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How are Data Loggers Powered?

一种数据记录仪is a compact, self-contained electronic unit that measures, records, and transmits a stream of data. In other articles, we’ve covered thetypes of data他们用于收集,包括温度,湿度,压力和许多其他。

We’ve also previously discussed theindustriesthey’re commonly used in, including pharmaceuticals, perishable food distribution, aerospace, water treatment, and others. Data loggers are especially valuable in applications where product quality is sensitive to environmental conditions, or to the operating parameters of a manufacturing process.

在本文中,我们将重点关注现代数据记录器如何供电,以及它们如何传输他们收集的数据。选择数据记录器时,也没有通用最佳选择。最佳配置取决于您操作的大小和需求,因此了解可用的选项非常重要。

高角度拍摄组蓝电池表面

How are data loggers powered?

The small amount of power that a data logger requires can come from a number of different sources:

Wired AC Connection
When the main building power is accessible, data loggers can use an AC adapter plugged into a normal wall outlet. A variety of options exist, usually for 100-240 VAC supplies, withfittings可用于非美国标准网点。用于数据记录器的AC适配器通常将电源AC电压降低到记录器所需的较低DC电压。在停电的情况下,这些单元可以包括可充电电池备份。

Battery
依赖电池电量的数据记录器旨在最大限度地减少电源使用并最大限度地提高电池寿命。典型的电池更换间隔大于1年,具体取决于记录器的操作方式。如果电池更换间隔是一个问题,可以使用使用锂离子电池而不是标准碱性电池的模型。在查看电池供电数据记录器的规格时,您可能会看到电池寿命取决于测量间隔。例如,每1小时录制数据点将使电池寿命更长为每30秒。因此,有时以特定的测量间隔指定电池寿命。

以太网电源(PoE)
如果数据记录器由以太网电缆连接,这是一个方便的选项。在PoE中,通过用于通信的相同电缆提供电力,消除了对单独的电源线的需求。

这些涵盖最常见的选择。对于专业的远程应用,可以使用像太阳能电池板相结合的可再生源,可以使用可充电电池。这种类型的设置是天气监测站的典型图,以及电池更换的其他离网位置将困难。

数据记录器连接选项

现代数据记录器有几个选项,了解如何导出或传输所收集的数据,包括:

USB
对于无需访问无线或有线网络连接的数据记录器,可以临时存储在记录器中的数据,然后手动下载到笔记本电脑或卫星收集设备USB连接。记录器中的存储空间有限,因此重要规范是可以存储多少数据,通常以条件给出data points。To figure out how much time the logger can run without exceeding its storage capacity, you’ll need to do a calculation that also takes into account the measurement interval:

  • 最大存储时间=(数据点容量)✕(测量间隔)

For example, a logger with a capacity of 400,000 points, collecting data every 10 seconds, can run for about 46 days without exceeding its memory.

无线上网
This approach is growing in popularity, since it uses largely existing infrastructure to significantly enhance the capabilities of the logger.启用Wi-Fi数据记录器能够将数据连续传输到基于云的监视工具,从而消除了对周期性下载的需求并提供对来自任何地方的监视数据的实时访问。

wi - fi的另一个主要优点是,它是反时针erently scalable. New monitoring points can be added to an existing network easily, and the data from these loggers is visualized, organized, and archived automatically with online monitoring tools (we’ll talk more about that in the next section).

这些优点也是通过有线以太网或蜂窝连接进行通信的数据记录器,其中那些更方便。

洛拉
This is a low-power, long-range wireless communication protocol that’s well suited for data loggers. In a LoRa network, individual data loggers are set up to transmit to a central gateway device, which can then upload data to a local network, or to the cloud.

For data loggers, LoRa has the advantage of long range communication relative to Wi-Fi, but requires the use of a gateway device to connect to cloud based monitoring.

蓝牙
一种启用了蓝牙数据记录仪can operate in a couple of different modes. One mode is similar to a USB logger, where the data is stored locally, then periodically transferred via Bluetooth. An example is a temperature data logger that is embedded in a refrigerated package during shipment. When it arrives at the customer site, the temperature history in the logger is downloaded via Bluetooth, giving the customer a full record of temperature during the trip. (A data logger enabled withNFC,近场通信,也以这种方式工作。)

使用蓝牙记录器的另一种方法是将数据连续地将数据传输到附近的手持设备或计算机。从那里,可以实时监视数据,或上传到云以进行远程访问。

数据采集

在访问由记录器收集的数据方面,有两个常规策略:(1)数据存储在记录器中,以供以后下载(USB和NFC),或(2)数据连续发送到云服务器或本地网络(Wi-Fi,以太网,蜂窝,LORA)。

数据本身的格式也有许多选项。例如,一个简单的系统可以导出时间戳的数据点表,然后可以在数据分析软件中绘制和组织。

更复杂监控系统use online software tools that integrate seamlessly with data logger hardware. This is a powerful approach that can be used to collect and visualize data that is continuously transmitted by any number of Wi-Fi or ethernet enabled loggers in the field, organizing it by time, location, data type, or other user-selected parameters. Data logger software can also provide dashboards that quickly summarize the most critical data for large monitoring networks, including the status of any custom alarm limits.

除了收集和可视化数据外,专用数据记录器监控软件还允许用户调整测量设置和跟踪传感器校准status.

One final note on data collection- for FDA-regulated industries, it’s important to confirm that your data collection hardware and software is compliant with21 CFR Part 11,这是涵盖电子记录的联邦监管。


结论

Whenselecting数据记录器,它的供电以及它如何传输数据是最重要的两个选项。现代数据记录器具有多种数据收集和传输功能,使其成为监控敏感过程的强大工具。

鼓励有关于数据记录器或环境监测问题的任何人都联系Dickson的专家。