Need a counter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: B J
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 07:20:42 pm
content: A new project that I need a counter for.Looking for: A counter that can count up to 100 KC.When counting and reach maximum count, will roll over and continue counting.Six digit, preferred, but five maybe.If I can get a signal pulse when rollover happens, I can get by with a four digit..Power : Low voltage, battery, nothing critical.Very simple, like four lines. Ground - Power - Signal in - Reset.Several are very reasonably priced, on Amazon that are close, but are to low of input count speed. I'm using one now that has been running for over three years, and hasn't missed a beat.Any suggestions? Tnx.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 07:41:38 pm
content: It seems like something that could be built easily using little more than a microcontroller and display. There are some really inexpensive frequency counter modules based on PIC or similar microcontrollers that could give you the ready made hardware. An arduino nano coupled to your display of choice would also do it, the code should be trivial, just advance the count on hardware interrupt and roll over when count == 999999.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 07:44:46 pm
content: QuoteWhat are some example products which come close? - that would help clarify what you're looking for.Are you just looking for an event counter? What speed will the events be coming in at?For a DIY solution, Arduinos can count events in the low MHz range with no problem, and a custom program could make the counter as many digits wide as you wanted.

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 07:49:14 pm
content: The ubiquitous 5-digit PIC-based frequency counter. Available on all the usual suspects. It's cheaper than you can build one. TheHWCave (member on here and has YT channel) has improved firmware (if you can program PIC's) if you should need it.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 08:27:04 pm
content: pah micros,cd4024 ,a cd4511 ,seven segment display and an or gate per digit,something to clean up the input signal and your done

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 08:31:30 pm
content: What does "100 KC" mean?

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 08:34:09 pm
content: In old money Kc was kilo cycles,often seen on old radios

author: B J
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 09:21:02 pm
content: H7EC BLM Electronic Counter Digital Electrical Counter Totalizer without Voltage Input with 6 Digit LCD DisplayRanjaner 1Hz-50MHz Frequency Counter KitSome of the frequency counters.These are sort of what 'm looking for. Many are Freq. counters, which will not work. I need a straight counter. Like an event counter, I will set the event speed, up to 100 KC. Count time may be many seconds.Hope to find an off the shelf unit. I don't want to do the work for any kind of microcontroller or programming.In following some of your leads, I found some leads that I didn't see before. Now I need to do some more digging.One question to me was, what does 100 KC mean. Maybe I should have said, 100,000 PPS. --- That is, pulses per second, ( Sort of same thing. 100,KC = 100,000 PPS. )Hey themadhippy,, You got your part right. I'm from old money. The first computer I worked with used paper cards for memory and programing. Maybe that's why I'm not a strong fan of programming.

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 09:31:28 pm
content: Unfortunately your description covers a wide array of possibilities.Your first choice might be to go the instrumentation route and buy a traditional bench top counter that can work in tantalize mode. One advantage here is potential communication with computer systems with a standard protocol / interface. The likely negative is high cost.Buy a Raspberry Pie and possibly an interface card (depending upon exactly what your signal is) and let the Pie count up the inputs (or the interface card) and display the results. You have the potential of communication again plus the ability to leverage old hardware that you may have laying about (video monitor).Micro controllers have already been mentioned and are always a good idea. Many will have hardware counters to simplify coming up with a reliable device. However this is a programing job at a low level.You can look at the various devices available from the industrial market. There is an endless number of "counter" modules that either fit in a DIN panel cut out or snap on a Din rail for inside mounting. Most of these operate either from AC or 24 VDC but you can find stuff that is self powered or low voltage. The biggest problem ins that input "speed" is often limited on purpose due to noise filtering. However one example:https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/red-lion-controls/SSCUB-200-A/15639?s=N4IgjCBcoGwMxyqAxlAZgQwDYGcCmANCAPZQDaIATGHJZQOwgC6RADgC5QgDK7ATgEsAdgHMQAX3FFK5EMmIBXIezx9m4oAwhich is obsolete but a beit fo parametric searching might turn up something.Quote from: B J on September 05, 2022, 07:20:42 pm

author: B J
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 09:57:33 pm
content: That's what I am looking for. Too bad it is no longer available.Thanks wizard69

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 10:37:57 pm
content: I think the firmware TheHWCave came up with for the PIC-based frequency counter can operate as a plain counter as well, but you'll have to confirm that.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2022, 12:36:08 am
content: Does it have to be an off the shelf product? Writing arduino code to count events is literally a few minutes job for someone experienced with the language. A total novice that has never done it before could probably have something working in a day.

author: Martian Tech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2022, 04:25:01 am
content: HP 5301a

author: Zoli
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2022, 05:04:47 am
content: https://www.trumeter.com/Contact them, maybe they have something which goes up to 100kHz; as example, model 7000 goes up to 10kHz, data sheet attached.

author: rooppoorali
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2022, 12:10:41 pm
content: There are several options open. You can do it with PIC microcontroller(as somebody has already said) or AVR microcontroller.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2022, 01:13:49 pm
content: Ignore my post above,id forgotten about the cd4026 ,so all you need is one of them and a 7 segment display for each digit - simples

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2022, 04:09:58 pm
content: 100KHz

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2022, 04:31:29 pm
content: Micro, code....Double pah!Pffwff!Broke, dog been sick, girlfriend left- chuck in an arduino, it'll fix all that. Ardwino.Keep it real. Cascade CD4026B, CD4033B cmos counter+ LED display drivers. Too easy. The RBO pin on a 4026 pulses low after the BCD count passes 9. Use a HC390 as /10 prescaler if things get fast.www.electronics-tutorials.ws/counter/7-segment-display.html