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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ggallant | "I think 8 seconds is the "maximum" interval with a 16MHz crystal. You wake up every 8 seconds and can go back to sleep if there is no work to be do..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
cfastie | "Don thinks that eight seconds might be the minimum interval during which the system can be put into deep sleep. So all the sleep stuff happens in m..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
ddileona | "Cool! One question: I thought I read in the riffle documentation that you could only log in multiples of 8 seconds. That seemed liked a weird mult..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
sathvik | "HI kensanfran, I have used the TI AFE LMP91000 for 4-electrode gas sensor design with an external gain for the transimpedance amplifier. For the 4t..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
cfastie | "Hi Gretchen, I also wondered whether the change in logging frequency was caused by the Riffle dropping below 0°C. There is more about that possibi..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
gretchengehrke | "Interesting! At first I was wondering if the change in time-step occurred after the Riffle reached 0 deg-C, but then when I looked at your data tab..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "Hi Chris! This is fantastic research. So many interesting questions coming up already via your testing. Thank you. Riffleman! These rechargeabl..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
mathew | "I'm wondering if it just has to do with the power switch setting. it should be on "USB/Lith" for programming. " | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
mathew | "I wonder about the erratic battery readings. fascinating. Chris-- which sensors do you want to attach? perhaps we can find an arduino tutorial th..." | Read more » | about 8 years ago | |||
kensanfran | "Hello, Sorry just noticed this post. I've been collecting my links and references on this DIY gas sensor calibration page of my wiki. I'm also tin..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
pral2a | "Hi @kensanfran On the threat below you mentioned: "So another part of my exercise has been building up various DIY calibration rigs using pre-mix..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "@pdhixenbaugh -- Good point! I do think the self-discharge rate on these various battery chemistries does differ, but I don't know by how much. Le..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
pdhixenbaugh | "For the long-life 2xAA-battery configuration, would Alkaline batteries last significantly longer than NiMH (less self-discharge?) " | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "Hey All! Okay, after a bunch of discussion last night, it seems that the above P-Mos circuit will work, but the battery leakage is significant. A..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "Further elaboration on this circuit solution: The idea (nicely described in the blog post) is to use a P-channel Mosfet arranged so that when USB ..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "(Also note: I've added an extra capacitor to the circuit, so that I'll have a 10uF close to the lithium charger, and on both sides of the LDO) " | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "Okay, here's my interpretation of the more advanced circuit: Full schematic: Close-up on the relevant power circuitry: Load balancing is ac..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "For further reference (both of the below pics are from the above-referenced blog post, the minimal schematic for the charger chip (which I'd been u..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "Update: What I'd observed was that the previous version of the riffle -- 0.96 -- seemed to allow for USB programming even when a battery wasn't pl..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "Update: I've attempted to incorporate both the fix to the switch, and the new diode-based power management strategy, in the Riffle 0.1.4 schematic..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
donblair | "Update -- based on some tinkering, and some great feedback from folks on the plots-waterquality google group: The power issues no longer seem myst..." | Read more » | over 8 years ago | |||
warren | "I agree that a non-wifi DustDuino variant would be so great -- much cheaper and simpler, for many uses where the WiFi isn't required. Both are grea..." | Read more » | over 9 years ago | |||
kensanfran | "Hi Steve, Great, yes, and yes! Please contact me directly kensanfran at gmail, and watch this space for more info in a week or two. " | Read more » | over 9 years ago | |||
SteveHicks | "Ken, I'm very interested in the echem328 board. I recently bought some Alphasense gas sensors and bought the ISB board to go along with it, but yo..." | Read more » | over 9 years ago |