TempSense: A Four-Channel Temperature Logger Based on a USB Bridge and CircuitPython

Abstract

Accurate temperature measurements are needed to monitor and reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in building, industrial, and other processes. This paper describes a temperature sensor instrument, named TempSense, developed for classroom demonstrations of thermal phenomena. The instrument can monitor, record, and visualize data from multiple temperature sensors using a K-type amplifier and thermocouples. It has an accuracy of ±2 deg C from -200 to +700 deg C and an accuracy of ±6 deg C from –270 to +1372 deg C. The instrument uses a USB bridge and the Python language to interface with open-source thermocouple amplifiers without the need for byte-level programming. Its design allows novice experimenters to inspect the build and operation and even customize it to their needs. TempSense can be extended via Python libraries to provide internet communication, visualization, and analysis.

Keywords

• python
• temperature
• thermocouple
• sensor
• data visualization
• physics education