topic Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01 in LabVIEW

Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

Kevski — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:26:38 GMT

Hello,

I am having datalogging difficulties with my USB-TC01. When I connect the USB-TC01 to a thermocouple (type K) in my coffee roasting machine the temperature shown by the TC01 UI bears no relationship to the actual temperature in the machine. The temperature displayed on the TC01 UI increases to a point and then hovers around a fixed value while the temperature in region I am measuring is all the time increasing. This video gives a demonstration of what I am observing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IME39KWTiXs You will note that the temperature in the machine display is showing 386F while the TC01 UI on the laptop is showing an oscillating temperature of between 154F - 159F - less than half the actual temperature. When I connect the same thermocouple wire on the machine to another datalogger such as the Extech EA15, there is no problem, so there is no issue with the thermocouple connection. Also when I connect the TC01 to a thermocouple temperature probe, such as the one shown in this picture,

it behaves normally

Appreciate any advice as to what may be going on here.

Kind regards,

Kevin

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

Tom9390 — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:04:53 GMT

Hi Kevin, are you UK based? This looks like it could be a repair issue. Try contacting NI UK technical support on 01635 523545.

Otherwise, take a look at www.ni.com/support

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

Kevski — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:39:11 GMT

Hello Tom,

Thanks for your reply and for the contact number for UK Tech Support.. I'm based in Ireland so I guess Tech Support is provided from the UK?

I suspect the problem may be due to electrical interferance/noise with the signal from the thermocouple and I will

test this later this week by running the datalogger with the machine switched off. I'll post the results in this thread.

Best regards,

Kevin

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

Tom9390 — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:42:03 GMT

Hi Kevin, Yes tech support for Ireland is supported from the UK so the contact number should be good.

Cheers, Tom

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

coffee_man — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:32:47 GMT

Did you resolve this? I am having the exact same issue.

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

Kevski — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:58:18 GMT

I was unable to resolve this issue using the TC-01 device so I upgraded to the 9211 measurement bundle which is a 9211 4-channel thermocouple device which fits into a 1-slot USB chassis. The 9211 device works perfectly now with the sofware interface I'm using. I suspect that electromagnetic interference was at least part of the issue with the TC-01 device.

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

coffee_man — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:14:11 GMT

Great, thank you for the reply. I've just ordered the 9211. Are you using Typica software wtih the device? If so, how is it going?

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

Kevski — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:26:05 GMT

Yes, I am using Neal Wilson's Typica program - it works very well as a datalogging system.

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

coffee_man — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:31:17 GMT

I'm having difficulty getting the 9211 to work with typica.

I'm getting a -200220 error once Typica opens. "Invalid Device ID". Any ideas what would be causing this?

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

sahpe — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:59:15 GMT

Hello coffee_man,

One of these might help:

Why do I Receive Error Code -200220 When Running a Data Acquisition Program?

Kind Regards,

Michael S.

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

Kevski — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:54:14 GMT

In addition to Michael's comments there is some additional advice from Typica's developer, Neal Wilson, to be found on his blog Random Musings of a Coffee Technologist - scroll down to the post entitled 'Customizing Typica Configurations'. Be sure to use the correct device ID - for the 9211 it's 'cDAQ1Mod1'.

Best of luck!

Kevin

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

coffee_man — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:57:37 GMT

Thanks for getting back to me. I found the version of typica I needed for the measurement bundle here:

http://appliedcoffeetechnology.tumblr.com/tagged/Typica

The author gets really specific about the versions of the 9211 supported by Typica.

Anyways, now that everything is working in the software, for some reason the 9211 is reading 5 degrees lower than my roaster's temperature read out. My k type thermocouple probe has two wire leads for thermostats, but I don't know why they would be reading differently.

Is there some calibration that needs to happen on the 9211 in order for it to read the same as my roaster's thermocouple?

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

Kevski — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:18:47 GMT

Hello,

Not sure what the cause of the 5 degree difference (this I presume is Celsius?), but just wanted to check that you have made the following two changes: For the one probe configuration, under Windows/sampleroaster.xml or for the two and three probe configurations, under Windows/productionroaster.xml there are two changes to make. As you are using a type K thermocouple, you'll need to change the references to TypeJ to TypeK. The other change is the device specification. A USB 9211 would present itself as cDAQ1Mod1 so you need to change the line in Windows/sampleroaster.xml (for the one probe configuration) from

var device = new DAQ('Dev1');

to

var device = new DAQ('cDAQ1Mod1');

Then save, open Typica, load the configuration you've edited, and try it out.

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

chast2012 — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:28:24 GMT

I recently received my TC01 and the problem I have is it reads 85 degrees above my Fuji Controller. I have Typica and checked it against the NI program and it reads the same. Everything is set up for J thermocouple, same wire is used, not near any electrical. Connections are secure and correct. It is not the controller as I have checked that out.

Getting frustrated!!

Thanks

Charlie

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

Kevski — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:59:37 GMT

Hello Charlie,

I did extensive testing with the TC01 (including receiving a replacement device) and could not get it to function properly. I eventually replaced it with the NI 9211 measurement bundle - which works perfectly. The 9211 is tested to protect itself against EMI and oversamples input data to reduce data spikes - so it's much more reliable.

Regards,

Kevin

Re: Datalogging problems with USB-TC01

acolbourn — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:56:32 GMT

There is also the definite potential of a ground loop screwing things up. Make sure everything is properly grounded and try testing in multiple configurations to see if the strange behavior drops out.