Application

In this application, the purpose is to measure the temperature of the motor in an industrial coffee grinder during the grinding process to better understand the strain on the motor. As part of the application, the temperature data needed to be logged continuously and automatically with the ability to see the data in real-time.

OMEGA products used in this application

QuickShip Ready-Made Insulated Thermocouples with Kapton®, PFA, Glass Braid Insulation and Molded Connectors
5LSC-5SRTC
Ready-Made Insulated Thermocouples with Kapton®, PFA, Glass Braid Insulation and Molded Connectors
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QuickShip 4-Channel Handheld Data Logger Thermometer
HH378-Series
4-Channel Handheld Data Logger Thermometer
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Products

The figure above shows the schematic of the coffee grinder motor with thermocouples attached. The application is comprised of two products:

5SC-TT-K-30-36: A ready-made insulated thermocouple with Kapton®, PFA, glass braid insulation and molded connectors. This thermocouple is economical, long-lasting, and will provide service to temperatures up to 500°F (260°C) while providing shielding from electrical interference. Ideal for the baking or food industry.

HH378: This data logger has a high resolution and fast analog-to-digital converter. Data can be stored in the meter or directly saved on a computer through a PC interface. Included software allows you to export data to Excel or other data analytic software.

How it Works

  1. Mount the thermocouples to the various areas of the motor.
  2. Connect the wires from the thermocouples to the data logger.
  3. The thermocouples will continually measure the motor temperature and transmit the data to the data logger.
  4. The data logger screen provides a real-time view of the data.
  5. Connect the data logger via USB to a PC.
  6. Download the data and extract it for further analysis and visualization.

Results

The customer has the ability to see real-time temperature data via the data logger and to easily download that data and create visual graphs of the data to better understand the strain on the motor as exhibited by temperature differences during the coffee grinding process.

Pro Tip

Because thermocouples generate a relatively small voltage, applications that involve motors can generate too much electrical noise. This noise can cause interference and throw off readings, especially when you are using more than one channel.

To address avoid electrical interference, you can:

  • Use a simple filter in each channel to reduce the AC line noise.
  • Use short leads as long leads act as antennas, picking up electrical and magnetic interference.
  • Use an insulated thermocouple.