Elitech RC-5 USB Temperature Data Logger Recorder 32000 Points High Accuracy (5 Pack)

This little guy works really well. I had to look for the PC program to download. It was not where is was reported to be in the enclosed instructions. Once found and installed. All is well. easy to charge. Clear instructions. Great

Works as described with resect to data acquisition, storage and retrieval (download). Price is very reasonable compared to the prices of competitors units. Have not had the unit long enough to comment on battery life. The following information may be useful. Install the management software that comes on the mini disc and run the executable file. Plug the RC-5 into your computer's USB port and open the RC-5 management software by clicking on the "RC-4&5 Conventional" icon. This icon will be on the computer’s desk top and also will be displayed in the programs (left hand) toolbar when clicking the “home” button of your computer. The toolbar will be displayed on your computer screen when you have activated the management software. Once the management software is opened, click on the "Connection" icon. Then click on the “Parameter Set” icon and then fill in your set of user selected data acquisition entries the parameter fields to control the format of temperature data that are are recorded (logged), how often they are measured. When you have completed entering the measurement parameters, click “SAVE” at the bottom/lower right of the parameters set screen. Then click on “Exit”, which is also at the bottom/lower right of the parameter set screen. Next unplug the RC5 from the computer’s USB port. It will have heated up quickly during the time when it was plugged in to the USB port (while you were entering the data acquisition parameters) and the temperature displayed on the screen of the RC5 will not be an accurate indication of the ambient temperature, the RC5 screen will show a much higher temperature. About 30 minutes after you unplug the RC5 from the computer, it will have cooled down to room ambient temperature. The RC5 unit will not start recording until you push its left (play, start) > button while also holding it down for ~ 4 seconds. When you do so, the temperature that the RC5 unit is experiencing at that time (hopefully it has cooled down to be the same as the room ambient temperature) shows on the screen of the RC5 for ~ 15 seconds along with the >, indicating that the RC5 has commenced recording (data acquisition). To view and download recorded data, you need to plug the RC5 into the computer’s USB port and then click on the "RC-4&5 Conventional" icon to again open the management software. Clicking on the "upload data" icon will display a plot of the acquired data on the computer screen. Clicking on the "stop record" icon will stop the RC5 unit from recording data. Clicking on the "Export to Excel" icon will import the data to Excel.

Wanted something inexpensive to monitor the temperatures in my home, 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs to compare the difference. So far working well. Plugs into your computer using the USB port. First you need to install the software. The mini disc that came with mine could not be read by my computer. Not sure if that is a computer or disk issue. Regardless after about 5 minutes of searching; I found the software online on the Elitech website and downloaded it from there. [...]. I was thinking to myself, why doesn't the manufacturer just pre-install the software onto the device like a flash drive... so all you need to do is plug it in... not sure (I guess there must be more to it). Once the software is loaded, just plug in, open the software, hit the connect button, then go to parameters.... you program the device from your computer. Then unplug it, press and hold the play button for 4 secs... and your data logging. Very easy in my opinion. To access the data, is just as easy... just plug in, open the software, hit the connect button, then hit the upload data button. Immediately on your screen you have the data. I then download the data to excel... it exports as a .xls... (not a .xlsx) so should be compatible with almost all versions of excel. I'm using 2003... and it work just fine. (Note: in my case, it exports the data as text, so if you’re trying to build your own charts, you need to convert the data to numeric values.) To reset the device; I found the easiest way to clear the data is just go back to the parameters tab, and save your parameters again... it will clear all the data from the device. An observation... I found that handling them effects the temp (even for a very short period of time), heats them up. Plugging them into the computer really effects the temp. While this makes it sound like the device is very sensitive, I also found it takes awhile for it to come to back down to room temp. Yea I don't get it either, (sensitive yet slow). In the computer it would heat up to about 79... then it would take almost 30 minutes to get back to 70 degrees. (I have the data to prove it; it's a data logger; lol) I would purchase again... Haven't had them long enough to test the battery life.

very easy to use … and reliable

I bought 2 RC-5 temperature loggers on June 24 and downloaded the required software. One does exactly what I need. It communicates with the software, accepts parameter settings, stops recording on software command, starts recording on 4-sec left-button push, clears memory on receiving new parameter settings, allows data download to Excel for external processing and display. As other reviewers noted, the internal thermistor reaches ambient temperature only after a lag of 15-25 minutes. I use that one regularly. I need two. The second worked half way, ie, it didn't work. It displayed correct temperatures, recorded under factory default settings, and downloaded to the software. Unfortunately, it completely ignored commands from the software (eg, setting the clock to something other than 00:00 on 1/1/2012). I returned the defective one and ordered two more (7/18). Both defective in the same way. Returned them. Ordered two more (7/26). Both defective. Returned them. Perhaps I randomly received 5 units from one bad batch. After months to let inventory clear, I ordered two more (11/18). Both defective. Returning them. The first one still works perfectly. I still need two. Four-letter word. Amazon should remove this product from catalog.

Great product for $20 if you think you might have a problem with your refrigerator/freezers cooling. Warning: the learning learning curve is a little steep. If you are technically inclined this would be a fun/exciting project to undertake. Minimal graph formatting tools (remember $20), just export data to Excel then you can format the plot any way you want.

Buen producto, buena durabilidad

This appeals to my geeky engineer mind. I am renovating a trailer and I bought two more so I can track the temperature variations from outside, inside and underneath the trailer as I replace the insulation. Simple to use and can export the data to excel.