Analog Input

NI-DAQ Measurement & Automation Explorer

Analog Input

Click any of the following items to configure your analog input channels.

Voltage Input Channel

Configure a voltage input channel if you have a voltage transducer (a sensor that converts the physical quantity you are measuring to volts) or if you are measuring the voltage directly.

To configure a voltage input channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select Voltage in the Sensor selection box. This automatically sets the sensor unit to volts (V). Click Next.

  2. Enter the units you are using for the measurement.

  3. Enter the minimum and maximum voltage measurement values in the Range selection boxes. MAX converts the voltage measured at the sensor output to your physical quantity.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  4. Select the type of scaling you want to use. Enter the minimum and maximum voltage measurement values in the Range selection boxes if you use scaling.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  5. Specify the DAQ hardware to be used. Select the device channel to use for the measurement.

  6. Select the analog input mode.

  7. Click Finish when you are done.

Current Input Channel

Configure a current input channel if you have a current transducer (a sensor that converts the physical quantity you are measuring to current) or if you are measuring current directly.

To configure a current input channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select Current in the Sensor selection box. This automatically sets the sensor unit to milliamps (mA). Click Next.

  2. Enter the units you are using for the measurement.

  3. Enter the minimum and maximum current measurement values in the Range selection boxes. MAX converts the current measured at the sensor output to your physical quantity.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  4. Select the type of scaling you want to use. Enter the minimum and maximum current measurement values in the Range selection boxes if you use scaling.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  5. Specify the DAQ hardware to be used. Select the device channel to use for the measurement.

  6. Select the analog input mode.

  7. Enter the current sense resistor value.

  8. Click Finish when you are done.

Resistance Input Channel

Configure a resistance input channel if you have a resistance transducer (a sensor that converts the physical quantity you are measuring to resistance) or if you are measuring resistance directly.

To configure a resistance input channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select Resistance in the Sensor selection box. This automatically sets the sensor units to ohms (Ω). Click Next.

  2. Enter the units you are using for the measurement.

  3. Enter the minimum and maximum resistance measurement values in the Range selection boxes. MAX converts the resistance measured at the sensor output to your physical quantity.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  4. Select the type of scaling you want to use. Enter the minimum and maximum resistance measurement values in the Range selection boxes if you use scaling.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  5. Specify the DAQ hardware to be used. Select the device channel to use for the measurement.

  6. Select the analog input mode.

  7. Select the excitation current source, and enter the current value.

  8. Click Finish when you are done.

Frequency Input Channel

Configure a frequency input channel if you have a frequency transducer (a sensor that converts the physical quantity you are measuring to frequency) or if you are measuring frequency directly.

To configure a frequency input channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select Frequency in the Sensor selection box. This automatically sets the sensor units to hertz (Hz). Click Next.

  2. Enter the units you are using for the measurement.

  3. Enter the minimum and maximum frequency measurement values in the Range selection boxes. MAX converts the frequency measured at the sensor output to your physical quantity.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  4. Select the type of scaling you want to use. Enter the minimum and maximum frequency measurement values in the Range selection boxes if you use scaling.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  5. Specify the DAQ hardware to be used. Select the device channel to use for the measurement.

  6. Click Finish when you are done.

Known-Type Thermocouple Channel

Configure a known-type thermocouple channel if you have a B-, E-, J-, K-, N-, R-, S-, or T-type thermocouple.

To configure a known-type thermocouple channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select one of the thermocouple sensor options. Click Next.

  2. Enter the units you are using for the measurement.

  3. Enter the minimum and maximum temperature measurement values in the Range selection boxes. MAX automatically calculates the voltage range from the temperature range you specified in your physical quantity. Then it uses this voltage range to set the DAQ hardware for measuring your thermocouple. MAX uses built-in thermocouple formulas to convert thermocouple types B, E, J, K, N, R, S, and T.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  4. Confirm the sensor output range. Click Next.

  5. Specify the DAQ hardware to be used. Select the device channel to use for the measurement.

  6. Select the analog input mode.

  7. Select one of the following cold-junction compensation (CJC) sources:

  8. Enter the CJC temperature.

  9. Click Finish when you are done.

Custom Thermocouple Channel

Configure a custom thermocouple if your thermocouple is not a known type.

To configure a custom thermocouple channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select Custom Thermocouple in the Sensor selection box. Click Next.

  2. Enter the units you are using for the measurement.

  3. Enter the minimum and maximum temperature measurement values in the Range selection boxes. MAX converts the temperature measured at the sensor output to your physical quantity.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  4. Select the type of scaling you want to use. Enter the minimum and maximum temperature measurement values in the Range selection boxes if you use scaling.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  5. Specify the DAQ hardware to be used. Select the device channel to use for the measurement.

  6. Select the analog input mode.

  7. Select one of the following cold-junction compensation (CJC) sources:

  8. Enter the CJC temperature.

  9. Click Finish when you are done.

RTD Channel

Configure a resistive temperature device (RTD) channel if you have Platinum RTD types ITS-90, American, DIN 43760, and IEC 60751 type sensors.

To configure an RTD channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select one of the RTD sensor options. An RTD sensor converts a temperature measurement to a resistance measurement, which a DAQ device can then measure directly. MAX then uses built-in Platinum RTD formulas to convert each RTD type from resistance to temperature.

    To use your own custom RTD conversion for Platinum or non-Platinum RTDs, select Resistance (an RTD is a resistive device) as your sensor type.

    Click Next.

  2. Enter the units you are using for the measurement.

  3. Enter the minimum and maximum temperature measurement values in the Range selection boxes. MAX converts the temperature measured at the sensor output to your physical quantity.

    Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  4. Enter the Ro value for the RTD. The Ro value is the resistance in ohms for the RTD at 0° C. Click Next.

  5. Specify the DAQ hardware to be used. Select the device channel to use for the measurement.

  6. Select the analog input mode.

  7. Select the source of the excitation current, and enter the current value.

  8. Click Finish when you are done.

Accelerometer Channel

Configure an accelerometer input channel if you have an accelerometer sensor.

To configure an accelerometer input channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select Accelerometer in the Sensor selection box. This selection automatically sets the sensor units to g.

  2. Define the units and value for the sensitivity factor for the accelerometer sensor being used.

  3. Define the range of the measurement. Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation.

  4. Enter the resonant frequency. Click Next.

  5. Specify the DAQ hardware to be used. Select the device channel to use for the measurement.

  6. Select the analog input mode.

  7. Select the source of the excitation current, and enter the current value.

  8. Click Finish when you are done.

LVDT/RVDT Channel

Configure an LVDT/RVDT input channel if you have an LVDT or RVDT sensor connected.

To configure an LVDT/RVDT input channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select LVDT/RVDT in the Sensor selection box. Click Next.

  2. Define the units and value for the sensitivity factor for the accelerometer sensor being used. LVDTs use units in distance (millimeters, inches, and so on), and RVDTs use units in angles (degrees, radians, and so on).

  3. Define the range of the measurement. Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  4. Select the channel that connects the LVDT/RVDT sensor to your DAQ hardware device. Select the excitation source, and enter the value.

  5. Click Finish when are done.

Strain Gauge Channel

Configure a strain gauge input channel if you have a strain gauge sensor.

To configure a strain gauge input channel, follow these steps:

  1. Select Strain Gauge in the Sensor selection box. Click Next.

  2. Select the type of strain gauge.

  3. Define the strain gauge values.

  4. Define the range of the measurement. Click the checkbox to display values in scientific notation. Click Next.

  5. Specify the DAQ hardware to be used. Select the device channel to use for the measurement.

  6. Select the analog input mode.

  7. Select the source of the excitation voltage, and enter the voltage value.

  8. Click Finish when you are done.