Temperature Logger Life Expectancy

[wbl56]

I brought my temperature loggers in this afternoon to download temperature data, and neither registers when I connect them to the computer via the reader. Does anyone know what the life expectancy of the iButtons is? Have I reached the end of its life or do I have other problems I need to solve?

[Jim]

When logging temperature data for this monitoring program, the logger's battery should last close to 10 years. Obviously, if you continuously log temperature data (like every second or minute) the battery will not last as long.

When was the last time you successfully checked the loggers? Has anything changed with your computer setup? Do you see the USB adapter in the device list of the OneWireViewer software? Is everything plugged in securely?

While we're on this subject, it is a good idea to disable a mission when you are not using the logger so as not to drain the battery unnecessarily.

Jim

[wbl56]

The computer recognizes the reader. When I plug it in the computer acknowledges it, and when I open the OneWireViewer, it shows up on the device list. But neither of the iButtons register when I try to read them. The last time I successfully downloaded data was July 6. Nothing has changed (that I am aware of) with my computer since that time. All connections appear to be secure and as far as I can tell the reader is making good contact with the iButton. Any suggestions?

[Jim]

Why don't you mail them to me and I'll take a look and see what we can do to get you back up and running...

Monarch Watch
University of Kansas
1200 Sunnyside Avenue
Lawrence, KS 66045

[Jim]

Your loggers appear to be fine, so we'll have to do more troubleshooting...

[wbl56]

Any suggestions would be appreciated...I've tried everything I can think of. The fact that the reader is recognized but not the loggers puzzles me.

[Judy Molnar]

Jim

It was time to take data from the data loggers and then start the mission today before data rolled over tomorrow or Saturday. When I linked each of the 2 data loggers to OneWireViewer, neither one of them showed any temperature data on the graph.

When I clicked to the “memory” tab it seemed to indicate 63 pages of data still in there. Is there any way to retrieve it? When I tried the clock tab in one of the viewers it still ticks, so I assume at least one of them is still running in some way. But I'm afraid if I enable a new mission all the data since August on will be lost. It may be lost anyway...

We had that big nor’easter hit us November 11-13th, so it may have damaged the loggers. We got 8-10 inches of rain over those 3 days, windy conditions. Since you warned us about getting them wet I suspect they were “drowned” even though the building should have shielded them somewhat.

Any suggestions as to what to try now to save data are greatly appreciated.

Judy Molnar
Monarch Waystation 299
Virginia Living Museum
Newport News VA