The data logger GUI is the half part of the story,
The other half is the unit it self.
And so I decided to benchmark:
1) The U1272A internal timer accuracy
2) The U1272A when the memory of it gets full. (Took a picture)
2) The USB-IR cable speed
3) The battery consumption (by using rechargeable Ansmann AAA 1100mA).
I did mains voltage Auto - log 10.000 entries (Full memory use)
Interval every 5Sec = 14:28min.
The internal timer does a true clock work !!
And here goes my own example and how to.
1) I prepared the DMM for an Auto – log Interval every 5Sec.
2) I took a paper wrote on it the starting time 02:02 am (hh/mm)
3) And started immediately the DMM log function (The DMM was plugged to mains with home made cables with bananas at both ends)
The first value at the log was A00001
30 Minutes later the counter was at A00360
60 Minutes later the counter was at A00720
120 Minutes later the counter was at A01440
At the end I got the A10000 , the DMM showed A-FULL on the screen , was still in the logging mode, and was measuring the voltage with out logging,
And it was waiting for me so to stop the logging mode.
At the GUI software I got as Min/Max voltage events the entries :
A05281 = 219.03V AC
A08609 = 228.13V AC
To calculate that and find the time, I follow this root.
Example: A05281 = 5281 (log entry) x 5 Sec (time interval) = 26405 seconds Now divide by 60 so to get the minutes = 440.08
and again divide by 60 so to get the hours = 7:33 (Hours measured by the DMM) + my staring hour ( 02:02 am).
And the result is that on Sunday 26 June 2011 at 09:35 am I had the highest under voltage in my shop.
For the overvoltage entry, the same method.
A08609 = 8609 (log entry) x 5 Sec (time interval) = 43045 seconds = 717.4 minutes = 11.95 hh/mm = 12:35:06 hh/mm/ss + my staring hour ( 02:02 am).
And this does on Sunday 26 June 2011 at 14:37:06 pm I got the highest overvoltage.
It is not that hard to deal with these calculations if you do start doing logs frequently.
But you will need to do it methodically by keeping notes, plus a pocket calculator.
I bet that the older in age electricians will found it as slightly complicate this task.
The younger’s will find it easy as a new toy.
About the USB-IR cable:
It needs 07:05 mm:ss to transfer the 10.000 entries at 19200 Baud rate.
And 13:06 mm:ss to do the same at 9200 Baud rate.
Software related observations:
a) b) The data logger GUI at the “Memory tab” , will load the Auto – generated log at the lowest table, it is a predefined place for it.
b) At the Memory tab you can move the tables separator bar (tool bar), at a higher location by dragging it with your mouse,
and you can gain some extra space for the lowest table .
c) By loading the auto-log file, at the top bar of the active window, is the button named as “Shows”
With it you can hide unwanted columns of the log before you export it or print it.
I found a bug at the setting “Range” I got an pop-up warning and the software does not run the specific command,
all the other selections works nicely, I have all ready inform Agilent about it.
d) Bellow the Auto data logging tools bar, there is some arrows that helps to see the values with accenting or descending order.
Just click on the arrow above the voltages, as many times you like.
Tip : the order “ numbering of the entries” gets messed up if you give priority to the voltages sorting,
And before you print or export the log, you should adjust the sorting by the entry numbering.
You can do that on the MS Excel too, but it’s a bit complex in there.
e) Interesting enough the software exports the Auto-Log files at the folder C:\Program Files\Agilent\Agilent GUI Data Logger
It does not look to offer a choice for changing the folder. (Or I did not find it yet)
The battery consumption ( by using rechargeable Ansmann AAA 1100mA ) :
I am still exploring this option, because it would be nice to use rechargeable batteries,
for long lasting data logging tasks. (As I did all ready)
I have all ready some results, but I will have to double check my findings,
before saying anything more about it.
My digital Ansmann battery tester with load, looks like a priceless tool for such research.
I can measure the battery condition, after its one task. (Data logging – uploading – idle – back light usage)
My current impression is that Agilent did some good work, about the data logging,
but this is not my final word yet.
When I will complete my tests I would know how the “Auto data-logging” weights as function among the others.
In simple words, it was added on the U1272A for occasional use or as primary?
Agilent will release an new version of the GUI Data logger in August..