Chart Recorder software

[pi3832]

I'm fishing for any ideas.

I'd like to simulate a chart recorder on a computer. I have a process analyzer that tends to take a long time to stabilize (hours), and it'd be helpful to be able to look at the output over time to see if it's still drifting or not.

A good ol' fashioned chart recorder would do the job, but buying one, keeping it stocked with paper and ink, etc, seems like over-kill. (And a hard sell to my boss.) Especially since I don't need a paper record, I just want to look at the signal over time.

Question the First: Is there software out there that will basically be a chart recorder? No, wait, I know there is--the real question is, is there cheap software out there that will do this?

Googling I found the DataQ starter system which, at $50, is definitely the right price. However, the hardware apparently cannot accurately measure a 0-200mV output, which is what the instrument has.

Question the Second: does is seem feasible to whip up a little amplifier that boost the output by 50x to 0-10 V and therefore use the DataQ?

Also, we actually have a Varian Star 800 Module Interface that was bought for a similar application, then never used (before I got here). Looking at the manual for that I think it will work on the hardware side, but I'm not sure about the software side. I don't want software that's expecting a run to start and stop and have peaks. I just need to see a chart-recorderesque output. Based on my limited experience with Varian Star Chromatography Workstation (v 6.4) running a Micro-GC, I don't think it will do what I want. (Indeed, I don't think I want to use it any more than I must.)

Question the Third: Will Varian Star Chromatography Workstation do what I'd like it to do? Any tips on how to make it do it?

Any other ideas, thoughts, criticisms, etc?

Thanks.

[Bruce Hamilton]

As you are looking for a one channel datalogger, you might find some cheap handheld/benchtop multimeters have the capacity for realtime logging onto a PC through a serial port.

The 0-200mV might also be covered by some temperature logging PC modules, and you could also look at a cheap signal conditioning module to modify the signal from your device.

I suspect the best sources of information could be some of the electronics hobby sites/communities on the WWW, and their various datalogging suggestions.

Good luck, and please keep having fun.

Bruce Hamilton

[Flybeaux]

Try the LabJack device. It connects to the computer through the USB port and has some sample software with it that will simulate a chart recorder.

It has 8 A/D channels with a programmable gain amplifier that will get you 12 bits of A/D at +/- 1.0V. That should give you enough resolution to do a simple chart.

The device cost around $100 and comes with LabView software.

Flybeaux