Data loggers can help to record data from a sensor over time -- often over days or weeks, or even months. There are a variety of data loggers available, both commercial and open source. Each entry from a logger -- stored on, for example, a memory card -- may have a timestamp and some data loggers can record location from a GPS as well. Data loggers can be [paired with specific sensors](/wiki/water-sensors), and an [enclosure](/wiki/sensor-enclosures), as part of a test. ## Design constraints What are we trying to do that existing commercial data loggers don't do, or don't do well enough? We're looking for designs that optimize: * low cost (i.e. <$100) * easy to use * easy to build or buy * weatherproof (possibly) * waterproof (possibly) * Arduino-compatible (so that they're compatible with the huge [Arduino](http://arduino.cc) ecosystem) ## Options Most of the below options are #arduino based, and all are open source: [wikis:datalogger] [notes:datalogger-option] Edit the [full spreadsheet here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zBcLpN4PZIATLh6aDR7mwCoejWryLYYm6cJD38MqT58/edit) (by @cfastie) **** ## Questions [questions:data-logging] ## Activities We're hoping to collect a set of activities you could do with several different data loggers here, such as an example "field test," so please add help us by adding activities which can be performed with different data loggers: [activities:data-logging] **** ## Power How do you keep a data logger going in the field? Solar, big batteries, even run an extension cable out? We're developing resources on powering your data-loggers here. ## Power Questions [questions:data-logging-power] ## Activities [activities:data-logging-power] **** ## Waterproof enclosures The #riffle project -- and others -- have explored a lot of ways to make cheap waterproof enclosures for data loggers, but where wires and sensors can still stick out. Here are a some notes and prototypes under the tag #data-logger-enclosures. You can also visit the page on [sensor enclosures here](https://publiclab.org/wiki/sensor-enclosures) [notes:data-logger-enclosures] ...
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zengirl2 | "First, your video is awesome and I'm glad you explained the lines from pulling in the kite. I really like the look of the NASA anemometer--what is ..." | Read more » | about 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "A goat is way better than brown M&Ms. But that is not exactly my motivation here because I'm sure everybody reads my research notes extremely ..." | Read more » | about 7 years ago | |||
warren | "Hi, Chris -- great post as usual! I do have to ask about your comment regarding chemtrails -- I strongly suspect you put that there to see if anyo..." | Read more » | about 7 years ago | |||
MadTinker | "@stevie I'd love to but this summer got away from us and there just isn't time or resources this year. I'm hoping to touch base with @warren in Den..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
stevie | "Hi @MadTinker ! wondering if you are considering coming to the Barnraising? There should be some good opportunities to collaborate and work on thes..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
rockets | "@Madtinker Can you find the code like below? You may change the setting here to make the RTC in your loc time. " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
MadTinker | "@shanlter I've gotten everything connected and the initial tests are good. " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "The Melexis MLX90614 Non-Contact Sensor has a temperature range of -70°C to +380°C. This is an infrared sensor so it does not have to touch the thi..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
shanlter | "@MadTinker, I just take a look of the Colorado River Watch training, it looks very interesting and I want to learn how Colorado people monitor the ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
MadTinker | "@shanlter No worries, things will work out fine. I won't be at the Barnraising, I'm already committed to attending a training class for Colorado Ri..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
shanlter | "Hi @MadTinker, I feel very sorry for RTC (also for the cable, and many other things...) When I make this guideline, DFRobot did't have the RTC I'm ..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
MadTinker | "@rockets Well.... a lot of possibilities for lessons learned. The good news is that between binges of travel, I spent a bit of time getting (somewh..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
rockets | "@Madtinker how about your project? Anything we can help? " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
liz | "@cfastie here's the link to the known bug currently affecting the display of replications on the original activity: https://github.com/publiclab/pl..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
zengirl2 | "@cfastie thanks for pointing out that I used the new small SD card module. Your comments about energy savings are also very helpful. Fascinating th..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "Leslie, it's really good you got this working. Thanks for troubleshooting the RTC library. It looks like the library I have been using is the MrAlv..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
warren | "Wow, super!!! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
liz | "Thanks @Rockets ! " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
rockets | "@MadTinker hope to see what your project working. " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
rockets | "Everbody we have checked the github, we found that the github code have some problem, then we fix it. So now maybe you can use it now. " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "It would be fun to try an Aeropod. I couldn't find any details about the instruments, but it looks like an awesome contraption to fly. " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
warren | "Hi, Chris, I think it's possible we could get a wind profiler "payload" for the (patented) Aeropod sent out, which has a Kestrel attached. If so, m..." | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
cfastie | "A pitot tube measures air pressure and uses fancy math to relate that to wind speed. I assume the ones on airplanes work better than the Rev P. " | Read more » | over 7 years ago | |||
warren | "Yeah it reminds me of the things (pitons?) used to measure windspeed from the leading edge of an airplane. Uhhhhh bootstrapping? :-) " | Read more » | over 7 years ago |