Analog channels

Analog channels include Strain gage transducers, Inductive transducers, Piezoresistive transducers, Potentiometric transducers, Voltage sources, Current-fed piezoelectric transducers (IEPE, ICP®), Current sources and Resistance-based measurements.

NOTE
MX840B-R temperature channels using a 1-SCM-R-TCK-2 Thermocouple Adapter are included in analog channels.

ClosedGeneric parameters

  • Connection: A unique hardware identifier created by the system.
  • TEDS: For MX module channels with TEDS sensors connected, an icon is displayed with the TEDS status. Not in edit dialog. See Configuring TEDS sensors for more information.
  • SDB: For MX module channels with HBM sensor databases applied, an icon is displayed with the SDB status. Not in edit dialog.
  • Reading: Current value of the channel. Show the readings by selecting the desired channels and clicking Live update. Not in edit dialog.
  • Units: For most channel types, the user can enter the physical units as desired; however, for some channel types (i.e., most temperature channels, and any bridge channel that uses the Strain gage scaling mode), the user can only select an option provided in the drop down list box presented.
  • Name: The channel name must be unique and contain valid characters (invalid characters are single and double quotes, '\', '@', '#', '&', '<' and '>'). Invalid channel names are 'true' and 'false' (case sensitive).
  • Description: Enter an optional detailed description of the channel.
  • Measurand: Enter an optional measurement type.
  • Data type: The format of the channel data output (read only).
  • Collect: Select the Collect checkbox to write the channel data to the SIE data file during a test run.
  • Sample rate: Select the desired channel sample rate. If the sample rate changes, all dependent computed channels and DataModes™ are changed automatically.
  • Filter type: For applicable channels, select the type of filter for the channel to None, Linear phase (FIR), Butterworth (FIR), Butterworth (IIR) or Bessel (IIR).
  • Filter frequency: Set the frequency of the selected filter. The options vary based on the filter type.
  • Custom column information: Enter the desired information. The system treats all input as free formatted text. This means it will sort alphabetically, but not alphanumerically (e.g., input values of “1”, “2”, “11”, will be sorted descending as “1”, “11”, “2”). Use leading zeros to realize alphanumeric sorting.
  • Range min / Range max: Enter the desired full scale range min and max values in physical (engineering) units. For all channels, they are used as the default min and max bounds for histogram DataModes.
  • Alarm min / Alarm max: Enter the desired values for min and/or max alarms as a physical units value or as a % of Range min/max value.
  • Warning min / Warning max: Enter the desired values for min and/or max warnings as a physical units value or as a % of Range min/max value.
  • Chart type: Set the default chart type for the channel. Not in edit dialog.
  • Decimals: Select the default decimal places for channel displays. Use the “Auto” option to apply the settings defined in the User Preferences. See User preferences > General > Decimal point handling for more information.
  • Input mode: Select the analog input mode from the possible available transducer types for the module. In the channel edit dialog, a wiring diagram for the selected input mode is available for reference.
  • Transducer power: Specify the unregulated transducer power voltage. The value be any real number within hardware limits.
  • Bridge Ohms: Specify the bridge leg resistance in Ohms.
    • For eDAQXR EBRG and SMSTRB channels: If the type is Full or Half bridge, the value must be 80-10000 Ω. If the type is Quarter bridge, the value must be 120 or 350 Ω (depending on the specific EBRG layer or SMSTRB module).
    • For MX1615B-R, MX840B-R, and MX411B-R module channels: If the type is Full or Half bridge, the value must be 90-5000 Ω. If the type is Quarter bridge, the value must be 120 or 350 Ω (user selectable).
  • Leadwire Ohms: For applicable strain gage bridge sensors, specify the bridge lead wire resistance in Ohms.

NOTE
This parameter is not applicable to bridge sensors configured and wired to use excitation sense lines. Use of these sense lines automatically compensates for lead wire resistance effects.

NOTE
For the Input mode Bridge quarter 3 wire (no sense lines), the signal conditioner has an inherent large offset (typically, -2 mV/V for 350 Ω and -6 mV/V for 120 Ω). The data processor internally compensates for this offset which significantly reduces the negative limit of the measurement range.
•   For 350 Ω with 5.0 V excitation, the range is reduced from -4 to -2 mV/V.
•   For 350 Ω with 2.5 V excitation, the range is reduced from -8 to -6 mV/V.
•   For 120 Ω with 2.5 V excitation, the range is reduced from -8 to -2 mV/V.
•   For 120 Ω with 1.0 V excitation, the range is reduced from -20 to -18 mV/V.

The MX840B-R supports SSI encoders. The following three configuration parameters are applicable.

  • SSI coding: For Digital timer inputs > Absolute value encoder (SSI protocol) inputs, set the SSI encoder protocol mode to Gray or Binary.
  • SSI clock: For Digital timer inputs > Absolute value encoder (SSI protocol) inputs, set the SSI encoder clock frequency in kHz.
  • SSI bits: For Digital timer inputs > Absolute value encoder (SSI protocol) inputs, specify the SSI bit resolution as an integer between 12 and 30.

The MX840B-R supports incremental encoders. The following three configuration parameters are applicable.

  • Quadrature: For Digital timer inputs > Incremental encoder inputs, set to True to count in quadrature.
  • Encoder index reset: For encoder counter inputs, set to True for inputs with a zeroing (reference) pulse.
  • Encoder index divisor: For encoder counter inputs with a zeroing pulse, set the index divisor.

The MX411B-R supports a high sample rate mode option. The following configuration parameter is applicable.

  • Speed mode: Select Normal or High. To be able to run a test, this channel parameter must match the speed mode as configured in the MX411B-R module. To change the configuration on the MX411B-R module, navigate to the Hardware page and open to tools for the module. Then select the desired speed mode. The module will temporarily disappear for a few seconds when the MX411B-R reboots.

ClosedScaling parameters

  • Scaling mode: Set the channel scaling mode.
    • Defined slope intercept: Specify the Slope and Intercept of the scaling line.
    • Defined zero span: Specify the Electrical zero of the sensor scaling line. Enter both the Electrical span and the Physical span.
    • Defined two point: Specify the Electrical 1, Physical 1, Electrical 2 and Physical 2 points to define the scaling line.
    • Experimental two point: Use the Use the experimental two point scaling option to define the two point parameters based on experimental measurements. option to define the two point parameters based on experimental measurements.
    • Internal shunt resistor: Use internal shunt resistor scaling for modules with a shunt resistor. Specify the Shunt resistor, Shunt polarity and % Dev parameters before starting experimental scaling. See the topics Define known shunt and Equivalent strain calculator for more information about these shunt scaling tools for calculating Physical span.
    • Strain gage: Specify the Strain gage factor and Bridge factor.
  • Electrical units: Electrical units of channel input. This is fixed by the system and cannot be changed. The defined sensor scaling is used to convert data from Electrical units to Physical units.
  • Units: Physical units of measurement for the channel.
  • Electrical 1: Specify for Defined two point scaling mode. Automatically set after Experimental two point scaling.
  • Physical 1: Specify for Defined two point scaling mode. Automatically set after Experimental two point scaling.
  • Electrical 2: Specify for Defined two point scaling mode. Automatically set after Experimental two point scaling.
  • Physical 2: Specify for Defined two point scaling mode. Automatically set after Experimental two point scaling.
  • Electrical zero: Specify for Defined zero span scaling mode.
  • Electrical span: Specify for Defined zero span scaling mode.
  • Physical span: Specify for Defined zero span scaling mode.
  • Slope: Specify for Defined slope intercept scaling mode.
  • Intercept: Specify for Defined slope intercept scaling mode.
  • Strain gage factor: Specify for Strain gage scaling mode.
  • Bridge factor: Specify for Strain gage scaling mode.
  • Shunt resistor: Specify for Internal shunt resistor scaling mode.
  • Shunt polarity: Specify for Internal shunt resistor scaling mode.
  • % Dev: Specify for Internal shunt resistor scaling mode.
  • Prerun zero mode: Set to Interactive only to allow channel zeroing.
  • Prerun zero offset: Automatically set after zeroing a channel. The user can edit this, but that is not generally advised.
  • Prerun zero target: Specify the physical value desired for the zero task. Typically, this is 0.0, but not always. For example, this parameter may be set to 1.0 (g) for an accelerometer that senses the force of gravity. In this example, the zero task would result in the channel data being offset so that the current reading is 1.0.
  • Range min and max: Specify the expected extreme values of the channel. These parameters are most significant for the EBRG and EHLS layer channels because they are used to set the signal conditioner gains and offset. For other channel types, they are less significant. However, for all channel types, they are used as defaults for the histogram bounds in applicable data modes, and they can also be used as default y-axis limits for strip chart displays.
  • Warning and Alarm min and max: Specify the desired values for warning and alarm thresholds.
    • Enter a real number that defines the level in physical units, or a real number followed by the ‘%’ character that defines the level as a percent of Range max or min, or leave the cell blank to inhibit the warning or alarm.
    • The percent value must be in the range of 0% to 120%.
    • The % of Range max is independent of Range min and vice-versa. For example, if Range max is set to 1000 and Range min is set to -500 and 90% is used for both alarm levels, the alarms trip when the data value becomes > 900 or <-450. If the user changes the Range min to -600, the Min alarm threshold changes to -540. However, the Max alarm threshold does not change (i.e., it is still 900).
    • The values of the warnings and alarms, in terms of real numbers, must satisfy the following condition for all defined parameters:
      Min alarm threshold < Min warning threshold < Max warning threshold < Max alarm threshold.
    • A min or max warning will show a yellow background for the numbers.
    • A min or max alarm will show a red background for the numbers.
  • Max electrical: This field is applicable to MXB modules only. It is used to set the signal conditioner gain and resultant measurement range.