National Instruments PC-DIO-24 - Manual (Page 15)

Introduction Chapter 1
PC-DIO-24 User Manual 1-4 © National Instruments Corporation
Register-Level Programming
The final option for programming any National Instruments DAQ hardware is to write register-
level software. Writing register-level programming software can be very time-consuming and
inefficient, and is not recommended for most users.
Even if you are an experienced register-level programmer, consider using NI-DAQ, LabVIEW,
or LabWindows/CVI to program your National Instruments DAQ hardware. Using the NI-DAQ,
LabVIEW, or LabWindows/CVI software is easier than, and as flexible as, register-level
programming, and can save weeks of development time.
Optional Equipment
National Instruments offers a variety of products to use with your PC-DIO-24 board, including
cables, connector blocks, and other accessories, as follows:
• Cables and cable assemblies, shielded and ribbon
• Connector blocks, shielded and unshielded 50-pin screw terminals
• Signal conditioning eXtensions for Instrumentation (SCXI) modules and accessories for
isolating, amplifying, exciting, and multiplexing signals for relays and analog output. With
SCXI you can condition and acquire up to 3,072 channels.
• Low channel count signal conditioning modules, boards, and accessories, including
conditioning for strain gauges and RTDs, simultaneous sample and hole, and relays.
For more specific information about these products, refer to your National Instruments catalog or
call the office nearest you.
Custom Cables
National Instruments offers cables and accessories for you to prototype your application or to use
if you frequently change board interconnections.
If you want to develop your own cable, however, the following guidelines may be useful:
The PC-DIO-24 I/O connector is a 50-pin male ribbon-cable header. The manufacturer part
numbers used by National Instruments for this header are as follows:
• Electronic Products Division/3M (part number 3596-5002)
• T&B/Ansley Corporation (part number 609-5007)
The mating connector for the PC-DIO-24 is a 50-position, polarized, ribbon socket connector
with strain relief. National Instruments uses a polarized (keyed) connector to prevent inadvertent
upside-down connection to the PC-DIO-24. Recommended manufacturer part numbers for this
mating connector are as follows: