Monitoring lab equipment with DAQ

[davey31415]

Hi:

I'm interested in using NI hardware and LabVIEW to monitor various equipment in a test laboratory.

The equipment I am interested in monitoring includes:

 - Environmental and fog chambers (temperatures and humidities that can be measured from thermocouples and voltages)
 - Power supply switching systems that cycle power on and off to various devices (voltages, currents, counters)

I invision a touch-screen LCD that provides information on all equipment in the lab and details about the tests that are currently being conducted.  If there is an application other than LabVIEW that would be better suited for this task please let me know.

I would appreciate suggestions on what hardware to use.  Most of this equipment is not near an internet port and I am hoping to use wireless technology.  There are some systems that I believe will require an entire computer to process and send the data, such as shakers, but for others I am hoping not to need a computer at each piece of equipment.

I have only worked with home wireless networks in the past so I am looking for details on setting up this network (extra antennas, repeaters, or other hardware)- if anyone knows of a good place to get started on this please let me know.

Thanks,

David

[Chris_K_]

Hello Davey31415

Depending on the exact requirements for the measurement you want to make, number of inputs you require, budget, and many other factors will determine the most effective DAQ system that suits your needs. Instead of conversing over the forums, I would suggest contacting one of our technical representatives.

We have a team of technical representatives who specialize in configuring full systems. 

National Instruments doesn’t make any wireless DAQ devices, however please have a look at the following link to another forum post.  It explains a remote cRIO application was created using a WLAN module from a third party supplier.

https://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Wireless-Compact-RIO-Data-Transfer/m-p/537629?requireLogin=False

If you do want to go with the WLAN cRIO option, and depending on other measurement needs, the NI 9205 would be a good choice.  It can be used for low voltage thermocouple readings, and voltage signal readings.  If you want a thermocouple specific device in the cDAQ form factor the NI 9211 has better bit resolution for more accurate readings.  The cRIO can be configured with an imbedded controller so a computer is not needed with the DAQ system.   For more information about the modules and the cRIO system please follow the following links

NI 9205 https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/model/ni-9205.html

NI 9211 https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/model/ni-9211.html

CompactRIO Advisor http://ohm.ni.com/advisors/crio

As for the power supply and switch, we currently only have one power supply, and it is PXI Based, and our switched are only PXI or SCXI, so you might want to look at a PXI based option as well.

PXI Advisor http://ohm.ni.com/advisors/pxi

Power Supplier https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/category/power-supplies-and-loads.html

Switches https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/category/switches.html

National Instruments also has a touch panel that can be used for your interface, for both control of the test application and monitoring. 

Again there are so many components in your proposed system, and I have only given you a general setup.  It would be extremely beneficial to contact one of our technical representatives for further help.  They will be able to fine tune the selections I have pointed out.  Also if you have specific questions about any given component they will be able to better direct you to the proper departments and you will obtain an overall faster solution.

Have a great day

Chris_K_

[davey31415]

Chris_K_,

Thank you for the information.  I will definitely speak with a rep from NI about these options.

Regards,

David

[davey31415]

Although I do plan on making a call, after reading through the links I came up with a few questions that I hope I can get answered here.  I'd like to at least have some clues before talking with a representative.


I've always read to try to keep wires as short as possible, are there guidelines for maximum lengths?  For instance, I have 5 environmental chambers I would like to samples data from, two channels on each.  Would it be possible to run sampling wires 100+ ft in such a case?  Seeing as one DAQ device would have enough inputs to accomodate these pieces of equipment, it would be nice to get away with using only one. 

If the DAQ hardware can communicate via CAT5, that will probably work just as well as wireless.  Maybe I can buy wireless hardware that will make the network look like a normal network yet broadcast wirelessly from near the DAQ devices?

Thanks again,

David