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Metek EX1200A SERIES User Manual

High-density switch/measure and control systems
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EX1200A S
ERIES
H
-D
S
/M
IGH
ENSITY
WITCH
EASURE
C
S
AND
ONTROL
YSTEMS
'
U
M
SER
S
ANUAL
P/N: 82-0132-000
th
Rev June 7
, 2016
VTI Instruments Corp.
2031 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614-6509
(949) 955-1894

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  • Page 1 EX1200A S ERIES ENSITY WITCH EASURE ONTROL YSTEMS ’ ANUAL P/N: 82-0132-000 Rev June 7 , 2016 VTI Instruments Corp. 2031 Main Street Irvine, CA 92614-6509 (949) 955-1894...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    ............................... 11 NTRODUCTION Features ................................11 EX1200A System Specifications ........................14 EX1200A Series 1 U, Full Rack Mainframe Dimensional Diagram ..............16 EX1200A Series 3 U Mainframe Dimensional Diagram ..................17 EX1200A Series DMM Specifications ....................... 18 DMM Removal/Replacement ..........................25 Explanation of Specifications ..........................
  • Page 3 9................................145 ECTION ..............................145 AINTENANCE Replaceable Fuse .............................. 145 CPU Board Removal/Replacement (3U Mainframes Only) ................145 EX1200A DMM C ....................147 ALIBRATION ERIFICATION Introduction ..............................147 Required Resources ............................147 Setting Up the Instruments ..........................147 EX1200A Series Preface...
  • Page 4 Memory Listings and Clearing Procedures....................... 155 B ................................157 PPENDIX ............................157 OWER ONSUMPTION Plug-in Module Power Consumption ....................... 157 .............................. 158 PPLICATION Overview ................................158 EX1206A and EX1208A Power Consumption Calculation ................158 ..................................161 NDEX EX1200A Series Preface...

  • Page 5: Certification

    Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause in DFARS 252.227-7013. VTI Instruments Corp. 2031 Main Street Irvine, CA 92614-6509 U.S.A. EX1200A Series Preface...

  • Page 6: Declaration Of Conformity

    In substantiation, the products were tested and/or evaluated to the standards shown below: EN61010-1:2010 AFETY EN61326-1:2013 EN55011 Class A Group 1 EN61000-4-2 EN61000-4-3 EN61000-4-4 EN61000-4-5 EN61000-4-6 EN61000-4-8 EN61000-4-11 CISPR 22 June 2016 Steve Mauga, QA Manager EX1200A Series Preface...

  • Page 7: Declaration Of Conformity

    In substantiation, the products were tested and/or evaluated to the standards shown below: EN61010-1:2010 AFETY EN61326-1:2013 EN55011 Class A Group 1 EN61000-4-2 EN61000-4-3 EN61000-4-4 EN61000-4-5 EN61000-4-6 EN61000-4-8 EN61000-4-11 CISPR 22 June 2016 Steve Mauga, QA Manager EX1200A Series Preface...

  • Page 8: General Safety Instructions

    To avoid fire hazard, only use the type and rating fuse specified for User Proper Fuse this product. Prior to using EX1200A series plug-in modules, it is imperative that Power Consumption the power consumption of all modules that will be installed in the mainframe be calculated for all power supply rails.
  • Page 9 Improper Use The operator of this instrument is advised that if the equipment is used in a manner not specified in this manual, the protection provided by the equipment may be impaired. Conformity is checked by inspection. EX1200A Series Preface...

  • Page 10: Support Resources

    EPIP Industrial Area, Whitefield, Bangalore – 560066 INDIA Phone: +91 80 6782 3200 Fax: +91 80 6782 3232 Technical Support Phone: (949) 955-1894 Fax: (949) 955-3041 E-mail: support@vtiinstruments.com Visit http://www.vtiinstruments.com for worldwide support sites and service plan information. EX1200A Series Preface...

  • Page 11: Section 1

    The EX1200A system multimeter improves the accuracy of test data by incorporating multiple calibration sets. Up to eight calibration sets can be stored on an EX1200A, allowing the system to be ‘fine-tuned’ at various temperatures, thus returning reliable, accurate, environment-independent data. EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 12 This robust utility provides a very quick and easy mechanism for defining test sequences where stimulus and switch settings need to be modified during the test and input channels can be measured to verify how they respond to these changes. EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 13 EXLab systems save time and reduce the frustration normally associated with software development efforts. Flexible Application Programming Options Every EX1200A series module is delivered with an application programming interface (API) that ™ conforms to the industry standard IVI specifications for its class.

  • Page 14: Ex1200A System Specifications

    : These values indicate the maximum current provided by the power supply. This value is limited by the carrying capacity for that rail. See the Maximum Current Carrying Capacity per Slot specification for more information. AXIMUM URRENT ARRYING APACITY 3.3 V rail 5 V rail 3.75 A 24 V rail 1.6 A EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 15 CCURACY 200 µs LOCK PECIFICATIONS Clock oscillator accuracy ±50 ppm Reports “synchronized” when < ±200 µs of the 1588 master clock Synchronization accuracy Timestamp Accuracy As good as time synchronization down to 50 ns 25 ns Resolution EX1200A Series Introduction...

  • Page 16: Ex1200A Series 1 U, Full Rack Mainframe Dimensional Diagram

    VTI Instruments Corp. EX1200A S 1 U, F ERIES AINFRAME IMENSIONAL IAGRAM EX1200A Series Introduction...

  • Page 17: Ex1200A Series 3 U Mainframe Dimensional Diagram

    EX1200A S 3 U M ERIES AINFRAME IMENSIONAL IAGRAM EX1200A Series Introduction...

  • Page 18: Ex1200A Series Dmm Specifications

    , is the temperature at which the DMM was calibrated as reported by the DMM’s internal temperature sensor. The DMM is calibrated at approximately T = +32 °C ± 5 °C internal temperature (see the DMM calibration log file for the exact temperature) EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 19 <0.4 V 0.0700% 0.0073%  4.44 mA  4.44 mA 3 A, 4 ½ digit 100.0 µA <0.9 V *0.1000% 0.0062% * Add 0.15% of reading above 2 A. Over-range: 20% of range, except 3 A range EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 20 ACI, VDC DCI) URDEN OLTAGE RMS FOR AC C URRENT ANGE <0.1 V 1 mA (DCI only) 10 mA <0.1 V <0.6 V 100 mA <0.4 V <0.9 V Over-range: 20% of range, except 3 A range EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 21 Specifications are for sine wave input > 5% of range for 100 mV – 100 V ranges, >15% for 300 V range, with Low AC filter selected. V•Hz. Volt-hertz product is limited to 1.5x10 Over-range: 20% beyond range, except 300 V range.  Input Impedance: 1 MΩ 2% in parallel with < 100 pF. EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 22 Specifications are for sine wave input > 5% of range for 100 mV – 100 V ranges, >15% for 300 V range, with High AC filter selected. V•Hz. Volt-hertz product is limited to 1.5x10 Over-range: 20% beyond range, except 300 V range.  Input Impedance: 1 MΩ 2% in parallel with < 100 pF. EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 23 Specifications are for sine wave input > 5%, with High AC filter. REST ACTOR (% R DDITIONAL RROR EADING 1 – 2 0.05% 2 – 3 0.15% 3 – 4 0.30% 4 – 5 0.40% * For non-sine wave inputs EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 24 DCV & DCI: < 30 ms 4-W R (100 to 100K): < 60 ms 2-W R (100 to 100K): < 3.0 s ACV (0.1 to 100V): < 2.0 s, High Filter ACI (0.01 to 0.1A): < 4.0 s, High Filter EX1200A Series Introduction...

  • Page 25: Dmm Removal/Replacement

    2) Use the handle on the front panel of the DMM to slowly remove the DMM from the chassis. Note that once half of the DMM has been removed, remove the connector at J6 on the input board. EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 26 These screws are designed to pull the card out of the backplane’s mating connector. It is recommended that both screws be loosed in equal amounts to avoid tension that may occur if one screw is completely removed before the other. 2) Using the jack-out screws, remove the DMM from the mainframe. EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 27 3) Begin tightening both top and bottom jack-out screws in equal amounts to push the DMM’s mating connector into the backplane. Once both screws are completely installed, the DMM will be secure in the mainframe. EX1200A Series Introduction...

  • Page 28: Explanation Of Specifications

    Please refer to the power consumption specifications of the plug-in cards before configuring the cards. This data can be found in the EX1200A Switch Cards User’s Manual. Exceeding these power limits may damage the power supply of mainframe. EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 29 The common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) of the DMM measures the tendency of the device to reject input signals common to both input leads. Common Mode MEAS 1-3: R IGURE ECOMMENDED OMMON ONNECTIONS EX1200A Series Introduction...

  • Page 30: Maximizing Measurement Performance

    Contamination of the cabling or input connector with high-resistance surface films, such as the oil present on fingertips, should also be avoided. To maximize high resistance measurement readings, care should be taken to maintain a “clean” test environment. EX1200A Series Introduction...
  • Page 31 Solid-state relays tend to have a higher input impedance and more capacitance than mechanical relays, making mechanical relays preferable when performing measurements of this type. Solid state switches also have leakage currents that should be accounted for when measuring resistance or high-impedance voltage sources. EX1200A Series Introduction...

  • Page 33: Section 2

    An EX1200A High-Density Switch/Measure and Control System Mainframe  Getting Started with LXI-based VTI Systems and Local Area Networks application note  EX1200A Series User’s Manual (this manual)  VTEX Switch Driver Programmer’s Manual (P/N: 82-0117-000)  VTEX Scanner Driver Programmer’s Manual (P/N: 82-0128-000) ...

  • Page 34: Warm-Up Time

    Once the module is properly aligned, push the module back and firmly insert it into the backplane connector. See Figure 2-1 for guidance. Be certain to retain any removed blanking panels for future use. Guide 2-1: M (EX1200-3048 U IGURE ODULE NSTALLATION SED AS XAMPLE EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...

  • Page 35: Removing Plug-In Modules

    Phillips screws to secure the top and two (2) 6-32 x 3/8” pan head Phillips screws to secure the bottom of the foot. Use one (1) 6-32 x 1/2” pan head Phillips screw to secure side of this foot. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 36 4) Using the #2 Phillips screw driver, install the four rubber feet using four (4) 6-32 x 7/16” pan head Phillips screws to secure the top and bottom and one (1) 6-32 x 1/2” pan head Phillips screw to secure side of each foot. 2-3: T IGURE ABLETOP NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 37 EX1202A to be installed in a rack either flush or recessed. 3) Place the EX1202A in the desired rack slot and secure the front rack ears with hardware provided with the rack. 2-4: R IGURE ACKMOUNT NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 38 Then, use two (2) 4-40 x 0.187 pan head Phillips screws (P/N: 37-0011-018) to connect the rear mating bracket to the right EX1202A. 6) Place the EX1202A in the desired rack slot and secure the front rack ears with hardware provided with the rack. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 39 2-5: D IGURE NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 40 Once the front bracket are secured, slide the rear support brackets so that they can be attached to the rack as well. After securing the rear support brackets, tighten the screws and KEPS nuts installed in step 4. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 41 2-6: H IGURE IDTH ACKMOUNT NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 42 Once the front bracket are secured, slide the rear support brackets so that they can be attached to the rack as well. After securing the rear support brackets, tighten the screws and KEPS nuts installed in step 4. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 43 2-7: D IGURE NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...

  • Page 44: Ex1206A Mainframe Installation Options

    3) Using the #2 Phillips screw driver, install the four rubber feet using four (4) 6-32 x 7/16” pan head Phillips screws to secure the top and bottom and one (1) 6-32 x 1/2” pan head Phillips screw to secure side of each foot. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 45 2-8: T IGURE ABLE NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 46 EX1206A using five (5) 6-32 x 3/8” flat head Phillips stainless steel screws (P/N: 37-0114- 025) for each rack ear. Note that the “Optional Mounting Locations” in Figure 2-9 allow the EX1206A to be installed in a rack either flush or recessed. 2-9: R IGURE NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 47 Once the front bracket are secured, slide the rear support brackets so that they can be attached to the rack as well. After securing the rear support brackets, tighten the screws and KEPS nuts installed in Step 4. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 48 VTI Instruments Corp. 2-10: R IGURE ACKMOUNT ARDWARE NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...

  • Page 49: Mainframe Installation Options

    3) Using the #2 Phillips screw driver, install the eight rubber feet using four (4) 6-32 x 7/16” pan head Phillips screws to secure the top and bottom and one (1) 6-32 x 1/2” pan head Phillips screw to secure side of each foot. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 50 VTI Instruments Corp. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 51 2-11: T IGURE ABLE NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 52 EX1208A using four (4) 6-32 x 3/8” flat head Phillips stainless steel screws (P/N: 37-0173- 037) for each rack ear. 3) Install the handles (P/N: 37-0254-000) using two (2) 8-32 x 1/2" flat head Phillips screws. 2-12: R IGURE NSTALLATION IAGRAM XPLODED RONT EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 53 Once the front bracket are secured, slide the rear support brackets so that they can be attached to the rack as well. After securing the rear support brackets, tighten the screws and KEPS nuts installed in Step 4. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...

  • Page 54: Blanking Panel

    ISCONNECTING OWER When connecting the power cord to an EX1200A series mainframe, there should be no connections to the front panel of any plug-in cards that may be installed and the power switch at the rear of the mainframe should be in OFF position. Connect the power line cord to the EX1200A series mainframe outlet, then connect all input signals to the plug-in cards, then turn the power supply ON.

  • Page 55: Driver Installation

    By default, the EX1200A will attempt to locate a DHCP server. If one is found, the IP address assigned by the DHCP server will be assumed. Otherwise, after a timeout of 20 seconds, the unit will attempt to obtain an IP address by using Auto IP. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...

  • Page 56: Network Troubleshooting

    It may be the case that the EX1200A is in an unknown network configuration. The EX1200A can be returned to its default state by pressing the Reset Button located at the rear of the chassis. 1) Power off the EX1200A. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 57 4) Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), then click the Properties button as shown in Figure 2-15. 2-15: L IGURE OCAL ONNECTION ROPERTIES IALOG 5) Determine if the PC is set to use auto or static IP. Figure 2-16 shows examples of both auto and static IP address configurations. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 58 4) Once connected to the EX1200A, click on Network Configuration in the command menu. 5) Select DHCP and AutoIP in the IP Address Source field and ensure that Static IP is not selected. Figure 2-17 shows the proper configuration. Click the Submit button to save all changes. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 59 7) In the Subnet Mask field, enter the subnet mask in the Determine PCs Network Settings step. 8) In the Gateway Address field, enter the same gateway address in the Determine PCs Network Settings step. 9) Click Submit to save all changes made to the Network Configuration page. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 60 6) Enter an IP address into the IP Address field. Although any valid network IP address can be used, 192.168.1.2 is used in this example. For more information on valid IP addresses, please consult with an IT administrator. 7) Set the Subnet Mask. For this example, the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 61 Navigate to Start → Settings → Network Connections. b) Right click on the NIC card that the EX1200A mainframe is connected to and select Properties. c) Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties. 2-20: TCI/IP S IGURE ELECTION EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...

  • Page 62: Time Configuration

    Protocol). The user can also set time using SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol) or the time can be set manually. The manual setting is necessary if the network environment is such that the unit cannot reach the Internet. For more information, see Time Configuration in Section 7. EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...
  • Page 63 EX1200A Series Preparation for Use...

  • Page 65: Section 3

    Moreover, the base functionality of the DIO channels is not affected by triggering, scanning, or any other instrument process. Unless linked to a backplane trigger line, as discussed below, its operation is completely autonomous. EX1200A Series Basic Mainframe Operation...
  • Page 66 The default selections for each DIO channel are:  output enable is off  output level is 0 The default selections for DIO Limit Events are:  all channels are disabled  invert is off  latch is off EX1200A Series Basic Mainframe Operation...
  • Page 67 VTI Instruments P/N: 70-0322-000 provides two termination assemblies, which is sufficient to connect any number of instruments, since a termination is only needed at each end. An example of a three-unit trigger bus installation is shown in Figure 3-1. EX1200A Series Basic Mainframe Operation...
  • Page 68 0 The electrical specifications for the trigger bus are provided in Table 3-4. Characteristic Value Logic Type M-LVDS Type 2 150 mV max 50 mV min 1 V typical 3-4: T ABLE RIGGER LECTRICAL PECIFICATIONS EX1200A Series Basic Mainframe Operation...
  • Page 69 To prevent unintentional resets of the EX1200A, there is a debounce protection mechanism. If the reset button is depressed for less than 1 s, the activation of the reset button is treated as unintentional and no action is taken. EX1200A Series Basic Mainframe Operation...

  • Page 70: Dmm Bus

    Slots configured for a matrix bus are not tied to a DMM bus. To use the onboard DMM with a matrix bus card, external wiring should be used to connect the desired front panel matrix output to the DMM, either through the front panel banana-jack connectors or through the 9-pin DMM bus I/O connector. EX1200A Series Basic Mainframe Operation...

  • Page 71: Led Indicators

    Trigger and arm source events can be independently programmed from a variety of sources including Immediate, Timer, Digital I/O, the Trigger Bus, and alarms. EX1200A Series Basic Mainframe Operation...

  • Page 73: Section 4

    PERATION VERVIEW The EX1200A series mainframes can be configured to include an onboard DMM (please refer to EX1200A Series DMM Specifications for details regarding functions, ranges, and accuracy) depending on the model purchased. These DMMs are the EX1200-2165 (for the EX1206A) and the EX1200-2365 (for the EX1208A) The functionality of these DMMs is identical and, as such, they are referred to as the EX1200A DMMs throughout this section.

  • Page 74: Dmm Input Connections

    VTI Instruments Corp. DMM I NPUT ONNECTIONS Front Panel Connector The EX1200A DMM’s hardware interface is made available on the front panel of the instrument. The DMM front panel has the following features: five banana jack inputs, a fuse, and three status LEDs as seen in Figure 4-1 (LED operation is detailed in the EX1200A Triggering...
  • Page 75 DMM. This bus is available through rear panel DMM Bus connector that can be used to extend the analog backplane to other EX1200A series mainframes. To ensure high signal integrity, environmental noise and cable length should be accounted for prior to routing these lines.
  • Page 76 VTI Instruments Corp. Function Front Panel Equivalent +SHI Sense HI +DAMPS Input I -SLO Sense LO GUARD (Ground Stud on Rear Panel) 4-1: DMM B I/O P ABLE IGNALS Using the DMM Bus with Switch Cards Some switch cards and plug-in instruments can access the EX1200A DMM without external wiring as they can connect across the backplane to the DMM bus.

  • Page 77: Dmm Measurement Basics

    www.vtiinstruments.com DMM M EASUREMENT ASICS When making a measurement, the following sequence should be followed:  Select an Input Connector  Configure the Measurement  Configure Triggering  Take the Measurement  Retrieve the Data These steps are discussed in detail in the following sections for IVI-COM. ELECT AN NPUT ONNECTOR...

  • Page 78: Configure The Measurement

    VTI Instruments Corp. ONFIGURE THE EASUREMENT A simple DMM measurement can be configured by setting the function, range, and resolution. There are many other parameters that may need to be configured depending on the type of measurement being performed. This is explained in detail in later sections. ...
  • Page 79 www.vtiinstruments.com  Sample Trigger Options Sample Trigger Source: sets the trigger line that moves the DMM from the Wait-For- Sample state to the Take Measurement state. Sample Trigger Slope: indicates whether a rising or falling edge will move the DMM from the Wait-For-Sample state to the Take Measurement state.

  • Page 80: Take The Measurement

    VTI Instruments Corp. IVI-COM Programming Interface The IVTEXDMM.Trigger interface provides properties and methods for setting the input trigger. The IVTEXDMM.Trigger.Multipoint interface provides properties and methods for setting the sample trigger and setting the measurement complete output trigger. AKE THE EASUREMENT Once the DMM has been configured, the measurement must next be initiated.

  • Page 81: Dmm Functions

    www.vtiinstruments.com DMM F UNCTIONS This section of the manual discusses each measurement function of DMM and aids in understanding some of the DMM specifications. Understanding the operation of the DMM and each of its functions helps optimize the configuration of the DMM for measurement accuracy/speed.

  • Page 82: Resolution

    VTI Instruments Corp. For example, if a 9 V signal is fed to the DMM and auto-range is enabled, the 10 V range is selected in order to display 9.00000 V (the total number of digits is based on the resolution selected).

  • Page 83: Integration/Aperture Time

    www.vtiinstruments.com X = Resolution/Range Where Range =100V if userRange=300V, =1A if userRange=3A, = userRange otherwise if (X <= 1e-6) numberOfPLC=10; else if (X <= 1e-5) numberOfPLC=1; else if (X <= 1e-4) {// 4.5 digits numberOfPLC=0.1; else {// 3.5 digits numberOfPLC=0.01; apertureTime=numberOfPLC/PowerLineFrequency;...

  • Page 84: Limits

    VTI Instruments Corp. Auto Zero Off The auto-zero function can be disabled programmatically to achieve higher measurement speeds. Once the auto-zero is disabled, the DMM no longer takes the new zero and reference measurements, but, instead, uses the last known zero and reference values to calculate the signal level.

  • Page 85: Dc Voltage Measurements

    (refer to the EX1200A Series DMM Specifications for maximum signal details). When in DCV mode, there are several options that can be configured, as discussed below.
  • Page 86 VTI Instruments Corp. When using switch multiplexer modules such as the EX1200-3048, each input channel pair (HI and LO) is routed through relays which are close to one another on the PCB to maintain the same average temperature. Because of this proximity, the relays generate approximately equal thermoelectric voltages on both the HI and LO channels, making the differential reading across these two switches approximately cancel the thermoelectric voltages.
  • Page 87 www.vtiinstruments.com Power Line Noise Rejection An intrinsic characteristic of integrating ADCs is their ability to reject spurious signals. When the PLCs is set to an integer value, the integrating technique rejects power-line related noise present with a dc signal on the input. This is called normal mode rejection, or NMR. (Note that common mode rejection is with a voltage being common to both input terminals, while NMR is with an ac voltage between the two input terminals).

  • Page 88: Ac Voltage Measurements

    VTI Instruments Corp. Noise Caused by Ground Loops When measuring voltages in circuits where the DMM and the DUT are referenced to a common earth ground, but at different points, a “ground loop” is formed. As shown in Figure 4-8, any voltage difference between the two ground reference points (V ) causes a current to flow ground...
  • Page 89 www.vtiinstruments.com NOTE Although the DMM can measure up to 300 V rms (200 V from LO or Sense LO to Guard), this may exceed the maximum switching value of the plug-in module installed in the system. Ensure that voltage, current, and power specification for the plug-in modules are not exceeded when measurements are taken.
  • Page 90 VTI Instruments Corp. Waveform Example Crest Factor Sine 1.414 Full-wave Rectified Sine 1.414 Half-wave Rectified Sine Triangle 1.732 Square Wave (Symmetrical) Repeating Pulse (PWM) 4-10: C IGURE REST ACTORS FOR OMMON AVEFORMS Crest factor related errors are specified in the DMM specifications on page 18. The specifications are for non-sine waveforms that are above 100 Hz when the Low filter (3 Hz) is used.

  • Page 91: Dc And Ac Current Measurements

    www.vtiinstruments.com Low-Level AC Voltages and Shielding When measuring ac voltages less than 100 mV, be aware that these measurements are especially susceptible to errors introduced by external noise sources. Exposed (unshielded) cabling acts as an antenna and the EX1200A DMM will measure the signals received. The entire measurement path, including the power line, acts as a loop antenna.

  • Page 92: Resistance Measurements

    VTI Instruments Corp. measurements with motors and other devices with a high starting current, be certain that the current rush does exceed the fuse’s rating. The shunt resistance value applicable for each current range varies, making the selection of the proper range crucial for DMM safety.
  • Page 93 www.vtiinstruments.com Minimizing Lead Wire Resistance Errors While the best way to minimize lead wire resistance is to use the 4-wire method, this may not be practical for all applications, especially when the wiring density is high. When 4-wire measurements are impractical, the user can offset the lead resistance of the 2-wire resistance to obtain a more accurate value.

  • Page 94: Frequency/Period Measurements

    VTI Instruments Corp. Common Error Sources The errors discussed previously for DC Voltage Measurements also apply to resistance measurements. Additional error sources unique to resistance measurements are discussed below. Self-Heating Error When a current passes through a resistor, heat is generated in the resistance source. This is unavoidable.
  • Page 95 www.vtiinstruments.com The resolution of frequency measurements is set from one of the following options: Slow Mode, Medium Mode, Fast Mode, and User Mode. Table shows the settings used for each mode. Mode Digits Aperture/Gate Time Slow 6½ 140 ms 5½ 14 ms Medium 4½...

  • Page 96: Temperature Measurements

    VTI Instruments Corp. Connecting a frequency signal via the EX1200A DMM bus requires a making connections similar to those used for voltage measurements. DMM Backplane Frequency Sources CH 1 CH 2 CH n EX1200 Multiplexer Cards EX1200 Mainframe 4-9: F EX1200A DMM B ABLE REQUENCY...
  • Page 97 The reference junction temperature can be obtained using a known, fixed junction temperature, an external thermistor or RTD measurement, or by using the onboard, internal thermistor of an EX1200A series terminal block (on supported terminal blocks only).
  • Page 98 VTI Instruments Corp. provided by the EX1200A series terminal blocks provide less accuracy than a fixed reference, it does provide the advantage of requiring no external wiring and simplifying test setup. Note that the fixed reference is supported using the EX1200A DMM. To use external reference, the scanner driver must be used.
  • Page 99 www.vtiinstruments.com = nominal resistance of RTD (resistance at 0 °C) T = temperature in °C A = α[1+ (δ/100)] B = -αδ/1 x 10 C = -αβ/1 x 10 For the RTD’s with built-in support, the following Callendar-Van Dusen RTD parameters are used: α...
  • Page 100 VTI Instruments Corp. DMM Backplane RTDs CH 1 CH 2 CH n EX1200 Multiplexer Cards EX1200 Mainframe 4-16: RTD 2-W EX1200A DMM B IGURE ONNECTION VIA THE 4-Wire Measurement Connections The 4-wire RTD measurement method is the most accurate method of the two methods, as the set up automatically removes connection lead and switch resistance.
  • Page 101 www.vtiinstruments.com DMM Backplane CH1_1 CH2_1 EX1200-3048 EX1200 Mainframe 4-19: RTD 4-W EX1200A DMM B IGURE ONNECTION VIA THE Programming Interface The VTEX DMM and VTEX Scanner drivers provide the access to the features of EX1200A DMM. Refer to the below functions of the driver in its documentation. IVTEXDmmTemperature Interface IIviDmmTemperature..::.RTD Property Using a Thermistor...
  • Page 102 VTI Instruments Corp. Curve fitting constants used by the DMM for supported thermistor types: 2252 Ω at 25 °C 5000 Ω at 25 °C 10 kΩ at 25 °C Constant (Series 44004) (Series 44007) (Series 44006) 0.0014733 0.0012880 0.0010295 0.0002372 0.0002356 0.0002391 1.074 x 10...
  • Page 103 www.vtiinstruments.com If the thermistors are connected to a multiplexer card, the wiring is similar to that of a 2-wire voltage measurement without the polarity constraints, as the thermistors are bilateral passive devices. DMM Backplane Thermsitors CH 1 CH 2 CH n EX1200 Multiplexer Cards EX1200 Mainframe...

  • Page 104: Self-Test

    VTI Instruments Corp. The EX1200A DMM self-test performs various hardware checks to ensure that the DMM is functioning properly. The process is takes approximately two minutes to complete and checks the following:  Communication lines for the controller board, digital FPGA, and analog FPGA. ...

  • Page 105: Section 5

    www.vtiinstruments.com ECTION CANNER VERVIEW VERVIEW The purpose of the VTEXScanner driver is to make it easy to control any VTI instrument where taking measurements on multiple modules is the primary purpose of the device. While controlling the instrument in the same way is possible by using a combination of other VTI drivers, this is often cumbersome due to the need to instantiate and initialize multiple drivers, and arrange scanlists and triggers exactly.
  • Page 106 VTI Instruments Corp. EX1200A Triggering...

  • Page 107: Section 6

    www.vtiinstruments.com ECTION RIGGERING VERVIEW The EX1200A is a bridge device and, therefore, does not expose a triggerable action. However, for ease of use, the scanner driver exposes a trigger model which functions like the SCPI 1999 Trigger Subsystem and works on the device and all installed plug-in cards. The user should be able to program to this representation except where otherwise noted.
  • Page 108 VTI Instruments Corp. 6-1: EX1200A S IGURE ERIES RIGGER ODEL EX1200A Triggering...

  • Page 109: Section 7

    www.vtiinstruments.com ECTION PERATION NTRODUCTION To open the embedded web page, start the LXI Discovery Tool utility by navigating to Start → Programs → LXI Discovery Tool. Once the utility is run, LXI Discovery Tool will scan the network to discover all LAN-based VTI instruments. Once the scan is complete, the tool shows all the instruments that were discovered, as shown in Figure 7-1.

  • Page 110: General Web

    VTI Instruments Corp. ENERAL PERATION When initial connection is made to the EX1200A, the instrument home page, Index, appears (see Figure 7-2). This page displays instrument-specific information including:  Model  Manufacturer  Serial Number  Description  LXI Class ...

  • Page 111: Soft Front Panel Main Page

    The Soft Front Panel page displays a list of instruments that are available to command in the EX1200A series chassis. After selecting an instrument, the soft front panel specific to that instrument will appear. An example of the EX1200A SFP page can be seen in Figure 7-3.

  • Page 112: Scanner Soft Front Panel

    VTEXScanner Programmer’s Manual included with the EX1200A system. NOTE Scanner is only available when a switch card is installed in an EX1200A series mainframe. Tab Bar The general purpose of the Tab bar located at the top of the scanner SFP is to allow the user access to all the components of the EX1200A system to which they are connected.
  • Page 113 www.vtiinstruments.com  Slot x: One Slot tab will appear for each switch/instrument installed in the EX1200A system. This provides the ability to monitor the state of the relays or control them directly. When a plug-in card is initially accessed from the Tab bar, the switch’s SFP appears in Monitor Only mode.
  • Page 114 VTI Instruments Corp. Scanlist Field The Scanlist field allows for the creation of a list which can be sequentially executed once the Scan and Step Trigger requirements have been met. Each scan step consists of two phases: the setup phase and the sweep phase. The setup phase consists of general purpose switching and setup, where the sweep phase performs measurements on its defined channels.
  • Page 115 www.vtiinstruments.com  Connect/Disconnect: This button toggles between Connect and Disconnect. When Connect is selected, the path defined to the right of the button will be made. Choosing Disconnect will open the defined path.  A → B Drop Menus: From these menus, the input and output of each required path can be defined.
  • Page 116 VTI Instruments Corp.  Break Before Make checkbox: When selected, the scanner ensures that channel selected has completely settled before it connects to another channel. Deselecting this option increases scan speed, but introduces the of input channels potentially being shorted to each other for a short time.
  • Page 117 www.vtiinstruments.com  Trigger Delay: indicates the delay, in seconds, that occurs between connecting a switch channel to the DMM and when the measurement is taken. Valid values are 0 s to 4294.967295 s. An option to select Auto appears when this field is selected. Auto delay allows the DMM to automatically set the trigger delay based on the measurement configuration.
  • Page 118 VTI Instruments Corp. If a hardware trigger (an LXI, LAN, or DIO line) is selected as either the Scan Trigger or Step Trigger source, and the Rise/Fall slider will appear. This slider allows the user to choose which edge polarity will be accepted as the arm or trigger source or which will be asserted as a trigger output.

  • Page 119: Instrument Soft Front Panels

    www.vtiinstruments.com  Scan Delay: Indicates the minimum time to complete each scan step. For instance, if this is set to 1.0 and a scan step completes in only 0.75 seconds, the scanner waits another 0.25 seconds before advancing to the next step. ...
  • Page 120 VTI Instruments Corp. size of the schematic can be changed from to any of the following sizes: Tiny, Small (default), Medium, and Large. 7-11: T IGURE YPICAL WITCH RONT ANEL For switches that support read-back, the relays are color coded to provide the user an indication of the relay states.
  • Page 121 www.vtiinstruments.com  Saved States button: This button allows the user to either save, load, or erase a switch configuration. Saving a state allows the user to use the same switch set up at a later time. When the Save button is clicked, a prompt will appear. The user selects a number, 0 through 127, from this field.

  • Page 122: Dmm Soft Front Panel

    VTI Instruments Corp. DMM S RONT ANEL The DMM Soft Front Panel provides an interface for the user to configure and perform measurements with an EX1200A DMM. Note that this option is only available on EX1200A systems where the DMM is installed. 7-14: DMM S IGURE RONT...
  • Page 123 www.vtiinstruments.com System Buttons To the right of the Status Display are two system buttons that affect the functionality of the EX1200A system and all installed modules.  Lock/Unlock: Requests (or releases) exclusive access to the EX1200A system.  Reset: Resets the SFP and the connected modules to power-on defaults. ...
  • Page 124 VTI Instruments Corp.  Digits: Indicates the number of significant digits that will be used when measurements are taken. Note that this property and Aperture Time are interrelated hardware settings. Thus, changing one affects the other. Optional Settings Some functions require optional settings. These settings are displayed only if a function requiring them is selected.
  • Page 125 www.vtiinstruments.com Delay: Indicates the time, in seconds, the DMM will wait after getting a trigger input event before proceeding to the Sample Trigger layer. Valid values are -1.0 and 0 to 4294.967295. When set to -1.0 this is equivalent to using Auto Delay. ...
  • Page 126 VTI Instruments Corp.  Range Delay: The amount of time the DMM takes between measurements on the same function, but on different ranges. Auto checkbox: When selected, the auto range function is enabled. Delay (sec): Sets the range delay. Valid values are between 0 and 4294.967295 s. ...

  • Page 127: Dmm Calibration Web Page

    www.vtiinstruments.com The following control options are provided:  Get Continuous checkbox: If enabled, this button disables the Get button and continually populates the data table as data is acquired.  Get button: When clicked, data is immediately pulled from FIFO memory. ...
  • Page 128 VTI Instruments Corp.  Function sliders: The sliders provided in the Calibration Functions field allow to user to perform a full calibration/verification or to perform calibration/verification on a subset of the DMM’s functions. All: Calibration/verification of all functions will be performed when selected. Also causes all sliders to move to the ON position.
  • Page 129 www.vtiinstruments.com Temperature Field The Temperature field provides the internal and external temperature during calibration.  Internal: Displays the current internal temperature of the DMM.  External: The current ambient temperature should be entered here when a calibration or verification procedure is started. Calibration Status Field The Calibration Status field provides an indication of how close calibration is to completion.

  • Page 130: Network Configuration

    VTI Instruments Corp. ETWORK ONFIGURATION The EX1200A Network Configuration page can be seen in Figure 7-15. By default, the EX1200A will attempt to locate a DHCP server. If one is found, the IP address assigned by the DHCP server will be assumed, along with subnet masks, gateway, etc. Otherwise, after a timeout of 20 seconds, the unit will attempt to obtain an IP address by using Auto IP (IPv4 Dynamic Link Local Addressing).

  • Page 131: Time Configuration

    www.vtiinstruments.com 7-15: EX1200A N IGURE ETWORK ONFIGURATION NOTE If problems are experienced connecting to the EX1200A, please refer to the Network Troubleshooting process in Section 2. ONFIGURATION This entry page is used to change the time configuration of the EX1200A. As the EX1200A has no notion of “wall clock”...
  • Page 132 VTI Instruments Corp. If a PTP master clock does not exist on the network, an LXI device on the network will begin serving as the PTP time master. The Time Configuration page allows for PTP time to be set manually. From the Time Configuration page, select the Set Time checkbox, then select the Grandmaster radio button from the Target field, and then configure the time by hand.

  • Page 133: Lxi Synchronization

    www.vtiinstruments.com 7-17: SNTP C IGURE ONFIGURATION Using the Manual Time Setting If a PTP master or an SNTP server is not available, time can be configured manually by the user by selecting Manual in the Time Source drop menu. Note, manually set time sources are not very accurate and that this configuration should only be used if timestamp accuracy is not vital to a measurement.
  • Page 134 VTI Instruments Corp. 7-18: LXI S IGURE YNCHRONIZATION  IEEE 1588 Parameters PTP Grandmaster Clock MAC: indicates the MAC address of the device on the network to which all other IEEE 1588 compliant devices are synchronized. PTP Parent Clock MAC: indicates the MAC address of the device to which the EX1200A is synchronized.

  • Page 135: Lxi Identification

    www.vtiinstruments.com  LXI Module to Module Parameters LXI Domain: an 8-bit number, 0 to 255, that indicates the domain the EX1200A is using for LAN events. All events sent by this device will include this data. Likewise, the device will only accept events that include the same LXI Domain data. ...

  • Page 136: Blink Lan Indicator

    VTI Instruments Corp. LAN I LINK NDICATOR This action page is used to identify the EX1200A that is being commanded in the current session. When the Turn on button is pressed, the LAN LED located on the front panel of the EX1200A will blink.

  • Page 137: Upgrade

    www.vtiinstruments.com NOTES The instrument password uses lower-case letters. This password mechanism provides only the most basic security. Applications requiring additional security should consider using private, dedicated subnets, firewalls, etc. to limit access to the instrument on the network. PGRADE This action page is used to upgrade the embedded firmware of the EX1200A controller and DMM (if installed) as well as the plug-in modules.
  • Page 138 VTI Instruments Corp. 7-23: C DMM U IGURE OMPLETED ONTROLLER AND PGRADE During a plug-in module firmware upgrade, an Upgrade Status window similar to the one shown in Figure 7-24 appears. A step will appear for each plug-in module installed in the mainframe. Each plug-in module takes approximately one minute to upgrade.
  • Page 139 www.vtiinstruments.com Remove Temporary Internet Files The initial steps of firmware upgrade involve preparing the host PC. The instructions that follow provide guidance for removing cookies from IE and clearing the cache retained by Java. Clearing Cookies from Internet Explorer 8 For Internet Explorer 8, the following steps can be taken to delete existing cookies (for other browsers, please refer to the browser’s on-line help documentation): 1) Open Internet Explorer.
  • Page 140 VTI Instruments Corp. Clearing Java Cache Once the cookies have been deleted from the host PC, the Java cache should be deleted next. For Java version 6, the cache can be removed by performing the following steps: 1) Navigate to the Control Panel (Start → Settings → Control Panel). 2) Double click the Java icon in the Control Panel.
  • Page 141 www.vtiinstruments.com 4) When the Temporary Internet Files window opens, click the Delete Files… button. A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click to OK button delete the cache. EX1200A Web Page Operation...
  • Page 142 VTI Instruments Corp. EX1200A Web Page Operation...

  • Page 143: Section 8

    www.vtiinstruments.com ECTION ROGRAMMING ROGRAMMING EFERENCES EX1200A systems ship with several programmer’s guides that define APIs and provide practical examples which assist the programming with sequencing, syntax, and the use of other IVI- specified APIs. These guides include:  VTEXSwitch Programmer’s Manual (P/N: 82-0117-000) ...
  • Page 144 VTI Instruments Corp. EX1200A Series Programming...

  • Page 145: Maintenance

    These screws are designed to pull the card out of the backplane’s mating connector. It is recommended that both screws be loosed in equal amounts to avoid tension that may occur if one screw is completely removed before the other. 2) Using the jack-out screws, remove the CPU board from the mainframe. EX1200A Series Maintenance...
  • Page 146 VTI Instruments Corp. 9-1: CPU B IGURE OARD Installation Procedure 1) Using the guides shown in Figure 9-1, slide the CPU board into the mainframe unit the until DMM is supported by the card guides. 2) Slide the DMM into the mainframe using the card guides until the jack-out screws touch the front panel of the mainframe.

  • Page 147: Ex1200A Dmm Calibration /Verification

    www.vtiinstruments.com EX1200A DMM C ALIBRATION ERIFICATION NTRODUCTION Verification is the process by which the measurements of the EX1200A DMM are compared to reference standards to determine variances between the values measured by the DMM and the values outputted by the standard. After the completion of verification, a report can be saved that shows the measured and expected values for the points measured.

  • Page 148: Connecting To The Ex1200A

    VTI Instruments Corp. Calibrator LAN/GPIB Gateway GPIB GPIB Port Cable GPIB Port LAN Port Interconnect Cable Ethernet GPIB Cable Ethernet Cable Switch Daisy Chain LAN Port Amplifier Ethernet GPIB Cable GPIB Port 8.5 Digit DMM Cable Daisy Chain LAN Port GPIB Port Function Generator 9-2: I...

  • Page 149: Login Into Sfp

    www.vtiinstruments.com To use ACE, use the following steps: 1) Open ACE and click on the Add instrument toolbar. 2) Select Add LAN instrument on LAN and then click OK. ACE will search the network and list the LXI instruments connected to the LAN. 9-3: A IGURE NSTRUMENT...

  • Page 150: Time Configuration

    VTI Instruments Corp. ONFIGURATION When calibration is performed, the time and date of calibration is recorded, making it important to ensure that the EX1200A’s time is configured properly. To determine the time, click on the Time Configuration link in the command menu. If the time is displayed incorrectly, use the following steps to configure the time from the Time Configuration web page.
  • Page 151 www.vtiinstruments.com Calibration Procedure 1) Connect to the embedded web page. See Connecting to the EX1200A for assistance. 2) Click Soft Front Panel from the Index page to navigate to the Soft Front Panel page. Select the EX1200-dmm DMM from the list of available plug-in modules (the slot designation will vary depending on the mainframe being used).

  • Page 152: Performing Verification

    VTI Instruments Corp. 5) In the Reference Instruments section, select the appropriate instrument available on the GPIB/LAN network for the calibrator, external DMM, and function generator. This information can also be obtained from LAN/GPIB Gateway’s web page. Refer to the LAN/GPIB Gateway’s user’s manual for more information.
  • Page 153 www.vtiinstruments.com NOTE Detailed debug logs that describe what occurred during calibration/verification are saved to the “Current Working Directory” browser (typically C:\Documents settings\Username\Application Data\, although this varies from one browser to another). To find the actual location, open the Java Console by right clicking on the Java icon in the system tray and choose Java Console.

  • Page 155: Appendixa

    www.vtiinstruments.com PPENDIX NBOARD EMORY EMORY ISTINGS AND LEARING ROCEDURES The following table provides information regarding memory contained in the EX1200A mainframes and plug-in modules. Protocol for clearing the memory is also included. Product Component Volatile? Contains User Writeable? Clear Procedure EX1200A Chassis 4 MB Flash Time configuration...
  • Page 156 VTI Instruments Corp. Product Component Volatile? Contains User Writeable? Clear Procedure Model & serial None number file None 16 MB SPI Flash FPGA image None 2 MB Static RAM User pattern data Power off EX1200-3608 64 MB Flash Model & serial None number file None...

  • Page 157: Appendixb

    PPENDIX OWER ONSUMPTION ODULE OWER ONSUMPTION The following tables provide power consumption information for the EX1200A series plug-in modules. The EX1200A mainframe power is also provided to assist in determining available power. Switch Module +3.3 V +5 V +24 V Notes 0.131 A...

  • Page 158: Application Note

    VTI Instruments Corp. PPLICATION VERVIEW As with any backplane-based system where modules share power, such as VXI and PXI, the possibility exists where a combination of plug-in modules may exceed the maximum power available from the power supply. There are two limitations that govern power delivery by a supply: 1) the maximum power of the power supply and 2) the maximum power that can be delivered to a single slot.
  • Page 159 www.vtiinstruments.com  EX1200-2001 with six (6) relays closed  EX1200-3048 with ten (10) relays closed  EX1200-3608 From the Plug-in Module Power Consumption section, the amount of current used by the switch card’s relays can be calculated and added to the total consumption on the 5 V rail: = card’s consumption + (number of relays closed)(relay consumption) 5V (EX1200-2001) = 0.0037 A + (6)(75 mA)

  • Page 161: Index

    CMR ............ See common mode rejection IVI shared components ............63 common mode rejection ...............94 switch instrument driver ............63 common mode voltage..............34 system/LXISync instrument driver ........63 connecting and disconnecting line power ........62 connectors DIO ..................73 EX1200A Series Index...
  • Page 162 ..............62 memory ..................33 Java runtime environment ............62 cleaning protocols ..............169 specifications ................. 16–32 DMM ..................23 LXI ..................17 mainframe ................16 network configuration..............63 switch soft front panels resetting ........See LAN configuration initialize EX1200A Series Index...
  • Page 163 ................70 time configuration web page ............143 warm-up ..................29 TRIG event ..............See triggering warm-up time ................. 35, 38 Trigger Bus ............... 75, 76, 80 WEEE .................... 8 trigger model ................118 triggering ................80, 117 EX1200A Series Index...

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