Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
(OP)
Hi,
Currently I'm looking for a data logger to match a relatively simple scenario and set of specifications. However, search results continue to yield overpriced and frankly overkill systems which I am not interested in.
I'm wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of some simple acquisition units, i.e: no front panel/interface, at least 4 channels and able to interface with a PC(there must be some sort of monitoring software).
Please feel free to throw out any names, catalogues, or any resources where I can find less over-kill and simple data loggers and I'll sift through them all to see if they match my scenario or not.
In a nutshell: PC compatible / Compact(i.e no frontpanel, displays) / 4 input channels / 0-5V or 4-20mA compatible input.
Regards,
Joel Aspinall
Currently I'm looking for a data logger to match a relatively simple scenario and set of specifications. However, search results continue to yield overpriced and frankly overkill systems which I am not interested in.
I'm wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of some simple acquisition units, i.e: no front panel/interface, at least 4 channels and able to interface with a PC(there must be some sort of monitoring software).
Please feel free to throw out any names, catalogues, or any resources where I can find less over-kill and simple data loggers and I'll sift through them all to see if they match my scenario or not.
In a nutshell: PC compatible / Compact(i.e no frontpanel, displays) / 4 input channels / 0-5V or 4-20mA compatible input.
Regards,
Joel Aspinall





RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
How slow a sampling rate can you tolerate?
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
Thanks for the reply. I'm looking for something around 8 - 12-bit nothing too overkill, and a sampling rate as low as 1 minute and up to 24 hours.
I've actually found a few ideal loggers so far however they are all missing the ability to save data entries to memory: I need the ability to store a minimum of 20,000 entries(5,000 per channel)
which I can then download off of the device to a PC.
Is there any way that you know of off hand in which I can save the incoming to the memory of another device, and use that as my storage device if you see what I'm saying? Sort of using another product or even technique to compensate for the non-memory feature of the logger?
If you could point me in the direction of where to look for something like that I'd be grateful.
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
You can do a lot with a $50 used laptop.
... pretty much guaranteed to come with a virus, so scan it thoroughly, or just format the HD and commit it to Linux, or boot it from a floppy and run ColorFORTH.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
Otherwise, I would check out the ads in a hobbiest electronics magazine like Circuit Cellar or Nuts and Volts.
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
http://www.mccdaq.com/
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
But as soon as you mention logging on the device itself it's a different kettle of fish! For this task (data logging) we tend to use the DataTaker devices such as the DT80. But they're certainly not cheap.
I agree with Mike - the cheapest way to go is one of the USB DAQ devices and an old Laptop!
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
12 Oct 12 0:18
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10915
http://www.atmel.com/Images/doc2545.pdf
$19.95 with 8-ch 10-bit ADC, but you will need an FTDI/USB cable to connect to a PC. There are open source PC apps that can datalog from the Arduino.
TTFN
TTFN
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RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
RE: Data Acquisition: Recommendations for simple scenario. (Looking for anything thats not overkill)
HOBO U12 4-Channel External Data Logger - U12-006
The HOBO U12-006 accepts a wide range of energy and environmental sensors. It provides 12-bit resolution measurements for detecting greater variability in recorded data, and stores 43,000 measurements.
http://www.onsetcomp.com/products/data-loggers/u12...
It has 4 ea. 0-2.5 volt inputs. For 0-20 ma. use a 125 ohm resistor, scale 4-20 in software. Don't bother with their cable.
Steve