Skip to main content

Monitoring a Wireless Temperature Sensor

Kevin U
  • Updated

Activating a Sensor

Your MealSuite temperature sensors are preconfigured to operate based on previously provided preferences.

After you install a sensor, then you must set its status to "Active" in the Core system so that the sensor can begin to send real-time data to the MealSuite system.

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Fridge/Freezer Sensors. The Fridge & Freezer Sensors screen appears. 

    fridge_freezer_empty.png
     
  2. Select the Paused Sensors tab.

    paused_sensors_tab.png
     
  3. Select the check boxes of the sensor(s) to be activated, and then click the Activate Sensors button at the top of the screen. The sensor(s) are activated. 

    activate_sensors.png
     
  4. Select the Active Sensors tab to see the active sensors. 

    active_sensors_arrow.png

Editing Details of a Sensor

If needed to edit details of a sensor (i.e., sensor name and device ID), complete the following steps:

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Fridge/Freezer Sensors. The Fridge & Freezer Sensors screen appears. 
  2. Click the Active Sensors tab to display the current sensors. 
  3. For the sensor that you want to edit, click its eye icon in the View column (first screenshot below). The sensor specific screen appears (second screenshot below). 

    view_eye.png

    sensor_specific_screen.png
     
  4. Click the Edit button. The Edit Temperature Sensor slide-out panel appears. 

    edit_temperature_sensor.png
     
  5. Make your edits as needed, and then click the Update Temperature Sensor button to apply your changes. 

Deleting a Sensor

If needed to delete a sensor from the Core system, complete the following steps:

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Fridge/Freezer Sensors. The Fridge & Freezer Sensors screen appears. 
  2. Click the Active Sensors tab to display the current sensors. 

  3. For the sensor that you want to delete, click its eye icon in the View column (first screenshot below). The sensor specific screen appears (second screenshot below).

    view_eye.png

    sensor_specific_screen.png

  4. Click the Delete button. The sensor is removed from the Core system. 

Viewing a Current Temperature Reading

To view the current temperature reading of a temperature sensor, complete the following steps: 

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Fridge/Freezer Sensors. The Fridge & Freezer Sensors screen appears. 
  2. Select the Active Sensors tab. A list of existing sensors appears, with the Temperature column listing the temperature of each. The Last Updated column indicates when the last reading was received in minutes. 

    active_sensors.png

Viewing Battery Level and Signal Strength of a Temperature Sensor

To view the battery level and signal strength of a temperature sensor monitoring a location, complete the following steps: 

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Fridge/Freezer Sensors. The Fridge & Freezer Sensors screen appears. 
  2. Select the Active Sensors tab. A list of existing sensors appears, with the battery level and signal strength displayed in their the respective Battery and Signal columns.

    active_sensors.png

Viewing Alerts from a Temperature Sensor

About Alerts

By default, the MealSuite system monitors each temperature sensor and triggers an alert email to support@mealsuite.com if any of the following conditions occur:

  • Last update from sensor is longer than 20 minutes.
  • Battery level is below 10%. 
  • Signal strength is below 10%. 

In addition, you can create your own alert conditions to notify select users if the temperature falls below or rises above a certain temperature for a set amount of time. For example, when your freezer is above 40°F for more than 60 seconds, an alert is triggered (see Creating an Alert Condition for Temperature Sensor below for details). 

You can view any active alerts and past alerts in the Core system. Refer to the appropriate section below. 

Viewing Active Alerts of Temperature Sensor

To view any currently active temperature sensors alerts, complete the following step:

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Fridge/Freezer Sensors. The Fridge & Freezer Sensors screen appears, with the Active Alerts tab automatically selected. Any currently active alerts are listed in the Active Alerts sub-tab. 

Note: Alerts from temperature sensors can also be viewed on the HACCP Compliance Dashboard. See The HACCP Compliance Dashboard for more information. 

Viewing Alert History of Temperature Sensor

To view past alerts of a temperature sensor, complete the following steps:

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Automated Alerts. The Automated Alert screen appears. 
  2. Select the Alert History. Past alerts are listed.

Temperature Sensor Reports

Summarized Report for Temperature Sensors

The summarized report captures the temperatures logged by one or more wireless temperature sensors at specific times in a day across a selected date range. The report is generated in a .csv file that can be opened with Excel®. To generate a summarized report, complete the following steps: 

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Fridge/Freezer Sensors. The Fridge & Freezer Sensors screen appears. 
  2. At the top of the screen, click the Generate Summarized Report button. The Report Options window appears. 

    report_options_modal.png
     
  3. Select the date range via the From and To fields. Note that the maximum range is seven days. 
  4. In the Select sensors section, select the sensors to include in the report.
  5. In the Select interval time(s) section, enter up to four interval times. The report will include the recorded time that occurred within 10 minutes of each interval time that you enter. 
  6. Click the Go button and the report is downloaded as an .csv file that you can open with Excel®.

    summarized_report.png

Detailed History Report for a Temperature Sensor

The detailed history report for a wireless temperature sensor generates an onscreen graph of temperatures logged by a sensor every 10 minutes for a selected date range. The data can also be exported to a .csv file that can be opened with Excel®. To generate a detailed history report, complete the following steps:

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Fridge/Freezer Sensors. The Fridge & Freezer Sensors screen appears. 
  2. Click the Active Sensors tab. A list of existing sensors appears.  
  3. For the sensor whose report you want to view, click its eye icon in the View column (first screenshot below). The sensor specific screen appears (second screenshot below). 

    view_eye.png

    sensor_specific_screen.png
     
  4. Ensure you are on the Detailed History tab. 

    detailed_history_tab.png
     
  5. By default, the date range is the last 24 hours set in the From and To fields. Enter a different date range as needed. The maximum range that can be entered is three days. Note that if you enter a date in the From field that surpasses the three-day range as per what is entered in the To field, then the system will automatically adjust the To field to 72 hours more than what is entered in the From field.  

    maximum_three_day_range.png
     
  6. Upon selecting a date range, the onscreen graph refreshes accordingly, displaying the temperatures logged every 10 minutes within the selected date range. 

    detailed_history_temperature_sensor.png
     
  7. To export the data to an Excel® file, click the Export to Excel button (first screenshot below). The file is downloaded to your computer for you to open in Excel (second screenshot below).
    export_to_excel.png

    detailed_history_.csv.png

Daily Summary Report for a Temperature Sensor

The daily summary report for a temperature sensor generates on onscreen graph of the maximum, average and minimum temperatures logged by a sensor for each date in a selected date range. To generate a daily summary report, complete the following steps:

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Fridge/Freezer Sensors. The Fridge & Freezer Sensors screen appears. 
  2. Click the Active Sensors tab. A list of existing sensors appears.  
  3. For the sensor whose report you want to view, click its eye icon in the View column (first screenshot below). The sensor specific screen appears (second screenshot below). 

    view_eye.png

    sensor_specific_screen.png
     
  4. Click the Daily Summary tab. 

    daily_summary_tab.png
     
  5. By default, the date range is the last six days as set in the From and To fields. Enter a different date range as needed. The maximum range that can be entered is two weeks. Note that if you enter a date in the From field that surpasses the two-week range as per what is entered in the To field, then the system automatically adjusts the To field to two weeks more than what is entered in the From field.  

    maximum_three_day_range.png
     
  6. Upon selecting a date range, the onscreen graph refreshes accordingly, displaying the maximum, average and minimum temperatures logged by a sensor for each date in the selected date range.

    daily_summary_graph.png

Alert Conditions

Creating Alert Condition for Temperature Sensor

You can create an alert condition for a temperature sensor. For example, when your freezer is above 40°F for more than 60 seconds, an alert is triggered. To create an alert condition, complete the following steps: 

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Automated Alerts. The Automated Alert screen appears with the Alert Conditions tab automatically selected. 

    automated_alerts.png
     
  2. Click the Add an Alert Condition button at the top of the screen. The Create Alert Condition slide-out panel appears. 

    create_alert_condition.png
     
  3. Enter or select the following: 
    • Name - name of the alert condition. For example "Above 40 F for 60 seconds"
    • Condition - select (>) Greater Than or (<) Less Than. 
    • Temperature - select the temperature threshold. 
    • Alert After (Seconds) - select the length of time in seconds. 
    • Sensor - Select the sensors to generate the alert
    • Alert Contacts - select the contacts to receive the alert notifications. 
  4. Click the Create Alert Condition button. You are returned to the Alert Conditions tab, where the newly-added condition is listed.

    alert_conditions.png

Modifying an Alert Condition for Temperature Sensor

To modify an existing alert condition, complete the following steps: 

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Automated Alerts. The Automated Alert screen appears with the Alert Conditions tab automatically selected. 

    automated_alerts.png
     
  2. For the alert condition you want to modify, click its gear icon in the Actions column and select Edit. The Update Alert Condition slide-out panel appears. 

    update_alert_condition_slideout_panel.png
     
  3. Update the following as needed:  
    • Name - name of the alert condition. For example "Above 40 F for 60 seconds"
    • Condition - select (>) Greater Than or (<) Less Than. 
    • Temperature - select the temperature threshold. 
    • Alert After (Seconds) - select the length of time in seconds. 
    • Sensor - Select the sensors to generate the alert
    • Alert Contacts - select the contacts to receive the alert notifications. 
  4. Click the Update Alert Condition button to apply your changes. 

Deleting an Alert Condition for a Temperature Sensor

To delete an alert condition, complete the following steps:

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Automated Alerts. The Automated Alert screen appears with the Alert Conditions tab automatically selected. 

    automated_alerts.png
     
  2. For the alert condition you want to delete, click its gear icon in the Actions column and select Delete. The alert condition is deleted. 

Contacts for Temperature Alerts

Creating a New Contact for Temperature Alerts

To create a new contact to receive temperature alerts from temperature sensors, complete the following steps: 

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Automated Alerts. The Automated Alert screen appears. 
  2. Click the Alert Contacts tab. 

    alert_contacts.png
     
  3. Click the Add a Contact button at the top right of the screen. The Create Alert Contact slide-out panel appears. 

    create_alert_contact.png
     
  4. Enter or select the following:
    • First name
    • Last name
    • Phone country code
    • Phone number - enter a 10 digit phone number without spaces or dashes. 
    • Ext (if any)
  5. From the Alert preference drop-down, select the message types to use when an alert is triggered:
    • Email
    • SMS (text message)
    • Call - the recipient will receive an auto-generated voice message. 
  6. Click the Create Alert Contact button. You are returned to the Alert Contacts tab where the newly-added contact listed.

Updating a Contact for Temperature Alerts

To update an existing contact who receives temperature alerts from temperature sensors, complete the following steps: 

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Automated Alerts. The Automated Alert screen appears. 
  2. Click the Alert Contacts tab. 
  3. For the alert contact you want to modify, click its gear icon in the Actions column and select Edit. The Update Alert Contact slide-out panel appears. 

    update_alert_contact.png
     
  4. Update the contact information as needed. 
  5. Click the Update Alert Contact button to apply your changes. 

Deleting a Contact from Temperature Alerts

To delete an existing contact who receives temperature alerts from temperature sensors, complete the following steps: 

  1. From the left navigation sidebar, select HACCP > Automated Alerts. The Automated Alert screen appears. 
  2. Click the Alert Contacts tab. 
  3. For the alert contact you want to delete, click its gear icon in the Actions column and select Delete. The alert contact is deleted.