Data Logger

During my ninth week ICT in Science Lecture/practical class, my lecturer and instructor explains about data logger to me and my fellow classmates. From this class I knew about data logger: what is data logger, how it works, what are the benefits of using it. In simple words, a data logger is any device that can be used to store data. This includes many data acquisition devices such as plug-in boards or serial communication systems which use a computer as a real time data recording system. However, most instrument manufacturers consider a data logger a standalone device that can read various types of electrical signals and store the data in internal memory for later download to a computer.

The advantage of data loggers is that they can operate independently of a computer, unlike many other types of data acquisition devices. Data loggers are available in various shapes and sizes. The range includes simple economical single channel fixed function loggers to more powerful programmable devices capable of handling hundreds of inputs.

Here are some characteristics of data logger devices:

1. small
2. battery powered
3. portable (easy to bring everywhere)
4. equipped with a microprocessor
5. have internal memory for storing data

Some data loggers need personal computer to activate them. Thus, they need to have software to view and analyze the collected data.

The Scientific experiment will become easier with the help of data logger. In this class, I learnt how to apply the data logger for humidity experiment. There are two sensors that my group used. The first one is temperature and the second one is humidity. The procedures were simple. Just insert the sensor on the switch, the data logger can function automatically but sometimes manually. Then, set up the data logger and adjust the temperature sensor, the rate and time. The data logger will give the reading of rate of changing temperature and rate of changing humidity. Then, we can see the result which is the graph of the rate of temperature and humidity. We write the experiment result based on this data.

This is some advantages of data logger that I noticed. Data logger is a device can store data (up to ten years) and manually transfer to a computer to view that data. Data loggers have the ability to accept a greater number of input channels with better resolution and accuracy. Besides that, data logger has some form on-board intelligence, which provides the user with diverse capabilities. A data logger is a self-contained unit that does not have a host to operate. It can be installed in any location, and left to operate unattended. Moreover, data logger has the ability to work similarly to standard recorders, in order that they provide the user with a hard copy printout of the data recorded. Another interesting advantage of data loggers is that they can acts as alarm, while recording a minimum number of samples. A data logger can record at very long intervals, saving paper, and can note when alarm condition is occurring. That is the advantages of data loggers.