ANY-maze Help > The ANY-maze reference > The Protocol page > The elements of a protocol > Inputs and outputs > Temperature controllers > Temperature controller actions

Temperature controller actions

Introduction

As you may know, a procedure can include actions, some of which can affect a temperature controller - these are detailed below.

Actions

Set temperature

Sets the temperature of the temperature controller to the value specified in the action's parameter. The parameter is in units of degrees Celsius. The temperature will begin to change immediately from the current temperature to the new temperature, using the current ramp duration. If the temperature was already changing when the action occurs (for example, as a result of a previous action), then the old change is discarded and the temperature will ramp from whatever the temperature is NOW to the new temperature, over the current ramp duration. If a temperature is passed which is outside the temperature controller's range, then the temperature will be adjusted to be the maximum or minimum, as appropriate, and the temperature controller will start to adjust to THAT temperature over the current ramp duration.

Set ramp duration

Sets the duration over which the temperature controller will change from one temperature to another. The duration can be specified with units of s (seconds), min or m (minutes), or h (hours); if no units are given, then seconds will be assumed.

If the ramp duration is too short, for example, trying to change from 10°C to 70°C in 1s, then the controller will ramp as fast as it can. If the duration specified is outside the durations the controller supports, then it will be set to the maximum or minimum duration, as appropriate. For example, the maximum ramp duration supported by OPAD is 2 hours; setting it to 3h will cause it to be set to 2h instead.

If you want to create a specific slope, for example 1°C/min, then you can use the temperature controller's Thermal element temperature variable in your procedure to determine what the temperature is now, and then set the ramp duration to achieve your target temperature with the desired slope.

If you set the ramp duration while the controller is ramping, the new duration will only be used the next time you change the temperature.

ANY-maze help topic T0289