Serial Volt Meter Software

NEW Advanced Data Logging Software NEW

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Data-Logging Software & ActiveX Controls
Custom RS-232 Voltmeter Interface for the BASIC Stamp, PIC, and 8051

NOTE: This activex control is for
Visual Basic versions 5 & 6.

8-Bit Single-Channel Voltmeter

**** Single-Channel Serial Volt-Meter with 8-Bit Precision ****

Use your PC and the simple A/D circuit shown below, and turn your PC into a powerful analog voltage meter with full data logging, and viewing capabilities. Our custom voltmeter software accepts serial data from the BASIC Stamp I, II, or other microcontroller and displays the voltage onscreen for you to analyze, view, and log to a file. If offers full logging of each reading as it's received complete with the date & time stamp for each individual reading. Here's a sample of the log file recorded while adjusting a potentiometer attached to the input of the ADC0831.

Data logging:

Each time your program sends a reading to your PC, RenVoltmeter will log each analog value complete with the date & time stamp.

The 8-bit received via your PC serial port is automatically converted into an onscreen voltage display similar to that of your average multi meter. The bar graph below the numeric readout also moves with the input voltage readings to provide you with an analog look and feel. To change the time each log entry is made, simply change to pause times in your code, or process other tasks until you need to take the next reading.

Enable/Disable Log Feature:

RenVoltmeter lets you toggle the logging feature on/off by simply placing a check mark in the Enable Log check box. To start RenVoltmeter, simply click on the RED LED. The LED will turn green and the display will begin to update each time a new reading is received from the serial port.

Screen Capture with Log-File Enabled

Below is the simple code for using the BASIC Stamp I.

' BASIC Stamp I program that uses the National ADC0831 to acquire 
' analog data and output it via RS-232. 

Symbol	CS	=	0
Symbol	AD	=	pin1
Symbol	CLK	=	2
Symbol	S_out	= 	3
Symbol	data	=	b0
Symbol	i	=	b2

setup:	let pins = 255		'Pins high (deselect ADC). 
	let dirs = %11111101	'S_out, CLK, CS outputs; AD input. 

loop:	gosub conv		'Get the data. 
	serout S_out,N2400,(#b0,13,10) 'Send data, CR, LF. 
	pause 2000		'Wait 2 seconds
	goto loop		'Do it forever. 

conv:	low CLK			'Put clock line in starting state. 
	low CS			'Select ADC. 
	pulsout CLK, 1		'10 us clock pulse. 
	let data = 0		'Clear data. 
	for i = 1 to 8		'Eight data bits. 
	let data = data * 2	'Perform shift left. 
	pulsout CLK, 1		'10 us clock pulse. 
	let data = data + AD	'Put bit in LSB of data. 
	next			'Do it again. 
	high CS			'Deselect ADC when done. 
	return

Use the simple circuit shown below for the BASIC Stamp I or BSII

' BASIC Stamp II Interface for the ADC0831 
' 8-bit analog-to-digital converter

ADres	var	byte	' A-to-D result: one byte. 
CS	con	0	' Chip select is pin 0. 
AData	con	1	' ADC data output is pin 1. 
CLK	con	2	' Clock is pin 2. 
baud  	con   	16468 	' N9600

high CS			' Deselect ADC to start. 

again:
  low CS		' Activate the ADC0831. 
  shiftin AData,CLK,msbpost,[ADres\9]	' Shift in the data. 
  high CS		' Deactivate '0831.
  pause 500
  serout 3,baud,[ADres]
  pause 1000
  goto again		' Do it again.

Use the circuit below for the PIC12XXX

Using the 8-Pin PIC12xxx

Below is the code for using the PIC12xxx & PicBasic. Click HERE for a detailed article on using the PIC12xxx with PicBasic. if you don't have PicBasic yet, click HERE for our excellent offer on PicBasic & PicBasic Pro.

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------
' PIC12C672 A/D SAMPLE ROUTINE FOR TESTING
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------
' PIN  NAME     USE/CONNECTION
'  1   Vdd      +5VDC
'  2   GPIO.5   N/C (NO CONNECTION)
'  3   GPIO.4   N/C
'  4   GPIO.3   N/C
'  5   GPIO.2   N/C
'  6   GPIO.1   SERIAL OUTPUT TO PC
'  7   GPIO.0   1K RESISTOR TO CENTER OF 5K POT
'  8   VSS      GROUND
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFINE OSCCAL_2k 1      'SET OSCCAL FOR PIC12C672
RESULT VAR BYTE		'A/D CONVERSION RESULT STORAGE BYTE
ADCON1 = 6		'SET GP.0 TO ANALOG INPUT, Vref = Vdd, ALL ELSE = DIGITAL I/O

MAIN:
GOSUB GETVAL		'SETUP A/D
PAUSE 1000		'PAUSE FOR 1 SECOND
SEROUT GPIO.1,N2400,[RESULT] 'SEND A/D CONVERSION RESULT TO THE PC SERIAL PORT
PAUSE 1000		'PAUSE FOR 1 SECOND
GOTO MAIN

GETRESULT:
PAUSEUS 50		'WAIT FOR A/D CHANNEL SETUP (50 uS)
ADCON0.2 = 1		'START CONVERSION BY SETTIN GO/DONE-BIT (HIGH)

LOOP:                   'WAIT FOR GO/DONE BIT TO BE CLEARED
 IF ADCON0.2=1 THEN     'CHECK GO/DONE BIT (0=DONE)
   GOTO LOOP            'NOT FINISHED CONVERTING, THEN LOOP UNTIL DONE
 ENDIF			'IF STATEMENT SATISFIED, ADCON.2 = 0 (DONE)
RETURN			'FINISHED CONVERSION, RETURN TO GETVAL ROUTINE

GETVAL:
ADCON0=%10000001	'SET FOSC/32,CHANNEL 0 (GP0/AN0)
GOSUB GETRESULT		'START THE CONVERSION
RESULT = ADRES		'STORE THE A/D RESULT IN RESULT
RETURN			'RETURN TO MAIN ROUTINE, START OVER

END			'END PROGRAM

**** Complete ready to run software, or ActiveX Control ****

Purchase the ready to run version with complete installation & setup, or the ActiveX control. The ActiveX control lets you design your own custom version of RenVoltmeter. The ActiveX control is extremely simple to use, and only requires a few simple lines of code for a complete PC serial voltage meter with data logging features. Simply add the custom OCX control file to your project, and drag & drop the control onto your form. Below is all the code you'll need to enter to have a full blown operational version.

Complete Visual Basic Code for Fully Functional RenVoltmeter

Note: You will need the Professional version of Visual Basic that includes the MSComm control. The learning versions of Visual Basic do not include the MSComm control.

......."Get Your Own Copy"......

As with all of our software, you will receive any upgrades or enhancements 100% FREE. When we complete an upgrade, we will notify you and forward instructions on how to obtain the latest versions absolutely FREE of charge.

Important Note:
Before you place your order, please be sure you have a valid email address, [if you want to download the software]. After you order one of our custom ActiveX controls, or the complete [ready to run version], you will receive an email verification with instructions, and a link to our Software Download Center. You will be given a password to use when you download the software.

Note: We send download locations & passwords to you manually once we receive your order. Please be patient. It may take us a few hours to email you download instructions. Orders placed on weekends, or after normal business hours (9 to 5 Mon-Fri), will normally be processed on the following day, or Monday if placed during the weekend.

Double check your email address when you fill in the order forms using the order buttons below.

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Option #1: (For Download)
RenVoltmeter Custom ActiveX Control

Option #2: (For Download)
"Ready to Run" Volt-Meter Data-Logging Program

Option #3: (For Download)
ActiveX Control + PIC12Fxxx Serial A/D IC

Option #4: (For Download)
"Ready to Run" Volt-Meter Data-Logging Program + PIC12Fxxx Serial A/D IC.