![]() With a thermometer, you would know the exact temperature (within a degree or so, depending on the accuracy of the thermometer you choose). What's the difference? Imagine that you need to monitor the temperature in your home (and you're not physically there to feel the temperature). In fact, there are two major types of temperature sensors: analog and discrete. While any climate control failure is an urgent scenario, the difference between an air conditioner failure that occurs when the temperature outside is 50 degrees Fahrenheit and one that occurs in the temperature outside is 110 degrees Fahrenheit.Īs simple as temperature monitor technology is, it's not as if there's only one kind of sensor. This way, you're able to assess the true danger of an HVAC or heater failure. From the heat of the summer to the chill of the winter, it's also an excellent idea to monitor the exterior temperature. It's even more important, however, to have a "red alert" level to tell you the temperature has reached an absolutely critical point that requires immediate intervention to prevent a thermal shutdown and expensive equipment damage.īut knowing the interior temperature at your site doesn't tell you everything. For example, it can be useful to have a "yellow alert" level so that you know the temperature is starting to rise. At least two are necessary to detect the"too low" and "too high" levels, but additional thresholds can make it easier to understand what's really happening at your sites. To properly monitor your site temperature, you need a temperature monitor that measures temperature within about a single degree against multiple threshold levels. After all, why wouldn't you spend the relatively modest amount necessary to install a good temperature monitor within your server room, server closet, data center, or telecom site? If you can't protect your servers from high or low temperature, neither your boss nor your clients will be very happy about it. Although computer equipment tends to appreciate a cool climate, 50 degrees below zero stops pretty much anything in its tracks. Otherwise, a heat spike will stop your revenue-generating network in its tracks.ĭon't forget, however, that cold temperatures can cause havoc in non-equatorial climates as well. Therefore, high temperature represents a continuous threat that must be monitored with a temperature monitor device. Telecom hardware and devices, because they involve large amounts of electricity, create great quantities of thermal energy (heat). No temperature monitor was in place to detect and report the high temperature, so equipment damage and data loss will result in expenses that could have purchased literally thousands of temperature monitoring devices. In this diagram, an HVAC (air conditioning) failure occurred without knowledge of the network operators. Heat is obviously a problem whenever you're dealing with computer equipment, but the very low temperatures of harsh winters can also cause remote site equipment to fail. ![]() They are generally more interested in technical system alarms than this simple environmental monitoring device. Unfortunately, a temperature monitor is not generally respected by the technicians responsible for keeping the network online. Some concepts in this article will apply to both, while others may be more relevant to one or the other.)Ī temperature monitor is not overly complex, but it is one of the most important investments you can make toward the reliability and uptime of your telecom or IT system. It can be a simple hardware temperature sensor or it can be a Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU) that collects data from many temperature sensors. (NOTE: The term "temperature monitor" can have different meanings in a Telecom and IT Remote Alarm Monitoring and Control context. Temperature Monitoring: The Best Equipment Protection Steps
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