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. <$100) * easy to use * easy to build or buy * weatherproof (possibly) * waterproof (possibly) * Arduino-compatible (so that they're compatible with the huge [Arduino](http://arduino.cc) ecosystem) ## Options Most of the below options are #arduino based, and all are open source: [wikis:datalogger] [notes:datalogger-option] Edit the [full spreadsheet here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zBcLpN4PZIATLh6aDR7mwCoejWryLYYm6cJD38MqT58/edit) (by @cfastie) **** ## Questions [questions:data-logging] ## Activities We're hoping to collect a set of activities you could do with several different data loggers here, such as an example "field test," so please add help us by adding activities which can be performed with different data loggers: [activities:data-logging] **** ## Power How do you keep a data logger going in the field? Solar, big batteries, even run an extension cable out? We're developing resources on powering your data-loggers here. ## Power Questions [questions:data-logging-power] ## Activities [activities:data-logging-power] **** ## Waterproof enclosures The #riffle project -- and others -- have explored a lot of ways to make cheap waterproof enclosures for data loggers, but where wires and sensors can still stick out. Here are a some notes and prototypes under the tag #data-logger-enclosures. You can also visit the page on [sensor enclosures here](https://publiclab.org/wiki/sensor-enclosures) [notes:data-logger-enclosures] ...
Author | Comment | Last activity | Moderation | ||
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xose | "Combined with this i2C hub even if not so cheap for it's function = no extra soldering. https://www.seeedstudio.com/Grove-I2C-Hub-p-851.html " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
xose | "Fantastic @cfastie! This nano shield looks awesome for 4$ ;) https://fair.to/qBz4q " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "There is a growing list of logger options and specs in a Google sheet. Please add information there if you know other stuff. " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
warren | "Love this. Thanks, Chris! At some point it'd be awesome to collect all the loggers on a single method page, and look at the pros/cons/prices of ea..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "That Openlog is tiny! It combines an Arduino 328p with a microSD card, but still needs an RTC. There are clones of it available for $7.00. I have ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
xose | "Hi there!! So interesting!! At the IMVEC.tech we're using the Openlog, known for it's use as a drone black box combiend with an RTC. Just another ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "Update: The u-blox NEO-7M board can be powered with either 3.3 or 5 volts. The GPS module itself is not tolerant of more than 3.6 v, but the board ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "I guess I demonstrated that the u-blox is protected someway or another from voltage over the stated 3.6v max. I was using four eneloop AAA (4 x 1.2..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
pdhixenbaugh | "Hi Chris! That was good luck with the voltage tolerance! Based on what happened, do you think the u-blox is protected against higher voltages by co..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
warren | "Not to take credit for these answers, but I saw a couple great responses (one from @gretchengehrke, ) from this thread on which you originally aske..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
cfastie | "Thanks Patrick, The table and graphs are screen captures from Excel. The graphing module in Excel is very powerful in part because it has a huge n..." | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
pdhixenbaugh | "How did you make the figures you used in this research note? They are really well done. " | Read more » | almost 8 years ago | |||
reza7232 | "HI. I'm from IRAN. I want a board for convert current output of o2_a2 sensor from uA to mA . i don't access to your board in my country. because..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
kinasmith | "I am also very curious how much temperature affects the batteries in very low current applications. I haven't found good documentation about that. ..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
cfastie | "This is probably not the best data set to do calculus on. The air temperature data is from a sensor in a jug suspended above the pile, and the batt..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "Yay, data!! Neat observation about the battery voltage and the temperature. Makes me want to compare the rate of battery voltage drop to the temp..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
kinasmith | "Nicely done, and nice temps for such a small pile too! I'm curious to see how long they can sustain that heat. I've done some work with compost in ..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
david-days | "I imagine so (regarding the grass). If it's fairly fresh, there's probably enough water content to feed the bacteria as things break down. We use..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
cfastie | "Thanks David, I wish I had some of your manures to spice up my pile. I'm surprised at how hot this pile is without the addition of any N-rich mater..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
david-days | "Excellent work, @cfastie! I live on a farm in Ohio, and we use cleanup from the chicken house and the horse/goat barns to make our compost piles. ..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
ggallant | "D5 appears to connect the INT/SQW on the RTC to PD5 on the CPU. I would be very interested in how one uses the feature. I'm assuming that it requir..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
mathew | "The RTC can be set to shutdown and wake the AT328P, it just uses another pin that could be used for a sensor. @donblair left an exposed pin availa..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
ggallant | "Chris, I really don't know the actual time but assuming 800usec (nice for the math) to sleep and wake up it would be 800 / 8,000,000 or 0.01% whi..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
cfastie | "George that's a good point. Although the real time clock is running all the time, it is not smart enough to do something as complicated as setting ..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago |