Vaccine Chart Recorder
The VFC70 is installed in tens of thousands of refrigerators and freezers monitoring vaccine storage temperatures. This unit complies with the CDC-recommended continuous and calibrated thermometers for vaccine storage monitoring.
- 4" (101mm) Chart
- Jumbo Display
- Operates on a single AA Battery
- Farhenheit or Celsius
Important Information
Charts are sold separately.
Dickson Expert Services
Our Dickson Data Division has specially trained representatives to address the needs of customers with large installations or unique demands. Please call 888-452-4626.
- Ambient Operating RH Conditions 0-95% RH non-condensing
- Ambient Operating Temperature Conditions -22 to 122F (-30 to 50C)
- Approvals CE
- Battery Life (Avg) 2 Years
- Calibration Options N100, N300, N400
- Channels CH1: Temperature
- Chart Rotation Speed 7 Day
- Dimensions 2.4 x 5.2 x 5.2in
- Display Accuracy 1.8
- Display Dimensions Height 0.36
- Display Dimensions Width 1.8
- Display Resolution 0.1
- Display Type LCD
- Enclosure Black ABS and Polycarbonate
- IP Rating 21
- Included Accessories One AA Battery, Red Pen and Quick Start Guide. *Charts sold separately.
- Mounting Options Free Standing or Wall Mounted
- Power Source Battery; One AA Battery (User Replaceable)
- Response Time 11 Minutes to 63% of Full Scale (in air moving 5' per second)
- Temperature Accuracy +/-2% from 0 to 70F
-
Temperature Range
0 to 70F (-18 to 21C)
- Temperature Sensor Precise spiral wound bi-metallic strip transducer
- Unit Weight 3 lbs
- Units/Pkg 1
- Warranty 12 Month Limited
Why should I calibrate?
All instruments lose accuracy over time due to normal usage and the environmental conditions to which they are exposed.
How often should I calibrate?
For most applications, the recommended calibration interval is every twelve months.
What is NIST Calibration
NIST stands for the National Institute for Standards and Technology. This organization is responsible for maintaining the master for different measurements, such as the standard "foot", standard, "second", or standard "pound". NIST also maintains the standard for temperature, humidity and pressure.
NIST Traceable means that the measuring standard can be traced directly back to the master standard maintained by the NIST organization.
NIST-Traceable does not tell you the measurement accuracy of a metrologty service in any detail. Only metrology services that can document their ISO 17025 standard provided data on their best measurement uncertainty.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I insert the probe into the glycol bottle?
- How do the Alarms Work?
- No Communication - Serial / USB Connection
- Unit will not turn on or frozen display
- The display reads Prob on RF (remote probe)
- Channel shows extreme reading on the graph
- Err 14 Code Displayed
- The alarm parameters are preset, can they be changed?
- Can the preset sample rate of 5 minutes be changed?
- Will the logger stop recording data when it's full?
- Is there a way to set up my logger at my desk without the alarms going off?
- Can channel 1 or channel 2 be disabled?
- The alarm delay is preset at two minutes, can this be changed?
- Why are the pen traces erratic?
- Why does the display show LLL?
- Why doesn't the chart rotate?
- Why doesn't the pen match the display?
How do I insert the probe into the glycol bottle?
Remove the existing cap from the bottle and use the septum lid with the rubber center. Push the probe through the small hole and tighten the lid onto the bottle. If a hole in the lid is not evident, puncture a new hole.How do the Alarms Work?
When an alarm condition occurs the display will automatically display ALRN. The alarm will not sound until the two minute alarm delay period has passed.If the alarm condition clears before the alarm delay period has passed, the display will automatically clear the ALRN notification.
If the alarm delay period has passed and the alarm sounds before the alarm condition clears, the alarm will continue to sound and the display will flash ALRN until the ALARM button is held down till CLR is displayed. This will clear both the audio and visual alarm notification. NOTE: Once the alarm sounds, it will continue to sound regardless of whether the alarm condition still exist.
No Communication - Serial / USB Connection
Verify that you have the correct version of DicksonWare software installed on your PC. Version 10.0 or higher is required.
Verify that the correct COM port is selected: From the main Dicksonware screen, click on Logger then Communication, a black dot will appear next to the selected COM port. You may need to select a different COM port. Should you get an error message stating that Device Is Already Open, this could mean that you have the proper COM port selected, but another device, or its software, has it allocated. Palm pilots, for example, will cause this problem, in which case the port is not actually available and you may haveto disable that device.
You may need to relocate the download cable to another serial port on the back of the PC and possibly try changing the COM port again in DicksonWare.
If communication has not been established with the previous steps, you may need to open the logger and press the reset button and then try all COM port and cable combinations again.
If possible, try another PC
Make sure that either Serial or USB is unplugged, and that either Serial / USB is NOT checked in File > Preferences > Serial / USB.
Unit will not turn on or frozen display
Unit may be locked up, try removing the battery and then replacing after a few moments.
Battery may be to low or dead, replace batteries
The display reads Prob on RF (remote probe)
- This means that the unit does not recognize the external probe, check to see that it is connected properly. If it is connected properly, there may be a weak internal connection and should be returned.
- Is there an extension cable being used? It could be defective. Omit the extension cable and try another K-type probe.
Channel shows extreme reading on the graph
- This is normal when an activated channel has no probe connected at the time a sample is taken.
Err 14 Code Displayed
This is a generic fault code. There is something wrong with the MMC card (full or not formated correctly) or there is a hardware issue (a bad connector or no card present - can''''t see any card). Try another card (make sure is is an MMC card not an MMC Plus card), and that it has been supplied by Dickson.The alarm parameters are preset, can they be changed?
- Yes, they can be changed using Dickson software.
Can the preset sample rate of 5 minutes be changed?
No, the sample rate cannot be changed.Will the logger stop recording data when it's full?
No, the logger is preset to WRAP which means that it will start to log new data over old data.Is there a way to set up my logger at my desk without the alarms going off?
Yes, chill the glycol bottle, attach it to the probe and then proceed to set up the logger using Dickson software.Can channel 1 or channel 2 be disabled?
Channel 2 can be disabled by doing the following: Open DicksonWare software. Choose "Setup". Choose "Channels" tab. Choose "Adjust" for channel 2. Under the "Enable" tab, uncheck the check mark. Choose "Adjust" to accept the change. Choose "OK" in the dialogue box to clear and restart logger. Channel 2 will be grayed out under "Channels" tab. Disabling this channel will not make the alarm inactive. Be sure to disable the alarm or set it to an unobtainable min/max.The alarm delay is preset at two minutes, can this be changed?
Yes, the alarm delay can be set according to your product storage instructions.Why are the pen traces erratic?
Is Pen Arm screw secure?
Is the Chart Recorder sitting on or mounted to a surface prone to vibration?
For Temperature units try removing the unit from the application and placing it in an isolated, low air flow environment like a zip lock freezer bag or desk drawer. If the pen traces straighten out, the traces may have actually been caused by the changes in your application.
Why does the display show LLL?
Please make sure the battery is inserted properly. The battery may be low or the unit may at a temperature below the specified range.Why doesn't the chart rotate?
Make sure the chart is not hung up or restricted.
Make sure the pen does not have too much tension, pinching the chart to the dial plate.
Make sure there is a good battery being used and it's in correctly.
Make sure the center strip of the chart is inserted properly into the black center hub of the recorder, making sure the chart is not ripped or torn.
Why doesn't the pen match the display?
The chart recorder and digital display are actually two independent measuring instruments, with different specifications. There is certain amount of discrepancy allowed between chart and display, the amount of the discrepancy depends on the range of the chart recorder. An SL4120, for example, has a scale of -20 to +120 degrees, that's a range of 140 degrees. That means a 2.8 degree tolerance for the chart. The digital display has tolerance of 3.6 degrees, which means there is a maximum allowed discrepancy of 6.4 degrees between the chart and display. The chart may be adjusted using the pen adjust screw on the face of the unit. If the display is out of specification, the display can be replaced but not calibrated.
Make sure the correct chart is being used.