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Data Logging

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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, and an enclosure, 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 ecosystem)

Options

Most of the below options are #arduino based, and all are open source:

Title Updated Version Views Likes
DustDuino over 3 years ago by bhamster 27 7,138 7
Nano Data Logger over 5 years ago by cfastie 11 10,213 4
MACA almost 6 years ago by nanocastro 4 740 5
WebJack almost 6 years ago by warren 5 2,052 1
Mayfly almost 6 years ago by warren 5 379 0
Log-a-Long Timer about 6 years ago by cfastie 1 695 1
New Concepts for OSHW in Indoor Gardening about 6 years ago by Aigi666 18 1,633 1
Mini Pearl Logger about 6 years ago by cfastie 6 1,718 1
SkyPod GPS Logger over 6 years ago by cfastie 8 1,102 3
Riffle: an Open Source Water Monitoring Approach over 6 years ago by warren 100 5,900 15
Fido - The Raspberry Pi based Temperature Alarm that sends text messages almost 7 years ago by rjstatic 3 4,641 1
Mãe d'Água about 7 years ago by vjpixel 9 2,106 9


Edit the full spreadsheet here (by @cfastie)


Questions

Title Author Updated Likes Comments
Can we log data on an Arduino without an SD card? @warren almost 5 years ago 3
DIY conductivity Sensors @roberts_ecofarm over 5 years ago 6
What probes to get with data loggers? @pdhixenbaugh over 5 years ago 4
Looking for hands-on help with a datalogger! @Bronwen almost 6 years ago 3
what data-logger will work with my portable HCHO meter? @nshapiro almost 6 years ago 44
How simple would it be to connect the AS220 wind sensor P to the Mini Pearl Logger? @warren about 6 years ago 3
Substitution for conductivity meter @Ag8n about 6 years ago 7
How much of an Arduino's onboard memory would be available for datalogging? @warren over 6 years ago 0
How similar is the code for the KnowFlow and the RIFFLE data loggers? @gretchengehrke over 6 years ago 15
How does data from a Kestrel wind sensor compare to an Modern Device wind sensor? @warren over 6 years ago 1
Walkthrough: What software is used to get wind data off the Kestral? @kgradow1 over 6 years ago 1
How do we get data off of different wind sensors @warren over 6 years ago 2
Suggestions for a temperature sensor for surface (stone) measurements? @MadTinker over 6 years ago 1
What is your favorite program to plot data from a data logger? @gretchengehrke over 6 years ago 5
Can commercially available water sensors work with DIY data loggers? @gretchengehrke over 6 years ago 2
What information do I need to assess if a data logger and sensor will be compatible? @gretchengehrke over 6 years ago 3
What are ways to record ambient temperature every 5 sec and export easily? @carohowe over 6 years ago 10
What would be a good basic activity to test out a data logging device in water? @stevie almost 7 years ago 7
Sparkfun data logging troubleshooting? @efuhrm almost 7 years ago 5
Any simple ways to measure wind direction from a data logger? @warren almost 7 years ago 1
Getting a Raspberry Pi to output data by emulating a keyboard @warren almost 7 years ago 5
lightweight air quality sensors for a weather balloon @glenc over 7 years ago 2
Is it possible to log the data from a dustduino without a wifi network? @kp55 about 9 years ago 3

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:

Purpose Category Status Author Time Difficulty Replications
Build KnowFlow: automatic water moniter - - @shanlter - - 1 replications: Try it »
Measure coarse and fine air particulates with a DustDuino - - @Schroyer - - 6 replications: Try it »
Nano particle monitoring - - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
RV SensorShip V - - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Simple data logger - - @david_uwi - - 0 replications: Try it »
DustDuino Sketches - - @willie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Extra Super Volatile - - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Willow Creek Water Quality Monitoring (EC and TDS) - - @MadTinker - - 0 replications: Try it »
Sensor Collection For KnowFlow --a water-quality-testing facility - - @juncheng09 - - 0 replications: Try it »
What would you do with SensorShip? - - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Compost is hot, says Riffle field-test - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Datalogger part 2a; Generating a signal, amplifying it, and displaying the data. - - @JSummers - - 0 replications: Try it »
Knowflow组装(一)——pH和温度监测 - - @incaking - - 0 replications: Try it »
Low-power timer upgrade - - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Mounting and deploying a Mini Pearl Logger - - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
In the heat of the pile observe - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Blink a LED - Write a 'Sketch' and build a breadboard circuit for the Riffle build review-me @pdhixenbaugh 1h medium 1 replications: Try it »
Help collect environmental sensors + probes on a shared list - - @warren - - 0 replications: Try it »
Log all the data with Adafruit's TPL5110 Low Power Timer - - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Putting sensor data to work - - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Mini Pearl Logger longer - - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Riffle test 1 verify - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
Riffle campout test-limits - @cfastie - - 0 replications: Try it »
EnviroDIY Monitoring Station - - @StroudCenterScott - - 0 replications: Try it »

Activities should include a materials list, costs and a step-by-step guide to construction with photos. Learn what makes a good activity here.


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


Activities


Activities should include a materials list, costs and a step-by-step guide to construction with photos. Learn what makes a good activity here.


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