DNx-TC-378 – 8-Channel Thermocouple Simulator
8-Channel Thermocouple Simulator
The DNA-TC-378, DNR-TC-378 and DNF-TC-378 are fully isolated, high- precision, 8-channel thermocouple simulator board compatible with UEI’s popular “Cube”, RACKtangle and FLATRACK I/O chassis respectively. The boards offer full 16-bit resolution and guarantee monotonicity over the entire operating temperature range. Each DNA/DNR-TC-378 channel provides an output range of ±100 mV which encompasses the output ranges of all common thermocouples. Each output is capable of driving ±10 mA though it’s unlikely a TC input would require such high current.
Features
- For use in “Cube” / RACKtangle / FLATRACK I/O chassis
- 8 independent fully isolated TC outputs
- CJ temp input allows CJ Compensation (if required)
- 1kHz per channel max update rate
- ±100 mV output range supports all common TCs
- Resolution 0.1°C / 3.8 µV (type K)
- Accuracy 0.6°C (type K including CJC)
- Guardian series diagnostics reads output voltage and current and board temperature
- Simulates open Thermocouples
- Simultaneous update across all channels
The DNx-TC-378 provides extensive built-in-test diagnostics. An on- board A/D converter on each channel allows the user to monitor output voltage and current as well as board temperature. A solid state relay on each output allows the D/A channel to be disconnected from the field I/O so an open thermocouple can be simulated and the input systems open TC detection circuitry can be tested. A 1024 sample FIFO allows each D/A to be updated at 1 kHz per channel (8 kHz aggregate) without data loss.
The board provides three cold-junction input channels to measure temperature where the TC-378 is connected to the applications thermocouple input device. This cold-junction temperature can be utilized by the application software to compensate for error caused by the lack of actual cold-junction error (as there will not be the extraneous dissimilar metal connection that causes the whole CJC issue). The three cold-junction channels are fully electrically isolated from the TC channels, but not from each other.
The DNx-TC-378 series includes software drivers supporting all popular operating systems including: Windows, Linux, QNX, VXWorks, and most other popular Real-Time Operating Systems. Windows users may take advantage of the powerful UEIDAQ Framework which provides a simple and complete software interface to all popular Windows programming language and data acquisition and control applications (e.g. LabVIEW, MATLAB).
For DAQ chassis options, click here.
