Any meter that continiously send data to PC?

[agehall]

I have a Uni-T UT71B today that can send the data to my PC. The only problem is that I need to turn that on every time I turn on the meter.

Can anyone recommend a meter where this is configurable so that I can have it send data by default as soon as it turns on?

[jfiresto]

I take it pressing a dedicated button to toggle transmission on and off is unworkable (as on a B&K 390A and other(?) DMMs)?

[Conrad Hoffman]

Don't know what you want to measure, but I'd probably use an ADC box from Measurement Computing with a suitable divider or shunt. https://www.mccdaq.com/

[guenthert]

Some instruments, like the Keithley 181, can be set to a 'TALK' mode using a DIP switch where they continuously send their measurements to the attached PC.

Sorry, couldn't resist.  Above answers your questions literally, but probably not what you meant.  You're asking too vast a question.  Try to narrow it down.  What kind of precision, accuracy, data rate do you need?  How many channels?  Will data on those channels need to be acquired simultaneously or is sequential sufficient? What's the budget?  How much power dissipation can you tolerate?  Will it always be read by a PC or is a stand-alone solution desired (then, how much data is to be collected)?
 

[agehall]

What I need is something similar to my current multimeter in terms of specs, i.e. fairly basic. I need to measure voltages between -50V to +50V and resistances (no real need for precision) - anything else is a bonus. One channel is fine. Basically, I’d be super happy if my current Uni-T would just send data as soon as it was turned on.

What I want to do in the end, is to have my multimeter show up on my streams and if I have to press a button for it to happen, I will forget and the measurements won’t be recorded...

[jfiresto]

... What I want to do in the end, is to have my multimeter show up on my streams and if I have to press a button for it to happen, I will forget and the measurements won’t be recorded...

I just am trying to imagine that. After I start logging and before I do anything, I always check that I have good data coming in:

[butler:~] john% bk390 -T | tee data.log
2021-06-04T19:50:39.71   234.3
2021-06-04T19:50:40.46   234.8
2021-06-04T19:50:41.21   234.4
2021-06-04T19:50:41.96   234.3
2021-06-04T19:50:42.72   234.3
2021-06-04T19:50:43.47   234.3
2021-06-04T19:50:44.20   234.5
2021-06-04T19:50:44.95   234.8
2021-06-04T19:50:45.71   234.5

But I am formally trained as a scientist, someone who depends on his data and usually wished he had more.

[exe]

What I want to do in the end, is to have my multimeter show up on my streams and if I have to press a button for it to happen, I will forget and the measurements won’t be recorded...

How about making a check-list? Like pilots do.

[Kleinstein]

Sending data often costs quite some energy (e.g. for optical isolation) so battery operated meter have a good reason not to send the data by default.

With a mains powered meter, one would normally not turn it off so often and thus no real problem to engage the data transmission.
Usually the program on the PC side also has to be started and there the PC could send the commands to start the data transfer. Essentially all bench DMMs with a PC interface by default listen to commands.

[branadic]

The Prema 5017 can be set to send data by default as soon as it turns on.

-branadic-

[agehall]

I think people misunderstood what I meant when I wrote “stream”. I meant stream as in streaming on Twitch. I do electronics as a hobby and it’s fun to share stuff with others like that and sometimes have interactive discussions about the projects while working on them.

When streaming, you don’t want to have to pay attention to too many other things - there is enough going on anyway when creating content.

I just streamed about 6h of building PiStorm M68k emulators for example.

The Prema 5017 can be set to send data by default as soon as it turns on.

-branadic-

Thanks! I’ll look into that one.

[agehall]

The thought of a bench DMM had not really crosse my mind until now. That is certainly an option for my use case.

I’ve just done a bit of googling and I’m thinking that something like the Siglent SDM3045X might do the trick but I’m not sure if I understand the remote mode well enough to conclude that it supports logging of measurements taken when operating the device using the front panel. I know it can control the device and then read the data, but would it also be possible for a PC application to just continuously ask the DMM for the current measurement?

To explain further - when I’m streaming my work on Twitch, I don’t look at my PC. I just want to present as much information as possible to my viewers (all 5 of them ). Therefore controlling the measurements and the DMM from my PC is not the goal, I just want to get the DC voltage or resistance value shown on the DMM display to the PC so that I can incorporate it into my video stream.

[Kleinstein]

Remote control of bench meters is usually OK, however with some meters there is a catch: they may block the keys (may need to press a separate remote/local key first) and sending data may stop when the range / function is changed. It may work with some bench meters, but not all. As I understood it, the idea is to change ranges / functions at the meter and show the result in the video / PC.

Getting the data to a video stream is totally different thing from sending the measured data to the PC. The difficult part is more like on the software side to get the data to the video. The possibly simplest solution may be an extra web cam to record the display of the meter (and the plugs / keys) and than include the video stream to the main video as picture in picture. Here it would help if the meter also shows the function or at least the units.

[agehall]

Remote control of bench meters is usually OK, however with some meters there is a catch: they may block the keys (may need to press a separate remote/local key first) and sending data may stop when the range / function is changed. It may work with some bench meters, but not all.

Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about. I’m just not too familiar with the terminology here. But ideally I’d like to find a meter that allows reading of current measurements without blocking the local control.

As I understood it, the idea is to change ranges / functions at the meter and show the result in the video / PC.

200% correct!
 

Getting the data to a video stream is totally different thing from sending the measured data to the PC. The difficult part is more like on the software side to get the data to the video.

Nah, that’s the easy part. Small matter of programming as we say. As long as there is some sort of API I can query, I can write something that displays the values for me.

The possibly simplest solution may be an extra web cam to record the display of the meter (and the plugs / keys) and than include the video stream to the main video as picture in picture. Here it would help if the meter also shows the function or at least the units.

Well, so the problem here is that I’m already running three webcams in most scenes and this is causing some sort of USB issues at times that I have yet to identify. I don’t think my system will like another one. :/

[bck]

You can use the Brymen BM869s if you are on windows. (They do not supply Linux software, but the interface is ok-ish to use; i can help you if you are on linux)
The software can be downloaded here:
http://www.brymen.com/Download1.html

The software is just a new display for the DMM, it does not do anything to its measurements.

The IR-USB-Adapter costs ~40€
( https://www.welectron.com/Brymen-BU-86X-USB-Interface )

Attached 2 example images.
I have not tested other Brymen DMMs.

Edit: you don't have to turn the option in the meter on, but the software on the PC has to be started and enableld.
If you start the software on the PC while the meter is off, it will start the meter if the meter is not in the OFF position. (Off because of auto-off)

[agehall]

Sounds just like what I need! I’ll look into that right away! Thanks a bunch!