FAQ

• How do I recalibrate my CDN thermometer?

• A thermometer may lose accuracy after years of use or after a particularly hard jolt. First, you need a container of water at a known temperature – the closer to the mid-range the better. A fever thermometer is ideal for measuring the temperature of the water.

  Making an Ice Slurry

  1. Fill a 1 cup measuring container with a slurry of ice water using 3 parts crushed ice to 1 part water.
     Note: It is very difficult to get a 32°F/0°C ice water temperature. It will probably be closer to 34°F/1°C.
  2. Allow to stand for 3-5 minutes.

  Using an Ice Slurry

  1. Immerse the stem into the middle of the ice slurry to a depth of at least 3 inches. Do not let the stem touch the bottom of container.
  2. Hold the dial firmly (pliers or a wrench may have to be used) and slowly rotate the hex nut beneath the dial. Use pliers or a wrench to adjust the next nut. The pointer will start to move.
  3. Rotate the nut clockwise to increase the reading. Rotate the nut counterclockwise to decrease the reading.
  4. Stop adjusting when the pointer indicates the temperature of the water.

  Using Boiling Water

  Boiling water (adjust for altitude above 1,000 feet*) can be used to recalibrate your thermometer. Please be cautious around boiling water.

  1. Immerse the thermometer stem in the water to a depth of at least 3 inches. Do not let the stem touch the bottom of container.
  2. Hold the dial firmly (pliers or a wrench may have to be used) and slowly rotate the hex nut beneath the dial. Use pliers or a wrench to adjust the hex nut. The pointer will start to move.
  3. Rotate the nut clockwise to increase the reading. Rotate the nut counterclockwise to decrease the reading.
  4. Stop adjusting when the pointer indicates 212°F/100°C.

  *Note: For every 500 feet of elevation, reduce the expected boiling point of water by 0.5°F/0.25°C.

  Using the Calibration Tool on Sheath

  Models IRT220, IRT550, IRXL220, IRXL400, IRT220-F, IRB220-F, IRB220-F-6.5 and IRTL220-F

  1. Seat the hex nut on the thermometer into the head or wrench of the sheath, depending on sheath style.
  2. Immerse the stem into the middle of the ice slurry or boiling water (212°F/100°C at sea level) to a depth of at least 3 inches.
  3. Rotate the nut clockwise to increase the reading. Rotate the nut counter clockwise to decrease the reading.
  4. Stop adjusting when the pointer indicates the temperature of the water.

  Calibrating Digital Thermometers

  Models DTT450, DTQ450X, Q2-450X, DTW450, DTW450L

  1. Immerse the stem into the middle of the ice slurry to a depth of at least 2 inches. Do not let the stem touch the bottom of container.
  2. Press the CAL button for 2 seconds. The display will be blank for 2 seconds.
  3. Release the CAL button and 32.0°F/0°C appears.

  Note: To avoid accidental recalibration, this function only works when the water temperature is 30 to 34°F/-1 to +1°C. ERR will appear for 2 seconds if the water is not within this range and then return to the temperature display mode.

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• What is Data Hold?

• The ability to freeze the display on any given measurement. This can be useful in applications where the instrument is not easily read while a measurement is being made.

• What type of battery do your units take?

• For each CDN model, the type of battery required can be found under Technical Specifications.

• How does the unit shut off?

• Some units do not power down, or have on/off switch. They are built to remain on all of the time. This will not drain out the battery.

• The red liquid in your thermometers, is it mercury?

• No. This liquid is a food safe, oil based liquid.

• My digital thermometer display flickers when I use it with my induction cooktop – why?

• The induction cooktop’s magnetic field may interfere with digital thermometers. If this happens, briefly turn off the induction cooktop to get a digital thermometer reading or use a dial thermometer.

• My thermometer probe is reading “HI” or “LO” – What does this mean?

• Usually this is a sign that the cord/probe has malfunctioned. Replacing the cord/probe part, will usually fix the problem.

• For my CDN Dual Sensing Probe Thermometer (DSP1), how do I decrease the temperature?

• You cannot. You have to increase temp up past 572° F, and it will reset to 14.

• Distance to Spot Ratio – What is that?

• It is the ratio of the distance to the object and the diameter of the temperature measurement area Example: Distance to Spot = 2.5:1 If the surface area being measured is 10” in diameter, then the thermometer must be within 25” of the target for an accurate reading.

• I’m seeing double or 99.95 on my display.

• There is a clear display sticker that needs to be removed from the screen of most of our timers.

• How loud are the timer alarms?

• See Decibel Table.

• What is your Warranty?

• A majority of our products have a 5-Year Limited Warranty. Infrared Thermometers and Scales have a 1-Year Limited Warranty:

  5-Year Limited Warranty
  Any instrument that proves to be defective in material or workmanship (excluding batteries) within five years of original purchase will be repaired or replaced without charge upon receipt of the unit prepaid at: CDN, PO Box 10947, Portland, OR 97296-0947US. This warranty does not cover damage in shipment or failure caused by failure to adhere to the accompanying instructions, inadequate maintenance, normal wear and tear, tampering, accident, misuse, unauthorized modification, obvious carelessness or abuse. CDN shall not be liable for any consequential or incidental damages whatsoever.

  1-Year Limited Warranty
  Any instrument that proves to be defective in material or workmanship (excluding batteries) within one year of original purchase will be repaired or replaced without charge upon receipt of the unit prepaid at: CDN, PO Box 10947, Portland, OR 97296-0947US. This warranty does not cover damage in shipment or failure caused by failure to adhere to the accompanying instructions, inadequate maintenance, normal wear and tear, tampering, accident, misuse, unauthorized modification, obvious carelessness or abuse. CDN shall not be liable for any consequential or incidental damages whatsoever.

• How do I obtain warranty repair or service?

• If the unit is under warranty, please ship it to:

  CDN
  Attn: Repairs Dept.
  PO Box 10947
  3456 NW Yeon Avenue
  Portland OR 97210-1528
  800-338-5594
  503-225-0900
  Enclose a brief note to explain the problem, along with your name, shipping address, phone number and email address.

• How do I contact CDN customer service?

• info@CDNmeasurement.com

  Phone: 800-338-5594
  Phone: 503-225-0900

  Fax: 800-879-2364
  Fax: 503-226-0924

  CDN customer service is open from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm Pacific time, Monday through Friday. We answer customer service inquiries within 24 hours during this time.

Articles

• Temperature Guides

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• Recombining Liquid in Glass Column Thermometers

• The liquid in glass column thermometers separates – it’s natural. Store your glass column thermometer with the bulb end down, if possible.

  Two methods for recombining the liquid in the column are:

  Cooling

  1. Fill a container with shaved ice and salt.
  2. Place the thermometer in this ice water bath, holding the thermometer upright.
  3. When the liquid goes back into the bulb of the thermometer, remove it from the water bath and swing it back and forth in an arc with the bulb down. This allows any trapped gas to rise above the liquid column and recombines the liquid column.
  4. Repeat if necessary.

  Heating

  1. Place a pan of water over low heat.
  2. Hold the glass column thermometer in an upright position and immerse the bulb in the water.
  3. SLOWLY heat the thermometer bulb using the water. Caution: Do not heat too quickly or the bulb could break.
  4. Gently tap the thermometer column to allow the gas separating the column to rise to the top, thus allowing the column to recombine.

• Coffee Tips, Times & Temps

• Sophisticated customers are demanding a better cup of coffee, and smart foodservice managers know that great coffee means more customer satisfaction, more traffic, more sales and more profits. CDN offers these tips on preparing the ultimate in coffee and espresso-based drinks:

  • Always use fresh, filtered water.
  • Always use fresh, whole bean coffee. Coffee is perishable: use within two weeks of roast date.
  • Store coffee beans in an air-tight container away from heat, light and moisture. No freezer or refrigerator.
  • Grind just before brewing – a timer will help you create the perfect grind.
  • Make certain brewing water temperature is between 198-202° F. Frequently check water temperature as it comes out of the brew head. Brewing at too low a temperature results in a weak tasting coffee.
  • In espresso, timing indicates to a barista if the dose, tamp, grind and extraction are proper, or if adjustment is necessary.
  • Use an infrared thermometer to check water brew temperature in hard to reach places such as brew stream from espresso machine group head.
  • Use a high-precision thermometer to ensure that milk temperature is consistent when steaming or frothing. Too hot and the milk loses its natural sweetness. Too cool and customers won’t experience the desired thick, velvety texture of properly steamed and foamed milk.
  • Milk steaming is critical for superb latte art and making delicious cappuccinos and caffe mochas. Unless barista are using thermometers, consistency is hard to achieve.
  • Select a frothing thermometer with a large dial for easy monitoring.
  • Timers can be used to monitor drink preparation, extraction times, customer service time and delivery time.
  • Proper brew time ensures ideal extraction time for espresso and brewed coffee. Brewing coffee too quickly results in under-extracted coffee, and brewing too slow results in a bitter taste.
  • When monitoring drip coffee, begin timing as soon as brewing is activated. Even though you may not see the coffee drip yet, water begins to infuse the grounds, so the brewing process has begun.
  • Serve customers fresh coffee. Experts recommend serving drip brewed within 30 minutes of brewing and espresso within 10 seconds of brewing. After 10 seconds, the crema on espresso begins to dissipate.
  • Use a clip-on, count-down freshness timer to ensure that drip brewed coffee is served within your freshness window.

  The art of coffee requires professional-grade timers and thermometers for the ultimate in taste and aroma. From crop to cup, brew your best using CDN thermometers and timers to ensure quality in consistency in every brew.

• Great Coffee: You Can’t Afford Not to Serve It

• “Coffee is your customer’s first, last and lasting impression,” says Sherri Johns of the Ultimate Barista Challenge. Delicious coffee and espresso enhance your menu, complement your cuisine and build customer loyalty. And great coffee equals great profits. By selling 100 cups a day (with 50 refills at no charge), you can earn over $44,000 in net revenue per year.

  Delicious coffee is a magnet that attracts customers again and again. Delicious coffee ensures customers add one and enjoy desserts and buy more. Great coffee enhances your image while building your brand franchise and expanding your customer base.

  The art of coffee relies on time and temperature to extract the best possible taste experience from your coffee beans. Professional quality, high precision timers and thermometers are essential for brewing and serving to perfection.

  Timing is critical for maintaining quality in all brewed coffee and espresso drinks. Timers can monitor brew time and serve time on coffee brewers. They can also be used for espresso extraction timing, grind adjustment and quality assurance. Freshness timers complete the quality control process by ensuring that the coffee you serve is always fresh and delicious.

  Thermometers are essential for achieving perfect results and consistency. They are important for monitoring brew water temperature as well as the temperature of milk. Delicious cafe lattes, cappuccinos and café mochas depend on perfectly steamed and textured milk. Unless barista is trained to use high-precision thermometers, consistency is hard to achieve.

  Coffee is a daily indulgence that can be one of the best attractions to your business. Whether you operate a white tablecloth restaurant or a coffee café, delicious coffee delivers the optimal customer experience. You can’t afford not to serve it, and CDN can help.

• Time and Temperature to a Tea

• A Simple Pleasure. But Rich in Complexity

  More and more people are opting for tea as their beverage of choice, from traditional tea flavors to adventurous new tea blends from around the world. The type of tea you select is just one of many factors that affect the quality of your tea. Brew time, temperature and water quality are also important.

  As with wine, chocolate and other gourmet delights, learning about the complexities of tea will reward the connoisseur with the ultimate in taste. CDN, the Time and Temperature Company, offers these tea tips:

  • It is generally felt that loose tea gives a superior result. Loose tea can be strained directly into the cup rather than into another pot if the amount steeped is for immediate consumption.
  • Some people prefer using an infuser ball. This adds convenience but slows down the steeping process. Be sure to fill the infuser no more than half full so the tea can expand freely with the water flow.
  • As a general rule, use one slightly heaped teaspoon (1.75 grams) of tea per cup. If the tea is “bold” (which means having a large sized tea leaf), more tea will be required. Very bold tea will not pack well into a tea ball or tea bag, so it should be brewed as loose tea and then strained.
  • Water temperature is critical for steeping good tea. Different types of teas require different steeping temperatures for the best results. For example, green tea that is steeped at too hot a temperature can become bitter and lose its healthful antioxidants.
  • Always preheat your teapot before adding tea for steeping. Simply pour some of the boiling or steaming water into your teapot, let it stand for a moment, and then pour it out. You can then add water and tea for steeping. If your pot is thin walled it will heat up quickly. If you have a thick-walled pot, it may take a few minutes to warm up.
  • Water quality is also important. If you are concerned about your water quality, consider using bottled water or a home water filter. Different teas can react differently to regional water types.
  • Always use fresh water when brewing tea. Do not use water that has been sitting in your tea kettle or water that has already been boiled. Water that has already been boiled becomes de-oxygenated and can result in “flat tasting” tea.
  • Time is as important as temperature in steeping tea. Under-steeped teas can be bland, and over-steeped teas can be bitter. With some teas, such as Darjeelings, you can taste more of the subtle notes at a shorter steep time. Some green and white teas can go from crisp complex perfection to bitterness in just 15 seconds.

  Tea Steeping Temperatures and Time
  Tea	°F	°C	Time
  WHITE	175-180	79-82	2-3 min.
  GREEN	175-180	79-82	1-2 min.
  OOLONG	195	90-91	2-3 min.
  BLACK	208-212	98-100	3-5 min.
  HERBAL	208-212	98-100	5-7 min.

Thermometer and Scale Technology

• Thermometer Technology

• Essential tools in any home or professional kitchen, cooking thermometers ensure that food is cooked safely to the desired doneness and scales help to regulate portion control. CDN offers the highest quality in reliable, fast and easy-to-read models, with the broadest assortment of thermometers and scales on the market.

• Scale Technology

• Digital (or electronic) scales offer fast weighing results, high accuracy and multiple units of measure. A favorite feature of digital scales is the tare function which zeros out the scale to account for the weight of a container or additional ingredients. Instant one-button unit conversion is also popular. Digital scales use electricity, batteries or a combination of both.

  

  Digital scales use strain gauge load cells to measure the applied weight of an article by converting the applied force to electrical signals. As the load cell measures electrical resistance change, it transmits a signal to the CPU, which converts it into input for a display board, which then shows the result on a digital screen.

  Advantages: Fast, accurate, fast tare feature, instant unit conversion, multiple units of measure, some have backlit displays.

  Disadvantages: Electricity or batteries required.

• Waterproof Rating IP Code

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• HACCP

• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a guideline that can minimize the actual risk of acquiring a food-borne illness. It was developed by NASA to keep astronauts from getting sick in space. Most Health Departments are requesting restaurants and food processors to comply with HACCP guidelines.

• NSF^® Certified

• The equipment identified as certified in the NSF listing for Standard 2 complies with the requirements of NSF/ANSI Food Equipment Standards, UL Standards and CSA Standards. The Standards apply to foodservice equipment, components and materials, and they define requirements for materials, design, construction and performance necessary for easy clean ability, food protection and freedom from harborage of germs.

  Many CDN thermometers and scales carry the ProAccurate^® label. This means that they are NSF^® Certified and full featured: designed with the professional chef in mind.

• BioCote^® Antimicrobial Technology

• Keeping Commercial Kitchens Clean: The CDN Approach with BioCote^® Antimicrobial Technology

  In the fast-paced world of commercial kitchens, cleanliness isn't just a priority—it's a necessity. CDN understands this better than most, which is why we've integrated BioCote^® antimicrobial technology into our range of measurement tools, including thermometers and scales. With over 40 years of family-owned expertise in foodservice equipment, we're committed to providing the highest standards of cleanliness and reliability to our customers.

  CDN Expertise in Cleanliness

  CDN is a global category leader known for quality and innovation, and our thermometers and scales are designed for precision and durability. Many of our products come with integrated BioCote^® antimicrobial technology, which helps inhibit the growth of bacteria that can cause odour, stains, and material degradation.  We take pride in our role in maintaining optimal cleanliness standards.

  The Benefits of BioCote^® Antimicrobial Technology

  BioCote^® antimicrobial technology isn't just effective—it's also permitted for food contact. To ensure effective protection against bacteria and fungi, it undergoes rigorous testing, including antimicrobial efficacy testing ISO 22196. Moreover, BioCote^® is the first and only antimicrobial technology to receive HACCP International certification, providing full assurance of its suitability for use in food-contact items.

  There are multiple benefits of incorporating BioCote^® antimicrobial technology and using it in conjunction with regular cleaning methods. By inhibiting microbial growth, it reduces the risk of cross-contamination, simplifies maintenance routines, and extends the lifespan of equipment and surfaces. In busy commercial kitchens where cleanliness is paramount, these advantages can make a significant difference in maintaining a consistently clean environment.

  Facing the Challenges of Cleanliness in Commercial Kitchens

  Commercial kitchens face unique challenges when it comes to maintaining cleanliness. With high traffic, moisture, and varying temperatures, surfaces can quickly become breeding grounds for microorganisms. That's why it's crucial for kitchens to adopt proactive measures, such as incorporating antimicrobial technology into their equipment, to minimize the risk of cross-contamination and help comply with global hygiene standards.

  Globally, governing bodies such as these set stringent cleanliness standards for commercial kitchens:

  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – USA
  • Food Standards Agency (FSA) - UK
  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) - EU
  • Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) - India
  • Australian Food Safety Standards - Australia

  By partnering with CDN and choosing BioCote^® Antimicrobial protected products, kitchen professionals can rest assured that they're investing in technology that's proven effective.

  At CDN, we're committed to providing commercial kitchen professionals with the tools they need to maintain optimal cleanliness standards and ensure the safety of their customers. With our range of measurement tools featuring BioCote^® Antimicrobial technology, we're proud to be at the forefront of innovation in foodservice equipment.