Data loggers for measurement data capture
Contents
- What's on this page?
- Who needs a data logger?
- How our data loggers work
- What's needed for capturing and analysing measurement data?
- Price list for hired devices
1. What's on this page?
Our all-application data loggers are good for long-term capture of measurement data. The loggers we provide will run 24 hours a day, and you can use your local PC for viewing and analyzing the data you have captured.Whatever cable your data are coming down, our systems are able to capture the signals. The logger pre-processes and saves the ongoing data stream generated by permanently running processes. Access to the data saved is possible anytime via a local PC or modem anywhere. The data is archived on the hard disk of your PC. All that's left to do is the analysis...
Measure and treasure!
What do you really do with the numbers you have collected?Perhaps you file them away into a folder or database on your PC.
Analysis and data management can be done on your PC with Hydro-Soft's log book, specially designed for data versus time and able to take account of down times of connected data pick-off points.
What's the point of a data log?
You don't see the point? - No problem! - We have compiled a number of examples of analyses of data versus time (some examples are displayed in a new window) used throughout our websites:- Day reports -
Heating - Month reports - Heating: Page 2(2)
- Year reports - Heating: Page 2(3)
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2. Who needs a data logger?
When you have a complex system which you need to run-in or monitor, then a data logger is the right thing for you!
A technical system can be measured and controlled. The measurements we make do not impact your system. The data logger control outputs provide fault messages, warnings, and device activation.
To intervene in any system, an engineer needs to know all about the technical process right down to the basics. Only then can the outcome be one which he can be happy with. To achieve this, he installs all the technical measuring equipment needed. The sensors, counters, and measuring devices will provide him with the information needed to control and optimize his process.
- Which physical quantities is it possible to capture using our data loggers?
- Alarms, telephone calls, CO2, carbon dioxide, pressure, flow rate, energy, humidity, gas volume, pulse, running times, conductivity, air pressure, quantities, motor stages, precipitation, ph-value, rain, oxygen, switching phase, switching frequency, setpoints, voltage, fault messages, current 0(4)..20mA, temperature, cloudiness, overflow, water volume, water level, windspeed, counter values, time, status, and so on ...
- To understand interdependent factors in the system.
- To identify faults appearing through the network.
- To protocol regulation requirements.
- To test and run-in systems.
- To monitor systems.
- To record a range of variables simultaneously
Which processes can I log?
- Waste water engineering
- Waste dump engineering
- Power supply
- Lab technology
- Food quality monitoring
- Meteorology
- Quality control
- Environmental technology
- Water supply
Who uses loggers of this kind?
- Waste dumps
- Domestic environment engineers
- Universities
- Engineering consultants
- Power stations
- Food industry
- Waste water plants
- Water suppliers
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3. How our data loggers work
Here you can find out about the electrics of our data loggers and how the engineering achieves reliable data capture. The logical variables you need to work with are described below.
- Capturing signals
- For capturing process signals we use standardized electrical interfaces 0/4-20mA, 0-10 Volt for analog quantities, 24 volts for the binary signals or RS 232. All interfaces are galvanically decoupled and protected against overvoltage up to 500 volts. Special sensors may require converters, which can be easily connected.
- Multiapplication binary inputs
- Binary inputs may be used as inputs for breakdown reports or as a running time counter, pulse input, or stage or quantity counter in quasi-analog measuring.
- The content of each signal channel is identified by name!
- Channel numbers alone mean nothing. The names of all channels are specified by you. The names remain universally valid in the system.
- No raw values to convert.
- Incoming raw analog signals in bits are converted to final values via a characteristic including up to 10 freely selectable nodes, whose values are linearly interpolated.
- Value calculation
- An autonomously operating data logging system digitizes the data which are saved from second to second. The statistical values required (such as mean values) are stored as realtime, time-stamped final values in a circulating storage device. Every 15 minutes there are 900 measurement values which are averaged to a 15-minute mean. Digitization thus eliminates one-off random values.
- Circulating storage device
-
Measured and preprocessed quantities can be saved as mean values, sum values, min/max values, etc... in up to three separate circulating storage devices. Users are able to select storage modality by selecting the storage frequency they whish (appropriately 2, 15 or 60 minutes.)
The circulating storage device can be started and stopped via event triggers, enabling higher resolution to be triggered by critical events. - Breakdowns
- are logged in a separate circulating storage device.
- Dynamic Configuration!
- Configuration of additional values and thresholds is possible (provided that the available memory is sufficient) while logging is in progress, even remotely via a modem.
- Operation via PC with or without a modem
- Access to the data in the circulating storage device is via your PC, either via a serial interface or via a modem. Geographically remote stations can thus be networked. A PC for data archiving only needs to be connected when data are being transmitted.
- Warnings and breakdowns
- Direct remote control can be useful in cutting out unnecessary visits by emergency personnel.
- Recording warning messages
- Warning messages are logged to the second and can be specifically analysed in the operational logbook.
- Peripheral devices
- PC, modem and (in the case of VME systems) a protocol printer and RS 232 devices can be connected into the immediate environment. Binary outputs allow control of other devices.
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4. What's needed for capturing and analysing measurement data.
We process exclusively analog, binary and digital electrical signals. The output of most sensor devices is 0(4)-20mA current or as voltage 0-10V, binary signals e.g. as 24V-level, digital signals as a specifically defined electrical interface e.g. RS232C, (the most used interface).
Converters, e.g. of temperature to voltage can be separately supplied.
Analog signals are normally converted to analog measurement values.
Error messages are generated if analog signals overshoot defined peak levels.
Binary signals can generate several kind of measurement values: i.e. the status itself (0 or 1), or operating hours counter, load counter, pulse counter, or in the case of concatenated signals, engine stage counter or engine load counter.
Digital signals are captured as a final value via a serial interface.
It is your decision WHAT you wish to measure!
You won't wish to measure every process quantity. So you need a list of which measurements are important for your results!The data logger you need will depend on the kind and the quantity of processed signals, because every pair of wires needs its own pair of clamps.
As a rough guide, the small JWD-system is able to process up to 12 analog signals. As outlined above, digital inputs can be used, so that you can go up to 24 channels.
The VME-bus system is extendable up to 150 channels.
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5. Price list for hired devices.
- All prices are shown in euro net of tax (for commercial users).
- The configuration is based on channel names and peak limits for all data channels in the logger. The output will be a dBase database for each of the names in your measurement list per circulating storage device.
- For more extensive analysis and the creation of a logbook, ask for an individual quotation.
| Type of device | Inputs, analog | Inputs, binary | Monthly rent in euro | Configuration charge in euro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JWD 8 | 8 | 16 | 150.00 | 900.00 |
| JWD 12 | 12 | 16 | 225.00 | 900.00 |
| VME | 10/Card | 16/Card | 440.00 (with 2 cards) | 900.00 (with 2 cards) |
Our service is not included: journey to site, installation on site, connecting the device, testing, instructions for use, data analysis as required - and deinstallation. Please ask for a quote via eMail.