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INTRODUCTION

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 stand-alone device that can read various types of electrical signals and store the data in internal memory for later download to a computer. Three types of instruments are commonly used for collecting and storing data. i. ii. iii. Real-Time Data Acquisition Systems Chart Recorders Data Loggers

Data loggers are normally more economical than chart recorders. They offer more flexibility and are available with a greater variety of input types. Most data loggers collect data which may be directly transferred to a computer. Although this option is available with some recorders, it normally adds significant expense to the recorder price. Data acquisition systems offer a great deal of flexibility and are certainly attractive when high sample rates are required. However, since they require connection or installation into a computer, the computer must also be present and active when collecting the data. Data loggers can collect data independently of a computer. Data is normally collected in nonvolatile memory for later download to a computer. The computer does not need to be present during the data collection process. This makes them ideally suited for applications requiring portability. The recording duration for data logger is dependent on the memory capacity of the data logger and the desired sample rate. To determine the duration divide the memory capacity which is the number of samples the device can record by the sample rate. As an example assume that a given data logger can store 10,000 samples. If it is desired to record 2 samples every minute, the data logger can run for 10,000 divide by 2 or 5,000 minutes an about 3.5 days. If the sample rate was cut in half for 1 sample per minute, the recording period would double to 7 days.

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PARAMETERS IN DATA LOGGER

When choosing a data logger the following parameters should be considered. 2.1 Input Signal

Some data loggers are dedicated to a certain input type while others are programmable for different types of inputs. There are following types of signals.

AC Voltage/Current Bridge/Strain/Load/Pressure Dew point Event or State Process Frequency Level

Light On/Off Motor On/Off PH Pressure Voltage/Current Relative Humidity RTD

Shock/Acceleration Sound Temperature Thermistor Thermocouple

2.2

Number of Inputs

Data Loggers are available in both single and multi-channel designs. Some data loggers are capable of handling hundreds of inputs. OMEGA's OMB-LOGBOOK-300 for example is expandable to over 400 channels. 2.3 Size

In many applications space is a limitation. In those cases the size of the data logger may be a critical selection parameter. OMEGA's OM-CP family of data loggers are extremely compact and include models for most input types. 2.4 Speed or Memory

In comparison to real time data acquisition systems, data loggers generally have low sample rates. This is normally because they store data in internal memory which is limited. The higher the data rates the more memory required. Therefore when specifying a data logger it is important to determine the sample rate and the sample duration which can be used to calculate the required memory. For example if an application requires sample rates of 1 per second and the test must last one hour, the data logger must be able to store 3600 samples (1 sample/sec x 1 hour x 3600 seconds/hour).
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2.5

Real Time Operation

In some applications it may be desirable to display the data being collected in real time on a computer. Certain data loggers such as OMEGA's OM-CP family support this feature.

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TYPES OF DATA LOGGER 3.1 Miniature Single Input Data Loggers

Miniature single input data loggers are generally low cost loggers dedicated to a specific input type. These types of data loggers are often used in the transportation industry. A typical application would be to include a temperature data logger in a shipment of food products to insure that the food temperature does not exceed acceptable limits. In addition to temperature miniature data loggers are available for a large variety of input types. most input types. 3.2 Fixed Mount Multi-Channel Data Loggers

Fixed input loggers have a fixed number of input channels which are generally dedicated for a specific type of input. OMEGA offers fixed input data loggers ranging from one to 8 channels. 3.3 Handheld Multi-Channel Data Loggers

Handheld multi-channel loggers are commonly used in applications where the data logger is to be carried from one location to another. They are also commonly used in benchtop or laboratory environments. In addition to storing data internally some models even contain on board printers which can produce an immediate hardcopy of the data. 3.4 Modular Data Loggers

A modular data logger is configurable and expandable through the use of plug-in modules. The modules are normally fielded configurable and the user has the option of adding as many channels to satisfy the application requirement.

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ADVANTAGES

A data logger is an attractive alternative to either a recorder or data acquisition system in many applications. When compared to a recorder, data loggers have the ability to accept a greater number of input channels, with better resolution and accuracy. Also, data loggers usually have some form of on-board intelligence, which provides the user with diverse capabilities. For example, raw data can be analysed to give flow rates, differential temperatures, and other interpreted data that otherwise would require manual analysis by the operator. The major difference between a data logger and a recorder, however, is the way the data itself is stored, analysed and recorded. A common recorder accepts an input, and compares it to a full scale value. The pen arm is then deflected across the recording width, to produce the appropriate ratio of the actual input to the full scale input. For example, using a recorder with a 1 Volt full scale, an input of 0.5 Volts would move the pen 0.5/1 or 50% of the distance across the recording width. In comparison, a data logger accepts an input which is fed into an analog-to-digital converter prior to analysis and storage. This method has advantages in accuracy and resolution, while only a recorder can provide a truly continuous trend recording. The other 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.

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DISADVANTAGES

There are also some disadvantages of data logger. If the data logging equipment breaks down or malfunctions, some data could be lost or not recorded. This is because some sensors are very sensitive to the highest voltage and the students may not take precaution during handling this type of sensor and do not starts use them at the lower voltage at initial. Equipment can be expensive for small tasks. The equipment will only take readings at the logging interval which has been set up. If something unexpected happens between recordings, the data will not be collected.

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APPLICATION OF DATA LOGGER

Plan, choose equipment or resources for and perform a first-hand investigation and gather information to model the inverse square law for light intensity and distance from the source. 6.1 ENGAGEMENT

As the distance between a light source and the subject increases, the light is spread out over a larger area and the intensity decreases. Put more precisely, the intensity of light from an unfocused light source, such as the ones illustrated below, decreases according to the inverse-square law. We'll leave precise FC/lux calculations to the mathematicians and illustrate this concept by showing the intensity of a light bulb at different distances from a subject.

Picture 6.1.1

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EMPOWERING Resources i. ii. iii. iv. Data logger Light intensity probe Torch Metre rule

Method i. ii. Shine the torch at the light intensity probe of the data logger. Take readings of light intensity at increasing distance from the probe.

Data Logger set-up i. Turn the data logger on by pressing the Enter button and make sure the LCD screen says Easylog enter to begin. ii. Use the arrow button, below the Enter button, to scroll through the various modes until you reach Snapshot. iii. iv. Plug the light intensity probe into the number 1 port. When you are ready to begin recording press Enter. Each time you press Enter it records the light intensity. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. When you finish press stop. Use the arrow to scroll back to Easylog enter to begin. Plug the data logger into the computer. Open the Sensing Science program and choose Graph. Click on the Collect Remote button in the bottom right corner. A screen comes up with all the remote data that has been saved on the data logger. Choose the one that you want and then click Retrieve. xi. xii. xiii. The graph of the information comes up immediately. To change the scale click Display then Auto scale. To change the X-axis click Display then Display wizard then in the X-axis choose Reading number.

6.3

ENHANCING Exercise 1

Compare the light intensity and distance between object and the sources of the light in. Picture 6.3.1 and Picture 6.3.2

Picture 6.3.1 Answer 1

Picture 6.3.2

In physics, an inverse-square law is any physical law stating that a specified physical quantity or intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source of that physical quantity.

Equation 6.3: Inverse-square Law The intensity or brightness of light as a function of the distance from the light source follows an inverse square relationship. Suppose you were to use a light meter to measure an initial intensity Ii, or brightness, a distance r from a light source. Suppose that sometime later the brightness of the light is either greater or lesser, if the intensity diminished you would know that the source was moving away from you and if it became brighter you would know that the source was moving towards you and assuming the light source itself remained the same.

Exercise 2 Give the comparison between flashlight (Picture 6.3.3) and laser (Picture 6.3.4).

Picture 6.3.3 Answer 2

Picture 6.3.4

Light is a swift messenger that comes to us from tiny invisible worlds of atoms from the enormous worlds of distant stars. A laser is a device that produces an intense beam of light of one color. White light consists of a combination of wavelengths all traveling randomly. Lasers produce coherent light. This means that it is of only one wavelength with waves and crests all traveling together. Lasers are used for many things such as making accurate measurements, surgery, reading CDs, and reading the UPC codes on products. The light intensity of the laser will stay somewhat the same. This is because the beam will not spread out into a light cone like the flashlight. The waves and crests will all travel together in a parallel path. A flashlight is a portable electric light in a metal fiber or plastic case. There is a tiny wire in the bulb of a flashlight that is lighted by being brought into contact with the electric from one or more dry cell batteries. The light intensity of the flashlight will decrease. This because the brightness will never get to zero because the light source will never turn off to get to zero.

6.4

DISCUSSION

The term intensity is used to describe the rate at which light spreads over a surface of a given area some distance from a source. The intensity varies with the distance from the source and the power of the source. In Physics, light energy emitted by the source travels outward in all directions. The rays indicate the straight-line paths of a photon through space. The greater the distance from the source, the further apart that the rays become. Thus, the intensity which is rate at which light lands upon a surface, decreases with increasing from the source. The primary difference between a laser and a flashlight is the wavelength of the light each produces. A flashlight gives off white light, which is a mix of all the different wavelengths of visual light. Your eye can't distinguish the colours when blended, but a flashlight beam contains red light, yellow light and green light and all the shades in between. A laser, on the other hand, is limited to a single wavelength of light. A typical store-bought laser will give off a red beam of light, but you can also find consumer lasers that have a green or blue beam. The flashlight has a wide field of dispersion. The light scatters in all directions, lighting up your periphery as well as the space in front of you. The light loses intensity very quickly, so while it lights up objects a few feet in front of you, objects that are farther away don't appear to have any light on them at all. The laser beam is tightly focused. That means the light travels farther without much dispersion. It doesn't light up a large area, but you can point the laser at objects much farter away and see exactly where the beam is striking.

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CONCLUSION

Data logger can be used in teaching and learning. It help students to conduct the experiments by using data logger device so that the students clear about the significant of data logger in order to get more accurate result and help in data collection. Since the data logger involve three main stages which is engage, empower and enhance, all this will provided the students with the ideas what they want to do if they are exposed with engage question. Other than that, it will also widen the students knowledge when they move to enhance stage. In this stage, they will improve their critical thinking when answering the tough questions and apply the concept that have been learn to answer the question. Students will involve actively in class if the teachers introduce the data logging learning programme. It is clear that the used of data logger in learning process give benefit to the learners especially the students.

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