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Category Archives: Remote Data Acquisition
New Low Cost I/O Modules from CAS DataLoggers
Real Time DAQ Using our PC-based Data Loggers
CHESTERLAND OH—March 5, 2013
CAS DataLoggers and Brainchild have just introduced the new Distributed I/O Modules as inexpensive, portable solutions recording real-time readings. With a simple setup and standalone operation, these modules communicate with a datalogger, PLC or HMI via Modbus RTU protocol. Featuring options for multiple thermocouple and RTD inputs, as well as current/voltage and digital signals, these data loggers are already seeing use in a wide variety of applications including lab setups, process measurement, and small businesses. Read more on our Product Announcements page.
Coastal Monitoring Using a Custom DAQ Solution
System Control and Data Acquisition from CAS DataLoggers
CHESTERLAND OH—July 5, 2012
CAS DataLoggers recently developed a custom measuring process for a large county’s environmental department to acquire data on the wave run-up at a local levee as part of the county’s 2010 general plan for coastal protection. The department needed to develop a new measurement system for wave run-up because no suitable system existed on the market. The safety of the levees needed to be monitored at regular intervals along with other important measurement parameters including sea depth, sea condition and wave run-up, especially during storm surges. Read more on our Environmental Monitoring Applications Notes page.
CAS Releases New Data Acquisition Video
Spotlighting ADwin Real-Time Data Acquisition and Control Systems
CHESTERLAND OH—October 12, 2011
CAS DataLoggers has released its latest video showcasing the capabilities and specifications of its powerful ADwin data acquisition and control devices in inventory. Posted on YouTube, this detailed walkthrough outlines the basics of ADwin system architecture, popular products, relevant applications, and software features. The 3-minute video can be found on YouTube here. Viewers can also subscribe to the CAS DataLoggers YouTube channel here to view additional manufacturer videos and get a first look at the industry’s latest solutions. Near the end of the video is a catalog page listing additional datalogging manufacturers distributed by CAS.
ADwin data acquisition systems support parallel, individually-controlled, real-time processes while running independently of the PC’s operating system but sharing data. These devices feature a local DSP controller, an optional TiCo coprocessor, and tightly coupled analog and digital inputs along with counters providing extremely low latency operation. These sophisticated devices feature deterministic real-time operation with a response time measured in useconds, stand alone operation, and interface with all popular PC programming tools. Additionally, ADwin systems are freely programmable.
The hardware solutions displayed in the video are suitable for a wide variety of applications and project requirements. The ADwin-Light-16 intelligent real-time data acquisition and control system features 8 analog inputs, 2 analog outputs, 6 digital inputs and outputs, a 100kHz sample rate, and a local 32-bit SHARC DSP. These systems are ideal, low-priced solutions for fast data acquisition and control running in real time under Windows. For more demanding applications, ADwin-Gold-II systems offer 16 analog inputs, up to 8 analog outputs, 32 digital I/Os, a 100kHz sample rate, and an optional TICO co-processor. The device also features Ethernet or USB interface for communication with a PC and is housed in a robust metal enclosure for use in industrial applications or in the field. For users requiring modular real-time data acquisition and control, the powerful ADwin-Pro-II system contains up to 480 analog inputs, digital inputs and outputs or any combination of these. Additionally, a high performance 300 MHz DSP processor and an Ethernet communications interface are also included as well as an optional TICO co-processor modules for local pre-processing. This flexible, expandable system is offered in a variety of enclosure sizes, modular configurations, and in both AC and DC powered versions.
The broad range of applications for ADwin systems include test stand control and data collection, component testing, equipment control, servo-hydraulic systems, laser and Ebeam control, and automotive test. These high-speed data acquisition devices are also used for automation, open and closed loop control, intelligent data acquisition, signal generation and digital communications in research, manufacturing and test labs in automotive, aerospace, physics and military facilities.
ADwin systems offer the popular ADbasic software as the solution for flexible and simple programming of fast data acquisition, open-loop and closed-loop control procedures. ADbasic programs are executed on the local processor of the ADwin hardware, triggered by the occurrence of an event signal. With ADbasic, users create the processing procedures based on the ADwin running system. The program code is optimized and compiled over ADbasic or a PC user interface in the ADwin system loaded and run from there independently. The commands for measurement and control functions and floating-point operations are already in the instruction set of ADbasic integrated. A library of functions, such as filters, and numerous examples for counters, regulators, function generators, etc. help users quickly build their programs.
Other software options are also available: with the quickly configurable ADtools utility software, users can display their data graphically or numerically, process visualizing patterns, make inputs via potentiometers, sliders or buttons, and the ADwin control system resources. ADlog data recording software turns the user’s system into a datalogger for recording, visualizing and evaluation of large data amounts without programming effort. Matlab/Simulink graphical programming is also supported. The ADwin software environment can be used under Windows (95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Windows 7) and LINUX or as a stand-alone data acquisition system. Also, ADwin has drivers for many of the popular programming environments including VB, VC/C++, LabVIEW, TestPoint and others.
Bing Brown, CAS Data Acquisition Product Manager, commented: “Our cost-effective ADwin systems regularly handle the most demanding data acquisition and control projects. No matter what the size of your project, these advanced solutions have the precision and software analysis capabilities to handle it.”
Check out the ADwin product overview page here, and the CAS inventory of data acquisition and control systems here.
For further information on ADwin data acquisition and control systems, other data acquisition devices, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Applications Specialist at (800) 956-4437 or visit the website at www.DataLoggerInc.com.
Contact Information:
CAS DataLoggers, Inc.
12628 Chillicothe Road
Chesterland, Ohio 44026
(440) 729-2570
(800) 956-4437
sales@dataloggerinc.com
http://www.dataloggerinc.com
New Module Available for ADwin Real-Time Data Acquisition Systems
HSM-24V External Module Features 32 Digital Channels
CHESTERLAND OH—September 14, 2011
CAS DataLoggers in partnership with ADwin is proud to announce the new HSM-24V External Module now available for ADwin real-time data acquisition and control systems, providing 32 digital I/O channels fully compatible with 24-volt signals commonly found in industrial applications. The channels can be configured to be inputs or outputs in groups of 8 and also offer short circuit protection. Additionally, the HSM-24V module has a built-in DIN rail mounting clip to facilitate easy installation in control cabinets. When configured as inputs, built-in hardware filtering reduces the potential of interference from external electrical noise. Each channel also has an associated LED indicator to provide an immediate visual status indication.
The HSM-24V is perfect for digital inputs or outputs that don’t require the microsecond response time of the digital I/O built into the ADwin system; for example, to read the status of manual switches, door or interlock switches, or proximity sensors. It can also be used to activate relays, solenoid valves or to turn on indicator lamps. The HSM-24V connects to the ADwin system via the LS bus, a bi-directional serial bus supporting up to 15 addressable modules allowing a maximum of 480 I/O points. The LS bus is supported on all three ADwin platforms: the ADwin-Light-16, the ADwin-Gold-II, and the ADwin-Pro.
ADwin’s sophisticated devices provide users with a comprehensive set of capabilities for high speed data acquisition and control, including analog inputs and outputs, digital inputs and outputs, counters, and other options including CANbus and serial interfaces, signal conditioning modules, and Fieldbus interfaces. The architecture of the ADwin system is optimized to provide precise, deterministic operation with response times measured in useconds. A high performance local DSP controller manages the data acquisition hardware and works in cooperation with a PC via a shared memory interface that provides transparent access to data and control variables. In this way the system is partitioned to share the load such that the DSP in the ADwin system controls all time-critical tasks while the PC is free to handle the user interface, data presentation and data storage.
Furthermore, ADwin systems are freely programmable, using either the ADBasic real-time IDE or alternatively the graphical model based Simulink® software package from Mathworks®. ADwin systems are compatible with computers running under Windows, Linux, Mac, or Unix. Driver packages are available for virtually all common PC development tools including VB, VB.NET, C/C++/C#, Java, Phyton, LabVIEW, WinCC, Matlab, Simulink, VEE, Dasylab, and many more. Check out the ADwin product overview page here.
For further information on the new HSM-24V module, the advanced line of ADwin data acquisition devices, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Applications Analyst at (800) 956-4437 or visit the website at www.DataLoggerInc.com.
Contact Information:
CAS DataLoggers, Inc.
12628 Chillicothe Road
Chesterland, Ohio 44026
(440) 729-2570
(800) 956-4437
sales@dataloggerinc.com
http://www.dataloggerinc.com
Data Logging With Remote UMTS Access In Natural Gas Dehydration Plants
Delphin Data Acquisition Systems Provide Remote Monitoring Solution
CHESTERLAND OH—August 8, 2011
CAS DataLoggers recently provided the data acquisition solution for a state-owned oil and gas company located in Eastern Europe involved in developing natural gas in distant gas fields. The gas came out of a wellhead for processing in either of two dehydration plants. These plants extract water from the gas before sending it through a compressor station and then pumping it through the pipeline system. However, since the two dehydration plants were based in a remote location, the company needed a standalone data acquisition and logging system to record production and process data from the plant and also to gain remote access to all recorded data. This system would have to be able to perform high-precision measurements and also feature sophisticated alarm and programming capabilities enabling the device to process measurements and initiate actions on its own.
Plant management decided to install a Delphin TopMessage Data Acquisition System in each of the two dehydration plants. Additionally, one ADVT module with 15 analog inputs and one IOIT module with 24 digital inputs for status monitoring were also installed in each plant. The TopMessages were then interfaced via Ethernet LAN to a MoRoS UMTS router to provide remote access functions. In case of an accident in hazardous areas, each complete system was then fitted inside an explosion-proof box outfitted with EX barriers. Within its protective enclosure, each Delphin TopMessage was then interfaced to 3 tank level transmitters using a 4-20mA analog output signal, and also to 3 gas volume conversion devices from VEGA through an RS-422 Modbus RTU interface (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Functional Application Architecture
The TopMessage data acquisition device was capable of both Ethernet networking as well as direct PC connection (P2P). Its analog inputs could be attached to RTD sensors, thermocouples, volt or 20 mA signals, enabling any physical value to be acquired as needed. The measurement data was saved as scaled and linearized to the device, and scaling was pre-configured for all current thermocouple and RTD sensor types. The maximum 24-bit resolution measurement accuracy enabled high-precision measurements without the need for any signal amplification. Each TopMessage device could be equipped with up to 30 analog inputs or 48 digital inputs, with any possible combination of I/O modules.
Ideal for many different data logging, data acquisition and testing applications, Delphin TopMessage systems perform tasks in the fields of process technology, test engineering, and research and development, offering quick and reliable signal processing from a few thermocouples up to thousands of measurement points spread out over the plant. 1 GB of local memory stored all readings. Housed in its sturdy explosion-proof enclosure, the TopMessage system featured 2 slots for analog or digital input or output cards, as well as an Ethernet interface and CANbus for expansion modules. Screw terminal connections provide secure connections and reliable operation. Additionally, the TopMessage’s small size of 200 x 118 x 90mm made for a quick installation.
The dehydration plant operator based in the save area had a local monitoring PC running Delphin’s free ProfiSignal Klicks software. ProfiSignal Klicks offered a user-friendly development system for programming the data recording and reporting functions with no specialized IT knowledge required. The software also contained functions for automating processes and generating user-defined reports. Operators used the software’s mimic panel to monitor plant performance and also set up input screens for test parameters, test sequences and reports through the Klicks automation programming language. This provided engineers with a flexible software tool for generating their own complete applications. Utilizing the UMTS router, the control room operator at the head office had remote access at all times to the data from the TopMessage device and could see live data and downloaded data from the system memory. Additionally, the data download could be automated by using the scheduler function of the DataService Configurator. The dehydration plant itself was covered by an EDGE G2 mobile communication network.
The oil and gas company gained several benefits from installing the Delphin TopMessage data acquisition system in each of its two dehydration plants. The TopMessage data acquisition device, equipped with the UMTS router, served as an effective solution for this application covering all requirements. Additionally, the TopMessage’s compact size made the system easy to install in the explosion-proof box to guarantee its safety. Additionally, remote access was easily configured with the UMTS router, which also provided networking functions for local PCs and printers. The TopMessage system itself supported many serial interface standards so that VEGA Scan EK220 volume conversion units could be interfaced. The popular ProfiSignal Klicks software was included free to develop an operator user interface, including mimics, and also added reporting functions.
As an option for larger projects, up to 10 Delphin TopMessage Slave Modules could be used as expansion chassis to increase the master unit’s capability up to 1000 hardware/software channels, with all data transfer between master and slave taking place via a CANbus. The slave modules are connected via CANbus to the master with a maximum bus length of 100 meters. Check out the Delphin TopMessage’s product page here.
For further information on the Delphin TopMessage Data Acquisition System, other devices in the Delphin product line, details on any other data acquisition and control system, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact a CAS Data Logger Applications Analyst at (800) 956-4437 or visit the website at www.DataLoggerInc.com.
Contact Information:
CAS DataLoggers, Inc.
12628 Chillicothe Road
Chesterland, Ohio 44026
(440) 729-2570
(800) 956-4437
sales@dataloggerinc.com
http://www.dataloggerinc.com