ronanmcc

Hi guys.... Sorry its taken me so long to get back!.... I've been trying to track down a flow sensor, with very little luck! I've come to an arrangement with my tutor that he will allow me to inject both signals, the ph, and the flow, and just prove that the system works as described. so Irene, if at all possible, I'd like if you could assist me in the use of the usbdaq, tell me how to read the signals, and if possible, can I also generate the required signals with the unit??? the ph reading is on a scale of 0 to 14, so I'm assuming that I could use a variable voltage on an analogue input, and just regulate this to give various readings?, for the flow sensor, generally they use a pulse output, so again, should I use a counter or a digital input? The output will be driving a 5 volt relay, which will be switching a motor, attached to a cam gear which has a position switch attached. The unit operates as follows, when the unit is idle, the position switch reads low. when it recieves the signal to operate, the motor rotates until the switch comes low again(I'm assuming that it works on the trailing edge), it then pauses for 6 minutes in this position, rotates until next trailing edge, pauses for 1 hour 10 minutes, rotates, pauses 1 minute, rotates pauses 1 minute again, and finally rotates to home position. in brief:- *START* Rotate to first trailing edge, pause 6 minutes. Rotate to trailing edge, pause 1 hour 10 minutes Rotate to trailing edge, pause 1 minute. Rotate to trailing edge, pause 1 minute. Rotate to trailing edge, End. *STOP* Norm?..... What do you reckon in your expert opinion??? Can you tell me what to connect and where to connect it???.......... I'm really getting fed up of the late nights! yours, Ronan. If anyone wants to mail me, its ronanmcc@gmail.com

Hi Irene, I have figured out the DAQ, working nicely with Test & Log, but I now need to sort out timing issues. As I said already the motor has a cam attached which makes a switch at various satages around its circumference, I just need to figure out how long it idles in each position. I think I may have a faulty flow meter aswell, but will be sorting that out today. What I am planning on doing with the ph sensor is having a virtual sensor, ie. inject a signal at the required level as opposed to actually having a sensor, as the actual unit is rather expensive, so essentially I'll be taking an output from the DAQ (pwm???) and sending it back in through one of the analogue inputs. The motor output will just be feeding a relay, as the motor is a 24v ac unit. As soon as I sort out iming issues, I'll get back to you. Thanks! QUOTE(NormKirchner @ Aug 29 2007, 03:12 AM) Have to use LV!..... To be honest, the project does not have to be terribly stable, just as long as it holds up to a one time scrutiny! So, I dont really have to go into too much depth!, The set up will have to work.... (in theory)... but most marks are going for write up etc... Hope this will make things a bit easier! Ronan.

Hey Norm!... Hope all is well with you. I've spent the last couple of days staring into the innards of a water softener and trying to figure out exactly what it is I need to do.... I now have a rather astounding pile of pieces stacked up on the kitchen table, much to the delight of my wife! From what I can gather the unit is very simplistic in its operation, set the timer, the water hardness, and it perfoms its duty at a particular time of day, whether it needs to or not. My plan is to include a water flow meter (vane and magnet unit) to assess the exact water usage, and a ph sensor to read the exact ph level (would only need to be done once a day). given these 2 pieces of information, it should be possible that the softener only operates when it absolutely needs to, in so doing, saving water and energy..... well thats my theory, and I'm sticking to it! I have included a basic front panel design..... I think it more or less speaks for itself. the Status box would be just used to display what is happening at the present time, and the regenerate button is just a system override, to make the unit operate immediately. The 2 graphs are total water usage over the past 24 hours, linked to the flow meter so as to give an exact breakdown of when the water is being used etc., and the ph graph is a collation of the last 20 readings from the ph sensor. The time to regeneration window is letting the user know the approximate time until the unit next regenerates. The only output from the system is to a motor which drives a cam and has a position swich attached. If at all possible, I'd be eternally greatful if you could send me on the right road with this, or tell me if I'm being completely un-realistic about the possibilities.... yours, Ronan http://forums.lavag.org/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=6787

Thanks for the positive comments everyone!!!... It's true!.... there are some good people left in the world! Norm, I'm just getting a front panel together, as soon as I have it done, I'll let you know, and as I have already said, all assistance greatfully accepted. Irene, I have already downloaded the Hytek drivers, and I assume I have them installed correctly, the latest version released in July seems to be working perfectly for me. Looks like I'm in for a few late nights! Thanks again! Ronan. :worship:

I know its a tall order...... But I'm Desperate!!! .... If anyone knows of the Vi's that come with the hytek unit, I reckon they might be able to tell me at least which of them to use, and how to incorporate them!.... btw, good metaphor!

:headbang: Help!!! I'm a complete novice with LabVIEW and have been thrown in at the deep end. I have to have a project ready for a college course in ten days time and have no idea where to start. What I am trying to do is automate a water softener system, which I have been told is not all that difficult to do, but to me, I may as well be climbing the north face of everest in shorts and flip-flops.... Is there anyone that can point me in the right direction?.... I am using LabVIEW 8, and have a Hytek iUSB Daq. The water softener has a flow meter, and is basically a timer set to run a motor once a day, which regenerates the softener media. I would like to run the whole process through LabVIEW, and possibly include a ph meter so that the system would only regenerate when needed, so as to save salt etc., If anyone can help, please drop me a reply! Thanks, Ronan. :question: :question: