EXPERIMENTAL

OPERATING

AND

MAINTENANCE MANUAL

OPERATION WITH
HC113A
DATA ACQUISITION (HARDWARE) UPGRADE

AND

DATA ACQUISITION (SOFTWARE) UPGRADE

HC113AB_E_1_258
NOV 12
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INDEX
Page J

INTRODUCTION 4

IMPORTANT: - REGIONAL SETTINGS 4

Here is a reminder of the first screen where the Data File Name may be renamed: - 5

COLLECTING DATA 6

Bar Chart. 8

Four-graph display. 9

Multiple Graph Display. 11

Retrieving Stored Data 12

USING SPREADSHEETS 14
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INTRODUCTION

The HC112 (Software) Upgrade is Windows based data acquisition software, pre-configured for use with the
Hilton H112 Heat Transfer Service Unit and the Hilton D103 Data Logger that forms part of the HC113A
Data Acquisition Upgrade.

If the HC113A Data Acquisition Upgrade was factory fitted by P.A.Hilton Ltd., the configuration file
(HC112-3.PAH) on the disc supplied will be pre-calibrated to match the transducers on the particular
machine.

If the HC113A was user fitted, the calibration is carried out by the user as part of the HC113A upgrade. This
is described in detail in the H112 Data Acquisition (Software) Upgrade manual and will make the
configuration files (HC112-3.PAH) match the transducers on the machine.

The GETTING STARTED section in the above instruction manual deals with initial operation of the data
logging software and calibration of the fitted transducers. It is assumed that the GETTING STARTED
section has been complied with and that the software is able to collect calibrated data.

IMPORTANT: - REGIONAL SETTINGS

In countries where decimal numbers are conventionally represented as (example) 1,34 rather than 1.34 it will
be necessary to reset the decimal notation to use the period . rather than use the comma , This is simply
achieved in Windows by accessing the regional or localisation settings within the Control Panel for Windows.
E.g. Start > Settings > Control Panel > Regional Settings > Number > decimal symbol. For more details refer
to the appropriate Windows Help documentation.

All of the configuration files supplied with the HDL software utilise the period . decimal symbol and the data
collected will also use the same symbol.

It is important that the regional setting for decimal symbol is changed BEFORE the software is run or the
configuration files supplied will be corrupted. The regional setting change is also effective in automatically
allowing data collected with the software to be operated upon within spreadsheets such as XL and others.

Note that if preferred the regional settings may be returned to the local norm when the HDL software is not in
use or data recorded using the HDL software is not being processed.

It is assumed that the standard HC112-3.PAH channel configuration is being used in the following
procedures.
It is recommended that a new Data File Name be allocated for each experimental period. This enables
retrieval of data for a specific lesson period. The file name may include (for example) a personal name or
class number and date to aid retrieval e.g. H112-3-STEVEN.PAH or H112-3_2-11-12.PAH
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Here is a reminder of the first screen where the Data File Name may be renamed: -

System Configuration

Type the new Data File name

here

Or click on Load to be offered this box.

Type the new Data File Name here
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COLLECTING DATA

The following procedures give details of basic data capture methods available in the software.

Main Menu

Select Collect Data and then click OK

Choose Numeric Display and click OK

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The numeric display has been shown in the GETTING STARTED section of the Software Configuration
Manual and allows all active channels to be displayed in numeric form. The following is an example screen
of the form seen in the configured software. This data was gathered in Simulate mode.

Data recording may be started and stopped at any time by clicking Start Recording or Stop Recording.

Edit Comments allows notes to be made concerning relevant data.

When recording is stopped, typing in the Event Log text-box and clicking Add Event allows a timed
note to be added to the event log.

Use the Edit Comments box to

(for example) define the objective
of the experiment or make notes
and observations to assist
interpretation of the data.
The Time Stamp helps to relate
an occurrence to a particular
portion of the data. Click OK to
save comments. A file is created
using the Data File Name with the
extension .NOT
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Click End Recording to return to the Data Collection screen.

Bar Chart.

Clicking Bar Chart and OK from the Data Collection Menu displays the Bar Chart Channel Selection
screen allowing channels to be selected from a list of those active. Up to 40 channels may be displayed but
note that all active channels will be recorded, even if not selected for display. Having selected the channels
for display as shown below, click OK.
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As with the numeric display, click Start Recording and Stop Recording to collect data. In addition,
Comments and Events may be recorded as before. To show the remaining channels selected at any time
click on the 1 or 2 tab as appropriate.

Click End Recording to return to the Data Collection Menu.

Four-graph display.

Clicking the Four Graph Display and OK will display a similar selection menu from which up to four
channels may be selected.
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Select up to 4 channels for display but all active channels will be recorded.
Clicking OK will display the Four Graph Display.

Note: -Shows data recorded using the Simulate option. Random numbers are generated and recorded as
data.

As with numeric-display, click Start Recording to collect data and Stop Recording. Comments and Events
may be recorded as before. Moving the mouse cursor over recorded data will allow display of the resulting
value in the upper digital display. Most recent values are shown in the lower display.
Click End Recording to return to the Data Collection Menu.
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Multiple Graph Display.

Clicking the Multiple Graph Display option and OK opens a selection menu. Up to ten channels may be
selected.
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All active channels are recorded including those not selected for display. Clicking OK displays the Multiple
Graph Display.

Select the channel to view by use of the numbered tabs below the graph.
As with numeric display, click Start Recording and Stop Recording to collect data. Comments and Events
may be recorded as before.
Most recent values are shown in the column on the left.
Moving the mouse cursor over recorded data will allow display of earlier samples in the lower digital
display.
Click End Recording to return to the Data Collection Menu.

Retrieving Stored Data

Once sufficient data has been collected then data may be reviewed by returning to the Main Menu and
selecting Retrieve Stored Data
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Clicking OK will display the Data Review menu. This has identical options to the Data Collection Menu and
all options operate in a similar manner.

For example, selecting Numeric Display and clicking OK will display the Numeric screen.

Data Review

Click or move the horizontal scroll bar to display each data point. The Sample Number and Sample Time
(and date) are displayed in the right hand corner.
Note that additional Events and Comments may be added whilst reviewing the data.

The remaining methods of displaying data are similar to the above with the variation of graphical and bar
chart presentation.

If alternative data from a previously recorded file is required then it is necessary to return to the Main Menu
and then the System Configuration Menu in order to select an alternative data file.
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USING SPREADSHEETS

The data recorded may be evaluated in most spreadsheet software packages that are able to utilise ASCII
numeric data.

The recorded data is stored in ASCII format and delimited (separated) by a Semi-colon ;.
Each data file has text headings indicating the parameter labels and units and each data point has a sample
number, time and date.

Note that in all cases numeric floating point data is represented as follows e.g. 3142.956 or
3.142956E3 (representing 3.142956 x 103 ).
In some countries the regional settings in the operating system will treat the decimal point . as a text
character and the data will appear in the spreadsheet as text rather than numeric values.
This prevents the numeric values being used in calculation formulae.

This is simply rectified by altering the Windows regional settings to accept the period . decimal symbol
rather than the comma decimal separator , as used in some countries.
This is also referenced on page4 of this manual under REGIONAL SETTINGS.
Refer to the Windows help reference in order chance the localisation settings.

The following example demonstrates how data can be utilised within a typical XL spreadsheet. Note that
different versions of XL may appear cosmetically different but the procedures are the same.

Assuming that XL is running select File > Open and using the normal file selection menu select Files of
Type All files *.* as the recorded data files will have the extension *.dat.

When open is clicked the following menu will appear.

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Ensure that Delimited is selected as shown and then click Next>.

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Ensure the semicolon tick box is ticked as shown above and then click Next>

In order to import the data into XL click Finish >

The data will then be displayed in the normal XL format screen.

Depending upon the parameters recorded the data may include exponential values (e.g. 2.345 E1
representing 23.45).
The data may now be evaluated using the normal calculation formulae and spreadsheet methods.

Note that the sample numbers in the extreme left column may be used in order to display X Y graphs to
show trends in data with respect to time.
As the data originated from an ASCII file the option will be given when saving calculated data to either save
as an XL spreadsheet or to retain the delimited format. If saved as an XL file it is recommended that a new
file name be used to prevent accidental overwriting of the original source data.