def sample_interval(hours, minutes, seconds):
    """Sets the interval between data samples

    Args:
    hours - the hours between data samples 0 and 23
    minutes - integer between 0 and 59
    seconds - integer between 0 and 59

    Returns:
    time interval in seconds.
    """
    if hours == 0 and minutes == 0 and seconds == 0:
        interval_seconds = 60  # default interval of 1 minute
    else:
        interval_seconds = hours * 3600 + minutes * 60 + seconds
    return interval_seconds