Key Points for Selecting an Instrument (Data Logger) [Price Edition]
The price of an instrument such as a data logger is determined by three factors—the type (application) of the instrument, the variety of data types that the instrument can measure simultaneously, and the number of input channels.
Types (applications)
As there are a wide variety of types of instruments, it is important to select the one that matches your purpose. If you want versatility for an instrument, a data logger that can quickly and simultaneously collect data from multiple channels is the ideal option.
| Instrument type | Applications |
|---|---|
| Recorder |
|
| Data logger |
|
| Memory HiCorder |
|
| Oscilloscope |
|
Variety of measured data types and prices
Between the case where you use a single data logger that can simultaneously measure multiple types of data and the case where you use multiple instruments, each of which handles only a single type of data, there is a large difference in man-hours required for data processing after measurement. Also, it is generally more difficult to summarize data collected by multiple instruments because doing so requires the time axes of all data to be aligned precisely.
Number of channels
The greater the number of input channels, the more data you can measure simultaneously. By simultaneously measuring multiple points, you can collect more detailed data in a single operation. If you purchase a data logger having only a small number of channels, the available channels may be insufficient for some types of measurement. On the other hand, if you purchase a highly scalable logger to which you can add channels later as necessary, the cost of initial installation can be reduced as well.
