PicAxe was brought to my attention by Wreno that is on this forum. He and I have discussed it numerous times and I
see great potential for application in my work in the oil/gas industry. I have developed a Daq Application for use
on Rig Sites using a LabJack UE9 (www.labjack.com) that monitors 3 switches via Digital In, several Analalog Inputs
of voltage, and controls multible relays via digital out. The switches are spread out over the Rig Site and require
long runs of wire from the trailer to them. The Gas Sensor resides in the trailer and requires a large vacuum pump
to pull released Hydrocarbon gas from the Rig through polyvinyl 1/4" line into the trailer.
I envision PicAxe w/ Wireless transmission to improve my existing system in the following ways:
No long wire lines running from trailer to switches.
Moving the Gas Sensor equipment out of the trailer for safety, convience and ease of setup.
Lower Cost, Labjack UE9 cost $429, Pump Stroke Counters cost $165
I have lurked on this sight and looked at the documentation enough to know that PicAxe should be more than capable
to handle what I have designed. The language is easliy understood and powerfull enough for the simple data collection
and relay that I require. I'll leave the heavy lifting to my Daq Software that will receive the serial data and
update the PC screen and write out logs in csv format.
The gist of my questions are which PicAxe Chip for the different remote sensors and what product to use for the wireless
transmission of the data from the remote sensors to the centrailize receiver.
Visual of Planned Daq Network
<<<< Pump Stroke Counter #1 >>>> |---------|
0 - 90 Strokes/Min | |
Digital Input - Hall Effect for Stroke | PicAxe |\
Input - Voltage of Battery | & | \
Output - LED alternates w/ Stroke | Tx | \
Output - LED to show low battery | | \
Serial Out - Wirelessly TX "1" for | | \
each Stroke, Voltage of battery when low| | \
|---------| \
\
<<<< Pump Stroke Counter #2 >>>> |---------| \
0 - 90 Strokes/Min | | \ |----------|
Digital Input - Hall Effect for Stroke | PicAxe | \| | <<<< Wireless Receiver >>>>
Input - Voltage of Battery | & | | | Receives Serial Data from 4 other Tx's
Output - LED alternates w/ Stroke | Tx | | | Sends Serial Data thru USB to PC
Output - LED to show low battery | | | | Daq Software can be configured to read serial Data
Serial Out - Wirelessly TX "1" for | | | Wireless | Digital Output - trip relay to sound buzzer
each Stroke, Voltage of battery when low| |-----------| Rx | Digital Output - trip relay to flash light
|---------| | & |
| PicAxe |
<<<< Depth Recorder Reader >>>> |---------| | |
0 - 60 Revolutions / Hr | |-----------| |
Digital Input - Hall Effect for Rev | PicAxe | | | USB
Input - Voltage of Battery | & | | |==============>>> |-------------------|
Output - LED lit for 2 secs each Rev | TX | | | | |
Output - LED to show low battery | | /| | | |
Serial Out - Wirelessly TX "1" for | | / |----------| | |
each Rev, Voltage of battery when low | | / | PC |
|---------| / | |
/ | |
<<<< Gas Sensor Package >>>> |---------| / | |
0 - 50 Mv | | / | |
Input - Mv from Wheatstone Bridge 1 | PicAxe | / |-------------------|
Input - Voltage across Filament 1 | & | /
Input - Mv From Wheatstone Bridge 2 | Tx | /
Input - Voltage across Filament 2 | |/
Input - Mv From Wheatstone Bridge 3 | |
Input - Voltage across Filament 3 | |
Input - Mv from Flow Meter | |
Serial Out - Wirelessly TX all inputs |---------|
Serial Out - Possiblly to a display
Digital Out - Trip relay for Solenoid Valve 1
Digital Out - Trip relay for Solenoid Valve 2
Digital Out - Trip relay for flashing light
<<<< Other Details for Pump Stroke Counters >>>>
Monitored every .25 seconds, Stroke Counts could be buffered at remote Sensor and delivered to Rx on regular
intervals, say 5-10 seconds
Send voltages of batteries or low battery status for Pump Counters & Depth Recorder Reader Every 5 minutes
Need accurate sensing timing intervals because speed is calculated
Battery powered, Hall Effect Sensor works well with 5v, would work even better w/ 9v
<<<< Other Details for Depth Recorder Reader >>>>
Depth Recorder Reader monitored every 2 seconds, transmit anytime a Revolution made
Send voltages of batteries or low battery status for Pump Counters & Depth Recorder Reader Every 5 minutes
Need accurate sensing timing intervals because speed is calculated
Battery powered, Hall Effect Sensor works well with 5v, would work even better w/ 9v
<<<< Other Details for Gas Sensor Package >>>>>
Gas Sensor Package, transmit all data every 2 seconds
Voltage across Filaments less than 3.3v
Bridge Circuits 0 - .006V -> it is important to messure accuately and to 6 significant numbers. If newer
PicAxe chips can only measure to interger accuracy, I may not be able to use a PicAxe.
Will have external power available.
<<<< Other Details for Data Transmission >>>>
Distance of transmission, no more than 200 Meters.
Receiver will be inside a metal trailer
My questions for the Forum:
For Pump Stroke Counters what PicAxe chip is best fit?
For Depth Recorder Reader what PicAxe Chip is best fit?
For Gas Sensor Package what PicAxe chip is best?
For Tx/Rx of data what product, I'm thinking Xbee?
What is a good serial display for data from Gas Sensor Package?
Thankyou for your indulgence and input.
Mike Duffy
see great potential for application in my work in the oil/gas industry. I have developed a Daq Application for use
on Rig Sites using a LabJack UE9 (www.labjack.com) that monitors 3 switches via Digital In, several Analalog Inputs
of voltage, and controls multible relays via digital out. The switches are spread out over the Rig Site and require
long runs of wire from the trailer to them. The Gas Sensor resides in the trailer and requires a large vacuum pump
to pull released Hydrocarbon gas from the Rig through polyvinyl 1/4" line into the trailer.
I envision PicAxe w/ Wireless transmission to improve my existing system in the following ways:
No long wire lines running from trailer to switches.
Moving the Gas Sensor equipment out of the trailer for safety, convience and ease of setup.
Lower Cost, Labjack UE9 cost $429, Pump Stroke Counters cost $165
I have lurked on this sight and looked at the documentation enough to know that PicAxe should be more than capable
to handle what I have designed. The language is easliy understood and powerfull enough for the simple data collection
and relay that I require. I'll leave the heavy lifting to my Daq Software that will receive the serial data and
update the PC screen and write out logs in csv format.
The gist of my questions are which PicAxe Chip for the different remote sensors and what product to use for the wireless
transmission of the data from the remote sensors to the centrailize receiver.
Visual of Planned Daq Network
<<<< Pump Stroke Counter #1 >>>> |---------|
0 - 90 Strokes/Min | |
Digital Input - Hall Effect for Stroke | PicAxe |\
Input - Voltage of Battery | & | \
Output - LED alternates w/ Stroke | Tx | \
Output - LED to show low battery | | \
Serial Out - Wirelessly TX "1" for | | \
each Stroke, Voltage of battery when low| | \
|---------| \
\
<<<< Pump Stroke Counter #2 >>>> |---------| \
0 - 90 Strokes/Min | | \ |----------|
Digital Input - Hall Effect for Stroke | PicAxe | \| | <<<< Wireless Receiver >>>>
Input - Voltage of Battery | & | | | Receives Serial Data from 4 other Tx's
Output - LED alternates w/ Stroke | Tx | | | Sends Serial Data thru USB to PC
Output - LED to show low battery | | | | Daq Software can be configured to read serial Data
Serial Out - Wirelessly TX "1" for | | | Wireless | Digital Output - trip relay to sound buzzer
each Stroke, Voltage of battery when low| |-----------| Rx | Digital Output - trip relay to flash light
|---------| | & |
| PicAxe |
<<<< Depth Recorder Reader >>>> |---------| | |
0 - 60 Revolutions / Hr | |-----------| |
Digital Input - Hall Effect for Rev | PicAxe | | | USB
Input - Voltage of Battery | & | | |==============>>> |-------------------|
Output - LED lit for 2 secs each Rev | TX | | | | |
Output - LED to show low battery | | /| | | |
Serial Out - Wirelessly TX "1" for | | / |----------| | |
each Rev, Voltage of battery when low | | / | PC |
|---------| / | |
/ | |
<<<< Gas Sensor Package >>>> |---------| / | |
0 - 50 Mv | | / | |
Input - Mv from Wheatstone Bridge 1 | PicAxe | / |-------------------|
Input - Voltage across Filament 1 | & | /
Input - Mv From Wheatstone Bridge 2 | Tx | /
Input - Voltage across Filament 2 | |/
Input - Mv From Wheatstone Bridge 3 | |
Input - Voltage across Filament 3 | |
Input - Mv from Flow Meter | |
Serial Out - Wirelessly TX all inputs |---------|
Serial Out - Possiblly to a display
Digital Out - Trip relay for Solenoid Valve 1
Digital Out - Trip relay for Solenoid Valve 2
Digital Out - Trip relay for flashing light
<<<< Other Details for Pump Stroke Counters >>>>
Monitored every .25 seconds, Stroke Counts could be buffered at remote Sensor and delivered to Rx on regular
intervals, say 5-10 seconds
Send voltages of batteries or low battery status for Pump Counters & Depth Recorder Reader Every 5 minutes
Need accurate sensing timing intervals because speed is calculated
Battery powered, Hall Effect Sensor works well with 5v, would work even better w/ 9v
<<<< Other Details for Depth Recorder Reader >>>>
Depth Recorder Reader monitored every 2 seconds, transmit anytime a Revolution made
Send voltages of batteries or low battery status for Pump Counters & Depth Recorder Reader Every 5 minutes
Need accurate sensing timing intervals because speed is calculated
Battery powered, Hall Effect Sensor works well with 5v, would work even better w/ 9v
<<<< Other Details for Gas Sensor Package >>>>>
Gas Sensor Package, transmit all data every 2 seconds
Voltage across Filaments less than 3.3v
Bridge Circuits 0 - .006V -> it is important to messure accuately and to 6 significant numbers. If newer
PicAxe chips can only measure to interger accuracy, I may not be able to use a PicAxe.
Will have external power available.
<<<< Other Details for Data Transmission >>>>
Distance of transmission, no more than 200 Meters.
Receiver will be inside a metal trailer
My questions for the Forum:
For Pump Stroke Counters what PicAxe chip is best fit?
For Depth Recorder Reader what PicAxe Chip is best fit?
For Gas Sensor Package what PicAxe chip is best?
For Tx/Rx of data what product, I'm thinking Xbee?
What is a good serial display for data from Gas Sensor Package?
Thankyou for your indulgence and input.
Mike Duffy
