communicate with extech 451126 anemometer

[davidmc1234]

Iam new to labview and Iam trying to build a Vi to read continous real time data from an extech 451126 anemometer into labview 2010 and display just the wind velocity in M/s.

The byte configurement is as follows.

Appendix A: Real-time Datalog-to-PC transfer 

Byte 1 0D (Hex) Byte 9 Digit 2 in upper LCD 

Byte 2 bit4: Velocity OL,  bit5 Area OL,  bit 6: 

Temp OL 

Byte 10 Digit 1 in upper LCD 

Byte 3 0: m/s, 1: ft/min, 2: knots, 3: km/hr, 4: MPH Byte 11 Digit 0 (LSB) in upper 

LCD 

Byte 4 bit2: MAX, bit3: MIN, bit4: 0:VEL 1:FLOW, 

bit 5: 0: DEG C, 1:DEG F, bit7: RS-232 

enabled  

Byte 12 Digit 3 (MSB) in lower 

LCD 

Byte 5 bit0: 0:CMM, 1: CFM, bit3: low batt, bit4: 

Temp OL, 

bit5: AVE, bit6: 2/3Vmax, bit7: Instant  

Byte 13 Digit 2 in lower LCD 

Byte 6 Lower LCD decimal, bit0: x100, bit1: x10, 

bit2: x1, 

bit3: dp1 (rightmost), bit4: dp2, bit5: dp3 

(leftmost) 

Byte 14 Digit 1 in lower LCD 

Byte 7 Upper LCD decimal, bit2: x1, bit3: dp1 

(rightmost),  

bit4: dp2, bit5: dp3 (leftmost) 

Byte 15 Digit 0 (LSB) in lower 

LCD 

Byte 8 Digit 3 (MSD) in upper LCD   

Appendix A: Real-time Datalog-to-PC transfer Byte 1 0D (Hex) Byte 9 Digit 2 in upper LCD Byte 2 bit4: Velocity OL,  bit5 Area OL,  bit 6: Temp OL Byte 10 Digit 1 in upper LCD Byte 3 0: m/s, 1: ft/min, 2: knots, 3: km/hr, 4: MPH Byte 11 Digit 0 (LSB) in upper LCD Byte 4 bit2: MAX, bit3: MIN, bit4: 0:VEL 1:FLOW, bit 5: 0: DEG C, 1:DEG F, bit7: RS-232 enabled  Byte 12 Digit 3 (MSB) in lower LCD Byte 5 bit0: 0:CMM, 1: CFM, bit3: low batt, bit4: Temp OL, bit5: AVE, bit6: 2/3Vmax, bit7: Instant  Byte 13 Digit 2 in lower LCD Byte 6 Lower LCD decimal, bit0: x100, bit1: x10, bit2: x1, bit3: dp1 (rightmost), bit4: dp2, bit5: dp3 (leftmost) Byte 14 Digit 1 in lower LCD Byte 7 Upper LCD decimal, bit2: x1, bit3: dp1 (rightmost),  bit4: dp2, bit5: dp3 (leftmost) Byte 15 Digit 0 (LSB) in lower LCD Byte 8 Digit 3 (MSD) in upper LCD   

[Robert.L]

Hi Dvidmc 1234

To support you with this project i will require more information.

How are you connecting this anemometer to your PC cable wise?

What interface are you using USB PCI PCIe ect?

What method of communication are you looking to use eg VISA?

Which drivers are you looking to use for this communication?

I have attached links to resources that you may find useful.

NI VISA overview

https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/06/ni-virtual-instrument-software-architect...

To communicate with labVIEW the PC needs to be able to recognise the inputs from the device to do this we use a driver you can make a custom driver using NI VISA.

https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/ni-visa/page/using-visa-driver-wizard-to-program-pxipci.html

[davidmc1234]

Iam connecting the anemometer to the labview via rs232  using a using a usb to serial connector. I was trying to communicate with VISA also tried Instrument io, not sure on how to configure either of these. Also not sure on the drivers. This is the first time i have used visa.

[Robert.L]

HI davidmc 1234

For one of your first contacts with labVIEW this is far from a trivial task.

I would advise if you are going to be doing more labVIEW programming to attend National Instruments training as you would find it beneficial. Using the resources I have suggested and the manual that came with the device to find the correct protocols to communicate with the device. Use the VISA wizard to step by step work through the building of the driver. Entering in the information from the manual where appropriate.

I have found more resources that you may find useful:

General Troubleshooting Tips for VISA problems

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000YI6tCAG&l=en-US

USB Instrument Control Tutorial

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000x1qzCAA&l=en-US