Top Data Acquisition Tools for Engineers

What is Data Acquisition?

Data acquisition is the process of sampling real-world physical information and converting those samples into digital values that computers and controllers can understand. This information is often used to implement control logic operations — such as turning a fan on or off based on temperature, activating a pump based on tank level, or opening a valve based on pressure.

Data acquisition information can be collected by a computer running SCADA software, a touch-screen HMI, or a PLC. Data can be logged or displayed on screen, and equipment can be turned on or off with the push of a button. Data acquisition modules read values, store them in memory, and share that data when requested by PLCs, controllers, or software.

What are the main types of inputs that Data Acquisition Systems measure?

• Voltage

• Temperature

• Strain & Pressure

• Current & more

Best Data Acquisition Tools

Analog-to-digital converters:

Used to convert analog signals into digital values. Analog information refers to variable measurements like temperature, pressure, and flow rate. A digital value is binary — either ON or OFF.
A light switch is an example of a digital signal (on/off), while a dimmable light represents an analog signal (variable).

ICP DAS USA Best Analog-to-Digital Converters:

• ET-7017: A web-based Ethernet I/O module featuring built-in web configuration, I/O monitoring, and I/O control through a standard browser.

• M-7017: A data acquisition and control module that supports Modbus RTU.

• EIP-2017: Supports both voltage and current input types.

Thermocouples and other sensors:

Devices used to provide quantified data for a physical measurement.

• CL-201-E: Remote CO/temperature/humidity/dew point data logger module (RoHS).

• CL-201-WF: Remote CO/temperature/humidity/dew point data logger with Ethernet/RS-485/Wi-Fi interfaces and PoE. Supports Modbus RTU and MQTT.

• DL-10: RS-485 remote temperature and humidity module (RoHS).

ICP DAS USA Signal Conditioning Products:

Signal conditioning is the manipulation of analog signals to simplify processing or data acquisition.

• SG-3016: Strain gauge input to voltage/current output.

• SG-3011: Isolated thermocouple input module with optical isolation. Provides voltage or current output.

• SG-3013: Isolated RTD input module. Provides voltage or current output.

Data Acquisition System

What Protocols Can Be Used for Data Acquisition Hardware?

The most common analog and digital data acquisition hardware communicates using:

Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, BACnet, Profibus, CANopen, or DeviceNet.