Alarm log on pc

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melvyn
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Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:42 am

Alarm log on pc

Post by melvyn »

Is there any way for the picolog software to list all alarms that have occurred during a sample run, either on graph or on spreadsheet. I have found that the PLW Recorder software will provide a visual alarm by changing the Lamp Red or Green and an audible alarm when a signal goes out of limits. The problem I have is that I am looking to use a picolog 1216 to monitor the voltages on 6 outputs of a PSU during ESS operation for around 5 hours in total. The voltages are mixture of 5V, 20V and 24Vdc and will be scaled down to levels between 1V and 2Vdc via resistor dividers.

A test engineer will not be present for the duration of the test and if a short duration fault occurs and then clears at a particular temperature in the ESS test when no one is present then this will not be obviously flagged upon their return as they have not seen or heard the alarm signal being activated. This information will only be found by looking at detail on the readings on the spreadsheet or by zooming in on the graph.

I have found that I can get a digital output from the picolog 1216 to change state during a alarm on a particular channel but again this has no record of history and the picolog 1216 does not have enough digital outputs for my final setup.

Even a listing on a text file of an alarm registering would suffice for my application. I have read previous postings on this forum and it does not look like something which is easily achievable or maybe its something I am missing.

i would appreciate some feedback on this matter as I am doing initial testing on one channel monitoring a bench PSU before i connect one of our PSU with the intention of expanding to 6 PSU using a USB hub and 3 Picolog 1216 recorders. I would like to understand the alarm function fully before i move further ahead

Thank you

melvyn moss

Gerry
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Re: Alarm log on pc

Post by Gerry »

Hi Melvyn,

What sample rate are you using?

If you are not sampling too fast, you could use PicoScope 6 software to stream the data to the PC, and then automatically save a file when the waveform has been captured (using an Alarm), to provide a logging function, and you could then set a Mask for the voltage limits, to see when the waveform breaks the mask in the saved data files.

Here is an example, albeit using a PicoScope 2204A (because it's easier to setup) but the principle is the same. The indication and warning that the mask has failed are both circled in red.
Example mask fail.png
Regards,

Gerry
Gerry
Technical Specialist

melvyn
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Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:42 am

Re: Alarm log on pc

Post by melvyn »

Hi gerry.

Thanks for the reply. Due to the amount of channels I have to monitor I am not sure if that method would be capable of being upgraded to more channels. let me know if i am wrong.

I have been looking into this over the last week and i have found some visual basic example coding via this forum where I can use Excel to communicate to the Picolog 1216 directly and I can get the sample voltages and the alarm information from the Picolog 1216 into an Excel spreadsheet. (see attachment for created file so far) The problem I am trying to overcome now is a way to store an alarm history on each of the channels and have them time stamped at every point where an alarm has been activated during the test. Currently I can get the exact time an alarm has been activated on each individual channel but when that particular alarm has cleared and the voltage is back in specification then all of the previous information is being lost.

My long term target for this project is to try and monitor 36 channels, connected via 3 picolog 1216 data loggers connected to a PC via a 4 way USB port hub for around 5 hours. This should be run on one version of the software. This means I am limited to using real time continuous recording so I can use as multiple converters. I am thinking of sampling at 1 sec to reduce the amount of data being stored in the files. I understand I am going to have to group the 36 channels into smaller subsections, thinking 6 groups of 6 channels, to allow the chart recorder to show the information clearly. Can you see any problems in being able to monitor 36 channels using this approach? The voltages can all be connected together to the same GND and will be DC voltages between 1V and 2V.
If i cannot get a method of showing an alarm history but I can have the results of the 36 channels saved as a spreadsheet and as a chart then this may have to suffice.
In the past I have only ever used an ADC-11 for monitoring DC 2 channels of 1V to 2V for 24 hours, with no problems, so this new project is slightly more complicated

would appreciate any feedback and will answer any questions

melvyn
Attachments
Picolog alarm monitor Data entry logging.xls
(47.5 KiB) Downloaded 374 times

Gerry
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Re: Alarm log on pc

Post by Gerry »

Hi melvyn,

Unfortunately, it appears that we have a minor issue with multiple masks. So a better way to do this would be to use the alternative method that you suggested to collect the data (I can't see any immediate issue with the your method) then export the data to CSV, and either use a Module or Macro to check the values, and if they are above a limit, then just highlight the cell (e.g. colour it). However, if this is something that you are unable to do, or unable to justify doing, then you can just check the values manually.

Regards,

Gerry
Gerry
Technical Specialist

melvyn
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Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:42 am

Re: Alarm log on pc

Post by melvyn »

Hi gerry

Thanks for the further feedback and providing a degree of confidence that my idea will work. I will keep you informed with my progress on this task. I am currently trying to create something using Excel to highlight/timestamp any alarms on the data that is being monitored on the channels using the Picolog. If i have any further questions then I will be in contact. Currently I can instantaneously time stamp an alarm on any channel, I just have to now find a method of storing this information in a log. Currently the information is stored for one alarm and if a second alarm occurs the first alarm information is lost.
We may also be looking at possibly doing something with LABVIEW if this Excel method does not become a success. We are looking for a long term solution we can use for monitoring all our power supply dc outputs when they are undergoing ESS testing.

melvyn
Visionpower ltd

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