Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and various DC sig outputs through a laptop?

[Limited-Time]

I'm looking for software/hardware that will allow me to read and scale various signal outputs (see below)through a windows based PC. Anyone have experience with this??

4 to 20ma
1 to 10VDC
1-5VDC
.5 to 4.5VDC

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Something similar to this?

Electrocorder DC-3V-60 Three Channel DC Voltage Data Logger | CAS Dataloggers

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

I'd just get yourself a little PLC and its associated software. If you want something new try: AutomationDirect.com - The best way to buy industrial controls - low prices, fast shipping and superior service.

Otherwise I'd just get an older unit off ebay

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Thanks, both seem possible. However I did not see the 4 to 20mA option on the first unit. And the PLC programing is not something I've tinkered with in the past. I was hoping for a more "plug and play" type solution.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

If it is a desktop pc then just google Data Acquisition Board. Its been almost 20 years since I was in the industry, but there are plenty of devices capable of doing what you are trying to do.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Thanks, both seem possible. However I did not see the 4 to 20mA option on the first unit.

Not sure what(type of hardware) you are measuring but typically you would read the voltage drop across a shunt. Granted, 4mA is pretty darn small to be measuring across a shunt.

I just did a quicky search and posted that one to see if I was in the ballpark for you.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

I have a meter that can read and simulate the 4-20ma and another that can do 0-5v they can be bought used on ebay for about $50 each or new for $800-1200 each :laugh:.
I also have a plc5 allen Bradley rack that has plug in cards to do the readings into the plc which only cost $50 used (including 12 cards) but they software to program the rack is very expensive if you buy a registered copy

 

[bigdee]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and varioud DC sig outputs through a laptop

I'd just get yourself a little PLC and its associated software. If you want something new try: AutomationDirect.com - The best way to buy industrial controls - low prices, fast shipping and superior service.

Otherwise I'd just get an older unit off ebay

A simple process controller from there will allow you you to look at any of those inputs. What units of measurement are you trying to scale?

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and various DC sig outputs through a laptop

Both pressure and temp transducers. The scale can be anywhere from between 0 to 100 psi to 0 to 5000 psi and temp 0 to 300 deg f,

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and various DC sig outputs through a laptop

Both pressure and temp transducers. The scale can be anywhere from between 0 to 100 psi to 0 to 5000 psi and temp 0 to 300 deg f,

you can just use converters and bring all the signal's in on 4-20ma then scale them back to what ever unit you are using. Industrial junk is cheap especially used so all you require is a way to bring 4-20ma signals in to your pc.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and various DC sig outputs through a laptop

Both pressure and temp transducers. The scale can be anywhere from between 0 to 100 psi to 0 to 5000 psi and temp 0 to 300 deg f,

This will do what your asking for, both temperature and pressure or whatever unit you want to monitor/control. Temperature / Process Controllers | AutomationDirect.com And they are inexpensive.

 

[VE8EV]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and various DC sig outputs through a laptop

I used these before, they're pretty straightforward:

U3 | LabJack
LJTick-CurrentShunt | LabJack

 

[gm280]

Re: Looking to read and scale a 4 to 20ma and various DC sig outputs through a laptop

When I was in the business we used tons of UE-9 LabJacks for most everything. I can't remember any signal we couldn't digitize through it. And we used them everywhere as well. Maybe you could find one used on EBay.... Just a thought...