Topic: Time totalizer which can be read out to an rs232 or other interface

[DaleReid]

Despite looking for key words (which obviously isn't the right ones) I've not been able to find a gizmo that I hope exists.
I currently have an old steam gauge time totalizer which, when provided power, counts tenths of hours and rolls over to  hours.  It can be zeroed with a thumbwheel but it is at least thirty years old and was made before electrons were discovered, I think.

What I'd like is:  Digital read out.    Resetable when I want, either pushbutton or electronic.  Retains count in case of power failure (not often but would goof things  up).  Clock totalizes as long as power is applied (120v or 12 v. or whatever) and then picks up to continue if the power signal is quiet for awhile, sort of like an odometer, and is what a totalizer does, I assume.

I'd like some interface to read out to a computer, rs232 or I2 type, basically ask what the value is in the accumulator and send it back.

Relatively cheap (aren't we all?)

I have tried timer, timer accumulator, etc. and not found anything that has the ability to tell me the value in the register so I can log it to a weather database or such.

Any thoughts?  Thanks for any leads.  Dale
PS I assume I can whip something up with an Arduino but that is too complex for right now. It is my next step if I think it is worth the trouble.

[Weatherstation De Hout]

I think that's called a 'digital counter'.

[R.Sidetrack]

I'd like some interface to read out to a computer, rs232 or I2 type, basically ask what the value is in the accumulator and send it back.

Relatively cheap (aren't we all?)

Why don't you just use the clock in the computer that would do the "read out" mentioned above?

Periodically write the time to a file / database. Have the Timer Program check the file each startup for the most recent 'time / count' and continue from there.

[CamarilloWX]

I think you are looking for an hour meter with reset.  I haven't seen any with an RS232 output but maybe there are some out there.

[DaleReid]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I would just Arduino one, but I want a display to see the current value without going to a computer and firing it  up and turning on a display.  I can do that now with the mechanical time-on device.

I appreciate all the ideas and that no  one seems to have seen one implies that despite the plethora of gizmos that have been developed, exactly what I want seems limited in demand and not currently or cheaply produced.

Dale

[davidmc36]

.... see the current value without going to a computer and firing it  up and turning on a display.  .....

Add a small Dot Matrix LCD display to show the total.

[R.Sidetrack]

I would just Arduino one, but I want a display to see the current value without going to a computer and firing it  up and turning on a display. 

Have the Arduino publish a webpage with the "current value", and keep a browser tab page open on your phone showing the "current value".