Measurement Computing PCI-DAS6013 - Manual (Page 11)

PCI-DAS6013 and PCI-DAS6014 User's Guide Installing the PCI-DAS6013 and PCI-DAS6014
11
Configuring the hardware
All hardware configuration options on the PCI-DAS6013 and PCI-DAS6014 are software controlled. You can
select some of the configuration options using InstaCal, such as digital channel configuration (input or output).
Once selected, any program that uses the Universal Library initializes the hardware according to these
selections.
Following is an overview of the available hardware configuration options for this board. There is additional
general information regarding analog signal connection and configuration in the Guide to Signal Connections
(available on our web site at
www.mccdaq.com/signals/signals.pdf ).
Differential input mode
When all channels are configured for differential input mode, eight analog input channels are available. In this
mode, the input signal is measured with respect to the low input. The input signal is delivered through three
wires:
 The wire carrying the signal to be measured connects to CH# IN HI.
 The wire carrying the reference signal connects to CH# IN LO.
 The third wire is connected to LLGND.
Differential input mode is the preferred configuration for applications in noisy environments, or when the signal
source is referenced to a potential other than PC ground.
Single-ended input mode
When all channels are configured for single-ended input mode, 16 analog input channels are available. In this
mode, the input signal is referenced to the board’s signal ground (LLGND). The input signal is delivered
through two wires:
 The wire carrying the signal to be measured connects to CH# IN HI.
 The other wire is connected to LLGND.
Non-referenced single-ended input mode
This mode is a compromise between differential and single-ended modes. It offers some of the advantages of
each mode. With non-referenced single-ended mode, you can still get noise rejection, but not the limited
number of channels resulting from a fully differential configuration. A possible downside is that the external
reference input must be the same for every channel. It is equivalent to configuring the inputs for differential
mode, tying all of the low inputs together, and using that node as the reference input.
When configured for non-referenced single-ended input mode, 16 analog input channels are available. In this
mode, each input signal is referenced to a common reference signal (AISENSE), and not to the board’s ground.
The input signal is delivered through three wires:
 The wire carrying the signal to measure connects to CH# IN HI.
 The wire carrying the reference signal connects to AISENSE.
 The third wire is connected to LLGND.
This mode is useful when the application calls for differential input mode, but the limitation on channel count
prevents it.