Carrier Transicold has introduced the DataLink 2 recorder, which the company says is geared toward refrigerated haulers who require independent verification of temperatures inside trucks and trailers or immediate documentation for receivers. For single-temperature or multi-temperature applications, the DataLink 2 system uses up to three independent temperature sensors, providing an added layer of verification beyond the refrigeration system’s built-in recording ability, the company explained. An integral thermal printer lets drivers produce numerical and graphical trip reports for receivers. Additionally, data can be downloaded into a personal computer for electronic logging.
“Increasingly, haulers of pharmaceuticals, perishable and frozen foods, and other temperature-critical goods are using temperature monitoring and reporting capabilities, with temperature accountability a growing focus following the release of the transportation rules of the Food Safety Modernization Act,” said Mark Fragnito, product manager of controls for Carrier Transicold. “The DataLink 2 recorder may help food distribution operations easily track and manage this kind of information for compliance.”
The DataLink 2 recorder can also serve as a comprehensive analytical tool when connected to a Carrier Transicold refrigeration unit’s control system; temperature data captured from its own sensors can be correlated against activities recorded by the control system, helping to identify potential sources of temperature excursions.
“Setpoint changes, defrost cycles, unit alarms, door openings and turning off the refrigeration unit can affect temperatures, and uniquely, the DataLink 2 recorder can capture and report these events alongside temperature data, providing helpful insight into temperature activity inside the truck or trailer,” Fragnito explained.
The DataLink 2 recorder auto-detects which Carrier Transicold controller it is connected to, whether an APX or Advance controller or the standard microprocessor. Setup is done through a “soft menu” system keyed to four buttons located just below the device’s backlit display screen. Two recorder styles are offered: body-mount models that attach to either a truck or trailer cargo area, and an in-dash DIN-mount version for more convenient driver access on straight truck applications.
