Data Loggers

Data Loggers are very useful instruments which record and monitor instrument measurements over a defined time frame. They have many applications across a broad spectrum of industry including Agriculture, Buildings, Chemical, Civil Engineering, Electrical MCC's Switchgear etc, Environmental, Food, Medical, Meteorology, Mining, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceutical, Solar, Transport, Water and Zoological. For Control Systems they can be utilised for Sequence of Event applications. A data logger collects the measurement information over a continuous period on a 24hr, & day basis depending on the onboard memory. Thus they can provide accurate reliable information of the measurements that are required to be monitored.

Go to Specific Data Logger Application Subject: General Information on Data Loggers | Data Logger White Papers and Applications | Agriculture | Buildings | Civil Engineering | Electrical | Ergonomics | Environmental | Data Loggers Interface to Fieldbus Systems | Food Industry | Medical | Meteorology | Mining | Monitoring Using Data Loggers | Oil, Gas and Chemical Industry | Pharmaceutical Industry | Data Loggers for Safety Applications | Solar Applications | Transport Applications | Telemetry, Wireless and SMS | Water Industry | Zoological | Sensor Frequently Asked Questions | Data logger Webinars and Videos | Datalogger OnLine Training | Onset White Papers | Other Datalogger Links |

 

General Information on Data Loggers

What is a Datalogger? - A good description from Wikipedia which includes Data formats, Instrumentation protocols, Data logging versus data acquisition, Applications and Future directions.

Important Considerations in Buying a Data Logger - Whether you are an experienced data logger user, or just getting started, this article can help you during your data logger selection process. It points out some of the most important considerations to make, and offers tips on specific features to look for - Thanks to Hinco and Onset.

 

Data Logger White Papers and Applications

 

Data Loggers in Agriculture

Australian Datataker helps save Chinese Rice Crops - In the surrounds of the city of Guangzhou (Canton), a spell of cold weather poetically named the cold winds, threaten to slash the yields from the second rice crop of the season by 50%. These conditions frequently occur within the months of September and October. Rice breeders at the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science aim to develop new varieties that can withstand and thrive in the cold dew winds. Apart from records of average daily temperature, they lack precise information on the severity of the adverse conditions that new varieties have to endure to survive. The lack of data severely hampers the development of the new rice varieties.

Monitor Environment Status for the Export of Paprika and Fruit Crops - Monitor the environment in the shipping contain. The critical elements to be monitored were the levels of Oxygen, CO2, Ethylene and temperature. Also the client wanted portability and easy access to connect the sensors. The project required the data logger to have both a large memory capacity and be battery operation.

Wireless Greenhouse Monitoring in Korea - A fruit crop experiment station in Korea needed to remotely monitor and control systems in a number of greenhouses. The proposed system needed to monitor soil moisture content and temperature and actively control irrigation and airflow by opening and closing windows, to ensure the appropriate temperature is maintained. Full automation was required to minimise manual workload, up to the point where data collection must be automated.

Tractor Aquisition System for Field Power and Energy Demand Mapping - University Putra Malaysia - Massey Ferguson 3060 agricultural tractor is equipped on-board with an instrumentation monitoring and acquisition system capable of providing the information; Engine speed / PTO speed / Forward travel speed / Drive wheel slippage / Acres worked / Fuel consumption per hour / Fuel consumption per hectare / Acres per hour / Cost factor / Fuel consumed / Fuel remaining / Distance travelled / Drawbar pull force / PTO shaft torque / Drive wheel torque and Vertical and horizontal forces at the 3 point hitches.

 

Data Loggers in Buildings

The following papers are provided thanks to HINCO Instruments and Onset.

The Energy Professional’s Guide to Data Loggers & Building Performance - This comprehensive 30-page guide details how portable data loggers can be applied in a number of building monitoring applications, such as HVAC systems monitoring, commissioning, Measurement & Verification, and load profiling. The guide offers practical tips and techniques on a range of topics, including data logger installation, monitoring plan development, safety, and data interpretation.

Key Research Laboratories use Data Loggers to Monitor and Record the Environmental Conditions within Clean Rooms - A key research laboratory was using a single data logger semi-mobile unit to monitor clean rooms and store long term data of pressure and room temperature in order to explain any incidence of pressure loss.

Monitoring HVAC Performance with Data Loggers - Building operators and managers have the difficult job of providing comfortable working conditions and coaxing aging mechanical equipment to operate at peak performance while minimizing energy costs. If the mechanical equipment is old or has inadequate controls, maintaining comfort at a reasonable cost may prove difficult or impossible. Although energy costs typically represent only 1% of a building’s operating expense when occupant salaries are included, they are easily managed expenses. Energy cost savings flow directly to the bottom line as increased profits.

Data Logger Essentials for Building Commissioning - Bryan W. Welsh - This white paper focuses on stand-alone data loggers in conjunction with the logging capabilities of the Building Automation System in the context of use by a commissioning provider. It also provides tips and advice on specific procedures and techniques on that will enable the efficient and effective use of data loggers to analyze building performance.

Using Data Loggers for Energy Management and Indoor Air Quality - This paper presents case studies and demonstrates how low-cost data loggers are used throughout buildings to identify opportunities for energy savings and to document when those savings have been effectuated, while maintaining conditions that contribute to the comfort and productivity of building occupants.

Choosing Data Loggers for Green Building Projects - 10 Important Considerations - Whether you are an experienced data logger user or are just getting starte, this guide will help you to understand how data loggers fit into the green building industry, and will give advice about several areas to consider when selecting a logger best suited for your particular needs.

Monitoring Green Roof Performance with Weather Stations - This guide explains how a weather station can be a valuable component of a green roof project, and will share information particular to this type of application.

Using Data Loggers Beyond Equipment Scheduling - Brenden Millstein - While data loggers are a great tool for identifying equipment-scheduling opportunities in buildings, their usefulness far exceeds just that one function. This paper discusses how the use of inexpensive data loggers and some spreadsheet analysis can provide all the evidence needed to make powerful building-specific cases for saving money by replacing failed air-handler economizers. It also describes how information from data loggers can be used to accurately calculate the energy savings that can be realized from variable frequency drives (VFDs) on pumps and fans, supply air resets, and boiler lockouts.

Analyzing Air Handling Unit Efficiency - Michael Rosenberg - Operating a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at optimum efficiency in a commercial setting is complicated, to say the least. There is a very real chance that any number of setpoints, levels, and feedbacks at boilers, chillers, pumps, fans, air delivery components and more can cause costly inefficiencies. This 20-page guide, Analyzing Air Handling Unit Efficiency with Data Loggers, explores the air handling systems of an office building to illustrate how data loggers can be used to help optimize their performance. The guide provides 13 best practices for improving air handler efficiency and reducing costs, while maintaining a comfortable working environment for building occupants.

Finding Hidden Energy Waste with Data Loggers - 8 Cost Saving Opportunities - Paul H. Stiller - The first step to reducing building energy costs is identifying energy waste. Statistics on utility bills or name plates on equipment, while useful, are not enough to identify what practices and equipment are contributing to high energy use. Portable data loggers can be used to obtain critical energy use information in a wide range of commercial building types - from manufacturing plants to office buildings. This 12-page best practices guide, Finding Hidden Energy Waste with Data Loggers, describes the data logging equipment you need to obtain information on energy consumption and environmental conditions in commercial buildings. It covers eight common forms of energy waste, and provides an overview of how to gather and analyze data and calculate savings for each opportunity.

The following papers are provided by HINCO Instruments and DataTaker.

Bondor Energy Efficient InsulLiving House - Bondor is one of Australia’s leading manufacturers of thermally efficient and lightweight building panels. Their InsulWall® and SolarSpan® insulated products have been used significantly in the construction of an energy efficient home. This home, known as the InsulLiving® project will demonstrate over an extended period of time the energy and cost benefits of thermally efficient materials in addition to validating the homes BCA 8 star energy efficient rating.

Transparent Active Façade: Results from a Year Round Field Monitoring - M.Perino, V.Serra - An analyzed façade consists of a transparent mechanically ventilated façade, made up of an external double glazing and an internal single glazing, separated by an air gap with a venetian blind on the inside. Temperature, heat fluxes and air velocities in the ventilated façade were continuously monitored by a measurement apparatus that makes use of 32 sensors (thermocouples, heat flux meters, hot wire anemometer and solarimeters) which are connected to a suitable datalogger.

Build, Test and Monitor a Zero Energy Home - Working to develop homes that combine energy efficiency, solar electric, and solar thermal technologies that enable homes to produce nearly as much energy as they consume - from Davis Energy Group.

Degrading of Building Materials - A building materials manufacturer is investigating the effects of the weather on the products which they produce. An on-site weather station is required as part of this long term monitoring project to measure various properties including solar radiation. Their primary aim is to determine how rapidly and in what way degradation occurs to different materials. The weather station must be rugged and have a large storage capacity so that it may be left to record autonomously for extended periods of time.

Webinars

Benchmarking and Monitoring Residential Building Performance - This free webinar hosted by Onset and presented by Paul Eldrenkamp from DEAP Energy Group, will introduce strategies and methods for establishing benchmarks against which to measure residential building performance. Paul will also demonstrate tools and techniques for measuring and monitoring, including data loggers, flow meters, CO2 monitors, and others.

The Tale of Two Roofs - White Roof Webinar - Chris Walker, Owner of Roofpal Services LLC, presents his "Tale of Two Roofs" webinar describing the process of upgrading the roof of the Nationwide® Scottsdale Insurance Company headquarters building in Scottsdale, Arizona to a new white roof. Doing so greatly increased structural integrity, reduced maintenance costs, as well as energy consumption of the 18 year old current roof installation.

HVAC Troubleshooting with HOBO Data Loggers - Hosted by Scott Handrahan of Mercury Mechanical, this 8-minute video takes you through the various steps of how data loggers can help you collect and analyze data on HVAC rooftop units so you can reduce energy costs and troubleshoot problems.

Test & Troubleshoot Tankless Hot Water Heater Systems - This 10-minute video shows how HOBO data loggers can be used to test and troubleshoot tankless hot water heater systems.

Evaluating Hot Water Heating System Efficiency with Data Loggers - This 4-minute "how to" video takes you through the various steps of how HOBO data loggers can help you collect and analyze data on hot water heating system usage.

Maximize Air Compressor Efficiency with Data Loggers - This 6-minute video shows you how on/off data loggers can help you understand compressor usage pattern so you can reduce energy costs and troubleshoot cycling problems.

Determining Proper Boiler Sizing with Data Loggers - This video shows you how to determine proper boiler sizing with data loggers.

 

Civil Engineering Data Loggers

The National Gymnasium Building Structure Monitoring System In China - The newly-constructed national gymnasium in Beijing, China played a key role during the Olympic Games in 2008. Its iconic status will remain afterwards in the country’s landscape as a multifunctional gymnasium that is capable of hosting not only sporting events but also other large-scale functions such as commemorations, exhibitions and literary functions. It then has become critical that the building structure is able to maintain its rigidity and integrity during the entire designated life-span of the Gymnasium. Hence a permanent structure-monitoringscheme is required to be in place.

Knowing the Strength of Concrete - To measure and predict the progress of the curing of poured concrete to determine when the new structure can be loaded without causing damage to the structure.

Excessive Temperature on the Roof of Parliament House - 36 Copper / Constantin thermocouples were installed on a prototype roof section on the site in Canberra and monitored for 110 days over summer.

Residual Load Testing of Anchor Bolts - There are answers designers need to know when calculating required capacity for fastening beams in buildings or holding roofs on in high winds. For instance: How tight is that bolt? If it is this tight now, how tight will it be in one hour, one day, and one year?

Monitoring the Construction of a Dam - A dam was being constructed which required monitoring of several environmental and structural properties to ensure its long term strength and stability. The construction engineers put forth a proposal for a large number of sensors to be used during construction. These sensors include vibrating wire piezometers, joint meters, fill extensometers and strain gauges. These sensors interface to a data logger as part of a long term logging solution. The logging solution requires a large number of vibrating wire sensor inputs, compatibility with a SCADA system and potential for expansion.

The Central Market, Abu Dhabi - The Central Market in Abu Dhabi is a huge construction project which was due for completion in 2011. It consists of three towers, the Residential Tower, the Commercial Tower and the Hotel Tower. The tallest will be the Residential Tower which will stand 381 metres tall with 88 floors. It is imperative that certain parameters identifying the structural integrity be monitored and logged during construction. The diaphragm walls also require monitoring during the construction period to ensure the safety of the people and equipment on-site.

 

Electrical Data Loggers

Test Alternative Energy Systems at Antarctic - Details on a series of tests on alternative energy systems.

Troubleshooting Infrequent Alarms - A wood products manufacturer in New Zealand was occasionally experiencing "under frequency" alarms at an electrical substation but could not find the cause. The alarms were disrupting production and costly. Maintenance staff believed they could find the cause if power levels could be logged, however the infrequent nature of the faults meant they would have to wade through enormous amounts of data to find the small amount that was relevant.

Guide to Choosing Occupancy and Light On-Off Data Loggers - 5 Important Considerations - In 2010, the residential and commercial sectors in the United States used approximately 499 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity for lighting, equal to 13% of all electricity used nationwide (U.S. Energy Information Administration). In commercial buildings alone, 35% of all energy cost is attributed to lighting (2005 Buildings Energy Data Book, U.S. Department of Energy). Often the first step in any new facilities project is convincing decision makers that a project is worthwhile and will pay off. Before committing to costly equipment upgrades and making changes to electrical systems by installing hard-wired light sensors, it’s a good idea to first acquire data on room occupancy and lighting use in a facility to determine where best to implement permanent changes. Portable occupancy and light on/off data loggers are the solution. They are battery-powered, matchbox-sized devices that can be easily mounted on ceilings, light fixtures, and stairwells - anywhere data are needed.

Using Data Loggers Beyond Equipment Scheduling - Brenden Millstein - While data loggers are a great tool for identifying equipment-scheduling opportunities in buildings, their usefulness far exceeds just that one function. This paper discusses how the use of inexpensive data loggers and some spreadsheet analysis can provide all the evidence needed to make powerful building-specific cases for saving money by replacing failed air-handler economizers. It also describes how information from data loggers can be used to accurately calculate the energy savings that can be realized from variable frequency drives (VFDs) on pumps and fans, supply air resets, and boiler lockouts.

Webinars

Monitoring Wind Turbine Efficiency - This 9-minute video provides an overview of using a data logging weather station to monitor the performance of a 10 kilowatt wind turbine.

Application Stories

Data Logger Application Stories (Energy Monitoring) - Onset have a huge database of Energy related applications.

 

Data Logger Applications in Ergonomics

Validating Comfort Complaints With Data Loggers - To validate temperature-related comfort complaints, an increasing number of facilities managers and HVAC contactors are relying on battery-powered data loggers - Thanks to Hinco and Onset.

 

Environmental Data Loggers

The following papers are provided thanks to HINCO Instruments and DataTaker.

From Waste to Power - PMP Environmental have built a methane recovery plant at the Tapioca Starch Plant in Sumatra, Indonesia. The impact of Greenhouse gas emissions and rising energy costs were the impetus for the Tapioca Starch Plant to look for a solution to these environmental issues. PMP Environmental Australia has long been involved with biogas generation and the requirements to make this a viable proposition for a range of projects. Their solution was to build a methane recovery plant. The wastewater from the starch plant is being pumped into aerobic ponds where the methane gas is harvested and used to drive generators that provide the electricity to power the plant. The DT80 data logger monitors the gas collected from the ponds, the amount used to power the generator and the amount burnt by the flare. These values are required by the governing body as evidence of the gas saved and used to determine the number of carbon credits to be allocated. The data logger also monitors the run time of the gas blowers and runs calculations based on this data for maintenance, efficiency and power consumption.

Comparing Thermal Efficiency of Materials - A major research organization had a project where they were required to compare the effects of various surfacing materials on a series of tanks and how efficient these surfaces were in reducing temperature losses. The temperature in the tanks was to be cycled up to 60°C by internal steam coils and allowed to cool. The temperatures were to be logged at all times with sensors at various depths within the tanks. Data collection needed to be simple, but remote communications were unnecessary.

Dioxins Emissions from Bushfires in Australia - Dr Carl Meyer, Dr Tom Beer and Dr Jochen Müller - This paper describes an experimental application - From the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage.

Violent Wave Overtopping - Tim Pullen, William Allsop, Tom Bruce & Jimmy Geeraerts - As part of a major European research project into wave overtopping at coastal structures, overtopping discharges have been measured at full-scale on a vertical seawall in Southeast England.

Monitoring Pretreatment of Liquid Waste - Increasingly stringent environmental regulations require manufacturers to continuously monitor and manage their effluent disposal.

Open Cut Mine Monitors Water Quality - An open cut coal mine having a high salinity of water runoff required monitoring the quality of water in several retaining dams.

Monitor and Measure Pollutants - The Environmental Protection Authority in Australia is obliged by an Act of Parliament to monitor the condition of Port Phillip Bay. To achieve this, there was a need to measure the ecological consequences of wastewater outflows from Melbourne and the Bay’s capacity to cope with it.

Controlling Algal Blooms - It was necessary to ascertain the factors that contributed to the outbreak of Algal Blooms. To this end the client required detailed knowledge of the weather conditions at the surface of the water and a picture of temperature stratification within the river itself.

Diesel Systems Manufacturer achieves Environmental Aims - Produce the technology to deliver cleaner engines however as the permitted level of emissions is reduced, year upon year, new technology must be developed to meet the changes in environmental demands.

Monitoring Water Table Levels - Using the latest data acquisition technology to monitor water table levels.

Datalogger Aids Rainforest Research - With the aim of assessing the potential impact of deforestation Data loggers have been put to the test in one of the most demanding environments - the Pacific Cloud Forest in Colombia. In conditions of extreme humidity, the data loggers are providing a reliable and durable means of recording meteorological data for an environmental program called HERB project.

Environmental Research into Traffic Pollution in Indoor Air Quality - An essential requirement of research is to gain an accurate picture of the roadside levels of carbon monoxide continuous monitoring of exhaust airflow and solvent data leaving the printing process.

Energy and Effluent Monitoring at a Dublin Chemical Plant - Monitoring temperature and flow returns between boiler chambers and cooling towers to calculate energy consumption, and monitoring effluent emissions to comply with legal requirements.

The following papers are provided thanks to HINCO Instruments and Onset.

Wind Resource Site Assessment: A Guide to Selecting Monitoring Equipment - This paper provides project managers and others involved in small- to moderate-scale wind energy projects with details on how data loggers are used to evaluate wind resources. It helps simplify the equipment selection process by providing tips and guidance on choosing the right data loggers, sensors and other components for your project.

Guidelines for Successful Soil Temperature Monitoring - This white paper will discuss how soil temperatures differ according to forest type as well as its influence on insects, wildlife and vegetation.

Monitoring Geothermal Heat Pump Performance - This paper discusses how portable data logging technology can be used to measure, record, and document the performance of geothermal heat pumps, and provides specific case study examples of how the technology is being applied in geothermal system monitoring applications.

Choosing a Water Level Logger - Five Things You Should Know - Whether you have previous experience with water level logging, or are just getting started, this report can help you choose the right products for your needs. It points out the five most important things you should be aware of, and offers tips on specific features to look for.

Underwater Temperature Loggers - Considerations for Selection and Deployment - This report provides general information about monitoring water temperature, and serves as a guide to selecting underwater temperature loggers. It also identifies some of the challenges specific to particular field sites, and provides tips on deploying loggers in such environments.

Optimizing Solar Thermal Performance with Data loggers - This white paper discusses how solar thermal systems, with the help of portable data loggers, can be optimized to deliver the financial benefits residential and commercial users hope to achieve through their investments. The paper shows installers and engineers how portable data logging devices can be used to measure performance of solar thermal systems, pinpoint any defects or inefficiencies, and optimize performance for greater return on investment.

Monitoring Wetlands with Data Loggers: A Best Practices Guide - Wetlands act as a natural filter for polluted water and thus play an essential role in water quality protection. They serve as floodwater storage to help minimize erosion, and create a habitat for many fish and wildlife. While a variety of factors have decreased the number of wetlands in the U.S. by half since 1950, many organizations are restoring wetlands back to their original flourishing ecosystems. To ensure success, it is necessary to monitor wetland factors such as water level, temperature, and rainfall. This guide shares field-proven best practices for configuring, launching and deploying portable data loggers in wetland monitoring applications. A range of data logger types is covered, and tips are provided on logger installation and maintenance.

 

Data Loggers Interface to Fieldbus Systems

CANgate - The DataTaker CANgate is a CAN to ASCII gateway converting CAN (Controlled Area Network) and GPS data to serial data.

 

Data Loggers in the Food Industry

Monitoring Rotating Ovens in the Food Industry - Monitoring temperatures of rotating ovens is critical and difficult. Constant movement of the products within the oven give a challenge to those facing the practical problems of checking ambient and cooking process temperatures.

Monitoring Freezers, Blast Freezers, Chillers, Ovens and Ambient Air Temperature Remotely - A leading food company manufacturing frozen and chilled savoury and patisserie products has chosen a data logging system to maintain the quality of their products.

Monitoring Temperature and Humidity as part of a Sterilisation Process Part 1 - A world leader in decontamination and sterilisation needed to ensure the correct environment for the Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Preconditioning room for both safety and quality assurance purposes.

Food Sterilization System - A decontamination and sterilisation facility uses Ethylene Oxide (EtO) preconditioning room s as part of the sterilisation process. The environment within these rooms was required to be monitored for both safety and quality assurance purposes. The huge range of products sterilised required a minimum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and 40% humidity level. The two stage preconditioning process takes approximately 12 hours. The logging solution used needed to be easy to use, provide alarms for unsuitable conditions and simple for data retrieval.

Monitoring Commercial Dishwashers - A busy catering kitchen required an intelligent system to monitor the operation of their commercial dishwashers to determine the optimum wash times to have the product ready for re-use and for identifying whether any dishwashers in the ‘dishwashing lane’ were malfunctioning.

Monitoring Cooking Temperatures and Sterilisation of Food Products - A system to monitor the retort cooking and sterilisation temperatures, as well as the accumulated F0,during production of various pouched rice products. The capability to download the results was required for analysis and quality purposes.

Rice Miller Sterilisation Monitoring - A renowned rice miller and food processor installed a new production line that produces various cooked rice based products in reheatable and microwavable polymer sachets. As a consequence the company required a system to monitor the retort cooking and sterilization temperatures, as well as the accumulated F0, during production of various pouched rice products. The capability to download the results was required for analysis and quality purposes.

Increasing Cheese Production - A major dairy product manufacturer required to monitor cheese shaping machines on the production line. A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is used to drive the valve sequencing for the machinery. The system is designed to produce 3000 kg of product per hour, but is unable to achieve this target. A logging solution was required to determine where the PLC algorithms can be optimised in order to increase profitability.

Monitoring Perishables During Transport - A chocolate manufacturer received customer complaints regarding spoiled products. Spoilage could have occurred during manufacturing, transportation or whilst the chocolate was with the retailer. Since both temperature and humidity are critical to the well-being of the chocolate it was necessary to closely monitor both during all processes. The manufacturing process was without fault so the next step was to investigate the transportation. A battery powered, portable solution was required to monitor the temperature and humidity of product onboard refrigeration vehicles.

Monitoring Export Goods During Shipping - For quality purposes it was required to monitor the environment within a shipping container used during the exportation of paprika and various fruits. The critical elements to be monitored were the levels of Oxygen, CO2, Ethylene and temperature. If any of these factors were outside the acceptable limits during transport then the product quality was jeopardised. A rugged logging solution with a large memory capacity was required.

 

Medical Data Loggers

Monitoring in a Medical Research Facility - A large medical research facility required monitoring of the temperature and humidity within refrigeration equipment and the ambient laboratory environment. The data was also required to be accessible by researchers in various locations throughout the facility.

Monitoring Hospital Freezers on Several Different Floors Utilising Modbus Networking - A hospital requires an automated logging solution in order to monitor and record the temperature of 50 freezers which contain temperature sensitive treatment products. The freezers are located throughout the facility on three different floors, but all data must be centralised. It is also a key requirement that all data can be monitored through a single interface, therefore a network is required. Alarms must be able to be generated when the temperature of any of the freezers falls outside given set points.

Microbiology Departments Monitor Cultures using Data Loggers - Microbiology laboratories must maintain temperature and relative humidity levels when monitoring cultures.Data loggers with DeLogger software and remote alarm systems are frequently used in this crucial area to ensure cultures are not wasted through the slightest variation, or failure, of environment levels.

 

Data Logger Applications in Meteorology

The following papers are provided thanks to HINCO Instruments and Onset.

Deploying Weather Stations: A Best Practices Guide - From the tropics to the poles, climate, agriculture and other researchers rely on unattended research-grade, data logging weather stations. For example, the US Department of Agriculture uses weather stations to study anything from molecular plant pathology to forest management. Non-government groups, such as universities, use weather stations to study a wide array of subjects including how glacial activity affects air temperature. Additionally, commercial companies depend on weather stations to conduct businesses. Onset's new best-practices guide, Weather Station Deployment Techniques, shares field-proven tips and techniques for installing research-grade weather stations in the field. A range of topics are discussed, including weather station site location, sensor placement, system configuration, and cable protection.

Choosing a Data Logging Weather Station - Five Important Considerations - Whether you have experience with weather stations and data loggers or are just getting started, this guide can help you choose a system appropriate for your needs. This report includes discussions of 5 important considerations you should keep in mind and 10 questions you should ask manufacturers.

Weather Stations - Saving Time and Money with Remote Communications - This paper will provide specific information about three ways weather stations with remote communications can save time and money, and will help guide you in deciding whether such systems are right for your application.

Monitoring Green Roof Performance with Weather Stations - This paper offers guidance and tips on how data logging weather stations can be effectively used to monitor green roof performance. It discusses a range of monitoring applications that can help verify requirements for LEED® Certification credits, such as stormwater management performance documentation.

The following papers are provided by HINCO Instruments and DataTaker.

Tsunami Warning System in South East Asia - The Indian Ocean Tsunami hit South East Asia on 26 December 2004 and is one of the ten most devastating natural disasters ever recorded. Following the event, the Indonesian government budgeted for the development of a tsunami warning system, to help reduce the impact of future tsunamis.

Early Warning Predicting Cyclones - The extensive and vulnerable mining and port facilities situated in remote tropical North West Australia meant that it is essential that the best cyclone early warning system be available. It was therefore necessary for the client to augment the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather reports.

Remote Automatic Weather Station - A weather station is required by both a farmer and an agricultural scientist in order to research the direct effects of weather on crop planting and crop yield. The weather station will also be used for daily weather forecasting for a small community. Due to the inaccessibility of the proposed weather station location by the scientist, solar power and remote access communications are necessary.

 

Data Logger Applications in Mining

Open Cut Mine Monitors Water Quality - An open cut coal mine having a high salinity of water runoff required monitoring the quality of water in several retaining dams.

Networking Data Loggers for Mining - For the safety of miners and machinery, it is essential that any potentially dangerous situations are identified early. A monitoring and logging solution was required to detect ground movement or subsidence around a copper mine which is generally unstable. This solution primarily required a large number of inputs and support for long-distance wired communications.

Stress Monitoring of Equipment using Strain Gauges - Stress monitoring of a modified support bracket for 800mm x 2000mm blades that each scrapes about 500 kg of coal stockpiles. With more than 100 blades per coal scraper reclaimer machine, validation of the design was important to avoid high maintenance costs and downtime.

Analysing Steel Mill Function - Alex Wiseman, senior technical officer in BHP’s Long Products Division at Whyalla has stated that many people in charge of industrial processes remain unaware of the full capabilities of the plant under their control. It is only when all the variables that contribute to a process are measured and analysed that optimum performance can be obtained.

Improving Explosive Manufacturing Processes - Explosives for the mining industry are manufactured with a range of specified properties for particular uses. 'Nitropril' is explosives-grade ammonium nitrate used in nearly all of them. The industry's requirements can be fully met only by manufacturing the ammonium nitrate constituent to exceptionally precise quality standards for water content, porosity, bulk density and the type of surface coating applied to the spherical granules. Most importantly, for ease of handling, the ammonium nitrate must flow freely and not cake. To ensure accuracy of the content of the product, monitoring and analysis of the manufacturing processes was required.

 

Monitoring Using Data Loggers

Get your ‘Gobs’ Right - ACI Operations in Victoria Australia manufacture glass bottles and jars. The furnace contains a constant level of molten glass. There is an opening in the furnace that releases the product to pour at a continual constant rate. The glass is then cut at a predetermined size by shears. The molten glass at this stage is called a gob. By inserting a gob of molten glass into a mould and applying compressed air completes the bottle manufacture process. It is crucial that the size of each gob is correct or the bottle will have inconsistent wall thickness. ACI were experiencing varying sizes in the production of the gobs at infrequent intervals resulting in a large number of rejects. But what was causing it? Was it a mechanical fault on the shears that cut each gob? Was it the motor driving the shears? Was it the Variable Speed Drive (VSD) driving the motor?.

Fiberglass Mouldings Monitoring with Wireless Blue Tooth™ Technology - A company specializing in the manufacture of precision fiberglass mouldings found that the temperature monitoring of semi-mobile fiberglass moldings during the curing process has in the past posed problems of safety and possible cable failure. Previously, the communication links between the data logger and the host PC were hard wired Ethernet connections, resulting in trailing cables which can be hazardous, or may break causing loss of communications. This problem has been resolved by a BlueTooth™ wireless communication solution.

Radio Telemetry Setup for the Monitoring of PV Water Pumping Station - Clyde Fredericks and Jason Witkowsky - In order to determine meaningful life cycle costs of various rural water pump stations in the Northern Cape, it is necessary to perform long-term monitoring of such systems.

Managing the Pumps - Monitoring, maintaining and controlling of remotely located automatic water pumping stations. Warnings of operational problems sent to pagers carried by maintenance personnel.

Decommissioning of a Destroyer Escort - Remotely monitor an extensive range of destructive experiments as part of the decommissioning of a destroyer escort.

Improve Process Control Systems at an Explosives Manufacturing Plant - A convenient, single instrument for recording simultaneously from many sensors, along with ability to later retrieve the stored information.

Monitoring Weld Strength to Improve Quality - A specialist metalworking company, experienced in all types of welding, wanted to establish the reason why some welds occasionally failed.

Monitoring of Air Compressors - A small but powerful data acquisition unit that field personnel could easily use to measure the on time to off time and current consumption of a wide range of compressor models.

Bitumen Spray Truck - A Bitumen Spray Truck application required specific information regarding the truck and bitumen spray assembly during periods when bitumen is being sprayed onto roads to demonstrate the quality and efficiency of the process.

Monitor Throughput for Optimum Operation - A major problem became evident in a quarry when there were significant discrepancies between the manually reported stoppages and the throughput. To identify the cause of the discrepancies a more full proof method of monitoring was required.

Application Note Control, Data Acquisition and Calculation using your DataTaker Equipment - A Sydney company required a controlled atmosphere environment as part of pilot testing of a new process.

The following papers are provided thanks to HINCO Instruments and Onset.

Air Compressor Energy Savings: Finding the Low-Hanging Fruit - This paper discusses different ways to measure compressed air system performance and identify savings opportunities. It provides insight into how portable data loggers can be used to monitor compressor power, and references various compressed air upgrade funding programs throughout the United States.

Finding Hidden Energy Waste with Data Loggers - 8 Cost-Saving Opportunities - Paul H. Stiller - This best practices guide describes the data logging equipment you need to obtain information on energy consumption and environmental conditions in commercial buildings. It covers eight common forms of energy waste, and provides an overview of how to gather and analyze data and calculate savings for each opportunity.

Do the Savings Come Out in the Wash? - A Large Scale Study of In-Situ Residential Laundry Systems - David Korn and Scott Dimetrosky - This report explores the energy use of laundry systems by monitoring with data loggers at residences across southern California and the Bay area. Efficient laundry systems, and in particular clothes washers, are an unusual retail efficiency product in that the energy savings potential occurs primarily outside of the clothes washer, namely in the hot water heater and the clothes dryer. The study metered the actual energy use of 115 laundry systems - clothes washer, hot water heater, and clothes dryer - comprised of 24 non-ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers, and 91 clothes washers that qualified under current or previous ENERGY STAR specifications, and under Tier 1, 2, or 3 criteria published by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). Contrary to previous assumptions, the analysis determined that only 13 percent of the water used in the laundry system was heated, and that the majority of the energy consumed and potential savings arise in reduced operation of the clothes dryer.

 

Data Logger Applications in the Oil, Gas and Chemical Industry

Oil field uses Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) for Heavy Oil Recovery - An oil company drills a horizontal well into an oil reserve that contains heavy crude oil. Steam is injected into the well to lighten the oil and allow it to flow more easily. Another horizontal well is drilled below the first one to collect the oil and pump it to the surface. In the area, there are also observation wells drilled.

Calibrating Industrial Gas Meters - With South Australian Government regulations requiring industrial gas meters to give readings that are accurate to within plus one percent, the South Australian Gas Company which supplies industry with both the gas and the meters, has evolved a cost-efficient method of calibrating its meters using a datalogger.

Aid Gas Detection - Monitor and record hydrochloric acid gas levels and chlorine (CH2) levels. There was also a need to monitor and record temperature at twenty different locations within the plant.

Gas Detection in a Chemical Plant - A chemical company produces products which require chlorine (Cl2) during the manufacturing process and as a by-product release hydrochloric (HCL) acid gas. For health and safety reasons, it was necessary to monitor and record any airborne levels of these chemicals. The client also wished to monitor and record temperature at twenty different locations within the plant, and preferred a single system to perform both tasks.

 

Data Logger Applications in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Evaluating and Applying Data Loggers for Pharmaceutical Monitoring - Whether you are an experienced data logger user or are just getting started, this guide will help you to understand how data loggers can be applied in the pharmaceutical industry and provides advice on important factors to consider when evaluating different data loggers for your application - Thanks to Hinco and Onset.

 

Data Loggers for Safety Applications

Full-scale Fire Truck Performance Measurements - P.A. Bowditch, J. E. Leonard, D.J. O’Brien - This paper discusses the test method and modifications carried out to the trucks to improve their performance in a bushfire burnover.

 

Data Loggers for Solar Applications

Hot Climate Performance Comparison - Wolfgang Meike - This paper compares the performance of two types of Solar Panels and details how Dataloggers were used to achieve this.

Energy Resource Monitoring - A government-owned school building is being retrofitted with a solar energy system as part of a renewable energy rollout scheme. The government department responsible wishes to remotely monitor and log the generation and usage of this energy to establish the ongoing feasibility of the system and to track their return on investment.

 

Data Loggers for Transport Applications

Logger helps keep Brake Performance on the Rails - It was required to periodically check predetermined parameters that could affect braking efficiency. The system had not only to process and record the necessary information but also to operate under difficult conditions, while the train was in service. Placing an engineer on a train or withdrawing it from service was not an option, as this would prove too costly and disruptive.

Loggers Measure Rail track Condition Whilst in Use - Checking the wear and life of rail track and sleeper movement whilst the track is in use is a demanding application. Track testing locomotives travelling at 20 m.p.h. measure the twist angle of the track every 3 metres, continually comparing readings against previous measurements. Readings are transmitted to a central laboratory via the GSM network to establish if the angle remains within pre-established levels. Virtually instant analysis of data, with alarms, enables fast remedial action to be taken if required.

Train Third Rail Height Measurement - Atkins Rail a developed train based system for the dynamic measurement of third rail height. A data logger is ideal for many monitoring applications and was chosen by Atkins Rail for this application due to its speed and flexibility. The third rail carries high voltage and a pickup shoe makes contact with the third rail to deliver power to the train. If the third rail is set too low "Gapping" or lifting of the shoe from the rail can occur. There are many causes of gapping, the major factor being the condition of the third rail and running rail support ballast.

A Train, Accelerometer, GPS and a dataTaker - In 2005 the V/Line VLocity 160kph trains and upgraded rail lines were introduced in Australia. During testing the train drivers complained of the sideways movement of the train. Repair crews went out to re-level the track. However when the crews went to the locations indicated by the drivers, based upon the distance along the track, the problem track could not be identified. Engineers ‘road the rails’ and documented the location of the problem sections. When the repair crews went out to the noted positions they could not identify the problems. A logging solution was thus required to record and tag the precise locations of problem tracks.

Fatigue Monitoring on Ships - There are few constructions that are subject to a more varied set of forces than ships: engine, shaft and propeller vibrations, wave impact and slams, swell length and amplitude, wind loading, cargo and passenger loading and movement, diurnal temperature variation, and longer term; temperature and salinity variation of water. Swell in particular, of the order of the ship length and of sufficient amplitude, can produce massive stress cycles on a ship, alternately supporting the hull at bow and stern, and midships.

Real Time Monitoring of 210 Strain Gauges - To verify the mathematical modeling of a new train, the manufacturer engaged a firm of independent consulting engineers to verify the design and proof load the structure to ensure the design criteria had been met. Monitoring Brakes on New Passenger Vehicle - Evaluate the durability of the brake system of a new vehicle, critical information used for the estimation of component life and setting of service intervals.

Test and Monitor Automotive Car Seats During the Manufacturing Process - A luxury car seat manufacturer required to monitor and test it’s products during the manufacturing process. These seats, which at a touch of a button reposition themselves to either the driver’s or passenger’s preferred setting, have to be manufactured to strict standards. The seat is required to be put through a full range of movements to ensure the seat is working to specification and the whole circuit is without fault.

Monitor and Measure Internal Temperatures of New Prototype Vehicles in a Hot Dry Environment - As part of new product testing new prototype vehicles one of the tests is the "Hot Soak" in which the vehicle placed in a hot dry environment for a period of time and the internal temperatures of the vehicle and other parameters are measured.

Monitor and Record Signal Strength and Plot Position for Best Voice and Data Communications with a Train - To determine optimal placement of signal repeater towers providing reliable radio data communications carry out a radio survey on a sugar train.

Tractor Aquisition System for Field Power and Energy Demand Mapping - University Putra Malaysia - Massey Ferguson 3060 agricultural tractor is equipped on-board with an instrumentation monitoring and acquisition system capable of providing the information; Engine speed / PTO speed / Forward travel speed / Drive wheel slippage / Acres worked / Fuel consumption per hour / Fuel consumption per hectare / Acres per hour / Cost factor / Fuel consumed / Fuel remaining / Distance travelled / Drawbar pull force / PTO shaft torque / Drive wheel torque and Vertical and horizontal forces at the 3 point hitches.

 

Data Loggers & Telemetry, Wireless and SMS

Remote Communication - SMS your Datataker Data Logger - CoolPac are developing a revolutionary new product that allows life saving pharmaceuticals, requiring low stable temperatures, to be shipped without refrigeration. The client needed to undertake extensive testing to validate their product.

Using a Data Logger as a Remote Telemetry Unit via SMS - Easily and robustly collect data form multiple data loggers and provide calculated results, control, alarms and reports.

Remote Water Tank Control using Telemetry - This application details the monitoring of the conditions on a water tank 10 kms away and controlling the level via two remote pumps.

 

Data Loggers in the Water Industry

Water Quality and Trade-waste Monitoring Systems - In service with municipal authorities around the country, these systems continually monitor the condition and quality of stream, effluent or process water and automatically generate remote alarm messages.

Monitoring and Controlling Water Quality - Continuously monitor and manage the quality of the water in a catchment area to test for a variety of chemical and biological agents as well as clarity, rate of movement and height.

Managing Water Pumps - An automatic water pumping station requires monitoring of remotely located automatic pumps. Previously chart recorders were used to log various properties such as flow and pressure, but this requires too much manual effort to maintain. It has also become necessary in the event of operational failure, to send warnings to mobile phones carried by maintenance personnel so that any problems can be rectified as soon as possible.

The following papers are provided thanks to HINCO Instruments and Onset.

Choosing a Conductivity Logger - 5 things you should know - Whether you are selecting a conductivity logger for the first time or have experience measuring conductivity, this report can help you determine the type of logger that best suits your needs. It highlights the five most important considerations in selecting and deploying a conductivity logger.

Choosing a Water Level Logger - Five Things You Should Know - Whether you have previous experience with water level logging, or are just getting started, this report can help you choose the right products for your needs. It points out the five most important things you should be aware of, and offers tips on specific features to look for.

Underwater Temperature Loggers - Considerations for Selection and Deployment - This report provides general information about monitoring water temperature, and serves as a guide to selecting underwater temperature loggers. It also identifies some of the challenges specific to particular field sites, and provides tips on deploying loggers in such environments.

Monitoring Wetlands with Data Loggers: A Best Practices Guide - Wetlands act as a natural filter for polluted water and thus play an essential role in water quality protection. They serve as floodwater storage to help minimize erosion, and create a habitat for many fish and wildlife. While a variety of factors have decreased the number of wetlands in the U.S. by half since 1950, many organizations are restoring wetlands back to their original flourishing ecosystems. To ensure success, it is necessary to monitor wetland factors such as water level, temperature, and rainfall. This guide shares field-proven best practices for configuring, launching and deploying portable data loggers in wetland monitoring applications. A range of data logger types is covered, and tips are provided on logger installation and maintenance.

Webinars Choosinga Conductivity Logger: 5 Important Considerations - Hosted by Paul Gannett, a product marketing manager at Onset, this on-demand webinar highlights five important considerations in selecting and deploying a conductivity logger, including accuracy considerations, ease of deployment and offload, Software capabilities, cost of ownership, deployment considerations. In 3 parts - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 Critical Success Factors in Water Level Monitoring - Aimed at hydrologists, ecologists, water works professionals and others who need to record changing water levels, this 45-minute webinar will examine a range of topics, including choosing the right water level monitoring product for your application, demystifying water level logger accuracy specifications, deploying water level loggers in the field: field-proven methods and techniques.

 

Zoological Data Logger Applications

How Hot is a Broody Emu? - Male emus are devoted parents. They do all the incubation of their partner’s eggs. Given they neither eat nor drink while on duty, the client’s research was into the physiological consequences of this dedicated eight-week fast.

 

Sensor Frequently Asked Questions - From dataTaker

This Link Provides an Excellent Range of Questions Relating to Sensors - Covering Wiring & Installation issues, Enclosures & Ambient conditions, Temperature Measurement including Thermocouples, RTD's and Thermistors, Resistance Devices, Current and 4-20mA Loops, Load Cells, Bridges and Strain Gauges and finally Vibrating Wire Strain Gauges.

 

Data logger Webinars and Videos

Onset’s free Web Seminars and Videos offer guidance on how to use data logging software, apply data loggers in various applications, and provide field-proven tips and techniques to help make data logger projects successful. You need to register to get these.

Onset's White Papers - Onset's white papers feature valuable tips and information on a variety of topics, from key considerations in choosing the right data logger to hands-on deployment techniques. Sign up today to download the white paper(s) most relevant to your data logging project.

 

Datalogger OnLine Training - DataTaker have a range of online training options

Introduction to Data Logging - The presentation focuses on understanding the fundamentals of data acquisition and data logging.

DataTaker Training Courses - dataTaker training courses allow your company to make the most of your dataTaker data logger investment. DataTaker provide training sessions worldwide, the frequency and cost of which depends on the demand. Training courses can be tailored for all types from users, from beginners using the dEX graphical environment to advanced configuration and communications using the dataTaker programming language.

 

Onset White Papers

Looking for more papers on Data Logger? Onset's many white papers feature valuable tips and information on a variety of topics, from key considerations in choosing the right data logger to hands-on deployment techniques. Sign up today to download the white paper(s) most relevant to your data logging project.

Other Datalogger Links

What is  Datalogging - A good description from National Instruments.

Datalogging - Your Questions and the Answers - Includes What is datalogging?, Where is datalogging used?, What types of datalogging are there?, What equipment do I need for datalogging?, What issues should be considered before buying?, What are the implementation issues? - From Becta. 

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