How can we indicate the output of a flow rate indicator/totalizer on a personal computer? Remember that flow rate indicator/totalizer has 4 ~ 20 ma output signal.

Please suggest a cost-effective way.

 

You need a A/D converter of some kind, for instance a WAGO. Then you need a software product, for instance CDP (http://www.icd.no). The software will help you to make the signal accessible for a GUI system, and some software will have tools to make alarm systems, GSM-sending, communicate with other SW, etc., etc.

You will have to set up a sampling frequency, make the GUI design and possibly the IO to other systems. This setup is usually in some kind of conf-file. The application must be compiled in Linux or possibly Visual Studio Express (free).