Agilent 34980A Thermocouple read error

[Option13]

Hello all,

I am attempting to get readings off of a thermocouple using an Agilent 34980A unit connected to my laptop via ethernet cable. The VI is based off of an Agilent provided example. It is connected to a T-type thermocouple plugged into channel 9, card 1. I have been able to get numbers and no error codes, however, the output values are basically either infinity or zero. 

I have attached screenshots of both windows, as well as the settings of the thermocouple setup in LabVIEW. What can I change to get numbers more in line with reality?

Thanks

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

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@Option13 wrote:

Hello all,

I am attempting to get readings off of a thermocouple using an Agilent 34980A unit connected to my laptop via ethernet cable. The VI is based off of an Agilent provided example. It is connected to a T-type thermocouple plugged into channel 9, card 1. I have been able to get numbers and no error codes, however, the output values are basically either infinity or zero. 

I have attached screenshots of both windows, as well as the settings of the thermocouple setup in LabVIEW. What can I change to get numbers more in line with reality?

Thanks

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What does the instrument's front panel say?  You should be able to see the readings there.

[Dennis_Knutson]

It looks like you are configuring a single rtd and two voltage channels. No thermocouple.

[crossrulz]

Yeah, you need to change the example in order to get what you want.  There is a thermocoupler setup VI that you need to call instead of the RTD and then get rid of the voltage channel setups.

I hate that Agilent box...give me an NI DAQ card anyday.

[Dennis_Knutson]

The only thing worse than the 34980 is the 34970.

[crossrulz]

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@Dennis_Knutson wrote:
The only thing worse than the 34980 is the 34970.

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I now have a new mantra when I have to go to a certain customer's site...

[Option13]

Oops, guess I uploaded the wrong version! I've been trying to hook it up to both RTDs and thermocouples and have configured the VI with both Thermocouple and RTD Vis. No change. The other VIs are just there for experimentation and to play with, if they present an issue I can remove them.

Here is how it looks now, and has looked in the past on previous attempts. I'll try this again as soon as possible, but can anyone see any issues with the setup?

[NIquist]

I'm re-factoring an old test that uses the 34970 (just purchased a bunch of 34972A models with USB).  They're pricey when you add a few modules but they're very versitile and easy to work with.  I would recommend them when you need 6 1/2 digits and lots of input channels.  We've only had one unit go down after almost 10 years of constant use.

Any particular reason for the dislike???

[Dennis_Knutson]

NIquist,

I mostly used the matrix switch module. For high channel counts, it got messy to wire and required several mainframes. There was no convenient way to connect the internal dmm to the matrix either. The scanner type modules were much slower than a DAQ card and you had to read one channel at a time.

The last time I used the 34980, the customer had one with 100+ thermocouples and was irritated with me when it couldn't do a scan in less than a second.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Option13,

You have an error going into the thermocouple setup.