The MP-5 Calculator

Can one reading be subtracted from the other, based on the time of the reading?

Water level data from some of our hydrological dataloggers will need to be adjusted for the barometric pressure at the time of the reading, prior to conversion to flow. This is typically collected by a different instrument and logged separately.

Yes, using calculations. There is also an option to track backward, forwards or both to find the nearest matching record in time. This is useful where the Barometric pressure is not read at the same time as the level.

Is there a way to flag results from calculations that look unusual?

An example is if we are reading flow gauges on a pipe at regular intervals and the difference between readings provides a flow over time. If the flow meter is changed, the difference between readings may be -ve. Can this be highlighted in some way, or an error code attributed to the calculation?

Yes, the result of a calculation goes to a variable, from where it can be handled like any other variable, with physical limit blocks (such as -ve is impossible, don't import it), or with warnings in the same way that a compliance breach can raise a warning.

Can we store calculations as another variable?

Yes. In fact, the result of a calculation (unless told to write back to itself) is another variable.

Can we do complex calculations (eg log, power, sin etc.)?

Many complex calculations are available.

The following are some of the more common:

  • Square Root
  • Square
  • Modulo
  • Natural Log
  • Log Base 10
  • Natural Exponent
  • Power
  • Co Sin
  • Tan
  • Arc Sin
  • Arc Cos
  • Arc Tan
  • Logical AND
  • Logical NOT
  • Logical OR
  • Floor
  • Ceiling
  • If Then Else
  • Absolute