Data logger made

[Bubblehead]

That would be great. I like simple. I put the 7805 in because I was using 12v power but I could elimnate that if I took the power from Dynon's 5v supply.

 

[lolachampcar]

I've attached two zips.  One is Logomatic.zip which has a pictorial of the circuit, simple schematic and data sheets for a FET and the SparkFun Logomatic board.  You can use most any FET although I would stay with a logic level part as I've not looked at Skyview's RS-232 out swing.  Please note that this is as stupid simple as you can get and thus there is no static discharge or other protection for the FET.  It is not a big deal but just do not rub your feet across the carpet and light the puppy up before trying to use it.  The second zip is the updated Visual Studio project (with compiled .exe).  Again, this is not elegant code but it offers some functionality and a starting point if you want to do more.

The ultimate solution will come from the pros at Dynon.

 

[lolachampcar]

and the VS 2005 project

 

[lolachampcar]

lastly, a quick depiction of the two parts added to the SparkFun (or any other) board....

 

[Bubblehead]

Thanks for correcting the errors in the utility. I flew a short flight this afternoon and decoded everything with the original utility and some of the temps did not look right. They look right now with the updated utility.

I had looked at the Logomatic for this application too but already had the OpenLog so went with that. I like the simple approach and may make one like that just for fun.

 

[lolachampcar]

Just for grins, the bug I found was using a ToString argument that printed "," in values over a thousand. I also use "," as a deliniator so, once a "," was added as part of a value, all the data shifted.

I'm sure there are more bugs to be found so do not be shy about posting a txt data set and pointing to an error. Given time, I do not mind polishing the turd a bit to make it more usable

 

[Bubblehead]

lastly, a quick depiction of the two parts added to the SparkFun (or any other) board....

I found a website with a great circuit diagram for doing what lolachampcar suggested. http://www.botkin.org/dale/rs232_interface.htm

He used a 2N7000 MOSFET and 2.2k resistors for full RX and TX.  I just wired up the RX side and did not have a 2N7000 so bought the only thing the local Radio Shack had which is found here http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062618

It is a IRF510 MOSFET.  It only took a few minutes to add to  one of the breadboards that had an OpenLog and voltage regulator already on it.  I tried it this morning and it recorded data just fine.

Total cost is really low.  $24.95 for the OpenLog, $2.19 for the Radio Shack MOSFET, about $2 for the pack of resistors, about $3.50 for a perf board to mount it all on and about $3.00 if you want to add a 5V voltage regulator 7805.  Well less than $50 to record data.  I used a RC servo extension to wire it into the plane.  Cut the extension in half, soldered the male end onto the perf board and the female end was connected to +12V, GND and TX serial line from SkyView.  I will probably rewire to the +5V source from SkyView and eliminate the voltage regulator.

Here's the schematic:

The only shortcoming of the system is there is no time and date stamp on the file when it is created, but there is date data in the file.  I wish I knew how to integrate a RTC into OpenLog to get a date stamp on the file creation.

Here's a link to a forum on RV's that has method for using a data logging shield on an Arduino to write data to an SD card, and since the shield has a RTC included the file is properly dated.  That makes it much easier to go back later and find a file with the date that matches the flight in your logbook. http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=84045

 

[Bubblehead]

I have 6 PC boards on their way to me but I don't know how long they will take to get here. Once they do I can have 6 working pretty quickly assuming I designed the board properly. It is my first time designing a circuit board but I have a fair amount of experience in circuits so perhaps I'll be successful first time.

I refined the perf-board version this week and will test one tonight. If that works I could provide a few prototype devices in a week or so.

 

[shenweas]

Dynon, I am under the impression that you are working on a datalogging soulution with the skyview.

were does that stand in the order of priorities?

Waiting for this and autopilot enhancements.(Approach)

 

[dynonsupport]

We are working on both datalogging and vertical approaches for the autopilot. They, along with weather, are our highest priorities. Both are active projects with full time engineers assigned.

Neither project yet has a release date that we can share.

 

[Bubblehead]

I have 3 PC boards with data loggers that will be ready to ship tomorrow.  I built one yesterday and it worked fine.  All someone will need to do is wire +5V from Skyview, the TX line from a serial port, and ground to the supplied pigtail.  If you want to use +12V let me know and I'll include a 5V voltage regulator on the board. The only difference is the +12V will probably only be on when the master switch is on, while the +5V will be on whenever Skyview is on assuming the Skyview aux battery is installed.

If you are interested let me know at jdalmansr@gmail.com.  I'd like $50 each for them.  The data logger alone is $25 to buy and there are other components plus my development time.

The boards are prototype and look fine but I will improve component layout and reduce their size on future designs.

 

[Bubblehead]

lolachampcar - two suggestions for your parser. 

1) It would be very helpful if the parsed file could have the extension ".csv".  That would allow the file to be opened in excel without going through the import process.  I tried renaming a log file to csv Saturday and it opened fine.

2) Could you put a dialog box in so someone could enter a file name.  Because the datalogger does not have a real time clock all the date stamps on the files are the same.  After several are on the microSD card I cannot remember which one is the important one!

Other than that the devices are working fine.  I sold one to a gentleman in Australia and have 2 more ready to go.  I still have two early models, one in my plane and one in the parts box.  I may play with that one just for fun to see if I can get a MAX2323 to do the shifting.  The MOSFET circuit works fine but I am enjoying learning more electronics.

 

[Bubblehead]

Here is a picture of the device.  I will rearrange the PC Board a little to properly position the microSD card slot and to make the board smaller.  I am also looking into board mounted connectors  to replace the R/C servo lead.  If you have any ideas, send them along.

The mate to the R/C servo lead gets wired in +5 or 12 V (red) Ground (black) and Skyview serial data TX (white).  A microSD card is inserted on the left sidem under the red board.

Then there is a little setup to do in the SkyView setup menus and your good to go.  lolachampcar's utility to parse the data is already on the microSD is in this thread or I can email it to you.

 

[Bubblehead]

lolochampcar - it appears from the data I am logging that you have the cylinder lables for CHT and EGT wrong. I think you have cylinders 2 and 3 flipped.