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Author Sensors and Interface cards for data logging
Mark Grassman

2005-12-19, 2:21 pm

I would like to start setting up to monitor system parameters using a
computer. I have gotten an older computer, and put all new programs on the
bare HDD. I also have copies of "Visual Basic' that I can use to set up the
programs, output, etc.
Now I need to get the sensors and interface cards. Can I get you folks to
help me here?


CJT

2005-12-19, 2:21 pm

Mark Grassman wrote:

> I would like to start setting up to monitor system parameters using a
> computer. I have gotten an older computer, and put all new programs on the
> bare HDD. I also have copies of "Visual Basic' that I can use to set up the
> programs, output, etc.
> Now I need to get the sensors and interface cards. Can I get you folks to
> help me here?
>
>

The devil is in the details. For cheap, rudimentary monitoring, I am
attempting to use these for A/D:

http://www.dataq.com/products/startkit/di194rs.htm

The biggest problem with them is the onerous terms of the license
associated with their included software, which I declined to accept,
so I had to write my own.

They also have other versions, at increased price.

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.
Martin Riddle

2005-12-19, 9:21 pm

www.measurementcomputing.com

Some USB stuff for $100.

Cheers

"Mark Grassman" <mgrassman@adelphia.net> wrote in message news:aNqdneQC9-s-bDveRVn-gA@adelphia.com...
> I would like to start setting up to monitor system parameters using a
> computer. I have gotten an older computer, and put all new programs on the
> bare HDD. I also have copies of "Visual Basic' that I can use to set up the
> programs, output, etc.
> Now I need to get the sensors and interface cards. Can I get you folks to
> help me here?
>
>



Anthony Matonak

2005-12-19, 11:21 pm

Mark Grassman wrote:
> I would like to start setting up to monitor system parameters using a
> computer. I have gotten an older computer, and put all new programs on the
> bare HDD. I also have copies of "Visual Basic' that I can use to set up the
> programs, output, etc.
> Now I need to get the sensors and interface cards. Can I get you folks to
> help me here?


Just what is it that you want to measure? I've heard people do pretty
well with the 1-wire and I-button stuff.

Anthony
Steve Spence

2005-12-19, 11:21 pm

Anthony Matonak wrote:
> Mark Grassman wrote:
>
>
>
> Just what is it that you want to measure? I've heard people do pretty
> well with the 1-wire and I-button stuff.
>
> Anthony


We are using basic stamps for data logging.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NNY-BSMCC/


--
Steve Spence
Dir., Green Trust, http://www.green-trust.org
Contributing Editor, http://www.off-grid.net
http://www.rebelwolf.com/essn.html
Mark Grassman

2005-12-20, 1:21 pm

Per the OP, I am just starting into this area. My goal is to develop some
facility with data logging and measurements over longer time periods (e.g..
longer than I would hold a probe on a point).
The first reply posters suggestion to look at Dataq.com was good and I was
ready to move on their "Data Logger Starter Kit" with some temp probes until
I realized that I also needed a $200.00 conditioner, which is too pricey for
me.
Steve Spence's suggestion that 'basic stamps' might be the way to go
looked good, but looked like there was a long learning curve to crawl up to
get things running. Maybe in a few semesters when I start into micro
controllers and such...
Is this going to turn into a time or money thing? I sure don't have much
of either.


"Anthony Matonak" <anthonym40@nothing.like.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:hc-dnQVjqICF6TrenZ2dnUVZ_sGdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Mark Grassman wrote:
>
> Just what is it that you want to measure? I've heard people do pretty
> well with the 1-wire and I-button stuff.
>
> Anthony



CJT

2005-12-20, 2:21 pm

Mark Grassman wrote:

> Per the OP, I am just starting into this area. My goal is to develop some
> facility with data logging and measurements over longer time periods (e.g..
> longer than I would hold a probe on a point).
> The first reply posters suggestion to look at Dataq.com was good and I was
> ready to move on their "Data Logger Starter Kit" with some temp probes until
> I realized that I also needed a $200.00 conditioner, which is too pricey for
> me.


I'm not sure what you mean by that. What sort of "conditioner" is
needed? I'm just hooking the A/D to some LM35's. There are some
mods on the Web to change the range of the A/D to better match the
output of the sensors.

> Steve Spence's suggestion that 'basic stamps' might be the way to go
> looked good, but looked like there was a long learning curve to crawl up to
> get things running. Maybe in a few semesters when I start into micro
> controllers and such...
> Is this going to turn into a time or money thing? I sure don't have much
> of either.
>
>
> "Anthony Matonak" <anthonym40@nothing.like.comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:hc-dnQVjqICF6TrenZ2dnUVZ_sGdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
>
>
>



--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.
daestrom

2005-12-20, 7:21 pm


"Mark Grassman" <mgrassman@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:26udndgw-MaQszXenZ2dnUVZ_tCdnZ2d@adelphia.com...
> Per the OP, I am just starting into this area. My goal is to develop some
> facility with data logging and measurements over longer time periods
> (e.g.. longer than I would hold a probe on a point).
> The first reply posters suggestion to look at Dataq.com was good and I
> was ready to move on their "Data Logger Starter Kit" with some temp probes
> until I realized that I also needed a $200.00 conditioner, which is too
> pricey for me.
> Steve Spence's suggestion that 'basic stamps' might be the way to go
> looked good, but looked like there was a long learning curve to crawl up
> to get things running. Maybe in a few semesters when I start into micro
> controllers and such...
> Is this going to turn into a time or money thing? I sure don't have much
> of either.
>


Probably.

I looked into dataloggers and BASIC stamps, but felt the pricetag was steep.
So I spent some time to work with Dallas' one-wire technology, and since I
program for a living, setting up Linux and some C code wasn't much of a
learning curve.

You get's what you pay for (in either time or money).

daestrom

>
> "Anthony Matonak" <anthonym40@nothing.like.comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:hc-dnQVjqICF6TrenZ2dnUVZ_sGdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>
>



Tim

2005-12-21, 8:21 am

I use 2 supco loggers for my heat pump. One is pressure the other is
temp/humidity. Great if you don't have to have real time monitoring.

www.supco.com

look under HVAC


"Mark Grassman" <mgrassman@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:aNqdneQC9-s-bDveRVn-gA@adelphia.com...
> I would like to start setting up to monitor system parameters using a
> computer. I have gotten an older computer, and put all new programs on the
> bare HDD. I also have copies of "Visual Basic' that I can use to set up

the
> programs, output, etc.
> Now I need to get the sensors and interface cards. Can I get you folks

to
> help me here?
>
>



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