User`s manual

MDL-DataManager™ Reference Guide Architectural Energy Corporation
Section 1.0: Overview of the MicroDataLogger® System Page 1
1.0 Overview of the MicroDataLogger® System
Architectural Energy Corporation (AEC) has created the MicroDataLogger® data
acquisition system that is a portable, four-channel, battery-powered logger with
associated sensors and accessories. The MicroDataLogger unit (MDL) is a general-
purpose microcomputer-based data logger with the following unique features.
! FLASH memory ! Automatic sensor identification
! 12-bit resolution ! Individual logger serial number
! Modular interchangeable sensors ! Onboard LCD display
! Provided excitation power to sensors ! Accepts analog and digital signals
The MicroDataLogger unit can be used as a stand-alone portable data acquisition
system to meet any variety of user-defined data collection needs, or as part of an
integrated system of application software, such as the ENFORMA series, with
embedded engineering algorithms to solve specific performance evaluation problems.
AEC has recently enhanced the MicroDataLogger system by adding remote access
capabilities. The new MDL-Remote® system utilizes the MicroDataLogger acquisition
system with a specially equipped modem and associated hardware to easily retrieve
data via phone line from a customer's location. The new remote system integrates
MicroDataLogger®—DataManager™ software (MDL-DataManager) with a
companion package called MicroDataLogger®—DataRetriever™ software (MDL-
DataRetriever).
A diverse set of customers benefit from AEC’s MicroDataLogger data acquisition
system that includes utilities, energy service companies, HVAC contractors,
compressed air service companies, and energy consultants.
The MicroDataLogger unit is a small, battery-powered data logger capable of recording
time-series information from a wide variety of sensors and electrical transducers. A
personal computer is used to configure the MDL for a particular application and later to
retrieve and analyze the recorded data.
The MicroDataLogger unit has four plug-in slots for signal conditioning modules
(sensors). When a module is installed in the logger, an Auto-ID feature can identify
the module's function and will automatically program the correct excitation power and
sensor warm-up time. The MDL's non-volatile FLASH memory can store
approximately 64,000 readings total or 16,000 readings for each of four channels.
The frequency of MDL measurements is user-defined and can vary from one
measurement every three seconds to one every hour. To conserve the MDL's
memory, a number of individual measurements can be averaged together and stored
as one reading. At a typical measurement frequency of once every minute using
typical low-power requirement sensors, the MDL can record data for more than 30
days.
Other features include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display, real-time clock, 12-bit
resolution, precision voltage reference, serial port, and easy-to-use Windows-based
logger control software, MDL-DataManager software.