Eye Current

USB-503 from Measurement Computing

Things always seem to happen when we are away or not looking. A circuit trips a fault condition or a stall. If the equipment involves a modern DCS system we might be able to figure out what happened if we can trend some monitored points.

Measurement Computing has some kewl new devices that might prove interesting. They are USB remote data loggers. The idea is to plug the devices into a USB port. Set it up where you need it and log away. To view the data all one has to do is connect back up to the USB port download and view. They come in a couple different flavors. Temperature Current (4-20) and Voltage (0-30V) Sounds to good to be true. I had to have one if these!! I opted for the Voltage unit, the USB-503. It could i could stick a resister in series to do some current monitoring if I needed to.

I receive a unit about 2 weeks ago, and although the logger checked the voltages correctly. the clock logged the time in to quickly. It was as though the the clock was about 10 times to fast. I called Measurement Computing and they exchanged a new one right to me. As always their service is excellent and flawless.

The Unit consist of a CD with the Data logging Software, instruction pamphlet, a 3.6V 1/2AA lithium battery and the unit itself. The software is pretty self explanatory. There are 3 functions:

1. Setup Data logger. One can set up the logger to take measurements from avery 10 seconds to every 12 hours. At every 10 seconds will log up to 3 days 16 hours. One of the neat features is that the logger can be set up to to do linear unit conversions.
   
2. Download data. This creates a CSV data file suitable for a spreadsheet program or supplied Viewer.
3. View Data: Data is presented via a configurable and self-scaling trend graph suitable for presentation.

The Temperature models could be very handy for those who need to monitor food storage. The USB-502 does temperature and relative humidity and could be real handy in monitoring environmental control such as in the textile or farming industry. Its pretty hard to beat the prices on these things at under $100.

I do have a couple of nitpicks though. The 10 second maximum scan rate isn't really fast enough for the voltage logger. I would like to see a 1 second or at least a 2 second scan rate it would be more likely to catch momentary surges and dips on an overnight run. The alligator clips and leads are too big. The tinning on the leads make it impossible to insert into the unit without trimming them back.

All in all I rate my USB-503 as pretty useful though, and I'm finding more uses for it all the time. Measure Computing Corporation has some pretty neat USB devices that fit in real well with real world needs. We also also own a a couple of their PMD devices which we have used to perform some automated experimentation and proof of concept demonstrations. It is just further proof that one doesn't need a $100k DCS system to monitor and trend a point or to control a tiny process for a bit.

Labels: Electronics, Industry

posted by Ray L. @ 1:51 PM