N56FU is an application to read, and optionally log, data from a Maplin N56FU digital multimeter with USB interface. The N56FU is a rebadged Gold 6000, so this app should work with that too. It is possible that other multimeters can also be read via this app - I would like to hear from anyone who tries, whether the result is success or failure.
Copyright © 2023 David Higton
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, version 2.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version 2 along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA.
You may contact the author:
by e-mail as dave@davehigton.me.uk, or
by snail-mail at 13 Graham Drive, Disley, SK12 2JJ, United Kingdom.
This application should work on any computer that is running RISC OS 5 and has a USB interface, although it has only been tested on a Raspberry Pi.
The previous version also worked on computers running RISC OS 4 or 6 and had a Simtec Unipod or USB podule. Unfortunately I can no longer support this, and in any case I don't think anyone was using it, so I have removed Simtec support.
Copy the !N56FU application into a convenient location. I recommend the $.Apps directory.
The applcation does not currently auto-start when a meter is plugged into the USB. If this is an inconvenience, please contact me.
From version 0.02, the USB Vendor ID (VID) and Product ID (PID) are specified in the !Run file. I did this because I damaged my multimeter's USB interface chip, and eventually replaced it with one that turned out to have had its VID and PID reprogrammed for a different application. Putting the values there makes them easier to modify if required.
Double-click the !N56FU application. The main window should open. If the N56FU meter is switched on and USB communication has been enabled (hold down the "Rel | USB" button for a couple of seconds), the meter's readings will appear in the main window.
Data logging to file can be toggled on and off, and a logging period chosen.
• First choose a datalog filename and file location by clicking Menu over the main window or the menu bar icon, and move right to "Save as". Modify the file name as you wish and drag the icon to the location where you want the datalog file to be.
• Second, choose the logging period by clicking Menu again and move right to "Logging period". Set the period according to your choice.
• Lastly, click on the play or stop icon at the left side of the main window to start or stop logging. Subsequent starts cause new data to be appended to the existing file.
You can download the N56FU application here.
0.01 2013 May 12 First issue
0.02 2023 October 15 Contact info updated; Simtec support removed; works on RasPi; VID/PID put in !Run file; subscript display improved
Page last updated 2023 November 18