REQ: major electronics analysis project help needed TIA

[JB2]

Thanks John, I'll look into Ethernet. Last time I did this sort of
thin, the engineers hardwired everything into a Unix system onboard
the A/C ( 15 years ago) I havn't kept with all the technologies since
then.

 

[JB2]

thanks John, I'll look into Ethernet.

 

[Fred Bloggs]

Yeah, Ethernet - especially PoE - is the ultimate expansion bus. I
can't see why anybody would want to use IEEE-488 or RS-232 for
instrumentation any more.

John

Energy use monitoring is big business. Even the power companies have
taken to marketing third-party widgets into which you plug an appliance
for data logging various primary power use parameters with download
capability to a PC. It's only a matter of time before the energy
intensive appliances themselves contain this feature with connectivity
to a home automation standard, reporting not only the dull and drab
energy consumption, but other more fascinating status information like
the freezer temperature, washing machine cycle state, or dryer
temperature, maybe component failure, warranty status, and automatic
connection to whomever the consumer has decided is appropriate- this
will make for an easy high profit margin option for the sellers.

 

[[email protected]]

Do you need analog measurements for everything, or is
digital OK for some of the inputs?

[...] All the sources are analog, but how those samples are
obtained, I don't think will make a difference. I thought simple
inductive pickups that feed analog to dig conv for recording.

I wasn't completely clear. What I meant was, do all your inputs need to
be of the form "bus B is at exactly 27.3 volts" (analog) or can some of
them be of the form "bus B is on" or "bus B is off" (digital). It sounds
like all or nearly all of your inputs will be analog.

Big question! I would want at most _+2%. I suspect any more
deviation may make modeling too inaccurate.

To a zeroth approximation, this helps define your system architecture.
If you require high precision, it might make sense to buy one or a few
really good A to D converter(s), and then use it (them) to make several
dozen measurements in turn. If your requirements are not so strict (and
yours seem to not be very strict), it might make sense to buy lots of
cheaper A to D converters and let each one do a handful of measurements.

I have a crew on board, flight crew, trechnicians, engineers (me) 707
A/C

Since you mentioned elsewhere it's DoD, maybe you could just throw
people at it. Buy 150 $20 digital multimeters, open up a couple of
fresh cans of soldiers/sailors/airmen/marines, put them on the aircraft,
and tell them "at the sound of the tone, write down the readings on the
five meters that have been assigned to you". After you land, have each
one key his/her readings into a computer for you, then buy him/her a
beer. Ebay most of the meters at $10. Total cost $1500 + beer. OK,
the aircraft might not seat 30 extra personnel and/or it might affect
the flight manuevers you want to do.

Matt Roberds

 

[JB2]

I found the folks with the specific test gear, and we have a plan.
I'm going to have to take multiple samples, as the test gear only
handles so much info in one shot. (I forgot the company
name)...Drantis or somthing but they are supposed to be the
industry leaders in power testing. Although, I do like your last idea
the best!! LOL ....I can see it now.... Ok everyone 1..2...3....NOW
ok, time to go home and drink. outstanding

Do you need analog measurements for everything, or is
digital OK for some of the inputs?

[...] All the sources are analog, but how those samples are
obtained, I don't think will make a difference. I thought simple
inductive pickups that feed analog to dig conv for recording.

I wasn't completely clear. What I meant was, do all your inputs need to
be of the form "bus B is at exactly 27.3 volts" (analog) or can some of
them be of the form "bus B is on" or "bus B is off" (digital). It sounds
like all or nearly all of your inputs will be analog.

Big question! I would want at most _+2%. I suspect any more
deviation may make modeling too inaccurate.

To a zeroth approximation, this helps define your system architecture.
If you require high precision, it might make sense to buy one or a few
really good A to D converter(s), and then use it (them) to make several
dozen measurements in turn. If your requirements are not so strict (and
yours seem to not be very strict), it might make sense to buy lots of
cheaper A to D converters and let each one do a handful of measurements.

I have a crew on board, flight crew, trechnicians, engineers (me) 707
A/C

Since you mentioned elsewhere it's DoD, maybe you could just throw
people at it. Buy 150 $20 digital multimeters, open up a couple of
fresh cans of soldiers/sailors/airmen/marines, put them on the aircraft,
and tell them "at the sound of the tone, write down the readings on the
five meters that have been assigned to you". After you land, have each
one key his/her readings into a computer for you, then buy him/her a
beer. Ebay most of the meters at $10. Total cost $1500 + beer. OK,
the aircraft might not seat 30 extra personnel and/or it might affect
the flight manuevers you want to do.

Matt Roberds

 

[JB2]

FYI I'm going to be using a Dranetz pp1 and plain 'ol current pickups.

Do you need analog measurements for everything, or is
digital OK for some of the inputs?

[...] All the sources are analog, but how those samples are
obtained, I don't think will make a difference. I thought simple
inductive pickups that feed analog to dig conv for recording.

I wasn't completely clear. What I meant was, do all your inputs need to
be of the form "bus B is at exactly 27.3 volts" (analog) or can some of
them be of the form "bus B is on" or "bus B is off" (digital). It sounds
like all or nearly all of your inputs will be analog.

Big question! I would want at most _+2%. I suspect any more
deviation may make modeling too inaccurate.

To a zeroth approximation, this helps define your system architecture.
If you require high precision, it might make sense to buy one or a few
really good A to D converter(s), and then use it (them) to make several
dozen measurements in turn. If your requirements are not so strict (and
yours seem to not be very strict), it might make sense to buy lots of
cheaper A to D converters and let each one do a handful of measurements.

I have a crew on board, flight crew, trechnicians, engineers (me) 707
A/C

Since you mentioned elsewhere it's DoD, maybe you could just throw
people at it. Buy 150 $20 digital multimeters, open up a couple of
fresh cans of soldiers/sailors/airmen/marines, put them on the aircraft,
and tell them "at the sound of the tone, write down the readings on the
five meters that have been assigned to you". After you land, have each
one key his/her readings into a computer for you, then buy him/her a
beer. Ebay most of the meters at $10. Total cost $1500 + beer. OK,
the aircraft might not seat 30 extra personnel and/or it might affect
the flight manuevers you want to do.

Matt Roberds