What are Data Loggers?

By Adriana Noton

Technological advancements have made collecting and storing data much faster, easier, and more efficient. One such advancement is the use of Data Loggers. A data logger is a device that is used to store data.

These devices read a number of different types of electronic signals to collect the data and then they store the data in internal memory that can be downloaded to a computer when needed. Data loggers are available in a number of different sizes and shapes.

A data logger is used for monitoring and recording information when a person is not in that location. A great advantage of utilizing data loggers is that they can collect data 24 hours a day. When activated, one can leave the data logger unattended to accurately collect information. Information collected can be water depth, movement such as vibrations, temperature, air temperature, humidity, etc.

This can include such functions as: soil moisture level recording, road traffic counting, tank level monitoring, environmental monitoring, wildlife research, gas pressure recording, vehicle testing such as railway signals, weather station recording, monitoring applications, automatic deformation monitoring, hydrographic recording, monitoring shipment temperatures, monitoring shipment package vibrations, deformation monitoring, and energy use monitoring.

Examples of data loggers include: flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder, event data recorder, voyage data recorder, vehicle engine control unit monitor, heating and air conditioning temperature recorder, and water depth recorders.

People like these devices because they can work separate from a computer. Depending on your particular needs, the range of a data logger can be either a single channel fixed function loggers or a multi-channel device that manages hundreds of singles.

One can also choose from a small compact data logger or a larger device. The speed and memory also depends on your needs. The more data that you have coming through, the more memory you will need. The length of the recording will depend on the data logger's memory capacity and the desired sample rate.

Data loggers are the most affordable type of data and collecting devices. With the various input signal types available, they are more flexible than other data collecting devices. You can also use a data logger that collects data in real time on a computer. However, a computer for the data collection process is not needed which makes them portable.

Most data loggers have a maximum data rate of 1 or 2 samples per second; however, there are more advanced devices that can sample over 100 samples per second. Most data loggers are battery powered and the life of the battery depends on the sample rate and specific model. They can also be plugged into a power unit. As a general rule, the faster the sample rate the shorter the battery life. Another benefit of having a data logger is that if there is a power failure, the data will not be lost.

The price of data loggers have gone down in recent years. This is due to technological advancements in data collection and storage. One can get a single channel data logger for about $20.00. For those who require a dependable device for collecting data, a Data Logger is an effective solution. - 29956

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