NEED INFORMATION ABOUT HOBO H14 DATA LOGGER

Hi CaptMoosie,

Are you sure it isn't U14-002? Nowhere on their site could I find the model you mentioned.

If it is the U14 model, here is the link:

http://www.onsetcomp.com/products/data-loggers/u14-002

If that's not the one, why not search through the different models till you find one that fits your needs, note the model number, and go look for it on ebay or other used equipment site.

Mike

Hello Mikerho,

Thanks for the response!

If I'm not mistaken, the HOBO H14 (circa early 1990's) was superseded by the model you mentioned, the U14-002. I did check the U14 out and the data given was sparse and nearly identical to the R14 data in regards to how many temp probes (and of what type) it can accept as well.

I did check on Ebay and that's where I originally found the HOBO H14 unit. I did ask the seller for the info, but he never returned my email. So, so much for that.

I've also looked into some used Rustrack Ranger II data loggers in Ebay, but have not been able to fine an online source for the Owner's Manual nor the manufacturer's spec's....striking out altogether here!!!!

Maybe I should look into a cheap SCADA system or another data logger manufacturer? I'd be nice to know when the recirculation pump is operating as well as monitoring system pressures in addition to the temperature monitoring and data acquisition that I require. Of course I'd love to find a relatively cheap used data logger to meet my monitoring requirements as well as a nice SCADA freeware.

BTW, I know next to nothing regarding all this electrical stuff, especially about SCADA....I'm just a lowly Civil Engineer trying to build this DIY Solar Thermal System with some electronics features to make my life easier, especially in the winter since the solar collectors will be mounted on my tool shed 45 feet away from the house....don't want to have to venture out in the middle of a -20 degree night and freeze my butt off to check system temps and pressures or check for any breaks if you know what I mean!!! LOL

Any suggestions or recommendations about used data loggers or SCADA for that matter would be greatly appreciated!!! Any online links to SCADA primer so I can learn about them would be helpful as well!!1

One call to the manufacturer will answer all of your queestions.

Hi, I found some info on the Hobo H14-002.

http://www.absolutemonitoringtechnologies.com.au/HH14002.shtml

To me, it doesn't look very useful as it only has two channels

Hi CaptMoosie,

An alternative logging/monitoring method worth considering is the Dallas 1-Wire temperature sensors

http://www.maxim-ic.com/products/1-wire/ There is a lot of info here and on several forums if you do a search on Google. Tom Boyd has some interesting practical info here http://www.arunet.co.uk/tkboyd/e1didx.htm

We design and run these on network monitoring for commercial customers (environmental, food storage chiller/freezer and have used them for solar applications), running a PC Scada application. You can run 100 or so temperature sensors on a Cat5 single cable network up to couple of hundred meters. We now run them on a RS485 network for improved reliability for commercial customers and the need to incorporate alarm facilities in some monitoring applications. We now also have humidity, Pt100 and 4-20mA transmitters which we have designed and built. Our original networks however ran on the classic 1-Wire network via a Dallas USB interface linked to our own Scada application. Sensors (DS18B20) are around the $10 each mark and the interface (DS9490R) $20-30. The traditional 1-Wire network sometimes need some tuning with resistor and diode to overcome external interferences and "belling" but this is of more concern in customer applications than yours. You can run your 1-wire all around the house and just add a sensor to the network where you want to measure temperature. There is plenty of documentation guidelines on the Dallas/Maxim website. I can probably dig up one of our early Scada applications which would link to the traditional 1-Wire network of 4 or 8 sensors (monitors real-time, logs to text file) for you if thought you might want to go this way for a soution. Drop me a PM if you need any info. Cheers, Bob

Hello all,

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for their responses to my inquiry. Lots of useful information!!!!

Right now I'm judging the HOBO data logger as way too inadequate for my needs to monitor and control my DIY Solar Thermal System......just too limited!

Aussiebob, I do think you've come up with a great solution to my requirements, but i do have some questions for you before I venture any further. Right now, the system is in the fabrication stage in regards to the hardware and in the conceptual stage in regards to data logging and SCADA.

I visited Tom B's sheepdog software site and the MAXIM/DALLAS SEMICONDUCTOR site, and am intrigued, but some of it is still "GREEK" to me, especially when it picking out the correct equipment as well as keeping down the cost. It looks to me that the 1-wire system is the way to go....I just want to plug and play and not get into any programming if at all possible, like Delphi and linux stuff. I want to run the simple as possible SCADA software off my current PC of a future cheap and dedicated PC running a MS Windows XP or Vista O/S. The yet-to-be built Solar system will be used as the primary source of providing space heat (vis an existing Hydronic system in the house) and domestic hot water. the existing boiler (with water heating) will serve as a backup to the solar thermal system so as to save $$$$ on heating oil costs.

A couple of questions please:

I plan of using possibly 18 or so temperature sensors for monitor and control via the

SCADA plus there's got to be a way to tie-in the existing digital thermostat for control on/off of several recirculating pumps......one for the new pump providing water to the new solar collectors and an existing one now located on the existing boiler.

I need to monitor pump conditions and auto-control them as necessary using temp set points plus provide manual override is necessary.

I also want to measure pipeline pressures in at least 6 key locations. Also need to monitor at least two inline flowmeters.

I also need to be able to command no less than 6 inline valves to open or close, dependent on which pump is on/off.

Of course the thermostat tie-in.

Can all of these parameters be met? Possible that you could provide a preliminary "shopping list" of parts and devices that I'll need to purchase w/ some explanation of what some of them will do. Also recommend a inexpensive SCADA software package that I can set-up and tweak if necessary in a MS Win O/S environment? Any line drawings, etc. that you can send of a system you've set-up in the past for a home solar system....just in case I missed something or need to visualize everything???

Finally, a ballpark figure what something like this will cost me.....remember it's for a house and I don't want a ton of bells and whistles that I do not need or want....basically a KISS approach. Also, I need to keep the costs down to a minimum since I'm currently on SS Disability due to some health problems. Again, I must stress that this is in the Conceptual Stage of design.

TIA!!!! Have a great day!!!!

====CaptMoosie

Have you puchased the Data Logger yet?? I sell one that will measure CO2 and Temp. Also have sensors that will measure Temp,RH, and CO2...ALL IN ONE!!!!