Data Acquisition hardware suggestions please

[dubbleUJay]

For a long time now I've been looking around for some affordable way to log data like temperatures, voltages, current, exec. to my PC, but every time I'm confronted with the cost of these units.

I'm probably looking for something a bit more than your average DIY LPT or Serial I/O units you find on the net to build, something with  say a few analog- & digital In/Out and maybe a PWM output as well, but as soon as one goes a bit over the top, the guys want to sell me stuff to control industrial machinery and such, hell, I just want to monitor my Lister for some stats!

I found this DIY kit from Velleman that's available in ZA and more or less in my price range:
http://www.velleman.eu/ot/en/product/view/?id=364910
which has most I need (I think), but the software is very crappy by the looks of it. The other problem I foreseen is the USB connection, only good for about 2-3 meters from the PC and my engine is about 20m away!

I want to try and kill 2 flies here, I will have to get an Automatic Engine Controller some time in the future, preferably with a RS232 port for PC monitoring, (These blokes also think I want to control a nuclear power plant with their pricing!) and it could probably be done with this unit, although "the VERY long way around" for me anyway, and on the other hand I want a Data Acquisition Unit as well for testing.

Does anyone know of other products that might be better/similar that will do the job and not cost me an arm and a leg, or am I pushing my luck here 

Maybe a PIC PROGRAMMER & EXPERIMENT BOARD like this one, also from Velleman:
http://www.velleman.eu/ot/en/product/view/?id=350903
but with better in/output interfacing. Although, this will mean that I need to learn to program these which shouldn't be impossible, me think (again) 
I'm sure BruceM could help me here with some suggestions, Bruce?

Thanks in advance,
dubbleUJay

[veggie]

Have a look here.....

http://www.ontrak.net/products.htm

I bought the ADR101. It's an RS232 connection to the computer.
Found it very easy to read and send data. (I program in visual basic and Basic)
Very simple to connect inputs using the screw terminals.
Already has the RS232 connector and power supply jack.

Good luck,
Veggie

[dubbleUJay]

Thanks for your input guys.
I looked at the pricing and availability in ZA of the units you all suggested.

The unit from Velleman that I'm looking at are available in the US/Canada for about $148 at this place:
http://www.electronics123.com/s.nl;jsessionid=0a0106521f43b7fed9354f464bd68007e5057aa20330.e3eSc34RbhyRe34Pa38Ta3aLb3z0?sc=5&category=&search=extended%20USB
(I just took the 1st site I could find to get an proximate price.)

I can get the same unit in ZA for approximately $120 (If I divide my currency by the exchange rate)

EXTENDED USB INTERFACE BOARD Features:
8 analogue 10 bit resolution inputs: 0...5 or 10VDC / 20k ohms
8 analogue 8 bit resolution outputs: 0...5V or 10VDC / 47 ohms
8 digital inputs: open collector compatible (connection to GND=0) with on-board LED indication
8 digital open collector outputs (max. 50V/100mA) with on-board LED indication
One 10 bit PWM output: 0 to 100% open collector output (max 100mA / 40V) with on-board LED indication
USB port: USB 1.1 & 2.0 compatible Specifications power consumption through USB port: approx. 60mA
Up to 8 cards can be connected to PC power supply through adapter: 12VDC / 300mA (PS1205)
PWM frequency: 15.6kHz
Command execution time: between 21 and 48ms
PCB dimensions: 195 x 142 x 20mm (2.7 " x 5.6" x 0.8")
Min. system requirements: Pentium class CPU or higher with free USB port (1.1 or higher)
Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP* CD-ROM player and mouse * Windows XP recommended

They use a DLL in Windows to program (store info) for these boards apparently, using VB,C++, Delphi exec.

I know that I will have to buy/make my own interfaces for the various probes, but that shouldn't be a problem.

Could one of you be so kind and compare the specs of this unit to the ones you have purchased an maybe give me an indication if I'm wasting my $$$ please?

If I import one of the suggested units, it would cost me quit a bit more than this one.

Thanks in advance,
dubbleUJay

[veggie]

I'm not highly experienced in this area but I'll throw in my 2Cents worth...

For about $40 more the Velleman seems to offer a greater number of I/O ports and options.
But for it's simplicity and rapid application development, the ADR101 is nice.
It depends on how much you want to control and monitor.

I could be missing something, but the Velleman does not seem to have any digital outputs (on/off) which can sync up to 5 amps for the purpose of switching things on/off? This may be important to you depending on what you are controlling.
The ADR series has relays built into the board so there's no additional relay boards to buy or "step relays" to wire.
Of course, that's only an issue if you an amateur in electronics like me.
If you are comfortable with adding your own signal conditioning and relays to the system, then the Velleman looks like the way to go.

Good luck,
Veggie

[BruceM]

Sorry I can't help much on this one WJ.  I don't do much with PC hardware.

Best Wishes,
Bruce

[dubbleUJay]

Thanks for your time guys, I needed a 2nd opinion on this and I think I'm going to get it.
Veggie, yes, it seems to have open collector OP's to operate relays with, they aren't on the board like yours so I'll have to use an external board.
I do have the means to make relay OP boards and a few relays laying around so that wont be a problem.
I recon I'll be able to do some neat things with this board, I just didn't want to buy a cat in a bag and be sorry in the future. Velleman seems to have an active forum as well for help when I get stuck.

Now to twist the (mu)boss's arm into handing her cash over!

[veggie]

dubbleUJay,

Tell her it's circuit board for the dish washer 

[mobile_bob]

not really data aquisition but something that you guys might find useful

http://cgi.ebay.com/8-Relay-Board-Kit-for-Microchip-PIC-AVR-8051-ARM-LPT_W0QQitemZ110444525987QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item19b701b9a3

i bought a few from a chinese vendor last winter, althought the canadian seller has a better software package
with his.

bob g

[veggie]

Bob,

Nice little relay board.
When I see things like that....all kinds of possibilities go through my mind.
But alas, I must stay focused.
So may ideas.....so little time 


Cheers,
Veggie

[veggie]

This one plugs conveniently into the serial port of your PC.

Can read temperature, pressure, whatever....
And has relay outputs to do stuff (activate solenoids, close valves, sound alarm buzzers,   etc....)

http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110445901580

Again, so many ideas, so little time.

Veggie

[dubbleUJay]

Guys, thanks for all the input, I more or less made up my mind what I want to do, so I started a new thread on it here:
http://www.microcogen.info/index.php?topic=188.0

I hope this is in order, actually I forgot about this one in a hast of madness , but I'm focused on one product now.

Thanks again, any input on the new thread will be greatly appreciated.

dubbleUJay