Temperature Logger for imaging laptop. Any suggestions?

[[1ponders]]

I'd like to be able to keep a log of ambient airtemps when I'm out imaging at night.

I did a google search and there were a miriade of options. Does anyone have any suggestions for a cheap reliable sensor that can be either downloaded to a laptop or write directly to the laptop when in use? It doesn't need to be weather proof.

[nmo]

do you have any electronics experience?

If so, the Picaxe datalogger with a temp sensor could be the go

http://www.microzed.com.au/datalogger.htm

DS18B20 is code for the temp sensor
http://www.microzed.com.au/chips.html

It does require some soldering, the programing cable is a simple serial interface and they sell them. the software is a free download.


The system could log temps every 2 seconds with in it's standard form 512 readings, with the Real Time clock it would tell you what time the measurements where made.

I hope this helps

Neweyn
PS I dont have any affiliations with microzed or picaxe.

[[1ponders]]

Thanks Neweyn. As much as I'd like it to be, electronics is not one of my forte. But you are on the right idea. I'd like something that not only logs it agains time, but is suitable for importing into excel for charting or develops it's own graphics. Something that would link into CCDSoft or MaximDL would be a benefit at well.

[jase]

If you've got a temperature compensating focuser you can simply pull/log the stats from the unit. Very easy to do if its ASCOM compliant - which just about every good focuser is nowadays.

Leave the soldiering iron in the cupboard for another day.

Infact if its ASCOM compilant, MaximDL or CCDsoft will already have access to such information.

[[1ponders]]

No temperature compensating focuser I'm afraid Jase. It is on the "would really really like to have" list for "when the observatory gets built, when we sell this house and move away from the lights into the country." :)

My son bought me a soldering iron for my birthday once, and I've sort of successfully used it about that many times. ;)

[nmo]

Ok plan B

I don't know if this is suitable, I've never used one. Also I don't know if it records time as well or just a sample no.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=QP6013&CATID=&keywords=qp6013&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=


But it is cheap at $99. and just plugs into USB to get the readings

[[1ponders]]

Good ol' Jaycar. That looks like just the thing, I'll email them and see if it logs time as well. The +/-1° error is a bit loose though. If it reads 25 degree it could be 24 or 26. Maybe they have a more accurate one.

Thanks Neweyn.

[netwolf]

I spent some time working at a bread research institute and we used these small compact data loggers, that you could just turn on and the would log the temprature vs time. You then just hook it up to a pc and download the logged data. We worked on a design where we used to throw this thing inside a protective container into a Industrial oven to log temperature as it passed through the oven during operation. I will have a dig around and see if i can find out what they were called.

Regards

[[1ponders]]

sounds like the go Fahim, would appreciate any info.

[netwolf]

It will take me sometime as it was 8 years ago. But i came accross these while searching for it. http://www.microdaq.com/logtag/index.php

Regards
Fahim

[middy]

That sounds something like a 'HOBO temperature logger'. We used those at CSIRO. They are matchbox size and you hook them up to a serial port to activate them and set the logging interval (fractions of a second up to days) etc. Then you disconnect and put them where you want and they happily log away until you connect them back to the computer to download the data. That was about 10 years ago though. I'm sure the world of temperature loggers has changed in that time.

[[1ponders]]

Nice, thanks Fahim. I'll have a good look at that site. ;)

[netwolf]

Andrew BRI was part of CSIRO before the split off. I think your spot on with the logger there, what you describe is exactly what we used.

Regards
Fahim

[Bassnut]

For $50 from jaycar, you can get an RS232 datalogging Multimeter that includes a temp probe!. It stores a temp log by itself, and you can download it to yr PC later.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=QM1538&CATID=12&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=629

[[1ponders]]

Looks good Fred, thanks. I like the ability to work remote and download later.

[montewilson]

I have one of the Jaycar loggers. Here is an example of its output.

With their proprietary viewer you get a value for each point when you pass the mouse over it. It can go from seconds to weeks

[sheeny]

Hmmm interesting site there Fahim. Lots of toys...

Al.

[[1ponders]]

Thanks for that. Can the output be exported to excel?

[montewilson]

Yes they can be exported to Excel. They come as .txt and then their reader gives us what you saw there, so from the .txt you can obviously import to xls. When I get to work I will post a couple more examples including some .txt files. I don't have them on this computer.

I have had mine for about 5 years and its been quite reliable and the software stable. When the battery is flat it becomes a bit goofy, but don't we all?

BTW I have only changed the battery twice in five years and I have used it a lot for work and play. If it has sufficient resolution for your task I am confident it will meet all other expectations.

Off the top of my head it can do 10 second readings for 45 hours as a minimum.

[[1ponders]]

Thanks Monte. It sounds like the bees knees. All I want to do is log the temp while I'm imaging. It would be nice to have something that would link directly into MaximDL or CCDSoft to work with an SBIG to chart real chip temperatures.

[montewilson]

Here is a txt file. It will do ambient temp only as it is fully encased. I am not sure if this what you are looking for.

[DavidH]

You could also try Hastings Data Loggers:

http://www.hdl.com.au/

Have a range of data loggers for commercial applications.

Regards,
David.

[snowyskiesau]

Try Ocean Controls http://www.oceancontrols.com.au (http://www.oceancontrols.com.au/)

They have all sorts of neat stuff (stepper motors and controllers, PROM progammers etc) I seem to recall they have standalone temp/humidity loggers and software.

Update: Had a moment to check, they do have temperature loggers. Prices vary but for the budget conscious amonst us (all of us :)), there is this model. http://www.oceancontrols.com.au/data_acquisition/templogger_k145.htm. Accurate to .5 degrees C.

Kit is also available from http://kitrus.com (http://kitrus.com/) and http://oztronics.com (http://oztronics.com/). Software is free, source code is available.

[[1ponders]]

Thanks everyone, some great choices there. Now for the hard part, working out the one that will do the job I want and not get carried away with the extra features some of them have. :lol: At this stage it looks like either the Jaycar Logger or the Oceancontrols one (it has the right price and looks good with up to 4 sampling points)