This video is a quick introduction to configuring an AEMC Power and Energy Logger, or PEL, through
the DataView PEL Control Panel. The Control Panel is a component of DataView that you
can choose to install during the DataView installation process.
Before you begin, DataView with the PEL Control Panel must be installed on your PC. Your PEL
instrument must also be connected to the PC, though a USB, Bluetooth, or LAN network connection.
The AEMC YouTube channel provides instructional videos that can help guide you through installing
DataView and connecting your AEMC instrument to your PC.
In this video, we perform a few basic configuration tasks, including setting the system clock
on the PEL, choosing the distribution system the PEL is currently measuring, and scheduling
a recording.
To configure a PEL from the PC, open the PEL Control Panel by clicking its icon on your
desktop. When the Control Panel interface opens, check the Navigation Tree frame to
ensure that the PEL you want to configure is listed under PEL Network. If not, you will
need to add the instrument now by choosing Add an Instrument from the Instrument menu.
If the PEL is listed in PEL Network, ensure that a green checkmark appears on its icon.
This indicates that the instrument is currently connected to and communicating with your PC.
If instead a red x appears on the icon, the instrument is currently disconnected. Connect
it now by highlighting the instrument's name and choosing Reconnect Instrument from the
Instrument menu.
With your PEL instrument connected, click Instrument in the menu bar at the top of the
screen, and then select Configure. This displays the Configure Instrument dialog box. If you
have the icon bar displayed, you can also initiate this dialog box by clicking the Configure
icon.
Note that when the Configure Instrument dialog box is open, Configuration mode on the PEL's
LCD display is disabled. If you attempt to configure through the LCD at this time, the
word LOCK appears and all configuration options are inactive. This prevents configuration
conflicts caused by two users simultaneously attempting to configure the PEL, one though
the PC and the other through the instrument itself.
The Configure Instrument dialog box consists of five tabs:
General provides information about the instrument, such as model and serial number. It also enables
you to set other instrument options, such as the contrast and brightness levels on the
PEL's LCD display screen, the data and time for the PEL system clock, and others.
Communication displays information about the three types of communication media supported
by the instrument and enables you to set associated connection options.
Measurement specifies the electrical distribution system, voltage ratios, nominal frequency,
and current probe options.
Recording defines various recording related options, such as session name, recording period,
and other settings. With this tab you can start a recording on the PEL immediately,
or schedule one for the future.
Meters determines which of the instrument's total accumulation meters are to be reset
when the configuration is written to the instrument.
Notice the Help button at the bottom of all Configure Instrument dialog box tabs. This
button opens the Control Panel's online Help system, with explanatory text for the current
tab displayed.
The first thing we want to do is set the date and time on the PEL. To do this, open the
General tab and click the Set Clock button. The Date/Time dialog box appears. This dialog
includes two drop-down fields that enable you to select the date and the time for the
PEL system clock. You can also click the Synchronize with PC Clock button to have the PEL date
and time synchronized with the PC. After you have finished specifying the date and time,
click OK. A message appears informing you that the Control Panel is reading the new
settings to the PEL. When the PEL has been configured, you are returned to the Control
Panel.
Note that you cannot change clock settings if the PEL is currently recording data. When
the PEL is recording, the Set Clock button is grayed out. Stop the recording to activate
this option.
Next, we will select the electrical distribution system, or hookup, to which the PEL is currently
connected. To do this, click the Measurement tab. At the top of the tab is the Distribution
system drop-down field. This lists all the types of distribution systems supported by
the PEL. In our example, we will select 3-phase 4-wire balanced, so we will navigate to this
option and highlight it. Notice that the illustration to the right of the drop-down box immediately
changes to reflect the new choice. In a real-world measurement we would complete the other options
available on this tab as appropriate. But for demonstration purposes, we will accept
the defaults as displayed, and click OK to save the settings to the PEL.
Finally, we will start a recording on the instrument by clicking the Recording tab.
The first step is to assign a name to the recording session in the Name field at the
top of the tab. This name can be up to 40 alphanumeric characters in length. The next
step is to schedule the time and duration of the recording. You can start a recording
immediately by clicking Record Now, or schedule a recording by clicking this option and then
completing the four fields that define the start date and time, and end date and time.
If you select Record now, you can specify the length of the recording through the Duration
drop-down box. This presents a number of options from 8 hours up to 5 weeks. You can also choose
No Limit, which results in the recording running until you manually stop it, either through
the Control Panel or through the PEL instrument itself. While a recording is in progress,
the button Cancel Recording appears on the Recording tab. This enables you to stop the
recording immediately.
Notice the bar at the bottom of the screen labeled Installed SD Card status. This indicates
how much memory has been filled on the PEL's SD memory card. If this bar shows that there
is little or no available memory on the card, you may need to delete one or more stored
recording sessions to complete the current recording.
After you have completed changing settings, click the OK button at the bottom of the screen.
This writes any outstanding configuration changes to the PEL, and returns you to the
main Control Panel interface.
This concludes our brief introduction to configuring a PEL instrument from the PEL Control Panel.
In this video, we have discussed only a few very basic configuration tasks you can perform.
Many more configuration features are available, as explained in detail in the online Help
that comes with the PEL Control Panel. Be sure to check our YouTube channel for additional
instructional videos explaining how you can use DataView features with AEMC instruments.