It is critical for all flight crew members to understand the importance of holding temperatures in all food that is brought aboard an aircraft to feed passengers and crew. Time and temperature in food needs to be monitored at all times aboard an aircraft in order to keep it safe. There are many different types of thermometers in the market place, but many thermometers will not hold their calibration because of being dropped, or will be shocked when testing hot foods and cold foods back to back and lose their calibration. It is very important to have a very reliable thermometer in every aircraft that serves food during a flight. A thermocouple thermometer is the most reliable instrument in any industry using a thermometer and never needs calibrating.

Thermocouple thermometers measure temperatures through a metal probe or sensing area and display the results on a digital readout. Thermocouple thermometers come in a variety of styles and sizes, from hand held models to panel-mounted displays for large ground kitchens. Many thermocouples come with interchangeable temperature probes designed to measure the temperature of equipment and food. There are four different types of probes, which are usually interchangeable with the different types of thermometers.

• Immersion probe: Measures the temperature of liquids, such as soup, sauces, or frying oil.
• Surface probe: Measures the temperature of flat cooking equipment, such as griddles.
• Penetration probe: Measures the internal temperature of food, such as cooked or raw meats, fish, salads or most foods that would be served aboard an aircraft.
• Small-diameter probes are used for measuring the internal temperature of thin food, such as meat patties and fish fillets.
• Air probe: Measures the temperature inside refrigerators, gasper coolers, catering packaging or ovens.

Instrument Testing:

TuffTemp instruments are drop tested at two-foot intervals between 2 and 8 feet. Instruments are dropped onto concrete on all six sides at each height. Cooper-Atkins has tested the strength of the aluminum housing on the thermometers by running over them with a pick-up truck. The housing showed virtually no damage.

TuffTemp instruments are also tested for water resistance using a 60-minute water spray test and a water integrity test, in which instruments are disassembled and the housing is filled with water to test for leaks.

Calibration:

Cooper-Atkins advanced technologies require you to think about calibration in a whole new way. Unlike traditional temperature instruments, the TuffTemp line requires no mechanical adjustments. Calibration points are stored in the instrument's electronic memory. This provides better long-term accuracy than manual calibration because there is no chance of altering calibration through shock or tampering. Under normal operating conditions, TuffTemp instruments should not require calibration. Additional fine qualities of the Cooper-Atkins Tufftemp are:

• All TuffTemp units turn themselves off after five minutes of non-use.
• All TuffTemp units have a sealed keypad. The label and adhesive are impervious to standard cleaning products, allowing users to wipe with water and a cleaner to sanitize.
• All units have shock-resistant end caps, which prevents damage when dropping the instrument.
• Crush-proof extruded aluminum housing provides superior strength.
• TuffTemp circuit boards are conformably coated with a polyurethane-based sealant to protect electronic components from dust, dirt, and moisture. The Paron gaskets are highly durable and also prevent water, dirt, and duct from penetrating the housing.
• A single AA battery provides 1000 hours of battery life, which cuts consumer costs.
• The MSP430 Microprocessor is among the most technologically advanced microcontrollers available. Cooper-Atkins technology ensures consumers get the fastest, most accurate information from their thermometers.
• The AccuTuff and VersaTuff thermocouple thermometers both offer a 5-year warranty.

Accuracy:

AccuTuff by Cooper-Atkins is an essential tool for those operations requiring the highest degree of accuracy and durability. Each AccuTuff instrument has a total system accuracy (instrument and probe combined) of +/- 0.9 F degrees over the entire temperature range. The exclusive TuffTemp construction ensures reliable performance even after repetitive drops onto concrete and exposure to high temperatures.

VersaTuff by Cooper-Atkins is the hallmark of the Atkins thermocouple thermometer. This unit is designed for use in harsh, commercial environments that require the use of numerous probes. The special TuffTemp construction ensures the instrument will survive the roughest environments, such as repeated drops onto concrete, immersion into liquids and exposure to high temperatures.

Service and Exchange:

Cooper-Atkins products are constructed to give you years of use under normal conditions. If, however, you experience any problems due to manufacturer defects, Cooper-Atkins promises to get you back in business as quickly as possible.

• Call the Cooper-Atkins Repair Department at 1-800-835-5011 or 1-860-347-2256.
• Give Cooper-Atkins the model number of your product, your shipping address and billing information.
• Atkins will give you an RMA number to put on all paperwork & in the carton you are using to return the item.
• Please return your product with a traceable carrier such as UPS or FedEx prepaid.
• Within days of receiving your product/s, Cooper-Atkins will send you a replacement. If the product is covered by warranty, you will not be charged. If it is not covered by warranty, you will receive an invoice for the exchange cost.