Test controller, How to do
In TestController there are usually many ways to do a task, they work differently and may have different results.
Contents
Read values from devices
Main readout
Readout
Remote readout
Adjust scale
Auto hold
Grid panel
Chart values from devices
Main chart
Main histogram
Grid panel
Analyze data (Statistics)
Main values
FFT
Timer counter
Control devices
Main control
Param adjuster
Grid panel
MPPT
Auto adjust
Automatic tests
Log event
Param sweeper
Steps
Battery test
Power supply test
Main page
Read values from devices
TC has a couple of different ways to show the current values from the connected devices.
Main readout
The main readout is the "Current values" tab in TC, which will show the actual values and some statistic calculated for the last couple of samples (Configurable up to 1000 samples)
Readout
This readout is visually highly configurable and can be placed anywhere on the screen. It can show one value, but it is possible to use multiple of them and there is a build in alignment function to place them nicely. They will always be on top of other windows.
Remote readout
The Remote readout controls external displays, that typical have 4-6 digits and can be used to show any value from TC. Useful for headless devices. They can also be used with the Steps test to show progress.
Adjust scale
This is a analog readout designed to help with manually adjusting a value. Type the desired value in ref and the tolerance in tol and the scale will zoom in/out as needed while the adjustment is performed. It can also adjust for min or max and there is a option to slow down the update rate for sensitive adjustments.
Auto hold
The Auto hold readout can capture values when it is stable and they can be read later when the probes are not touching, it can also type values into another program. The function exists as a physical feature on some multimeters.
Grid panel
The Grid panel has lot of different readouts. Here is the simple the advanced and a PS & Load readout. The grid panel can be resized, its appearance can be changed, and the number of panels on it can be adjusted.
Chart values from devices
TC has one main chart, but there are also some auxiliary ones.
Main chart
The chart page can show charts for logged and calculated values, there are options to measure/search on the chart and it is possible to change colors, rename scales, combine scales and add annotations.
The final result can be saved in png files in selected resolution.
Main histogram
The histogram can show the spread of measurements for up to 3 channels at a time, data is always from the log. Like the chart is is possible to click and get a cursor and readout of values.
Grid panel
The Grid panel has a few charts and they work all the time, i.e. logging do not need to be active. The min/max chart will analyze all points and draw a min, a average and a max line in the chart for each sample or couple of samples.
Analyze data (Statistics)
The main readout includes some statistics, but there are better ways and also other ways to analyze the data.
Main values
The Range page may look similar to the current values page, it is, and it is not. The values shows are calculated over the full number of samples in the log or a selected interval from the log, not the last X samples.
FFT
The FFT popup will analyze the log for frequency components. Due to the fairly slow sample rate of TC it will usually be frequencies below 1Hz that can be captured. The scale can be adjusted to better units for slow events. That can be Air Conditioners or day/night cycles for long logs.
Timer counter
The Timer counter can be used to analyze on/off cycles, it will identify each cycle and show a summary at the bottom. It can source data directly or from the table. Right-click and select summary will copy the full analysing to the clipboard and it can be pasted into other text applications. Applications can be to measure on Air Conditioners, fridge, freezer and heaters.
Control devices
Most connected devices can be controller from TC and there are more than one way to do the controls.
Main control
On the Commands page there are buttons to control the connected devices. The device to control must be selected at the right of the screen and then the buttons can be pressed for configuration menus. The control menus are designed for each device and will not look alike.
Param adjuster
The Param adjuster is a "analog" control for one value, the range can be limited. It is possible to open multiple of these, to control more values.
Grid panel
The Grid panel has many ways to set devices, some of them can be preprogrammed to fixed values.
Other are "analog" like control that respond to mouse wheel or mouse dragging. Limits and precision can be defined to avoid accidents.
It is also possible to duplicate some system buttons on this panel, making it possible to control more from here. These buttons are assigned one specific device.
MPPT
The MPPT is a specialised popup for testing solar panels, it will optimmize the power drawn from the panel. It is possible to use two loads and two instances of this popup to compare two panels.
Auto adjust
The Auto Adjust will do a binear search to find the best setting to reach a target value.
Automatic tests
TC has 5 automatic tests, 3 are general test that can be used for anything that fit, the two last are more specific test for one type of tests.
The two specific test requires devices have a #interface definition to work.
Log event
The Log Event can turn on one or more devices, log until a specific condition is reached or time passed, then turn the devices off.
Param sweeper
The Param sweeper can control up to 3 devices and sweep the output of each device, there are selections for how to combine the sweeping. There are options to stop or skip test if some parameters go out of range.
Steps
The Steps test can control an arbitrary number of channels in an arbitrary number of steps, with a specified time between each step. It have access to all #interface set... controls in addition to the regular number controls.
Battery test
The Battery test is a automatic tests that can automatic cycle batteries at different currents. It will not ask the user for what devices to use, but will look for already active devices in TC and select the needed ones. It can do LiIon test and also Pb because they have are fairly similar charge algorithm. It saves a lot of documentation about the test.
Power supply test
The Power supply test can test AC and DC voltage converters, this means power supplies and DC buck/boost converters. It will measure efficiency and test the output at different current draw. It can do these test at different input voltage in one test. It saves a lot of documentation about the test.