Cycle Mode - THORLABS TC200 User Manual

Temperature Controller
5.7.

CYCLE Mode


The STOP temperature determines the final temperature that the system will try to go to in the amount of
time determined by the Ramp time value.

The RAMP time is how long it will take to go from a starting temperature to a stopping temperature.

The HOLD time is how long the cycle will stay at the STOP temperature before advancing to the next step,
also known as "dwell time".

The initial starting temperature is determined to be whatever the TEMP SET value is at the start of a cycle.
After that, the starting temperature of the subsequent step is the stopping temperature from the previous
step. That is, the stopping temperature for step 1 will be the starting temperature for step 2, and so forth.

The number of steps can be reduced by programming in the same STOP Temperature for any steps that
you don't need. That is, if you only want one cycle that ramps from TEMP SET to the STOP temperature
over a certain amount of time, simply program in the same STOP temperature for steps 2 – 5. Once the
step 1 HOLD time expires, the cycle will "jump" over steps 2 – 5 and resume operation in NORMAL mode.

NOTE: By the same token, if your starting value for TEMP SET is the same as your stopping value for step
1, then step 1 will appear to be jumped over. If ALL off your stopping values are the same as your TEMP
SET value then it will appear as though the cycle never happened.

During the course of a cycle, the following actions can be taken:
1. While in the Main screen, pressing the ENTER keypad at any time will cause the scan to pause. Once
paused, the cycle will hold at the current ramp or hold time count and remain there with the heater still
enabled. Pressing the ENTER keypad again will cause the scan to resume at the current channel.
2. While in any screen, pressing the ENABLE keypad at any time will cause the cycle to terminate
completely, turning off the heater, disabling the output, and changing the operating mode to NORMAL.
3. At no time during an active cycle can the set-point be adjusted from the Main screen using the UP or
DOWN arrow keypads.
4. At no time during an active cycle can any of the cycle parameters be adjusted.

CYCLE Mode will be terminated and changed back to NORMAL Mode as follows:
o
Letting a cycle completely run its course will change the mode back to NORMAL, and the
temperature will remain at the last stopping temperature with the heater still enabled.
o
Pressing the ENABLE keypad during an active cycle will terminate the cycle and disable the heater.
o
From the main screen, press the MODE keypad five times:


Rev N, July 31, 2017
The NORMAL vs. CYCLE Mode menu will come on, with NORMAL mode as the active
selection.
Pressing the ENTER keypad at this point will terminate the cycle at the current temperature
and return you to the Main screen. The heater will remain enabled.
Chapter 5: Stand-Alone Operation
Page 13