P.A.

HILTON LTD

EXPERIMENTAL

OPERATING

AND

MAINTENANCE MANUAL
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT METHODS
AND CALIBRATION UNIT
H981

DATA ACQUISITION (SOFTWARE)

UPGRADE

HC982B

HC982B_E_2_038
AUG 16
2

This page is intentionally blank

 3

INDEX
Page I
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION 4
PARTS REQUIRED 4
COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS 4
PRINTER TYPE 4
IMPORTANT: REGIONAL SETTINGS 4
GETTING STARTED 5
PRINTOUT OF CHANNEL CONFIGURATION. 9
COLLECT DATA. 10
CALIBRATION PROCEDURE 16
CONCLUSION 17
 4

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
PARTS REQUIRED
A detailed parts list is provided on the Packing List accompanying the Upgrade and may be revised without
notice. The following is for guidance only: -

PART No. QTY DESCRIPTION

HC982A/2/01 1 H981 Data Acquisition software
Comprising: -
1 CD ROM - HDL (Hilton Data Logging V1-3).
HC982a Configuration file on CD.
(Configuration file name H981-3.PAH)
(Data file name H981-3.DAT)
1 Software Record Sheet.
1 Copyright Notice.

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
Desk PC with monitor or portable PC with at least 1 USB port and a CD drive. Windows XP (minimum), or
later versions.

PRINTER TYPE
Any windows printer connected to your PC.

IMPORTANT: REGIONAL SETTINGS

In countries where decimal numbers are conventionally represented as (example) 1,34 rather than 1.34 it will
be necessary to reset the decimal notation to use the period “.” rather than use the comma “,” This is simply
achieved in Windows by accessing the regional or localisation settings within the Control Panel for Windows.
E.g. Start > Settings > Control Panel > Regional Settings > Number > decimal symbol. For more details, refer
to the appropriate Windows Help documentation.

All of the configuration files supplied with the HDL software utilise the period “.” decimal symbol and the data
collected will also use the same symbol.

It is important that the regional setting for decimal symbol is changed BEFORE the software is run or the
configuration files supplied will be corrupted. The regional setting change is also effective in automatically
allowing data collected with the software to be operated upon within spreadsheets such as XL and others.

Note that if preferred the regional settings may be returned to the local norm when the HDL software is not in
use or data recorded using the HDL software is not being processed.
 5

GETTING STARTED

1. Set up your computer within reach of the power supply and the USB serial link connected to the Data
Logger adjacent to the H981 Console.

2. Plug in the Data Logger power supply emerging from the rear of the console.

3. Connect the USB lead to a USB port on your PC or via a suitable USB hub.

4. Connect your printer, if applicable.

5. After complying with your local IT regulations for virus checking of new software, insert the HDL
Software CD and RUN Set-up.exe. The default location for HDL software is C:\Program Files\HDL.

6. Insert the second CD containing the configuration files and copy all of the configuration files
(e.g. H981-3 .PAH, H981-3.DAT etc…) to the C:\Program Files\HDL folder.

7. The original CD should be kept as a back up.

8. Switch on the H981 to power up the logger. Observe the Data logger Status light. This should show
red.

9. Click on ‘Start’>Programs>P.A.Hilton Data Loggers, then the HDL icon

P.A. Hilton Data Loggers.LNK

10. The first screen offers language options: -

11. Note the above shows D102, this is now updated to D103.
12. The examples shown are generic Screen Shots applicable to many Hilton Units.
6

System Configuration screen

Click ‘Load’ to be offered

the pre-configured files

Open the ‘H981-3.pah’ file

H981-3.PAH
 7

Click Yes to
both the
following

H981-3.PAH

H981-3 .DAT

If On Line is not checked,

Click On Line

Then Click
‘OK’

This error message occurs if the PC fails

to communicate with the logger.
Check the USB lead and Power supply
and click Retry
8

The Main Menu is the next screen when communication is successful.

Data may be collected immediately, but click on ‘Channel Configuration’

above to see the pre-configured active channels below: -

Choose ‘Print Configuration’ to provide hard copy of the

original channel set-up and verify printer communication.

Then click ‘OK’ to get back to the Main Menu

 9

PRINTOUT OF CHANNEL CONFIGURATION.

P.A.Hilton Data Loggers - Channels Configuration

C:\Program Files\HDL\H981-3.pah
06 September 2012 - 17:09:54

Low mv Signal [mV] (Logger 1 / Channel 1)

Amplifier: OFF
Calibration: 0 + (1*sig) + (0*sig^2) + (0*sig^3)
Lower limit / Upper Limit / Reference Value:-100 mV / 100 mV / 0 mV
Platinum Res 1 [deg C] (Logger 1 / Channel 9)
Amplifier: OFF
Calibration: -180 + (80*sig) + (0*sig^2) + (0*sig^3)
Lower limit / Upper Limit / Reference Value:-50 deg C / 300 deg C / 0 deg C
Thermistor 2 [deg C] (Logger 1 / Channel 10)
Amplifier: OFF
Calibration: -60 + (36*sig) + (0*sig^2) + (0*sig^3)
Lower limit / Upper Limit / Reference Value:-50 deg C / 300 deg C / 0 deg C
Thermocoup 3 [Deg C] (Logger 1 / Channel 11)
Amplifier: OFF
Calibration: -180 + (80*sig) + (0*sig^2) + (0*sig^3)
Lower limit / Upper Limit / Reference Value:-50 Deg C / 300 Deg C / 0 Deg C
High mv Sig [mV] (Logger 1 / Channel 12)
Amplifier: ON
Calibration: 0 + (1000*sig) + (0*sig^2) + (0*sig^3)
Lower limit / Upper Limit / Reference Value:-2000 mV / 2000 mV / 0 mV
 10

COLLECT DATA.

Select ‘Collect Data’ above, then OK, then click ‘NO’ in the box below

Choose ‘Numeric Display’ and click OK

 11

Click on ‘Start Recording’

(This example is not real data)
Examine the on-screen values to verify all channels
are functioning and compare the logged data with the
values displayed by the digital instruments.

Discrepancies may be rectified by Calibration.

RECORD AND COMPARE (example with H981 fitted)

Channel ON-SCREEN
NAME UNITS MANUAL VALUE
Number VALUE
1 Low mV Signal mV
17 Platinum Res_1 ºC
18 Thermistor_2 ºC
19 Thermocoup_3 ºC
20 Hi_mV_Signal_4 ºC

The HC981-3.pah configuration displays all the channels used by all the H981 optional units.
One may start a new data file with a new name, by returning to the ‘System Configuration’ screen and
typing in a new data file name. Changing the number of channels in the ‘Channel Configuration’ screen
would then be enabled.
 12

For this calibration exercise, we may allow all channels to be displayed, even when not connected.

Click on ‘End Recording’ to get back to the ‘Main Menu’

From here, one may exit the programme or go to ‘Channel
Configuration’ to calibrate channels in error.
 13

TRANSDUCER CALIBRATION PRINCIPLES

Factory fitted HC982A Data Acquisition (Hardware) Upgrades will arrive in a calibrated condition, but
customer-installed upgrades should be followed by this procedure.

Calibration is also a useful student training exercise, being representative of the engineering problems, which
they will encounter. Calibration is required to make each transducer indicate correctly.

All of the digital instruments used in the H981 control console have an output signal proportional to the
measured temperature value.
The Thermocouple Thermometer and Platinum Resistance thermometer both have the following
characteristics.

Sensor temperature °C Output Signal,Volts

-84.0 1.2
300 6.0
The Thermistor thermometer has the following characteristics.

Sensor temperature °C Output Signal,Volts

-60.0 0.0
120.0 5.0

When plotted in x/y graph form these values produce a zero offset and slope.

Zero offset = Engineering units to display when transducer output = zero electronic units, e.g.

The Thermistor thermometer has a zero output at -60.0°C

Slope = Engineering units represented by each unit of electronic output, e.g.

The Thermistor thermometer has a rate of change of output of

Temperature 120  ( 60)


Voltage 50
180

5
 36 Degrees C / Volt

See overleaf.
 14

If using Excel, it is necessary to have the units of input to the logger on the base line (x axis) and the measured
value on the vertical (y axis). The answer will then be presented in an acceptable form:
V AC/Volt, bar/Volt or g/pulse or Amps/mA, etc.

Temperature 120  ( 60) Thermistor Thermometer Conversion Factor


Voltage 50
140
180
 120
5
 36 Degrees C / Volt 100

80

deg C
Output at zero volts 60

= -60° 40

20

-20 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-40

-60

-80
Volts
The pre-configured HDL software uses the above-calculated values to convert transducer output into units
displayed on screen. The transducer outputs may be linear as above, y= 36xSignal -60 , producing a straight
line. This may be entered into the ‘Channel Configuration’ screen as: -

Display Value = -60 +signal x 36 + signal2 x 0 + signal3 x 0

This is the standard factor used for the thermistor thermometer.

For the Platinum resistance and thermocouple thermometers the equivalent factor is
Thermocouple and PRT Thermometer Convers ion Factor

400

300

200
deg C

100

0
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
- 100

- 200

- 300
Vo lts

Display Value = -180 +signal x 80 + signal2 x 0 + signal3 x 0

 15

The HDL software has a curve-fitting ‘Calibrate’ facility that allows manual input of the desired display value
followed by a ‘Read’ button to record the transducer output. Two such pairs will produce a linear fit or four
pairs, a polynomial fit. The result is stored in memory automatically.

Characteristic curves for Type K and Type T thermocouples are resident in memory, but each temperature
channel may be modified by adding an ‘Offset’ value.
This allows a type K or type T thermocouple to be connected directly to any of the 15 Thermocouple or
differential inputs. The details of the method of operation is contained in the data logger manual held on the CD
supplied.

During the "Getting Started" tests in the previous section, there may have been some disagreement between the
value displayed on screen and the indication by the LCD Voltmeter. Alternatively, the on-screen T1 may differ
from the LED temperature indicator. Calibration through software enables us to make the transducers agree
with the instruments.
For the purpose of this exercise, we shall regard the manual indicator as the "Master" gauge.
 16

CALIBRATION PROCEDURE

In the following example, we shall recalibrate the Thermistor.

.
The Thermistor probe must be installed in the normal way and at least two reference temperatures established.
Ice and water (0°C) is one possible reference and boiling water (100°C) another.
Note the calibration factors at the start of this exercise are -180 + signal x 80
Inter

-180 80

Thermistor

0 1.19

100 3.5

50 2.94

Enter zero in the box ‘Point 1’ then press ‘Read’.

ENDThe Thermistor transducer output (Volts DC) is
auto-inserted. The Graph on the left will build as you add points. Increase the temperature
seen by the thermistor and then enter the new temperature in the Point 2 box. Again click
Read.
After entering ‘Point 3’, the linear behaviour is verified.
 17

-185.6 79.5

The revised calibration factors

are auto-inserted and differ
slightly from the original.

The on-screen value will now

align with the LCD Voltmeter.

CONCLUSION

The above procedure may be used on all of the available input channels if required.

The quality of experimental data is only as good as the quality of calibration. For training purposes, we have
regarded the manual instruments to be ‘Master’ gauges. Real calibration is an expensive procedure requiring
the ‘Master’ to be calibrated by a nationally accredited specialist or using a traceable standard device. A
calibration certificate, traceable back to the source instruments would validate the data.

The manual Operation with Hilton Data Logging Software, will introduce operators to a full range of
features including use of graphic data display, reviewing data and conversion to spreadsheets.

The Data Logger may be detached from the H981 and used for other data logging projects and research.
Further instructions are available on the HDL CD where example transducer connections may be found for
customer-configured projects.