NI DAQPad-6015 Analog Output Not Functional

[cgeppert]

I am attempting to use the analog output channels on the NI DAQPad-6015.  When I use the Test Panels in MAX, I can easily control the digital outputs and verify the voltage changes using a multimeter.  However, using the analog out tab causes no change whatsoever.  When I change the voltage and click "Update", the DAQPad shows no response.  It does not output any voltage.  According to the documentation, AO 0 is pin 15 and AO 1 is pin 31.  The AO GNDs are pins 16 and 32.

I have duplicated this same problem on three different computers.  I am using NI-DAQ 8.3mx.

Is there something else that needs to be installed or activated?  Is this unit defective?

Many thanks for your assistance.

[cgeppert]

I just noticed the DAQ Diagnostic Utility 2.0.  I installed it, ran it, and everything passed.  The problem still exists though, the analog outputs do not respond.

[Salvador_Santolucito]

Hi,

The DAQ Diagnostic Utility verifies the operation of the analog output by internally routing the voltage to the analog input MUX.  It is possible that the board may be damaged between the analog output circuitry and the output pins.  Before you contact National Instruments support for an RMA, there are a few things you can check:

1) How are you testing the voltage?  Are you using a hand held DMM or are you wiring the AO to the AI and measuring it with the DAQ board?

2) Try this test... open the AO test panel and have it output a sine wave on ao0.  Then go to the AI panel and do a continuous measurement on "_ao1_vs_aognd."  What do you see?  Then wire pin 15 to pin 1 and run the AI test panel on ao0.  What do you see?

This should tell us if your hardware is functioning properly.

Thanks,

Sal

[cgeppert]

Hi Sal,

Many thanks for your response.  This at least gets me a bit farther.

1.  I am using a hand held DMM to externally verify the output voltages.

2.  I opened the test panels, and told it to output a sine wave on ao0.  Then I switched to the analog input tab and did a continuous measurement on _ao1_vs_aognd.  Nothing appears on the graph.  However, I assume you meant _ao0_vs_aognd, for which a nice sine wave appears on the screen.  This method also works when I setting ao0 to various voltages and measure them with _ao0_vs_aognd.  Although these values display correctly on the test panel graph, they do not show up when I measure across pins 15 and 16 with a DMM.

Next, I connected pins 1 and 15.  I then set an arbitrary voltage on ao0 (1.86 V).  Measuring ai0 with the test panel did not show the correct voltage, but rather asymptotically approached and leveled off at 10 V.  Measuring across pins 15 and 16 with a DMM yielded nothing, 0 V.

Is there something that I am missing?  Is it possible to reroute this signal to a different pin somehow?

Thanks again,

Chad

[Salvador_Santolucito]

Hi Chad,

It looks like something is wrong with your board.  Unfortunately, you cannot route the AO signals to other external terminals on your DAQPad.  At this point you will probably want to contact NI support to set up an RMA for the device.

Sorry,
Sal

[cgeppert]

Sal,

In any case, I appreciate your help.

Chad

[cgeppert]

 I have "solved" the problem.  It is one of those solutions that makes me want to hit my head on something very hard.

The screw terminals on those particular ouputs had been screwed in half way.  I just assumed that touching the screw on the top or from the side with a DMM would be sufficient.

Anyways, thanks for the assistance and information about interal re-routing.

- Chad