K, so that 0°C would produce 2.7315V.
Page 28 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Cool Heat remaining running for an addition number of minutes as defined by the Ext Fan Off setting. Fan is turned on whenever the TEC output is on and cooling, off otherwise. Fan is turned on whenever the TEC output is on and heating, off otherwise.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 29 Resistive Heaters and Heat/Cool Only Modes The TC-3 supports temperature control using resistive heaters instead of Peltier coolers. With resistive heaters, cooling is obviously not possible, and the TC-3 must be configured to not attempt to cool the output, or a run-away condition will occur when the cooling current actually causes additional heating. If your application requires, you can also configure the TC-3 to operate in a cool-only mode.
Page 30 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual To manually adjust the PID, start by changing the I and D values to zero, and adjust the P value so that it reaches the set point as quickly as possible without overshooting the set point an unacceptable amount. Gradually increase the I value until the set point is achieved without oscillation. In many systems, the D term is not needed and may be left at zero.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 31 The instrument will ask for the AutoTune test point. You will want to select your typical operating point. If you will be operating at two or more set points, you will usually want to select the set point furthest away from ambient. Once the temperature test point is selected, press ENTER. The instrument asks for a final confirmation to start the AutoTune process. Press ENTER to start, or MENU to exit.
Page 32 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual of resolution is displayed, but additional resolution is available by viewing the PID parameters in the menu. The Gain setting will be changed to PID. If the AutoTune process fails, the instrument will display an E-436 AutoTune Failed error message and turn the output off.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 33 Compensating for Cable Resistance Because the high currents the TC-3 can drive through the Peltier, the voltage loss through the cable and connectors of the system can significantly affect the TEC voltage measurement. In most cases, accurate voltage measurements are not needed, and the default compensation of the instrument is sufficient.
Page 34 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual To manage this internal thermal load, the TC-3 relies on two methods of power control: a tunable power supply and current limiting. Where possible, the internal power supply will be adjusted down to minimize the thermal load inside the instrument. In some cases, power supply adjustments are not enough, and the instrument will then reduce the drive current until the internal thermal load is within the maximum allowable.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 35 Specifications All values relate to a one-hour warm-up period.
Page 36 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Resolution (mV) Accuracy (±[% reading + mV]) AD590 Bias (V) Range (µA) Resolution (µA) Accuracy (± [% reading + µA]) RTD Range (Ω) Resolution (Ω) Accuracy (± [% reading + Ω]) Current Limit Resolution (mA) Accuracy (±mA) Other Fan Supply TEC Connector Display Type Computer Interface Power Size (H x W x D) [inches (mm)] Weight [lbs (kg)] Operating Temperature Storage Temperature 0.1 0.3 + 1 4.5 173 – 473 0.01 0.03 + 0.1 20 – 192 0.01 0.03 + 0.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 37 Error Messages Error Code E100 Description Cause General Error E102 E104 E123 E124 Message too long The error code is non-specific, and is generally used when no other error code is suitable. The message is too long to process (USB/Serial only).
Page 38 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Error Code E409 E410 E415 E416 Description Cause Sensor changed, output turned off Temperature was out of tolerance, output turned off Sensor short, output turned off Cal failed The sensor type was changed, causing the output to be turned off. The temperature went out of tolerance and the output was turned off.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 39 Maintenance, Calibration and Warranty Maintenance The TC-3 requires no regular maintenance other than product calibration. To clean the instrument, use cotton cloth that is only damp (not wet) with a light solution of soap and water. Fuses Under normal operation, you should never need to replace a fuse. However, if either fuse does blow, use only T 250V, 1.0A, IEC 60127-2 5x20mm metric fuses as replacements.
Page 40 · TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual Warranty Alpes Lasers warrants that this product will be free from defects in material and workmanship and will comply with Alpes Lasers’ published specifications at the time of sale for a period of one year from date of shipment. If found to be defective during the warranty period, the product will either be repaired or replaced at Alpes Lasers’ option.
TC-3 Temperature Controller User’s Manual · Page 41
