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Topic: Reading data from fluorometer (Read 1 time) previous topic - next topic


Hello all,

I'm currently working on a project where I need to log data coming from a fluorometer using an Arduino Uno.
(link to spec sheet: http://www.wetlabs.com/products/pub/specsheets/puckssd.pdf)

As for the actual logging, I plan to use the Adafruit shield.

What I need guidance on is simply how to get analog (or serial) data to the computer. I used the arduino analog read tutorial verbatim and hooked up the analog out pin on the fluorometer, and got rows of zeros in the serial monitor. I've tried changing the input pin, using the voltage display tutorial code, with no success. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

If anyone has experience with this sort of project, I would like to hear your ideas.


It says RS232 19200 output, there is no information about analog outputs . So, try hyperterminal  or similar software, connect device to COM port of your computer if there is one, if not you need USB/Serial external adapter.


Ok I will try to use the serial wires instead. Just so I'm clear, there is no serial port on the device, only 6 wires. I attached a picture of it and my pin reference sheet. In the user's guide, it does say that two of the wires are for analog output (one for fluorescence one for turbidity), but I'm going to give it a go with the wires hooked up to pins 0 and 1 and see if I can get anything.


RS232 is +-12V, you could cause damage by connecting this directly to an arduino.  To convert these voltages you need a special chip, such as the MAX 232 to convert from RS232 to 5V TTL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX232).

By the sounds of things you don't need an arduino, just either a computer with a serial (RS232) port, or, a USB-RS232 converter cable (equally a FDTI or equivalent cable with the MAX 232 style converter).  Then I'm sure you'll be able to find some open source software which will run on whatever OS you use, with which you can log the fluorometer data.

If on the other hand you would prefer to have a non-pc version, then yes the arduino and a datalogging shield would work, you could log to SD card in any format you so wish.  Just remember to convert to TTL level!

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