-------------------------Monitor------------------------
The Newsletter for PC-Based Data Acquisition and Control
Issue 160 www.windmill.co.uk November 2011
--------------------ISSN 1472-0221----------------------
Welcome to November's newsletter. This month we welcome
the return of the Excel corner, with tips on entering data.
Our Windmill news is that we've redesigned our
thermocouple monitoring hardware to make for a more
compact system.
Our next issue will feature an article on data acquisition
over TCP/IP, and news of free logging software for
Ethernet and Internet devices.
I hope you find the newsletter useful, but should you
wish to remove yourself from our mailing please go to
Monitor Newsletter
CONTENTS
========
* Windmill News: Windmill Redesign Thermocouple Monitor
* Excel Corner: Speedy Formula Updates
* DAQ News Round-up
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Windmill News: Windmill Redesign Thermocouple Monitor
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Thermocouples are popular temperature sensors because
they are cheap, versatile and sturdy. They comprise
two dissimilar metals joined together, making a
continuous circuit. If one junction has a different
temperature to the other, an electromotive force
(voltage) is set up. This voltage varies with the
temperature difference between the junctions. If the
temperature at one junction is known, the temperature
at the other junction can be calculated.
Our new, compact, 593 unit is an isothermal box for
accurate monitoring of one of the junctions of the
thermocouples. The insulated 593 holds a cold junction
sensing RTD (resistance temperature device) with an
associated constant current source (0.8 milliamps).
The RTD measures the temperature at the thermocouple's
termination point. This reference temperature is used
with the analogue input channel's voltage reading to
calculate the required temperature.
The cold junction is automatically connected to an
auxiliary channel on the data acquisition unit (for
example a 751 or 752 unit) and compensated for in
software. The channel is read directly showing the
cold junction temperature in Celsius, or in your
preferred temperature units.
The 593 also offers protection from high voltages
when series resistors are fitted. Noise problems
can be solved by fitting an input filter and
broken thermocouple leads can be detected. It is
easily connected to the data acquisition unit with
a ribbon cable.
Further Reading:
593 Thermocouple Connection Box
Computerised Temperature Measurement
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Excel Corner: Speedy Formula Updates
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When setting up a column of calculations, most of us
simply drag the top-most entry down. However, you can
use a much more efficient method: Excel's "data table".
This is especially useful if the formula you have
entered is likely to change.
For example, column A contains a list of weights in
grams. Column B converts these weights from grams to
kilograms, using the formula A*1000. You later decide
you want the data not in kilograms but in milligrams.
To do this using a data table:
1. Select Columns A and B, to the extent of your data.
2. From the Data menu select Table. A box appears.
3. Enter the top data cell into Column input cell, eg A1.
Leave the Row input cell blank. Press OK.
4. If Cell B1 is empty then a list of zeroes are shown
in column B
5. In cell B1 enter your formula. The results are shown
throughout the column: no clicking and dragging needed.
Now if you change the formula in cell B1 it will be
changed throughout the column.
For more tips on using Excel see
https://www.windmill.co.uk/excel/
https://www.windmill.co.uk/excel/excel-charting.html
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DAQ News Round-up
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Welcome to our round-up of the data acquisition and
control news. If you would like to receive more
timely DAQ news updates then either grab our RSS
newsfeed at
https://www.windmillsoft.com/monitor.xml
or
follow us on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/#!/DataAcquisition
New Report Urges More Detailed Utility Metering to Improve Building Efficiency
A new report recommends systematic consideration of
new metering technologies that can yield up-to-date,
finely grained snapshots of energy and water usage
in buildings to guide efficiency.
Source: NIST
https://www.nist.gov/el/submeter-110811.cfm
Study Shows Business Case for Industrial Ethernet
A report by the Aberdeen group shows that best-in-
class manufacturers are deploying industrial
Ethernet across plants to improve network, operational
and corporate performance.
Source: Aberdeen Group
http://tinyurl.com/industrialethernet
Researchers develop steering wheel with health sensors
A Munich-based research team has developed a steering
wheel embedded with sensors to monitor the health
of drivers.
Source: The Engineer
https://www.theengineer.co.uk/
Magnetic tongue to produce tastier tinned tomatoes
A "magnetic tongue" can predict the taste of tinned
tomatoes. The sensor could help food manufacturers
tweak their production methods to maximise flavour.
Source: New Scientist
http://www.newscientist.com/
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* Copyright Windmill Software Ltd
* Reprinting permitted with this notice included
* For more articles see https://www.windmill.co.uk
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Windmill Software Ltd, PO Box 58, North District Office,
Manchester, M8 8QR, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)161 834 6688
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E-mail: monitor@windmillsoft.com
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