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ADInstruments Bridge Amp Owner's Manual

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ADInstruments Bridge Amp Owner's Manual

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  • Page 1 Artisan Technology Group is your source for quality new and certified-used/pre-owned equipment SERVICE CENTER REPAIRS WE BUY USED EQUIPMENT • FAST SHIPPING AND DELIVERY Experienced engineers and technicians on staff Sell your excess, underutilized, and idle used equipment at our full-service, in-house repair center We also offer credit for buy-backs and trade-ins •...
  • Page 2 Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...
  • Page 3 This document was, as far as possible, accurate at the time of release. However, changes may have been made to the software and hardware it describes since then. ADInstruments Pty Ltd reserves the right to alter specifications as required. Late-breaking information may be supplied separately.

  • Page 4: Table Of Contents

    A Technical Aspects Bridge Amp Operation ....... . 42 Technical Description ....... . . 43 Contents Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ...
  • Page 5 Problems ........46 C Specifications Single, Quad and Octal Bridge Amps (ML221, ML224 & ML228) ..49 Index Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...

  • Page 6: Safety Notes

    ADInstruments products are NOT intended to be used as medical devices or in medical environments. That is, no product supplied by ADInstruments is intended to be used to diagnose, treat or monitor a subject. Furthermore no product is intended for the prevention, curing or alleviation of disease, injury or handicap.
  • Page 7 Safety Symbols Devices manufactured by ADInstruments that are designed for direct connection to humans are tested to IEC 601-1:1998 (including amendments 1 and 2) and 60601-1-2, and carry one or more of the safety symbols below. These symbols appear next to those inputs and output connectors that can be directly connected to human subjects.
  • Page 8 • All Bio Amp front-ends (except for the ML138 Octal Bio Amp) and PowerLab units with a built-in Bio Amp are supplied with a 3-lead or 5-lead Bio Amp subject cable and lead wire system. The ML138 Octal Bio Amp is supplied with unshielded lead wires (1.8 m). Bio Amps are only safe for human connection if used with the supplied subject cable and lead wires.
  • Page 9 IEC60601-1-1: General requirements for safety - Collateral standard: Safety requirements for medical systems . Reference to this standard is required when setting up a system for human connection. Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...
  • Page 10 PowerLab systems (and many other devices) require the connection of a personal computer for operation. This personal computer should be certified as complying with IEC60950 and should be located outside a 1.8 m radius from the subject (so that the subject cannot touch it while connected to the system).
  • Page 11 They shall only be used for supplying power to equipment which is intended to form part of the system. Cleaning and Sterilization ADInstruments products may be wiped down with a lint free cloth moistened with industrial methylated spirit. Refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines or the Data Card supplied with transducers and accessories for specific cleaning and sterilizing instructions.
  • Page 12 Your PowerLab system can be periodically checked for basic safety by using an appropriate safety testing device. Tests such as earth leakage, earth bond, insulation resistance, subject leakage and auxiliary currents and power cable integrity can all be performed on the PowerLab system without having to remove the covers.
  • Page 13 Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...

  • Page 14: Overview

    ® designed to extend the capabilities of the PowerLab system. The Bridge Amp is designed to allow the PowerLab to connect to most DC bridge transducers, including commonly available force transducers, temperature probes, light meters, displacement transducers, pressure transducers, and similar devices. This chapter provides an overview of the various Bridge Amps, describes their basic features, and looks at which transducers can be used with them.

  • Page 15: How To Use This Guide

    This owner’s guide describes how to set up and begin using your Bridge Amp. The chapters give an overview of front-ends in general and the Bridge Amp in particular, and discuss how to connect the hardware, perform a simple power-up test, and use the Bridge Amp with some ADInstruments programs.

  • Page 16: The Front-End

    The Front Panel The front panel of a Bridge Amp has a single socket for a transducer connection, a status indicator light and an overload indicator light. The front panel of a Quad or Octal Bridge Amp has four or eight transducer connections, respectively, each of which has a status indicator light and an overload indicator light.
  • Page 17 The Status Indicator The Status indicator of the Bridge Amp is located at the bottom right of the front panel, and the Status indicators of the Quad Bridge Amp and Octal Bridge Amp are located beneath each connector on the front panel.

  • Page 18: The Back Panel

    The Overload Indicator The Overload indicator is located on the left side of the front panel of the Bridge Amp and to the right of the Status indicator on the Quad and Octal Bridge Amps. The Overload indicator is normally off. If the indicator lights when a...

  • Page 19: Using Transducers

    ML228 Octal Bridge Amp Analog Output Sockets BNC sockets on the back panel of the Bridge Amp provide the signal outputs to connect to the analog input sockets on the front of the PowerLab. The sockets are labelled Signal Output on a Bridge Amp and Output 1 to Output 4 or 8 on Quad or Octal Bridge Amps.

  • Page 20: Compatibility

    Semiconductor . These are powered transducers typically used for light, displacement, and temperature measurements, giving output voltages less than 200 mV full scale. Generally, a Bridge Amp can be used with transducers that: • require DC excitation voltages, not AC •...

  • Page 21: Unsuitable Transducers

    Bridge Amp. These include LVDT, capacitive bridge, piezoelectric and high-voltage transducers. LVDT (linear variable differential transformer). This type of transducer requires AC excitation voltages. The Bridge Amp is for use with transducers requiring DC excitation. Connecting an LVDT transducer to the Bridge Amp may damage the transducer.

  • Page 22: Checking The Transducer

    Bridge Amp. Checking the Transducer Before attempting to connect any transducer to a Bridge Amp, you will need to determine the three things listed below. (This information is normally supplied with the transducer; if not, you should consult the manufacturer or supplier of the transducer.)
  • Page 23 Most Grass transducers should have an impedance of about 350 Ω or so. A few Grass and Grass-compatible transducers have a much lower impedance, of about 250 Ω. Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...

  • Page 24: Setting Up

    Setting Up This chapter describes connecting your Bridge Amp to your PowerLab and performing a quick test to make sure that it is working properly. The best way to configure your system for one or more front-ends is discussed, along with how to use the Bridge Amp with ADInstruments application software.

  • Page 25: Powerlab Requirements

    Connect a BNC cable from each signal output, on the rear of the Bridge Amp, to an input on the front panel of the PowerLab. Note that the Quad Bridge Amp acts just as if it were four individual Bridge Amps; the Octal Bridge Amp, eight. The I...

  • Page 26: Multiple Front-Ends

    Figure 2–1 Front-end I C input Front-end signal output BNC connector cable Connecting a front-end to the PowerLab: a PowerLab has only one I C output, and each front-end has one C output and one I C input C connector cable PowerLab I C output Multiple Front-ends...

  • Page 27: Using Adinstruments Programs

    Bridge Amp. During initialization, the Status indicators glow green, flash briefly, and then remain lit. If the indicator glows green, the Bridge Amp is working properly, and you can quit the application. If a light does not go on when the program is started, this indicates either that the front-end is not connected properly or that there is a software or hardware problem.

  • Page 28: The Bridge Amp Dialog

    If the overload light glows yellow (or amber) on any Bridge Amp, this indicates some fault such as a short circuit, a badly wired bridge transducer, or an excitation overload. In the first instance, check your cable connections and transducers, and repeat the self-test. If this does not solve the problem, contact your ADInstruments representative.
  • Page 29 Figure 2–3 Pause/Scroll Input selection Average signal The Bridge Amp dialog for buttons value Windows (before zeroing) Range pop-up Set the offset for the Bridge Amp Mains filter Displays a voltmeter on screen for use Displays the when setting the offset externally Units Conversion dialog Figure 2–4...
  • Page 30 Range pop-up menu lets you select the input range or sensitivity of the channel (combined range of the PowerLab and Bridge Amp). Changing the range in the Bridge Amp dialog is equivalent to changing it in the Chart window. The default setting is 5 V and the ranges go down to 200 μV in 14 steps.
  • Page 31 (such as in the QRS complex of an ECG) must be accurately recorded. A high sampling rate, however, will use more computer memory and may limit recording time. Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...
  • Page 32 This enables more accurate measurement of the changes in the signal under stimuli. The offset controls in the Bridge Amp dialog can be used to zero the reading manually or automatically.
  • Page 33 Zero shows the corrective voltage used to adjust for transducer offset. The offset is given in the units of the channel. When the Bridge Amp is first powered up, the software sets the offset circuit to its default position (no offset adjustment of the transducer) and the offset display value is zero.
  • Page 34 The waveform in the data display area of the Bridge Amp dialog is transferred to the data display area of the Units Conversion dialog. (Use the Pause button to capture a specific signal.)
  • Page 35 Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...

  • Page 36: Adapting Transducers

    NOTE: Please ensure that any modifications made to transducers are carried out by experienced technical staff, as incorrect wiring may damage the transducer or Bridge Amp. If you are unsure, please contact your nearest ADInstruments representative for further assistance.

  • Page 37: Introduction

    Bridge Amp, first read this section carefully. The requirements of the transducer should be determined before attempting to connect it. To adapt a transducer for use with the Bridge Amp, you need to: • set the excitation voltage for the transducer •...

  • Page 38: Setting The Excitation Voltage

    The first step in preparing a powered transducer for use with the Bridge Amps is to set the required excitation voltage. Two of the pins in the Bridge Amp’s DIN socket can provide up to 20 volts DC as excitation voltage to power the transducer. The voltage is varied by a resistor fitted between the two corresponding pins of the transducer’s...

  • Page 39: Wiring Up The Transducer

    Wiring Up the Transducer The second step in preparing a powered transducer for use with the Bridge Amp is to wire the transducer to the DIN plug. There are several things to note when wiring up transducers: 1. Make sure that the transducer wiring passes through the casing before soldering the wires to the plug.
  • Page 40 After connecting the excitation voltage programming resistor and wiring up the transducer to the DIN plug, the transducer should now be fully configured for your application. The excitation voltage will be set automatically when you plug the transducer into the Bridge Amp. Chapter 3 Adapting Transducers...
  • Page 41 Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...

  • Page 42: A Technical Aspects

    Bridge Amp to give some insight into how it works. You do not need to know the material here to use the Bridge Amp. It is likely to be of special interest to the technically minded, indicating what the Bridge Amp can and cannot do, and its suitability for particular applications.

  • Page 43: Bridge Amp Operation

    Bridge Amp Operation The Bridge Amp and other ADInstruments front-ends have been designed to integrate fully with the PowerLab system. The Bridge Amp is essentially an extension of the PowerLab’s input amplifiers, so the amplification (and hence the ranges) offered in LabChart and Scope are the combination of both pieces of hardware.

  • Page 44: Technical Description

    The transducer excitation voltage can be adjusted by connecting a resistor between two pins on the plug that plugs into the Bridge Amp’s input socket. This resistor is usually placed inside the transducer’s DIN plug so that the transducer will always get the correct excitation voltage when it is connected.
  • Page 45 Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...
  • Page 46 Troubleshooting This appendix describes most of the common problems that can occur when using the Bridge Amp with your PowerLab recording unit. It covers how these problems are caused, and what you can do to alleviate them. If the solutions here do not work, earlier chapters, the LabChart Help Center, and the guide to your PowerLab may contain possible solutions.

  • Page 47: Problems

    The Bridge Amp is faulty. • This is the least likely event. If the Bridge Amp will not work properly after the previous measures, then try using it on another PowerLab. If the Bridge Amp’s Status indicator fails to light with a second PowerLab, the Bridge Amp may be faulty.
  • Page 48 The Bridge Amp is faulty. • This is the least likely event. If the Bridge Amp will not work properly after the previous measures, then try using it on another PowerLab. If the Bridge Amp’s Status indicator fails to light with a second PowerLab, the Bridge Amp may be faulty.
  • Page 49 • Check the connection and try again. If the transducer has been adapted for use with the Bridge Amp, check the wiring and soldering within the plug. • Ensure that the particular channel in LabChart has been correctly recognized as a Bridge Amp (and not as Input Amplifier).

  • Page 50: Single, Quad And Octal Bridge Amps (Ml221, Ml224 & Ml228)

    ± 5 mV ± 2 mV ± 1 mV ± 500 μV ± 200 μV Amplification accuracy: ±0.5% (combined PowerLab and Bridge Amp) Maximum input voltage: ±10 volts 2 × 1 MΩ (single-ended) 2 MΩ (differential) Input impedance: Low-pass filtering:...
  • Page 51 0.8 W (ML221); 2.5 W (ML224); 5.0 W (ML228) (without transducer attached) Operating conditions: 5–35 °C, 0–90% humidity (non-condensing) ADInstruments reserves the right to alter these specifications at any time. Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...
  • Page 52 20 38–39 back panel 17–18 half-bridge transducers 20 block diagram 42 how transducers work 20–21 Bridge Amp models 15 bridge amp software 27–33 impedances, maximum 19 input socket 16 checking the front-end 14 I2C bus 15 checking transducers 21...
  • Page 53 20 user modification 41 using ADInstruments programs 26–33 using this guide 14 voltmeter 32 Zero button 32 zeroing 31–32 automatic 31 manual 31 Bridge Amp Owner’s Guide Artisan Technology Group - Quality Instrumentation ... Guaranteed | (888) 88-SOURCE | www.artisantg.com...
  • Page 54 Artisan Technology Group is your source for quality new and certified-used/pre-owned equipment SERVICE CENTER REPAIRS WE BUY USED EQUIPMENT • FAST SHIPPING AND DELIVERY Experienced engineers and technicians on staff Sell your excess, underutilized, and idle used equipment at our full-service, in-house repair center We also offer credit for buy-backs and trade-ins •...

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