Voltage is the difference in electrical potential between two points - sometimes it also called tension or pressure due to an analogy between water and electricity.

How is voltage measured?

The measurement device used for measuring voltage is called a voltmeter. The voltage is also known as the potential difference between two points, so the voltmeter is always connected parallel to the circuit. To influence the circuit as little as possible, the input impedance of the voltmeter has to be very high (typically 10 MΩ).

What types of voltage amplifier do we know?

Basically, there are three different "types" of DAQ amplifiers: <ul> <li>Single-ended amplifiers: Single-ended is easy to use, but it has two major disadvantages: unwanted ground loops and non-isolation.</li> <li>Differential amplifiers: Differential one is the most common and amplifies the voltage difference between two inputs</li> <li>Isolated amplifiers: Isolated amplifiers are isolated from the housing and the main board of the measurement device, and allow safe and reliable operation.</li> </ul>

What are isolated voltage amplifiers used for?

Uporaba izoliranih ojačevalnikov odpravlja slabosti enosmernih in diferencialnih ojačevalnikov. Neodvisni so od ozemljitvenih zank, napetosti skupnega načina, kratkih stikov itd. Ti moduli so izolirani od ohi&scaron;ja in glavne plo&scaron;če merilne naprave. Visoka izolacijska napetost omogoča varno in zanesljivo delovanje tudi pri napetostnih konicah, napakah itd.

Is there a difference in measuring high and low voltages?

The answer is yes. If we are measuring voltages in the range that is directly supported by the ADC, the measurement is pretty simple. But when measuring very small voltages in the range of microVolts (µV) or very high voltages up to several kiloVolts (kV), an amplifier is needed to prepare the signal for the AD conversion.

Is voltage measurement dangerous?

Although voltage measurements up to 1kV are relatively simple, things tend to get more complicated when measuring voltages over 1600 VDC because voltage probes/dividers or voltage transducers are necessary as they adjust and reduce the voltage to a level that is suitable for the amplifier. Such measurements are dangerous, so special caution should be applied.

Is software included with Dewesoft voltage loggers?

Award-winning Dewesoft X data acquisition software is included for free with all Dewesoft voltage data loggers. Software is intuitive and easy to use. It offers advanced storing, triggering, and alarm capabilities as well as several data visualization widgets and includes an extensive math library for data analysis. Data can be printed with built-in reporting tools or exported into several standard file formats like CSV, Excel, Matlab, FlexPro, Diadem, UNV, etc.

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Voltage Data LoggersVoltage and high-voltage data recording

Dewesoft offers flexible voltage data loggers for voltage recording in any environment and configuration. Our input voltage amplifiers range from millivolts to high-voltage inputs (±2000 V) with high galvanic channel-to-channel isolation. Channel configuration range from single-channel units to units with hundreds and even thousands of channels. The award-winning DewesoftX data acquisition software is included for free with free lifetime software updates. The loggers also come with an industry-leading 7-year warranty.

Voltage

High Voltage

Current

Resistance

IEPE

Charge

Quarter Bridge

Half Bridge

Full Bridge

LVDT

Strain and Stress

Sound

Video

High-speed video

EtherCAT

Ethernet

USB 2.0

USB 3.0

CAN bus

XCP/CCP

IP67

Shock rating 100g

Voltage Data Loggers highlights

AC and DC Data Loggers

Recording of both AC and DC voltage.

Multi-channel Voltage Input

Available in single-channel or multi-channel configuration. Recording several hundred or even thousands of voltage channels is not a problem.

USB, Ethernet, EtherCAT, or Stand-alone

Connectable to any host PC via standard USB or Ethernet interfaces - and even work as EtherCAT slave devices connected to any 3rd party EtherCAT master. Battery-powered voltage loggers are available for stand-alone operation.

IP67 Waterproof

Devices provide a fully rugged design and are watertight with IP67 environmental protection ready to operate in extreme environments.

Additional Data Sources

Extendable with other data sources and sensors. IEPE vibration, voltage, charge, current, strain gauge, LVDT, charge, CAN bus, video, GPS, XCP, and many more.

Perfect Synchronization

Perfect synchronization between voltage input channels - even when combined with other sensors and data sources.

Raw and Reduced Data

Raw data are always stored on the measurement unit for an in-depth analysis. Reduced data can be stored in a local, remote, or cloud database.

Long-term Voltage Monitoring

Storage in local, remote, or cloud Historian databases. The web client is available for easy access and a real-time overview of the data. Integration into SCADA, CMMS, or ERP systems is possible via standard OPC UA protocol.

Trending and Analytics

Historical data can always be recalled and loaded from the Historian database and used for trend analysis as well as for in-depth analysis and root cause identification.

Software included

Every Dewesoft data acquisition system is bundled with award-winning DewesoftX data acquisition software. The software is easy to use but very rich and deep in functionality. All software updates are free forever with no hidden licensing or yearly maintenance fees.

Dewesoft quality and 7-year warranty

Enjoy our industry-leading 7-year warranty. Our data acquisition systems are made in Europe, utilizing only the highest build quality standards. We offer free and customer-focused technical support. Your investment into the Dewesoft solutions is protected for years ahead.

Voltage Data Logging and Recording

Voltage is one of the signals that is most often recorded. It takes two basic forms, alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). In addition, you sometimes need to measure very small voltages, i.e., in the microvolt range and also all the way into the thousands of volts.

Dewesoft voltage data loggers can adapt to any voltage measurement application that you might encounter. From pressure to torque and load to force, sensors convert mechanical properties to a voltage and our data loggers can record the information you need - from a single to multiple channels, fast or slow sample rates matching your specific requirements.

To convert such widely different signal levels to a normalized output that can be digitized a voltage preamplifier with multiple input ranges is needed. Sometimes a tiny voltage is riding on top of a large DC offset - a challenge that troubles many measuring systems.

What is Voltage?

Voltage is the difference in electrical potential between two points - sometimes it is also called tension or pressure due to an analogy between water and electricity.

AC Voltage vs. DC Voltage

Depending on the current that is carrying it, the voltage can be either AC or DC. In DC systems, the current is unidirectional - it never changes direction, i.e., it does not change polarity.

In AC systems, the current constantly alternates directions, crossing 0V in a positive direction, then turning around and crossing 0V again in a negative direction. You can see both DC and AC voltage (and current) represented in the illustration.

Types of Voltage

There are several different voltage measures such as peak, peak-to-peak, average, RMS, and AC or DC voltage. The difference between them can be seen in the image.

The average voltage is the average value for a certain time period. For pure sinusoidal signals, the average will be zero.

The RMS (root-mean-square) voltage is the square root of the arithmetic mean of the squared function values that define the continuous waveform. It is the most commonly used value to define the AC voltage at a certain point and represents the same energy as the DC voltage at an ohmic load.

The peak voltage describes the highest voltage in a period. In datasheet specifications, the peak voltage or the DC voltage of input are used in the same meaning. To calculate the RMS value for sine waves, the peak value has to be divided by the square root of 2.

The peak-to-peak ratio shows the amplitude of positive and negative peaks in a period.

The Crest Factor is the peak amplitude divided by the RMS value of the waveform.

Voltage Measurement with Dewesoft

The screenshot shows the typical setup of a SIRIUS HV high-voltage amplifier inside the DewesoftX software. On the screenshot of the voltage channel setup the channel setup is divided into two sections:

Amplifier setup: The left part of the screen is dedicated to the amplifier settings - the amplifier setting at the top and a real-time preview of the input signal at the bottom.
Sensor setup: The right part of the screen is the sensor setup showing measured quantity, unit conversion, scaling, etc.

In the screenshot, the sine wave has an RMS value of 224.924 V and a peak-to-peak value of ±309. XXX V. In this case, the voltage is injected directly into the HV amplifier - there is no sensor or transducer involved, and thus no scaling is necessary (see bottom right corner of the screen). When using a very high voltage transducer, which divides the signal by 1000, for example, that factor could be put in here to show the actual voltage.

Learn more about AC and DC voltage measurement:

Dewesoft voltage measurement online training course
Voltage Measurement in Data Acquisition Applications

Signal Overload / Overmodulation

When signal levels are higher than expected, they are clipped by the ADC (analog-to-digital converter). This results in wrong measurements, meaning the test has to be done all over again.

However, the unique DualCoreADC® technology of Dewesoft eliminates such issues. Each channel amplifier has two ADCs that always measure the high and low gain of the input signal. This ensures the full potential of the sensor measuring range and prevents the signal from being clipped.

Dewesoft’s DualCoreADC® technology enables a more than 130 dB signal-to-noise ratio and a dynamic range of more than 160 dB - 20 times more than 24-bit systems with 20 times less noise.

Galvanic Isolation - Noisy Signals and Common Mode Problems

Unwanted modifications or interference, “Noise”, in the signals is a common problem in making measurements. Noise appears for a variety of causes, such as proximity to other devices that are generating electrical fields or wiring problems.

The Dewesoft isolated inputs prevent signal noise and interference. They have high galvanic channel-to-channel and channel-to-ground isolation, including the sensor excitation and other lines - excluding noise from the signal chain.

The high isolation also enables the measurement of high voltage potentials or common-mode voltages, where a smaller signal is riding on top of a large DC offset.

Signal Aliasing

Aliasing is an effect that makes different signals indistinguishable when sampled in time. It also refers to the difference between a signal reconstructed from samples and the original continuous signal, when the resolution is too low.

If for instance, your voltage is a 10 kHz sine wave, but you just take one sample every second, then obviously, the resulting recording is going to be wrong.

Between each sample taken, 10,000 sine waves will have gone by. The resulting “signal” will look like a waveshape, but it will be completely wrong - an “alias” of the actual signal. You get what that looks like a signal, but of course, it’s not right.

The fast sigma-delta ADC technology of Dewesoft is the best possible approach to prevent aliasing.

Learn more about alising.

Voltage Data Loggers and Applications

Dewesoft supplies a range of different voltage data loggers with different input voltage ranges for all sort of voltage recording applications:

Industrial and real-time control applications
Voltage recording in harsh environments
High-voltage recording
High-channel count voltage recording applications
Power analysis
Power quality analysis

High-Voltage Data Loggers

Dewesoft high-voltage data loggers are used for direct measurement and monitoring of high voltage signals.

Our high voltage amplifiers and high voltage signal conditioners can measure direct inline voltage up to ±2000V with protection class CAT III 600 V and CAT II 1000 V isolation voltage.

Voltage Recorders - Standalone or Connected to a Host Computer

Our voltage data acquisition devices can be configured to operate in complete stand-alone mode, and even powered by an internal battery power supply. These DAQ systems include built-in signal conditioning, data storage, a processing computer, an optional LCD display, and an optional integrated Li-Ion battery power supply.

On the other hand, the voltage loggers can connect to any host computer or 3rd party EtherCAT master via one of the standard available data interfaces:

USB: Signal conditioning module connected directly to computer or laptop via the standard USB data interface. The newest logger devices such as SIRIUS XHS use a USB-C connection, while standard loggers use a USB 2.0 connection.
Ethernet: Signal conditioning module connected directly to a PC computer or laptop via the standard Ethernet interface using RJ45 connectors.
EtherCAT: Our EtherCAT voltage signal conditioning modules can be connected to any 3rd party EtherCAT master such as LabView, Beckoff Twincat, Clemessy Syclone, MTS TestSuite, etc.
XCP: We also offer XCP voltage loggers that can record voltage via XCP protocol or send the recorder data via XCP protocol.
CAN: We also offer CAN voltage loggers that can record voltage via CAN bus protocol or send the recorder data via CAN protocol.

Dewesoft voltage loggers and power meters

Voltage Recording in Harsh Environments

Dewesoft offers a range of rugged voltage data loggers for data recording in extreme and harsh environments.

KRYPTON and SIRIUS Waterproof are two product lines that offer a range of AC and DC data loggers that are waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof. These loggers from both product lines offer an IP67 degree of environmental protection and can operate within the temperature range of -40 to +85°C.

See KRYPTON amplifier technical specifications.

See SIRIUS Waterproof amplifier technical specifications.

Single-Channel or Multi-Channel AC and DC Voltage Loggers

Single-channel, as well as multi-channel voltage recording systems, can be supplied by Dewesoft. Modular design and high data throughput of the systems enables the simultaneous recording of hundred or even thousands of AC or DC voltage channels.

The systems can be configured with any number of channels for any type of voltage measurement. Due to its highly modular design, the input channel count can expand as your applications grow.

No additional expensive software upgrade or cost is associated when adding additional voltage input modules. Just add HW modules and you are ready to expand.

Recording and Signal Processing Software Included

The award-winning DewesoftX data acquisition software offering an intuitive easy-to-use interface is included with the voltage data logger hardware.

Several options for storing, triggering, and alarms are available out of the box and unlimited mathematical channels like formulas, statistics, filters, and many others can be defined. More pre-built visual displays are available for data visualization - recorders, digital displays, analog displays, and tables.

DewesoftX also offers built-in report generation and data export tools that allow PDF and Word report generation and export data to several standard data formats for further analysis.

Data Storing and Triggering Options

Storing strategies are very important for the entire system. With Dewesoft four types of storage are selectable:

Always fast,
Always slow,
Fast on the trigger,
Fast on the trigger, slow otherwise.

Options for static or reduced sampling rates can be set.

The data recording software enables the setting of an unlimited number of start and stops trigger conditions. Pre- and post-trigger time can be set in milliseconds - defining the duration of storage before the trigger event occurs. The logger will keep the data in the buffer until the trigger event occurs and then store these data in the file.

Learn more:

Storing options in DewesoftX online PRO training course
Storing options DewesoftX online manual

Long-term and Permanent Voltage Monitoring

For long-term or permanent voltage monitoring, Dewesoft offers voltage data loggers with the ability to store data into the local or cloud time-series database with the OPC UA protocol support.

The Historian database software package provides a time-series database for long-term data storage. The database can be located either locally, on the remote server, or in the cloud. The solution is based on the InfluxDB time-series database open source project.

Historian provides several useful features for historic data:

Raw and reduced data: Raw data is always stored on the measurement unit for in-depth analysis. The historian stores the long-term reduced data in the cloud database.
Data safety and retransmit: If the connection between the logger and the database is lost, the data is safely stored locally on the measurement unit, and when the connection is again available, retransmitted to the database.
Trending and Analysis: At any time Historical data can be recalled and loaded from the Historian database and used for trend analysis as well as for in-depth analysis and root cause identification.
Web client: The web client interface is accessible from any web browser and is cross-platform and mobile compatible. It provides a great overview of the most important data and its trend over time.
Alarm and alert levels: Alarms and alerts can be set on each display and tied to email/SMS notifications.