Pico TC-08-USB

Temperature measurement and recording with the TC-08 is very easy — simply plug the TC-08 into a USB port on your computer, plug in your thermocouples, and you are ready to go.

Overview
PicoLog Software
Documents
Accessories
Specs
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The TC-08 thermocouple data logger offers industry-leading performance and a cost-effective solution to your temperature measuring needs.

8 channel thermocouple data logger
Measures from -270 to 1820 °C
Automatic cold junction compensation
High resolution and accuracy
Fast sampling rate
Multiple units can be run on a single PC
USB interface

Wide temperature range

The TC-08 thermocouple data logger is designed to measure a wide range of temperatures using any thermocouple that has a miniature size thermocouple connector. Additionally, the TC-08 can also measure other sensors using a 70 mV range.

Featuring built-in cold junction compensation (CJC), the TC-08 has an effective temperature range of -270 to 1820 °C (The actual temperature range depends on the thermocouple being used.)

Fast and accurate temperature data acquisition

With the TC-08 thermocouple data logger your temperature measurements can be made both fast and accurately.

The short conversion time of the TC-08 means up to 10 temperature measurements can be taken every second (cold junction compensation counts as an additional measurement), while the high (20-bit) resolution ensures that the TC-08 can detect minute changes in temperature. For popular Type K thermocouples the TC-08 can maintain a better than 0.025°C resolution over a –250 to 1370 °C range.

Also measure voltage and 4–20 mA current loops!

As well as measuring temperature with thermocouples, the terminal board allows other sensors with voltage or current outputs to be connected.

The optional Single-Channel Terminal Board (see Accessories) plugs into a channel on the TC-08 and turns it into a 20-bit high resolution data logger. Screw terminals allow wires to be attached to the data logger without soldering. The four input ranges (±50mV, ±500 mV, ±5 V and 4–20 mA) allows a wide range of other sensors and signals to be measured.

All you need in one easy-to-use unit

Temperature data acquisition with the TC-08 is very easy — simply plug the TC-08 into a USB port on your computer (no external power required), connect your thermocouples, and you are ready to measure temperatures.

The easy-to-use PicoLog data acquisition software is supplied with the TC-08 — allowing you to start measuring and recording temperatures with the minimum effort. The intuitive user interface of PicoLog makes it easy for you to set how frequently you want to take a measurement, and the number of measurements you want to take.

Need more?...

If you need more than 8 channels just plug two TC-08s into your PC to make a "TC-16". Using a USB hub up to 20 TC-08s can be used on one PC for a total of 160 channels. You can even mix and match different data loggers from the Pico range to build a flexible, expandable data acquisition system.

PicoLog Software

PicoLog data acquisition software is a powerful but flexible program for collecting, analyzing and displaying data.

Collect up to 1 million samples
Easy and intuitive to use
Real-time data collection, analysis and display
Programmable alarm limits can be set for each channel
Data can be exported to spreadsheets and databases
Supports multiple different Pico data loggers on the same PC
Uses your PC monitor to give large color display, ideal for education and training
Waveforms can be saved, printed or emailed from your PC
Supports Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10

PicoLog views

PicoLog displays data in a number of views, which can be activated as and when required. These views can be activated both during and after data collection.

Recorder view

Enables you to start/stop recording and specify recording files. It shows the current readings and alarm conditions for each channel. All settings such as scaling, channels and sampling are controlled from the recorder view.

Spreadsheet view

Displays text data in a format that can be easily copied and pasted into other applications. Data can also be saved to disk in standard ASCII text format.

Graph view

Graphs can be displayed both during and after data collection. Each channel can be displayed in its own graph or multiple channels can be displayed in the same graph. Axes can be set up manually, automatically or in chart recorder mode. Multipliers allow you to magnify areas of interest. Graphs can be copied and then pasted into reports.

XY graph view

Displays one parameter against another. Useful for plotting voltage against current, for example.

Notes view

Notes view allows you to attach notes to data.

Player view

Displays previously recorded data. It enables you to scroll quickly through stored files to compare results on successive runs. The player can be used to examine old data while new data is still being recorded.

Exporting data and remote logging

Data can easily be transferred (either as graphs or raw data) to other Windows applications by using the clipboard (copy and paste). Graphs can also be saved to disk (as Windows Metafiles) and data from the spreadsheet can be saved in text format.

PicoLog data acquisition software also supports IP networking. This enables remote data collection from Pico’s full range of data acquisition products.

Scaling and alarms

Parameter scaling can be used to convert raw data into standard engineering units. A wide range of equation and table lookup scaling options are provided.

Additional parameters can be calculated. For example, to calculate power output from a boiler you may need to multiply a flow reading from one channel with the temperature difference between two further channels.

Alarm limits can be set for each channel to alert the user should a parameter go out of a specified range.

Software Development Kit (SDK)

As well as the supplied PicoLog software, also included are drivers and examples for those who want to write your own software or interface to other programs.

Software drivers are supplied for Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac (OS X) and Linux (including Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone).

Example code shows how to interface to third-party software packages such as Microsoft Excel and National Instruments LabVIEW as well as how to write your own software in C / C#.

USB TC-08 Manuals

Resource	Language	Version	Size	Updated
Data Sheet:
USB TC-08 Data Sheet	English	6	1 MB	December 13 2016
User's Guides:
USB TC-08 User’s Guide	English	8	545 KB	May 03 2016
USB TC-08 Terminal Board User’s Guide	English	1	99 KB	September 14 2009
PicoLog User’s Guide	English	5	2 MB	February 17 2014
Programmer's Guides:
USB TC-08 Programmer’s Guide	English	6	740 KB	May 24 2016
USB Data Logger Installation Guide	English Français Deutsch Italiano Español 中文 (简体) Nederlands Dansk Svenska	7	400 KB	January 17 2012
Training Guides:
PicoLog Frequently Asked Questions	English	2	932 KB	October 10 2016

USB TC-08 Accessories

Sensors
Product		Price
	Single-channel TC-08 terminal board PP624 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, air, 4.5 mm tip SE002 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, exposed tip, glass fibre insulated, 1 metre SE001 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, exposed tip, glass fibre insulated, 2 metre SE030 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, exposed tip, glass fibre insulated, 5 metre SE031 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, exposed tip, PTFE insulated, 1 metre SE000 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, exposed tip, PTFE insulated, 10 metre SE029 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, exposed tip, PTFE insulated, 2 metre SE027 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, exposed tip, PTFE insulated, 3 metre SE028 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, insertion, 3.3 mm tip SE003 Recommended
	Thermocouple type K, ribbon surface, 8 mm tip SE004 Recommended
Miscellaneous
	USB 2.0 cable, 1.8 m MI106
	Calibration certificate for thermocouple loggers CC001 Recommended
	USB 2.0 cable, 4.5 m MI121

Specifications

USB TC-08 Thermocouple Data Logger general specifications
Number of channels	8
Conversion time	100 ms (thermocouple and cold junction compensation) (CJC can be disabled if all channels used as voltage inputs)
Temperature accuracy	Sum of ±0.2 % of reading and ±0.5 °C
Voltage accuracy	Sum of ±0.2 % of reading and ±10 µV
Overload protection	±30 V
Maximum common mode voltage	±7.5 V
Input impedance	2 MΩ
Input range (voltage)	±70 mV
Resolution	20 bits
Noise free resolution	16.25 bits
Thermocouple types supported	B, E, J, K, N, R, S, T
Input connectors	Miniature thermocouple
Output connector	USB — cable supplied
PC connection	USB 1.1
Power supply	from USB port
Dimensions	201 x 104 x 34 mm
Supplied software	PicoLog data acquisition software Driver and examples (C, Delphi and Visual Basic, Labview, Agilent VEE6.1 and Excel) Software is supplied on CD and is compatible with Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista
Maximum number of channels (using up to 20 TC-08s)	160

PC requirements
Minimum	Processor: 1 GHz. Memory: 512 MB. Free disk space: 32–bit: 600 MB, 64–bit: 1.5 GB. Operating system: 32– or 64–bit edition of Microsoft Windows XP (SP3), Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 (not Windows RT) or Windows 10. Beta software: Linux Debian, OpenSUSE and Fedora derived distributions, OS X (Mac). Ports: USB 1.1 port.
Recommended	Processor: 1 GHz. Memory: 512 MB. Free disk space: 32–bit: 850 MB, 64–bit: 2 GB. Operating system: 32– or 64–bit edition of Microsoft Windows 7, Windows 8 (not Windows RT) or Windows 10. Beta software: Linux Debian, OpenSUSE and Fedora derived distributions, OS X (Mac). Ports: USB 1.1 or higher.

Environmental
Operating temperature	0 to 50 °C
Operating temperature for stated accuracy	20 to 30 °C
Operating humidity	5 to 80 %RH non-condensing
Storage humidity	5 to 95 %RH non-condensing
Water resistance	Not water-resistant

Physical properties
Dimensions	201 x 104 x 34 mm (7.91 x 4.09 x 1.34 in)

Software
PicoLog for Windows	PicoLog data acquisition software can collect up to 1 million samples. Features include: Multiple views — view data as a graph, spreadsheet or text Parameter scaling — convert raw data into standard engineering units Math functions — use mathematical equations to calculate additional parameters Alarm limits — program an alert if a parameter goes out of a specified range IP networking — transfer measurements via a LAN or over the Internet Operating systems supported — Microsoft Windows XP (SP3) to Windows 10. Not Windows RT.
PicoLog languages	Full support for: English, Français, Deutsch Menus and dialogs only for: Italiano, Español, Svenska
Software Development Kit	Includes example code.
Optional free software	Drivers for Linux and OS X. 32-bit and 64-bit.

Documentation languages
User’s guide Programmer’s guide Installation guide	English English English, Français, Deutsch, Italiano, Español, Svenska, Nederlandse, Dansk

General
Additional hardware (supplied)	USB 2.0 cable, user manuals, software CD-ROM
PC interface	USB 1.1
Power requirements	Powered from USB port
Compliance	European EMC and LVD standards FCC Rules Part 15 Class A
Total satisfaction guarantee	In the event that this product does not fully meet your requirements you can return it for an exchange or refund. To claim, the product must be returned in good condition within 14 days.
Warranty	5 years

TC-08 Resolution

Thermocouple type	Overall range °C	0.1°C resolution	0.025°C resolution
B	20 to 1820	150 to 1820	600 to 1820
E	-270 to 910	-270 to 910	-260 to 910
J	-210 to 1200	-210 to 1200	-210 to 1200
K	-270 to 1370	-270 to 1370	-250 to 1370
N	-270 to 1300	-260 to 1300	-230 to 1300
R	-50 to 1760	-50 to 1760	20 to 1760
S	-50 to 1760	-50 to 1760	20 to 1760
T	-270 to 400	-270 to 400	-250 to 400

Applications for the TC-08

The TC-08 thermocouple data logger is used successfully throughout the industrial, scientific, medical and the food industries; listed here are some interesting applications:

Generation of electricity from biomass — an investigation by the UK government into renewable energy sources
Espresso coffee grinder testing — how the TC-08 is helping to make the perfect Espresso
See our thermocouples application note