Stamp Boxes and Data Acquisition

Stamp Boxes and Data Acquisition

Stamp Boxes

Process Controller uses Stamp Boxes (pictured below) to communicate with valves, pumps, relay boxes and other low voltage devices.  They can control up to 6 - 24 volt outputs and 6 peristaltic pump (yellow ports).  The numerical locations (highlighted by the blue box) on the Stamp Box correspond to the locations under "States" in the Rule Editor of Process Controller (red boxes).  Thus, if you want to control a device in Port 0, its command would be sent to Port 0 in the Rule Editor.  Each Stamp Box requires a power supply and has physical ON/OFF switch on the box.

Data Acquisition

Collecting data from sensors in the lab is made possible through Data Acquisition (DAQ).  Along the walls in the labs and in the center of the lab stations in HLS 150 there are ports to connect pH probes, pressure sensors, dissolved oxygen meters and temperature probes.  Individual method files are used to read data from sensors that are connected using Cat 5 or 6 ethernet cables.  DAQ is not directly connected to the computer like a Stamp Box is.  There is a dedicated server to each DAQ system: on the first floor (dataserver.cee.cornell.edu) and the basement (aguadata.cee.cornell.edu).  You can choose which one you would like to get data from under "Data Source" on the Configuration Tab in Process Controller.  

Each DAQ system is organized into Modules.  When you connect a sensor to DAQ, you must tell Process Controller where that sensor is located to display the data from it.  Port numbers are listed on the DAQ box but the Module number may not be. Below is a table you should use to determine which Module you need to connect to.  Find the Module and port number in the pull down list in "Sensor Configuration and Calibration".  For a tutorial on connecting a sensor to Process Controller, go here.

dataserver.cee.cornell.edu

aguadata.cee.cornell.edu