Any electrical guys use thermocouples and computer?

[Dan_IN_MN]

Any electrical guys use thermocouples and computer?

I would like to place thermocouples in a few different places such as the smoke pipe, firebox.....etc. I would like to connect the thermocouples up to a PC via the serial port or USB. I would network the computer so I can read the temps from another computer in the house or anywhere there is internet connection.

Anyone know of any freeware shareware available for this type of application?

Also, what would be involved with the connections to the computer? What type of thermocouples would I need?

Thanks

Dan

 

[chowdozer]

It's going to be expensive. I guess that's relative as expensive for me at home is nothing compared to work.

I would say you're looking at $400 for 4 channels to usb.

For work I use Omega Engineering

Probably something like this:
http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=HH309A&Nav=tems08

I would go with type K tc's as they are +/- 1C accuracy out of the box and are pretty stable. I have some type K's that have been in use for 5 years or more. Resistance temperature devices or RTD's are going to be more expensive and monitoring them will be too. RTD's are spec'ed with a specific lead length, tc's are not.

or you could go with 1 channel
http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/lascar/dataloggers/elusbtc.htm

I didn't read through this whole website but you might find something interesting
http://www.windmill.co.uk/thermocouple.html

I don't know of any pc cards to measure temperature via tc. Usually a data aquisition computer will be monitoring many temperatures, pressures, voltages, etc simultaneously. Like 100's of data inputs. For small scale like 10-20, a standalone logger is used that you download to a pc later.

or a kit
http://www.electronickits.com/kit/complete/meas/ck110.htm

I don't know of any freeware either.
Sorry I can't help you out much but it's a tough order.

here's another site too. you'd want to log real time so the tw-usb-rt is $75 for 1 channel. it comes with software but the downside is you have to replace the battery every month
http://www.thermoworks.com/products/logger/usb_loggers.html

 

[projectsho89]

You're making it WAAAAY to hard...... You can do it for a lot less than that.

I started gathering for this almost exact project right before Christmas but, having acquired the stuff, I still haven't connected a single wire up yet. Maybe I'll play with it this weekend.

I bought a Dataq DI-148U USB box for around $50, a few LM34 direct Fahrenheit sensors (Celsius versions are also available LM35), and a few other odds and ends including the stuff for a regulated 5V power supply for the sensors.

http://www.dataq.com/products/startkit/di148.htm Includes low-speed acquisition software.

A 4-channel RS-232 low-speed box is only $25.

If you have a kid who needs a science air project for school, make sure you check out those links of the above page.

Just be advised that if you use the LM34 or LM35 sensors, you'll need to do extra work. See the chapter in the user's guide regarding the input analog voltage offset.


Steve

 

[AIM]

I also want to do this. I think it would be cool to be able to moniter water temp, fire box temp, and several other things from the comfort of my computer chair or maybe just a display coupled with the thermostat on the wall.

The problem is that I have ABSOLUTELY no idea where to start or how.

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

These links and advice is what I've been looking for!

These links and advice is what I've been looking for!

Thanks for the responces! Please keep them coming! Sometimes finding things on the net requires a certain mind set. :monkey: Knowing what to search for.

NEED INPUT! Nice software!

Dan

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

I think that this thread is a "start"!

I also want to do this. I think it would be cool to be able to moniter water temp, fire box temp, and several other things from the comfort of my computer chair or maybe just a display coupled with the thermostat on the wall.

The problem is that I have ABSOLUTELY no idea where to start or how.

I think that this thread is a "start"! Lets learn together!:greenchainsaw: That's what this place is all about!

Dan

 

[AIM]

The Tekmar site has a bunch of really cool stuff on it but is it what we need?
http://www.tekmarcontrols.com/prod.html

I like the looks of this simple water level indicator.
http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=LVK90&Nav=grek12

I need to find the water temp probe yet.

I have a classmate that is an electrical engineer that is going to help me with it when I'm ready I just have to get him scaled back dollar wise. We were sittin around sippin beer one day and he had it all planned out for me. Problem was that I need to bury a new conduit just to run the bazillion wires needed to operate the $2000 system.

 

[mga]

thanks to chowdozer's links, i happen to find this:

http://www.omega.com/DAS/pdf/pc-tc6.pdf

rather expensive and replaced by a newer version

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

Keep us posted on what you come up with!

The Tekmar site has a bunch of really cool stuff on it but is it what we need?
http://www.tekmarcontrols.com/prod.html

I like the looks of this simple water level indicator.
http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=LVK90&Nav=grek12

I need to find the water temp probe yet.

I have a classmate that is an electrical engineer that is going to help me with it when I'm ready I just have to get him scaled back dollar wise. We were sittin around sippin beer one day and he had it all planned out for me. Problem was that I need to bury a new conduit just to run the bazillion wires needed to operate the $2000 system.

Keep us posted on what you come up with! I'm enjoying the input! Finally people that "think" like I do.... :monkey: opcorn:

Keep them coming!

Dan

 

[Labman]

Dig up an old Radio Shack Color computer. It has 4 resistance A/D converters on board. It also has one light duty relay you can use to control things. http://www.cocops.org/index.htm

 

[ckthorp]

Thermistors and IC temperature sensors won't take the kind of abuse you'll see in a wood burner. Thermocouples are really the only option for the temperature ranges you're looking at.

We've got one of these at work and they work pretty slick. They come with a logging application for taking data down into a file that you can open in excel.
http://www.measurementcomputing.com/usb-data-acquisition/USB-TC.aspx

 

[projectsho89]

Thermistors and IC temperature sensors won't take the kind of abuse you'll see in a wood burner. Thermocouples are really the only option for the temperature ranges you're looking at.

Ironically, BOTH of my thermocouples on-hand have failed so that they read at least 10% too high....

PITA....


Steve

 

[chowdozer]

a few LM34 direct Fahrenheit sensors (Celsius versions are also available LM35),

Dan was hoping for something to install on a firebox and flue. If I'm not mistaken, those don't go above 250F. They are a semiconductor.

 

[chowdozer]

Ironically, BOTH of my thermocouples on-hand have failed so that they read at least 10% too high....

PITA....


Steve

When you install them, put several in parallel so you get an average and if one fails and makes an open circuit you don't lose your measurement.

 

[chowdozer]

Thermistors and IC temperature sensors won't take the kind of abuse you'll see in a wood burner. Thermocouples are really the only option for the temperature ranges you're looking at.

We've got one of these at work and they work pretty slick. They come with a logging application for taking data down into a file that you can open in excel.
http://www.measurementcomputing.com/usb-data-acquisition/USB-TC.aspx

Nice little compact unit.

I use several of these, mostly because I need wireless operation. Been using them for about 13 years and they are sturdy.

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/f...ukeProducts)&category=PORTDAQ(FlukeProducts#2

 

[projectsho89]

Dan was hoping for something to install on a firebox and flue. If I'm not mistaken, those don't go above 250F. They are a semiconductor.

Yeah, I know. Don't know what value that data might be to him, but he will have to use something like a TC for stuff that hot.

FWIW, the LM34s I'm playing with are accurate (enough) up to around 300F. I'll probably be making some type of immersion well to put mine in.

Steve

 

[projectsho89]

When you install them, put several in parallel so you get an average and if one fails and makes an open circuit you don't lose your measurement.

Mine haven't opened. They' just inaccurate enough to make them useless and I'm too cheap to buy some more right now.


Steve

 

[chowdozer]

Mine haven't opened. They' just inaccurate enough to make them useless and I'm too cheap to buy some more right now.


Steve

I use one of these
http://www.tiptemp.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=681

and just buy wire. Much better quality control over premade tc's and much cheaper too. You can also twist the wires together with a pair of safety wire pliers, though it may not be as long term as a weld.

 

[powerstroke73L]

This had been batted around over at ********** for a while and someone posted this link:

http://www.weedtech.com/

It's a 4 channel thermocouple to USB adapter that works with their software (which I think you can download from the site for free) and a small external power source anywhere between 8 and 30 VDC. It will work with J, K, T, and E thermocouples (J and K are good past 2000 degrees F) too. I'm planning on locating the unit in the basement near the stove and running thermocouples for flue temperature, plenum (I have an add-on furnace) temperature, outdoor temperature, and indoor temperature. I could probably adapt a CD player or Ipod type AC adapter to power it. Right now I plan to run a USB cord from the basement up to my office where my desk is so that I can simply plug in and read the temps, but what would make it really slick is to integrate it into my wireless network-anybody know how to make that work?

 

[fletcher0780]

a little expensive, but very simple. direct one wire sensors to ethernet connection with a customizable web interface: http://www.welserver.com/