Measurement USB-CTR04 User Manual

Notes on installing and using the USB-5201

and USB-5203 data logging devices

Thank you for purchasing the USB-5201 or USB-5203 device from Measurement Computing! Please read this sheet to help you set up your new USB-based data acquisition and data logging device.

Use InstaCal to configure and test your device before you acquire and log data. After logging data, download and convert the data from the memory card with TracerDAQ®. You can optionally use InstaCal to copy or convert data directly from the data logging device.

3. Click on the Data Logger > Alarm Setup tab if you want

Configuring channel sensors

1. From the InstaCal main form, double-click on the name

of the device to open the Board Configuration dialog.

2. Configure the sensor options for your data logger

channels.

 USB-5203: Select a sensor category using the

CH(n-n) tabs for each pair of analog input channels

— choices are RTD, thermistor, thermocouple, and semiconductor — and configure the settings that are enabled for the selected sensor.

 USB-5201: Click on the TC Type tab and select a

thermocouple type for each analog input channel.

Configuring data logging options

1. Click on the Data Logger > Logger Data tab and select

your data logging preferences:

 Select the time format, time zone, and temperature

units to apply to converted files.

 Format the flash storage (required for initial use):

Right-click on the device name in Windows Explorer and select Format. When operating a logging device installed with firmware version 2.12 and earlier, click on the

Format Storage button on the Logger Data tab.

2. Click on the Data Logger > Logger Setup tab and select

your data logging options:

 Set up each analog channel to log either temperature

measurements ( C) or raw resistance/voltage measurements.

 Select CJC data and/or time stamp data options to

log this data in addition to the channel measurements.

 Select the mode to start logging data.  Enter the interval (seconds) between samples and

the file number of the first file logged.

to set up the alarm options. Each digital I/O bit is independently configurable as an alarm output. The input to each alarm is one of the temperature input channels. Set the following:

 Select the channel number to use as the alarm input.  Set the output type (active high or low) of the alarm

bit when an alarm is triggered.

 Select the threshold condition that triggers the alarm.  Specify the format of the logged alarm data

(temperature or raw). This setting is independent of the format selected on the Logger Setup tab.

4. To save the configuration settings to your hard drive,

click on the Saved Configurations tab and enter a name to save the settings in the Configuration Name text box.

5. Click on the OK button at the bottom of the Board

Configuration window. A dialog prompts you to write the new configuration settings to the board.

6. Click Yes to write the settings to the USB device. All

logging options are stored on the USB device in nonvolatile memory in EEPROM, and are loaded when you connect external power to the device.

After configuring the sensor and logging options, the device performs a self-calibration.

Testing the data logging device

Before logging data, verify the sensor options by running InstaCal's Temperature Test. To run this test, select Analog from the Test menu on the InstaCal main form.

Logging data

External power is required to log data. Disconnect the USB cable from the device, and connect the supplied external power supply. The logging options that are stored on the device are loaded. You are now ready to log data!

Ending a data logging session

To end a data logging session, press and hold the data logging button until the LED turns off. To prevent data loss, do not remove the memory card from the logging device while the device is logging data.

Disconnecting the device from the computer

Use the Unplug or Eject icon on the computer's taskbar to safely stop the device before you disconnect it: right-click on the icon, select the device and click Stop. Windows notifies you when it is safe to disconnect the device from your computer. You don't need to shut down your computer to disconnect the logging device.

Devices installed with firmware revision 2.12 and earlier and all devices on Windows 2000: the Unplug or Eject icon

does not appear in the taskbar when the device is connected to the USB port.

Do not disconnect the device from the computer when the device's LED is flashing (transferring data), or data may be lost. When you disconnect the device, an Unsafe Removal of Device warning may appear. However, no data is lost on the device when you remove the device when the LED is steady green. This information applies to all logging devices, regardless of the firmware version installed.

How data is stored on the memory card

Data is stored on the memory card in binary files. After logging measurements, you can transfer the files to your computer by reconnecting the logging device to a USB port on your computer or by removing the CompactFlash (CF) card from the device and using a card reader connected to your computer.

 You can use InstaCal to download and convert log files

directly from the logging device to .csv or .txt format. You can also set preferences to apply to converted data

 You can use TracerDAQ to download, convert, and plot

.csv data on a strip chart.

The logging device appears as a Mass Storage Device when connected to a USB port on your computer, so you can copy files using Windows Explorer.

Note: When operating a device installed with firmware

revision 2.12 and earlier, copy the files using a CF card reader.

Downloading and converting data using InstaCal

You can use InstaCal to copy and convert log files directly from the data logging device.

This procedure can be extremely slow if you are running Windows 2000 and your logger device has firmware version

2.12 or earlier. For best performance using older firmware versions, use a CF card reader to read data from the memory card.

To copy/convert data using InstaCal:

1. After logging data, reconnect the data logging device to a

USB port or hub on your computer.

2. Run InstaCal and double-click on the name of the data

logging device from the InstaCal main form. The Board

Configuration dialog opens.

3. Click on the Data Logger tab.

The Logger Data tab displays by default. Use this tab to select which binary file to copy or convert, and to set the preferences to apply to converted data.

4. To copy a file, click on the name of a binary file and

click the Copy button. A Browse for Folder dialog opens for you to select the

destination where you want to store the copied file.

5. To convert a file, select the options that you want to

apply to the converted file (time format, time zone, and temperature unit) and click on the Convert button.

A Convert Log File dialog opens for you to select the following options:

 The destination name and path where you want to

store the converted file.

 The type of file to convert to (*.csv or *.txt). When

converting to a text file you can also select the delimiter character used to separate fields in the converted file. When converting to an Excel *.csv file the delimiter character defaults to comma.

 The range of the file to convert — you can convert

the entire file, or specify a range of data to convert using the date and time list boxes.

6. Click on the OK button to convert the file.

7. Click on the OK button to close the Board

Configuration dialog and return to InstaCal's main form.

A dialog opens for you to save your settings to the configuration file.

For additional information about the data logging device, refer to the device's hardware manual. You can download this manual when you install the software from the Measurement Computing Data Acquisition Software CD.

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