Analog Output Channels

[andrew_JKTA]

Hi,

Firstly, thanks to all of you who have helped me previously!

I have yet another stupid question:

I am monitoring the temperature of a system and wish to send an output voltage from my PCI-6024E board (I have connected this to a SCB-68) to power a warning light if the temperature exceeds a certain limit. I think I can do the software part using Labview, but I'm not sure how to set up the hardware.

The board has two analog output channels: AO0 and AO1. There are also two AO GND channels. Say if I wanted to power a warning light using this voltage output, do I connect one of the terminals of the light to either AO0 or AO1 and the other terminal to AO GND? I am confused as to which channels I should use.

Thanks in advance,

[devchander]

Hi Andrew,

What is the kind of "Warning light" that you want to ON using your AO channel??

For Ex: Is it an LED??

You got the connnecting part right, but more importantly you should first confirm if your AO channel can power/drive this Light source

This shall avoid damaging your AO channel

You can find the user manual for your DAQ device, here

Read through it and confirm if the device that you connect to your AO channel is compatible with the AO channel's Sourcing capabilities

( PS: if you plan to use an LED, consider using one of your onboard DO channels)

[devchander]

Hi Andrew,

What is the kind of "Warning light" that you want to ON using your AO channel??

For Ex: Is it an LED??

You got the connnecting part right, but more importantly you should first confirm if your AO channel can power/drive this Light source

This shall avoid damaging your AO channel

You can find the user manual for your DAQ device, here

Read through it and confirm if the device that you connect to your AO channel is compatible with the AO channel's Sourcing capabilities

( PS: if you plan to use an LED, consider using one of your onboard DO channels)

[andrew_JKTA]

Hi Devchander,

Thanks for your help! It isn't an LED and after looking at the manual, I think the voltage should be enough to power the light.

My main concern is the fact that I'm not sure what channels to connect my wires to in order to successfully produce an output voltage. So what you are saying is, one wire connected to AO0 (or AO1) and one wire connected to AO GND should successfully produce a potential difference between the two wires?

Thank you so much.

Kind regards,

Andrew

[Rich_Silley_NIUK]

Yes this is correct. You can use either of the analogue outputs, just make sure you specify the correct one in your code.

[andrew_JKTA]

ok thanks very much rich!

[AnalogKid2DigitalMan]

Andrew:

I think you missed the point that devchander was trying to make about drive capabilites.

The analog output may have enough voltage to match the rating of your light, but you also need to consider how much current (Amps) the light needs to draw in order to work.

I think the 6024 analog outputs are limited to 0.010 Amps (a.k.a. 10 milliamps). The spec should be in the manual. If your light draws more than this, it may damage the DAQ card or cause its programmed voltage output to drop.

So I advise that you check the current specification on your lamp.

-AK2DM