VK011 Temperature Monitor Lite
(freeware)

This application is designed to monitor and display temperature information from the Qkits VK011 Serial Temperature Sensor interface kit (www.qkits.com). The VK011 is a 4-channel unit, using DS18S20 one-wire temperature sensors. Connection to the pc is through the serial port.     

Software features:   - Windows only (not for Mac or Linux, may run in Wine)   - Each of the 4 channels has its own thermometer display    - User definable thermometer colors   - Option to define "friendly" names for each channel   - Displays Min/Max values for each channel   - Select Deg C or Deg F on the fly, in software       (** the VK011 must be configured for Deg C, and left on that setting)   - Adjustable temperature display scales       (Conversion calculator included, to assist with setting         temperature scale)   - Logging function    - Log file is saved in tab-delimited format, for easy loading into         a spreadsheet program   - The program will recognize if a sensor is disconnected, and         blank out the display for that channel   - The program uses local settings (aka “Regional Options”) for         logging and display of data, and dates and times.    - Plotting/graphing screen   - Capture a screenshot of the Plot screen   - Selectable COM port    - option to AutoConnect at program start  recent   - Software config settings are now saved to file  recent   - Configure the VK011 board internal settings       **The board must be configured in a particular way, for the           program to work properly (see the Help file for details)

Download VK011TMLite

See the change log (below) for info on recent updates.

Display
Each of the 4 available channels has it's own display area.  Color settings for each thermometer can be independently configured.  You can define a "friendly name" for each channel, rather than the "Ch. x" defaults.  Color of the friendly name matches that of the corresponding thermometer.  

Temperature
Deg C or Deg F can be selected on the fly.  How this works:  set the VK011 to Deg C (and leave it there permanently).  When you select Deg F on the Config page, an internal calculation is done by the program, translating the incoming Deg C value to Deg F.  

The thermometer scales are adjustable.  They can be set to accommodate anywhere from a wide range to a narrow range of temperature changes.  The F and C scales are set independently.  An F<>C conversion calculator is included on the Config page, for user convenience.  

Plotting
Temperatures can be graphed over a period of time.  The temperature scale on the graph matches that on the Thermometers.  Sampling intervals are selectable from 2 seconds to 10 minutes. This allows display of elapsed time periods from 24 minutes to 120 hours. 

Logging
There is a logging function available, recording date, time, channel, and temperature.  The program collects the temperature data, and records all 4 channels in parallel -- ie: all 4 channels on 1 line, each channel in its own column.  You can select how often data is recorded into the Log:  the Logging Interval can be set from 10 seconds to 1 hour.  

You have the option to save the log to file.  The records in the log file are in tab-delimited format, which can easily be loaded into a spreadsheet program for further processing.  

Communications
The VK011 uses a serial connection to a computer, but does not implement the full RS232 protocol.  This means that some pc serial ports may not read the data accurately.  The same applies to USB-to-Serial adapters.  Keep the serial cable as short as possible, but be aware that even this might not be enough to get a useable data signal.    

Program Configuration
Configuration settings are saved to an .ini (text) file in the MyDocuments folder.  A copy of the config file is embedded in the program (.exe).  At startup, the program checks the MyDocuments folder for the presence of the config file.  If not found, then a copy of the file is dropped there. 

VK011 Configuration
There are settings in the VK011 firmware that can be customized.  In order for there to be proper communication between the board and the the VK011TMLite software, these settings have to be configured in a particular way.  Instructions for doing this are in the included Help file.

Screenshots
Thermometers, connected	Plot page
Logging page
Program configuration	Configure the VK011 board
Here's a captured Plot (Feb/08).  This is a ground-floor room, part carpet and part lino, with concrete underneath.  Heat source is an electric baseboard, with thermostat on the baseboard.  The "Top Shelf" is close to the ceiling.  Outside temperature was a low of 10 Deg F and a high of 23 Deg F during the time of this plot.  A graphics program was used to "invert colors", which results in a much lighter image.  This can be useful for printing.  See here for a sample plotshot with the K145.

System Requirements: 
  - Windows 98SE to Vista (not tested on Win95) 
      (may run in Linux/Wine)
  - 2 MB of hard drive space
  - an available serial port
     
You can download the files here.

Change Log   

Oct 01/08
v. 1.1.2 (16)
  - fixed Win98 configuration issue
  - revised layout of Conversion Calculator form
  - changes to Grid Brightness settings now saved from Config form and Main form
  - updated Help file 

Jul 29/08 
v. 1.1.1 (14)
  - fixed a bug in Plot engine initialization

Jul 28/08 
v. 1.1.0 (13) 
  - configuration settings are now saved to file
  - added AutoConnect option
  - added option to select Log font and size
  - configuration moved to a separate window
  - conversion calculator moved to separate window 
  - temperature scales display has been simplified
  - minor visual changes to main display
  - Help file not updated

Jul 15/08
v. 1.0.4 (11)
  - improved timing accuracy of the Log engine.

Jun 13/08 
v. 1.0.3 (10) 
  - added temperature number display to Plot page
  - added Plot grid brightness control
  - moved Plot channel visibility control to popup menu
  - moved Max and Min value displays closer together (Thermometer page)
  - visual adjustments to accommodate new display 
  - updates to the Help file 

Jun 10/08 (not published)
v. 1.0.2 (09)
  - modifications to sensor-disconnect detection code
  - minor adjustment to some labels
  - fixed error in program title 

Feb 04//08
v. 1.0.1 (08) 
  - First release

Notes: 
a.  This version of the Temperature Monitor is freeware.
b.  There will eventually be a fuller-featured "Pro" version. 
c.  Read about the DS18S20 1-wire Temperature Sensor here.
d.  If you're unsure about the usability of your serial port, you might want to try connecting 
      with the VK011Tester, or HyperTerminal.  If you can connect, and the data is not corrupted 
      in the display, then your port should be OK.  
      If you're not familiar with HyperTerminal, there's a tutorial here.  
e.  There is an RS232 tutorial here.  

  top