Configuring The Hardware; Differential Input Mode; Single-Ended Input Mode; Non-Referenced Single-Ended Input Mode - Measurement Computing PCI-DAS6034 User Manual

PCI-DAS6034, PCI-DAS6035, and PCI-DAS6036 User's Guide
3. To test your installation and configure your board, run the InstaCal utility installed in the previous section.
Refer to the Quick Start Guide that came with your board for information on how to initially set up and
load InstaCal.
Allow your computer to warm up for at least 15 minutes before acquiring data with these boards. The high
speed components used on these boards generate heat and it takes this amount of time for a board to reach
steady state if it has been powered off for a significant amount of time.

Configuring the hardware

All hardware configuration options on the PCI-DAS6034, PCI-DAS6035, and PCI-DAS6036 are software
controlled. You can select some of the configuration options using InstaCal, such as the analog input
configuration (16 single-ended or eight differential channels), the edge used for triggering when using an
external pacer, and the source for the two independent counters. Once selected, any program that uses the
Universal Library will initialize the hardware according to these selections.
Following is an overview of the available hardware configuration options for these boards. There is additional
general information regarding analog signal connection and configuration in the Guide to Signal Connections
(available on our web site at www.mccdaq.com/signals/signals.pdf).

Differential input mode

When all channels are configured for differential input mode, eight analog input channels are available. In this
mode, the input signal is measured with respect to the low input. The input signal is delivered through three
wires:
The wire carrying the signal to be measured connects to CH# IN HI.

The wire carrying the reference signal connects to CH# IN LO.

The third wire is connected to LLGND.

Differential input mode is the preferred configuration for applications in noisy environments or when the signal
source is referenced to a potential other than PC ground.

Single-ended input mode

When all channels are configured for single-ended input mode, 16 analog input channels are available. In this
mode, the input signal is referenced to the board's signal ground (LLGND). The input signal is delivered
through two wires.
The wire carrying the signal to be measured connects to CH# IN HI.

The other wire is connected to LLGND.


Non-referenced single-ended input mode

This mode is a compromise between differential and single-ended modes. It offers some of the advantages of
each mode. Using non-referenced single-ended mode, you can still get noise rejection but not the limitation in
the number of channels resulting from a fully differential configuration. The possible downside is that the
external reference input must be the same for every channel. It is equivalent to configuring the inputs for
differential mode and then tying all of the low inputs together and using that mode as the reference input.
When configured for non-referenced single-ended input mode, 16 analog input channels are available. In this
mode, each input signal is not referenced to the board's ground, but to a common reference signal (AISENSE).
The input signal is delivered through three wires.
The wire carrying the signal to measure connects to CH# IN HI.

The wire carrying the reference signal connects to AISENSE.

The third wire is connected to LLGND.

This mode is useful when the application calls for differential input mode but the limitation on channel count
prevents it.
11
Installing the Board