Reddit mentions: The best recorders & data aquisition products

Okay since there definitely seems to be some interested in the details of the set up i figured i'd go more into detail,forgive the poor quality photos please.

So first of here are the links to everything I'm using right now:

Polyscience Immersion Circulator

Cheap cooler

Smart Wall Plugs

Temperature Data Logger

So a couple note on these things. The only reason I'm still using the Polyscience is i paid way too much for it back when there weren't many other option and it still works. I'd like to get an Anova eventually. The whole reason for this project was I was trying to see if i could do what the Mellow Sous Vide has promised but not delivered on after waiting forever on my preorder.

This was just a test run and if I decide to cancel my preorder I'd most likely go with This cooler as it seems a lot nicer and still has the side cooler.

To answer in some more detail why I don't go with just an ice bath is honestly, I want to take all the food safety guess work out of this, and to me just hoping that you put enough ice in and that it will last long enough on that given day just doesn't work for me.

Here is a link to some photos of the set up as well as the app i use and a temp chart recorded with the data logger, that i'm using to figure out the time needed to get the cooler to food safe ranges.

I know this is a lengthy post but i hope it helps

This Andrew James one - but that's just because that was the best rated one on Amazon.co.uk when I searched for something like "sous vide vacuum sealer" three years ago. It works well, but I can't say it necessarily is any better than the alternatives at half the price. At the time, it was only a bit more expensive than the cheapest alternatives.

What's the best way to measure acidity of a beer? PH strips (e.g. 2.8-4.4), or a digital PH meter? If digital, any recommendations? Are the cheap ones like this any good, or should I spend more like this? Or are there brewing specific ones that I should be using?

Thanks!

Edit: should add that I'm asking specifically for the purpose of lacto souring

Thats pretty wild with the soldered heatsink tubes on the raspberry pi. truth be told my setup is pretty lame still i haven't really considered how hot its actually going to get over time being outside. what kind of temps are you getting with yours? I might nail a wooden awning over it to shade it and keep rain off it, thats a good idea. Also there are usb temp guages called TemperHum that i'm probably going to buy soon. besides that i guess the cpu temp gives some indication

If you're willing to try some DIY/soldering then something like This or This will do the trick. It would need at least the LEDs, some wiring, and a resistor as well to make it work. It would be fully adjustable though to get the perfect effect.

I know they're expensive, but a temperature recorder would be the best way to figure this out.

You can buy a pH pen
for 12, and an [ec stick](
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NUTRIENT-STRENGTH-TEST-WAND-TRUNCHEON-METER-HYDROPONIC-EC-PPM-CF-HYDROPONICS-PEN-/370286149083) for 20 brand new. I've been using both these products for well over a year now. Why buy stuff like that 2nd hand?

I have this one and I'm liking it so far! It does moisture, light and pH and it comes with a wee guide for what different plants like on the back if you're a total noob like me

https://www.amazon.com/Elitech-RC-5-Temperature-Recorder-Accuracy/dp/B00MQSCZF2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1497552201&sr=8-3&keywords=temperature+logger

hmm this seems like an OK low tech solution, thank you!!

I just wanted to rig my house, wasn't looking for like a hobbyist build-your-solution-from-assembly-language-and-pins solution.

What are you trying to measure? PNP and NPN are going to be on/off style level sensors (on when above a certain level, off when below). The Analog will give you the level as a continuous output.

There are two options for the analog signal, 4-20ma or 0-10V. Which one you want to use depends on what your input device can read.

There are lots of ways to get a single signal into a computer, it just depends on how much you have to spend but something like this might be just what your'e looking for.

You could try one of these Pololu servo controller: https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Maestro-6-Channel-Controller-Assembled/dp/B004G54CHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491282345&sr=8-1&keywords=usb+servo+controller

I use them because one really handy feature is the ability to set the speed and acceleration of arriving at a given position. So, for example, you could have it move from 120degrees to 180 degrees at 10 degrees/second. You don't have to continually compute the increments which is nice.

Sure, I have my own IoT temperature sensors publishing data using an ESP8266. I also made one with an Arduino Pro Mini, micro SD card module, and a real time clock module. I like the HTU21D - you can get clones on ebay for cheap, and they're about $15 from Sparkfun. They're very accurate. You can also buy an Arduino Uno and a data logging shield (with SD card and RTC built in) to reduce the soldering needed.

But your landlord might not know what to make of a homemade temperature logger. Honestly, there are already commercial products that do this pretty cheaply.

It's a fun project, but it might not be the right solution to your problem.

Looking for a flexible probe if possible. I already have the thermocouple below in link 1, so do I just need to buy a USB thermocouple data logger like the one in link 2?

Thermocouple:
https://www.sweetmarias.com/product/replacement-k-type-thermocouple-for-digital-thermometer

Thermocouple Temperature USB Data Logger
http://www.amazon.com/Lascar-EL-USB-TC-LCD-Thermocouple-Temperature-Logger/dp/B008EL7B6I/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1462999314&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=voltkraft+usb+thermocouple

I would think that anything non manual is going to be expensive unless you build it yourself. You'd need multiple temperature probes, some sort of communication between the readings and a datalogger. Using a computer would simplify things, but you'd be doing at least some low level programming, and measuring multiple points without having wires running all over your house means communication, which means power sources and other complications.

If you're not against crunching a little data yourself, just compiling some spreadsheets together, then I'd grab some simple temperature data loggers. Here's a temp only for super cheap:

https://www.amazon.com/Elitech-RC-5-Temperature-Recorder-Accuracy/dp/B00MQSCZF2/ref=pd_sim_328_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00MQSCZF2&pd_rd_r=3NFG19818199WDFMJ0JS&pd_rd_w=Ng9gF&pd_rd_wg=QW5Zl&psc=1&refRID=3NFG19818199WDFMJ0JS

And here's temp an humidity. Not terribly expensive, but adds up a bit for four. Still, I doubt you'll get much cheaper (providing you can get them in EU for similar price):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H3669T4?psc=1

I use the Kestrel Drop 2 data logger but there are others, like the Tempo Disc that are cheaper on Amazon.

Kestrel Drop 2

Tempo Disc

​

Are they water wells?

$200 device specifically for that

USB temperature logger:

http://www.amazon.com/Elitech-RC-5-Accuracy-Temperature-recorder/dp/B00MQSCZF2/ref=pd_sim_328_4?ie=UTF8&dpID=41z0hYchsUL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0RZE5G0XE7WRTH4627J5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Temperature-LCD-Data-Logger-Datalogger-RC-5-Temp-Recorder-Internal-Sensor-/251862739086

Or temp/humidity monitor if you only want to check min max:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013BKDO8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00

Last week I found an older post of yours that got me thinking about temperature data loggers. Of course I wanted to see how cheap of devices there are out there. I found this which is kind of cool since there is a display, it's a recorder but no Bluetooth. Elitech RC-5 USB Temperature Data logger Recorder 32000 Points High Accuracy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MQSCZF2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Jri.BbZGVRK0S.

I like that watch that was posted in this thread, I wonder if there is an affordable watch that has temperature and compass features and also records data over time?

THIS ONE helps a lot too.
I had my UltraGauge plugged in and it would stay alive for a bit and check the car for being awake. That kept the car awake, and it would drain the battery in two days.

This gadget isolated the problem and changing the Ultragauge to check the car for being alive 30 seconds after ignition off (instead of 6) fixed the problem.

> cm160

This thing? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Owl-Electricity-Monitor-Compatible-Windows/dp/B004BDNR84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464640730&sr=8-1&keywords=owl+cm160

https://www.amazon.com/Dickson-C663-Chart-Paper-0-50%C2%B0C/dp/B00VGDSQF6/ref=pd_sbs_328_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00VGDSQF6&pd_rd_r=BCS3SDKP4ZHHWG8C3CGN&pd_rd_w=6Qszq&pd_rd_wg=7FfPX&psc=1&refRID=BCS3SDKP4ZHHWG8C3CGN

I am considering this... or something cheaper with a probe

https://www.amazon.com/Lascar-Electronics-EL-USB-3-Voltage-readings/dp/B003DS0BS2/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3AV1V236QKP1V&keywords=voltage+data+logger&qid=1570645622&sprefix=voltage+data%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-4

I just got this for monitoring freezer temp in a remote location. Almost exactly what your looking for.

Elitech RC-5+ PDF USB Temperature... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074PNM4RV?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[example] (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-James-Quality-Vacuum-Sealer/dp/B001HBP7HW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394727547&sr=8-1&keywords=vac+pac+machine)

The CM160 I have comes in two parts. The collar/clamp that goes around your mains in supply and the little screen/monitor that connects via USB. The monitor takes the signal from the collar and interprets it, sending a stream of data to the USB host. I don't use the screen for anything other than that purpose of being a bridge to get data into my host.

I have this one here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004BDNR84/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522071308&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Cm160

I got the Andrew James 1100 Watt Digital Filter Coffee Maker With Fully Programmable Function And Reusable Mesh Filter. With a name as catchy as that, I'd be a fool not to get it!