How to connect a valve to a PI 6024E...

[Julieta]

Hi,

I need some good advice about connnecting a valve to a NI 6024E board and to know what other board I can use to connect a valve to it which has more than two outputs.

I am trying to switch the valve on/off for two different voltages and two different time voltages, I already can switch them once, but I need them for an x time given by user. If someone has some example or suggestion I will appreciate it a lot.

Thanks,

Julieta.

[Henrik_Volkers]

The usual way to control a valve (coil) is to use an digital output instead of the analog voltage output. Your 6024 has about 4 to 8 of them (Look at the spec) called DIO (digital input or output, you can define it with the daqmx driver). Since the output has usually not enough power (current) to drive a valve directly you need a external power source and a driver. 

Cheap with a some work and soldering: a transistor with some resistors and protection diode ..

Easy: SSR, a solid state relay with optocoupler and screw terminals

If you tell us more about your valve (link to datasheet) we can provide a more precise answer.