We are testing out Data Loggers to use instead of paper chart recorders on our frigs and freezers.  Are there any particular recording intervals that most people use?  If anyone else has used these to replace paper chart recorders, how is that working out for you in regards to CAP inspections?

Although not data loggers, our system records temp about every 10 minutes.  

I suggest you consider what you are doing with the data logger.  When we validate coolers we set ours to every minute.  Our Rees system that monitors about 100 fridges and freezers is set to every 4 hours.  Clearly a large difference, but both are doing what is needed for the purpose.

Our temperature monitoring system takes a temp every 5 minutes and alarms immediately if out of range.  Other non-BB equipment we have set to 15 minute readings.

We are looking at the Helmer iB125 for our blood bank with continual temperature monitoring. Temperature is logged at one minute intervals and the unit has a USB port to download this temperature data. The unit does come with chart option. I have posed the question to CAP and have been told as long as we validate (and keep that documentation for inspectors) and  record a numerical value daily to demonstrate functionality, we can download from the port and review weekly.  YEA, no charts!!

Are you going to be printing a copy? The temp data from those is pretty lengthy... our charts have stuck or been bumped out of calibration a few times and required printing it. We prefer the charts over paper.

We are trying our best to go completely paperless. I was planning to download the information in spreadsheet and graph as advertised by the company with electronic signature for documentation. At least that is the plan when we have approval for the purchase.

Ours are used to monitor temps in our portable refrigerators.  These refrigerators have both a sensor for our remote temperature tracking and a data logger (belt and suspenders approach).  The data loggers are set to log temp every 2 minutes and are just there as a backup in case our remote temp monitoring system goes down.  We picked that interval so that the data loggers could go for up to 2 weeks before they had to be downloaded (when they fill up they stop recording so the shorter the interval the more frequently they need to be downloaded).  We download weekly and export the data into excel-no paper. 

Edited March 11, 20169 yr by Sandy L