Can I pay someone to write me code?

gpierson

Hello to all, I'm still a newbie here. I'm still learning coding of the Parallax systems. I'm not a programmer by trade, but I did take a BASIC programming class back in high school (which is why I chose Parallax boards over the Arduinos - the code makes more sense to me.)

I'm trying to determine if I can pay someone to write me code for a simple task: I want to program the Basic Stamp board with an SHT11 the task of doing the following: Take a Temp and Humidity reading regularly (e.g. every 5 or 10 min). Then record it to a spreadsheet on a PC. I'm the property manager of a church, and we are considering a 40 ton HVAC project! And I want to take readings as part of a study before we borrow money for the HVAC system.

I thought programming this would be easier than it is. So I'm hoping someone out there can let me know if this is a task I can "hire you" (or someone) for.

Please advise! Let me know if you can give me some direction. Thanks, gpierson

Duane Degn

Do you want the Basic Stamp send the data to the computer as it is being collected? If so this appmote might be applicable. The appnote was written for the Propeller the PC side of things would probably be the same.

Or do you want to record the data to a USB thumb drive or SD card? Parallax sells a Memory Stick Datalogger which will work with a Basic Stamp. I personally prefer using SD cards. Many of my thumb drives have not worked with the Datalogger and the SD solution is much less expensive.

To write to a SD card you'd need to use a Propeller. IMO, a Propeller would make this project almost trivial. You could use a Propeller Project Board with a uSD socket as your datalogger.

Parallax has a list of Authorized Consultants who you could hire.

If you wanted to try this yourself, you'd probably get a lot of help here on the forum. I'll send you a PM with a bid from myself (I've done this kind of stuff a lot).

Mike G

I was curious if a product already exists so a quick Google search brought up this little gadget. Pretty cheap too..
http://www.amazon.com/Huhushop-TM-Powered-Thermometer-Temperature/dp/B0054U4YKI

There a few other products further down on the page.

Edit: Another one but more expensive.
http://www.amazon.com/Lascar-EL-USB-2-Humidity-Temperature-Logger/dp/B000I2MGWA/ref=pd_sim_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0H6B1KP6RJZHCPX12MAZ

Duane Degn

If you want to use the Basic Stamp then I'm pretty sure the SD card option is out.

Did you want to log the data to a USB thumb drive or did you want to send the data directly to a PC and have the PC log the data?

erco

No PC required, just use an Etch a Sketch as a data logger! A great use of cheap stepper motors. So ingenious that I'm jealous I didn't think of it first.

http://www.whiskeytangohotel.com/2012/06/etch-sketch-turned-temperature-data.html

Duane Degn

While I won't second the Etch a Sketch idea for this application, if one wanted a hard copy of the data, these printers from SparkFun are pretty easy to use with either the Basic Stamp or the Propeller.

JLocke

See my project for how easy it can be to do it yourself. The unit records temperature/humidity to a uSD card every 15 minutes. It gets written in a .csv format, so is easily imported into Excel. Attached is an example of the output.

2014-06-12 Raw Data.pdf

2014-06-12 Graphs.pdf

CuriousOne

I'm working on the nearly same project. The difference is that I use SHT21, BS2 and Parallax USB disk writer. Code to be completed shortly, and I'll post it here.

gpierson

Thanks for the responses folks, is there an advantage to using the propeller vs. basic stamp? And JLocke, that looks like what I'm wanting to do, I just have invested already into The Basic stamp.

If necessary, Ill buy a propellor.

Duane, to answer your question, I'd prefer to run it to a spreadsheet so I could see it in real time, but now I'm thinking the card might be an option since ill be essentially setting these up remotely.

CuriousOne, I'll keep my eyes peeled for what you post!

Thanks again guys!

Duane Degn

I don't think the Basic Stamp can record to a SD card. I think the biggest advantage to the Propeller is you could use JLocke's code. The Propeller can also keep track of time a lot better than a BS can. I see JLocke used a RTC chip (which are very inexpensive on ebay these days) but if you just need keep track of time since the logging started the Propeller could keep track of the time for you.

The Propeller would give you more options on what you could use as a display. A LCD display like JLocke used would be an easy addition but there would also be a lot of other display options. One my favorite displays for the Propeller are these $5 OLED displays from ITead Studio.



The above photo shows one of these displays in an aluminum wallet which I was using as enclosure. The photo shows a large 32-pixel high font but there are other font sizes available and the display can easily show eight lines of text at once.

It would probably be possible to use VGA or TV (NTSC or PAL) as a display but the video display objects can take up a lot of the Propeller's available memory.

If you're interested in doing these sorts of projects in the future, then the Propeller would be a great microcontroller to learn to use. It can run circles around the Basic Stamp (and the Arduino).

If you want to use the Basic Stamp, then the best option I can think of for data storage is the USB datalogger I mentioned in post #2.

prof_braino

gpierson wrote: »

I'm trying to determine if I can pay someone to write me code for a simple task:

The first thing that makes ANY task simple is defining the requirements, and defining how you will test whter that has been done. Lets see how far you got...

I want to program the Basic Stamp board with an SHT11 the task of doing the following:

Good start on the hardware, but WHICH stamp boarddo you have/do you want to use? Is it up to the developer?

Take a Temp and Humidity reading regularly (e.g. every 5 or 10 min).

Good start at functional requirements. What sensor(s) do you plan to use? Is it up to the developer? This affects the code in a really big way, better nail this down a tab.

Then record it to a spreadsheet on a PC.

You might want to clarify this a bit more, as in a LOT more, with lots of detail. This affect the code you expect and will or will not recieve.

I'm the property manager of a church, and we are considering a 40 ton HVAC project! And I want to take readings as part of a study before we borrow money for the HVAC system.

This is nice to know, but not directly involved in the requirements.

So, how will you evaluate whter or not the code was done correctly?

You might want to say something like:
I want a comma delimted table of 32 bit float values consisting of time, temp, humidity
I want the records logged every second for 24 hours.
I want to be able to create a new file each new day

etc.

[/QUOTE]
I thought programming this would be easier than it is. So I'm hoping someone out there can let me know if this is a task I can "hire you" (or someone) for. Please advise! Let me know if you can give me some direction. Thanks, gpierson[/QUOTE]

Programming IS easier than this. If you define the requirements properly, and then define the tests that will porve the requirements are met, the code write itself almost. At least its much easier to get someone to write the code for you, and get a reasonable result.

If you want to do it yourself, you can log to SD and see the data in realtime (and modify the code on the fly) using the propforth datalogger.

https://code.google.com/p/propforth/wiki/Logger1Simple

but, this method uses the forth programming language, which is not C; but its still fun.

There are other versions of the logger if you don't want time stamps, or you want new log files each day etc.

Franklin

There is also this to consider http://www.selmaware.com/stampplot/

JLocke

I've upgraded my project since I published it here, and the rev. 1.0 board and display have just been lying around my office. I would be willing to give that to you if you like. You would need a DC power source (I use an adjustable output adapter set for 7.5 VDC) and an enclosure. I've removed the XBee from the pcb (socketed), but you don't need the wireless anyway. You would also need a Prop Plug for programming, although the original code MAY work.

Let me know; I've sent you a Private Message.

gpierson

A super big public thank you to John. He sent me two boards and a display! I'm going to be putting this to use as early as next week. What this has also done is really, really got me excited about the propeller board and Spin language (is it time to give my Basic Stamp board to my kids?!)

Anyhow, I will post some more info on the original Thermo-Master thread once I get these guys running.

Thanks again John!