Data loggers can help to record data from a sensor over time -- often over days or weeks, or even months. There are a variety of data loggers available, both commercial and open source. Each entry from a logger -- stored on, for example, a memory card -- may have a timestamp and some data loggers can record location from a GPS as well. Data loggers can be [paired with specific sensors](/wiki/water-sensors), and an [enclosure](/wiki/sensor-enclosures), as part of a test. ## Design constraints What are we trying to do that existing commercial data loggers don't do, or don't do well enough? We're looking for designs that optimize: * low cost (i.e. <$100) * easy to use * easy to build or buy * weatherproof (possibly) * waterproof (possibly) * Arduino-compatible (so that they're compatible with the huge [Arduino](http://arduino.cc) ecosystem) ## Options Most of the below options are #arduino based, and all are open source: [wikis:datalogger] [notes:datalogger-option] Edit the [full spreadsheet here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zBcLpN4PZIATLh6aDR7mwCoejWryLYYm6cJD38MqT58/edit) (by @cfastie) **** ## Questions [questions:data-logging] ## Activities We're hoping to collect a set of activities you could do with several different data loggers here, such as an example "field test," so please add help us by adding activities which can be performed with different data loggers: [activities:data-logging] **** ## Power How do you keep a data logger going in the field? Solar, big batteries, even run an extension cable out? We're developing resources on powering your data-loggers here. ## Power Questions [questions:data-logging-power] ## Activities [activities:data-logging-power] **** ## Waterproof enclosures The #riffle project -- and others -- have explored a lot of ways to make cheap waterproof enclosures for data loggers, but where wires and sensors can still stick out. Here are a some notes and prototypes under the tag #data-logger-enclosures. You can also visit the page on [sensor enclosures here](https://publiclab.org/wiki/sensor-enclosures) [notes:data-logger-enclosures] ...
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shanlter | "@ramarro, you tried so many stuff! Thanks for the info on EC, I am learning it. Lots of the questions you mentioned I don't know the answer, I aske..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
MadTinker | "@shanlter @ramarro Dang, got lost in the comments .... my bad. " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
ramarro | "@MadTinker, @shanlter use DFRobot EC probe. I am using EC_mini_v31 we are two different person :) using 2 different devices for a similar project..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
MadTinker | "@shanlter A little confused about what you used for EC. The KnowFlow spec sheets indicates a DFRobot EC sensor, but in the above you indicate som..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
ramarro | "i forget to add some details :) even if you use 2 arduino, at least in my scenario, and u want them communicate in some way, you have to use a com..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
ramarro | "@shanlter using 2 arduino (or 20) doesn't change anything, unless you use galvanically isulated ac/dc converter. if you power them from the same s..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
shanlter | "@ramarro totally agree! When I first use their sensors, I also have the same problem. I asked them and was told to use several Arduino boards for e..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
ramarro | "@shanlter did you have the opportunities to talk with dfrobot team? i have purchased a ph shield from them, and after some experiment i noticed th..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
shanlter | "@MadTinker, according to my knowledge, the reason why to use "isolation" is to avoid interrupting between sensors. Both OPR and EC need isolation. ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
shanlter | "Hi @MadTinker, thanks for your question! I just saw your questions around dataloggers for pH! I think DFRobots' isolation module is not online yet ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
MadTinker | "This is great! I'm starting an effort that will involve the parallel build of a simple in situ data logger (e.g. Riffle or maybe Cave Pearl) and a ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
warren | "@xose - awesome. And even "having some troubles" is ok to post -- if we break out the issues perhaps there are folks who can chime in with solution..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
xose | "Wooow!! Great @warren! I'm having some troubles with the orange pi by now. This week we'll lift up a raspberry 2 with both a drone and a ballon. Le..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
warren | "@xose - i've tagged it as an activity, but if other related (next steps) activities were added, and a Q+A section, this could be the first post on ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
shanlter | "Thanks @liz and @Bronwen, if you are going to order the parts from DFRobot, let me know. The isolation module been used hasn't been online yet (but..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
shanlter | "Thanks for saying so @xose! Compared with Riffle or Mae d'aigua, this one is much simpler, we use Arduino board, haven't do many field test yet, et..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
xose | "@bronwen, @liz, am I wrong or this could be considered as "method"? It's own particularities made the KnowFlow a different one than Coqui, Riffle o..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
Bronwen | "@Bronwen awards a barnstar to shanlter for their awesome contribution! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
Bronwen | "Absolutely, @liz ! This is a really exciting (and well documented!) research note. Thanks for sharing, @shanlter ! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
liz | "Thank you for these well-written and elegantly photographed instructions! I found this note very inviting and i can't wait to order the parts and m..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
xose | "So cool!! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
david_uwi | "Oh well. I know about everyones strange reluctance to use microchip devices, but really they do not keep much of any value to the experimenter hidd..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "It appears that storing data in flash memory on an Arduino is not so easy. The PROGMEM keyword only works for writing constants before the main lo..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
david_uwi | "I just use my programmer to read the falsh memory when it is getting full. The clcok crystal causes an wake-up (from sleep) interrupt when the time..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago |