Title: Any experiences with cheap USB analog data acquisition? Post by: Tony@NefMoto on January 12, 2012, 02:46:58 PM I've been looking at cheap USB device that allow for logging of analog voltages. Would really like to find a device that is cheap, has a good programming API, and suits the needs of people on this forum.
Here are some of the cheaper ones I have found so far: DATAQ: http://www.dataq.com/data-acquisition-starter-kits/data-acquisition-starter-kits.htm HYTEK: http://www.hytekautomation.ca/ProductList.aspx?categoryId=1 Measurement Computing: http://www.mccdaq.com/solutions/USB-Data-Acquisition.aspx LabJack: http://labjack.com/products Does anyone have any experiences with any of these? UPDATE: My specific interest in these is to log additional sensors that have been added to the car that aren't connected to the ECU; such as a wide band oxygen sensor. Title: Re: Any experiences with cheap USB analog data acquisition? Post by: carlossus on January 12, 2012, 03:01:02 PM I've used a lot of measurement Computing kit. Personally prefer their stuff to NI. Their API documentation is really good. This Specific H/W, can't really comment.
Title: Re: Any experiences with cheap USB analog data acquisition? Post by: createddeleted on January 13, 2012, 12:08:16 AM I dont know the exact purpose of wanting to data log via analog, given for this application so I dont fully understand why. Except for maybe the purpose of added sensors or raw data.
However I believe I'm aiming for the same goal when for a little bit more than those controllers we can monitor via OBD / Can bus with an arduino board. Using the arduino board the OBD board can be added, which has an micro sd card slot/ lcd out, gps capability, conroller out etc etc. Based upon that, for about $200 or less you can have an in car, leave in car btw, data logger with a realtime output screen for monitoring on the dash or where ever you ran it do. Then you can pull the sd card from the logger, upload the outputted data and then review. Its a project I have yet to start on but I've been meaning to start it soon. Technically, theres also a way to do wireless lojack/ track monitoring for cheap. If you extended the project to use a cellular based board you would be able to send a text to the car/arduino set up and then it could automatically start sending a text of GPS coordinates back to you or any other outputs from the main board. Make it as complicated as you want. but the concept for cheap data logging is there with it working on cars already. Title: Re: Any experiences with cheap USB analog data acquisition? Post by: Tony@NefMoto on January 13, 2012, 12:36:58 AM I've thought about installing a microcontroller board in the car, and I have had past cars with full built in car computers.
The main reason I am more interested in a USB DAQ, is because any non-technical person can hook it up and data log their wideband oxygen sensor. I really want to find a good cheap DAQ that I can recommend to the NefMoto community and add support for to the NefMoto software. Then when people want to data log additional non-OEM sensors along with the OBD, there is an easy cheap solution that everyone can use. Arduinos, .NET micro framework, and Car PCs are all awesome and I like them to, but I really want something off the shelf that people can just plug in. Title: Re: Any experiences with cheap USB analog data acquisition? Post by: createddeleted on January 13, 2012, 12:44:49 AM I've thought about installing a microcontroller board in the car, and I have had past cars with full built in car computers. The main reason I am more interested in a USB DAQ, is because any non-technical person can hook it up and data log their wideband oxygen sensor. I really want to find a good cheap DAQ that I can recommend to the NefMoto community and add support for to the NefMoto software. Then when people want to data log additional non-OEM sensors along with the OBD, there is an easy cheap solution that everyone can use. Arduinos, .NET micro framework, and Car PCs are all awesome and I like them to, but I really want something off the shelf that people can just plug in. Gotcha. Do you think it would be possible to log off both inputs and streamline it into one output? I mean I believe it should, but I'm not the guy that wrote the program ha. I really like the look of that labjack one. Title: Re: Any experiences with cheap USB analog data acquisition? Post by: Tony@NefMoto on January 13, 2012, 12:19:44 PM Do you think it would be possible to log off both inputs and streamline it into one output? That would be the plan. Have the NefMoto software reading OBD and the DAQ at the same time into one log file. |