here’s a script to record time-series of balance measurements (weight data) using a Campbell Scientific CR1000 datalogger and a balance with an RS232 serial interface.
we have been using two dedicated scripts which vary slightly to work with two different balance models, the Mettler-Toledo MS8001TS (polled mode; should work with all current Mettler-Toledo balances based on MT-SICS) and the Kern DE35K0.5D1 (set to continuous output).
download: (.cr1 files, saved as .txt)
CR1000 script to log output from a Mettler-Toledo MS8001TS balance
CR1000 script to log output from a Kern DE35K0.5D balance1
CR1000 script to log output from four Kern DE35K0.5D balance1
if you just want to have a look at the code, the CR1 scripts are included in text form at the end of this post.
1note that, as it turns out, the strain gauge loadcell measuring system of the Kern DE35K0.5D balance makes it unsuitable for longer term measurements. to get an idea of the drift effect resulting from a continuous load on these balances, here’s a figure from a test run with constant weights:
CR1 script for one Mettler-Toledo MS8001TS balance
'Log weight output from a Mettler-Toledo MT8001TS balance via Serial interface (RS232)
'On the balance in Settings > General configuration > Devices and connectivity, set RS232 to "PC-Direct".
'Declare Variables and Units
Public Datastream As String * 50
Public ID As String *2
Public Status As String *2
Public Weight
Public Unit As String *2
Public Batt
Public PTemp
'Define Data Table
DataTable(Weights,True,-1))
'Set interval for recording data to 5 min
DataInterval(0,5,min,10)
Sample(1,Weight,IEEE4)
Sample(1,Unit,String)
Sample(1,Batt,IEEE4)
Sample(1,PTemp,IEEE4)
EndTable
BeginProg
'Open serial connection to balance
SerialOpen(Com1,9600,3,0,1000)
'Start a reading every 5 seconds
Scan(5,sec,3,0)
'Request weight value immediately (i.e. non-stable value)
SerialOut(Com1,"SI"&CHR(13)&CHR(10),0,1,0)
Delay(0,100,mSec)
SerialIn(Datastream,Com1,100,10,50)
'Output example = "S D WeightValue Unit"
' characters: 1-2.1. 10 .1-X
ID = Trim(Left(Datastream,2))
Status = Trim(Mid(Datastream,3,1))
Weight = Trim(Mid(Datastream,4,12)) ' remove 4 characters from beginning
Unit = Trim(Mid(Datastream,15,10))
Battery(Batt) 'Datalogger Battery Voltage
PanelTemp(PTemp,_50Hz) 'Wiring Panel Temperature
CallTable Weights
NextScan
EndProg
CR1 script for one Kern DE350K0.5D balance
'Log weight output from a Kern DE350K0.5D balance via Serial interface (RS232)
'On the balance, set output mode to "Auto PC".
'Declare Variables and Units
Public Datastream As String * 50
Public Readfrom As Long
Public Plusminus As String *1
Public Weight
Public Unit As String *2
Public Batt
Public PTemp
'Define Data Table
DataTable(Weights,True,-1))
'Set interval for recording data to 5 min
DataInterval(0,5,min,10)
Sample(1,Weight,IEEE4)
Sample(1,Unit,String)
Sample(1,Batt,IEEE4)
Sample(1,PTemp,IEEE4)
EndTable
BeginProg
'Open serial connection to balance
SerialOpen(Com1,9600,3,0,1000)
'Start a reading every 5 seconds
Scan(5,sec,3,0)
'Read continuous output(non-stable value)
SerialIn(Datastream,Com1,100,0,70)
'Find where new line starts (line-feed character, ASCI dec.10)
Readfrom = InStr(1,Datastream,CHR(10),2)
Weight = Trim(Mid(Datastream,Readfrom+3,14))
'Extract minus sign (separated by spaces), apply if the value is negative
Plusminus = Mid(Datastream,Readfrom+2,1)
If Plusminus = "-" Then
Weight = Weight * -1
EndIf
Unit = Trim(Mid(Datastream,Readfrom-4,2))
Battery(Batt) 'Datalogger Battery Voltage
PanelTemp(PTemp,_50Hz) 'Wiring Panel Temperature
CallTable Weights
NextScan
EndProg
CR1 script for four Kern DE350K0.5D balances
'This is the Campbell CR1000 code for logging the weight with 4 Kern DE 35K0.5D balances
'On the balance, set output mode to "Auto PC".
'Declare Variables and Units
Public Datastream1 As String * 50, Datastream2 As String * 50, Datastream3 As String * 50, Datastream4 As String * 50
Public Readfrom1 As Long, Readfrom2 As Long, Readfrom3 As Long, Readfrom4 As Long
Public Plusminus1 As String *1, Plusminus2 As String *1, Plusminus3 As String *1, Plusminus4 As String *1
Public Weight1, Weight2, Weight3, Weight4
Public Unit1 As String *2, Unit2 As String *2, Unit3 As String *2, Unit4 As String *2
Public Batt
Public PTemp
'Define Data Table
DataTable (Weights,True,-1))
'Set interval for recording data to 5 min
DataInterval (0,5,min,10)
Sample (1,Weight1,IEEE4)
Sample (1,Unit1,String)
Sample (1,Weight2,IEEE4)
Sample (1,Unit2,String)
Sample (1,Weight3,IEEE4)
Sample (1,Unit3,String)
Sample (1,Weight4,IEEE4)
Sample (1,Unit4,String)
Sample (1,Batt,IEEE4)
Sample (1,PTemp,IEEE4)
EndTable
BeginProg
'Open serial connection to balances
SerialOpen (Com1,9600,3,0,1000)
SerialOpen (Com2,9600,3,0,1000)
SerialOpen (Com3,9600,3,0,1000)
SerialOpen (Com4,9600,3,0,1000)
'Start a reading every 5 seconds
Scan (5,sec,3,0)
'Read continuous output (non-stable value)
SerialIn(Datastream1,Com1,100,0,70)
SerialIn(Datastream2,Com2,100,0,70)
SerialIn(Datastream3,Com3,100,0,70)
SerialIn(Datastream4,Com4,100,0,70)
'Balance 1
'Find where new line starts (line-feed character, ASCI dec.10)
Readfrom1 = InStr(1,Datastream1,CHR(10),2)
Weight1 = Trim(Mid(Datastream1,Readfrom1+3,14))
'Extract minus sign (separated by spaces), apply if the value is negative
Plusminus1 = Mid(Datastream1,Readfrom1+2,1)
If Plusminus1 = "-" Then
Weight1 = Weight1 * -1
EndIf
Unit1 = Trim(Mid(Datastream1,Readfrom1-4,2))
'Balance 2
'Find where new line starts (line-feed character, ASCI dec.10)
Readfrom2 = InStr(1,Datastream2,CHR(10),2)
Weight2 = Trim(Mid(Datastream2,Readfrom2+3,14))
'Extract minus sign (separated by spaces), apply if the value is negative
Plusminus2 = Mid(Datastream2,Readfrom2+2,1)
If Plusminus2 = "-" Then
Weight2 = Weight2 * -1
EndIf
Unit2 = Trim(Mid(Datastream2,Readfrom2-4,2))
'Balance 3
'Find where new line starts (line-feed character, ASCI dec.10)
Readfrom3 = InStr(1,Datastream3,CHR(10),2)
Weight3 = Trim(Mid(Datastream3,Readfrom3+3,14))
'Extract minus sign (separated by spaces), apply if the value is negative
Plusminus3 = Mid(Datastream3,Readfrom3+2,1)
If Plusminus3 = "-" Then
Weight3 = Weight3 * -1
EndIf
Unit3 = Trim(Mid(Datastream3,Readfrom3-4,2))
'Balance 4
'Find where new line starts (line-feed character, ASCI dec.10)
Readfrom4 = InStr(1,Datastream4,CHR(10),2)
Weight4 = Trim(Mid(Datastream4,Readfrom4+3,14))
'Extract minus sign (separated by spaces), apply if the value is negative
Plusminus4 = Mid(Datastream4,Readfrom4+2,1)
If Plusminus4 = "-" Then
Weight4 = Weight4 * -1
EndIf
Unit4 = Trim(Mid(Datastream4,Readfrom4-4,2))
Battery (Batt) 'Default Datalogger Battery Voltage measurement
PanelTemp (PTemp,_50Hz) 'Wiring Panel Temperature measurement
CallTable Weights
NextScan
EndProg