3B Scientific NETlog User Manual

3B SCIENTIFIC

3B Netlog™ with Ethernet port (115 V, 50/60 Hz)
3B Netlog™ with Ethernet port (230 V, 50/60 Hz)

1000541 (115 V, 50/60 Hz)
1000009 (230 V, 50/60 Hz)

Instruction manual

05/12 MEC

®

PHYSICS

1. Safety instructions

To guarantee the safe functioning of the
3B NETlog™ equipment, it is necessary to abide by
the following instructions:

• Do not connect the 3B NETlog™ device to a

voltage in excess of ±20V or current in excess
of ±2A.

• Make sure the 3B NETlog™ device does not

come into contact with water.

• The 3B NETlog™ device should not be exposed

to temperatures above 80°C.

The operating voltage input is protected against
polarity reversal. However, it is not protected
against excess voltage.

• Do not apply voltage in excess of 4.5V to the

operating voltage input.

Use of the Ethernet port requires a power supply of
higher power rating.

• When using the 3B NETlog™ unit with the

Ethernet port, supply power by means of a
plug-in power supply.

2. Scope of delivery

1 3B NETlog™ device
1 Power supply unit (4.5V DC, 300mA)
1 USB cable
1 Installation CD

1

3. Introduction

3B NETlog™ is a multimedia data acquisition and
evaluation system for current and voltage meas­urements and for measurements using sensors. The
system can be used with or without being con­nected to a computer. With the accompanying
3B NETlab™ software, measurements can be con­ducted with arbitrarily chosen parameters as well
as in prepared experiments. The prepared experi­ments take the user through an interactive experi­mental environment where the measurement pa­rameters have already been defined. When used­within a network, the teacher and students can
mutually monitor their results.

The Ethernet port allows the 3B NETlog™ unit to be
directly connected to a local network, so that data
can be sent to any computer in the network for
evaluation. In order to use the unit with Ethernet
an intranet in the same sub-network must be in
place.

Without being connected to a computer, the
3B NETlog™ device can be used as a digital mul­timeter for current and voltage measurements.
Combined with different sensors, the 3B NETlog™
equipment can also be used as a handheld unit
with automatic sensor recognition.

4. Technical specifications

4.1 Analogue inputs

Voltage inputs (channels A and B):
Measuring equipment: 2 Differential amplifiers
Measuring range: ±200mV, ±2V, ±20V
Surge voltage protection: Max. ±40V
Connections: 4-mm safety sockets

Current input (channel A):
Measuring range: ±200mA, ±2A
Excess current protection: Max. ±2.5A
Connections: 4-mm safety sockets

Sensor inputs (channels A and B):
Sensor type: Analogue
Sensor identification: Automatic
Sensor connections: 8-pin mini DIN sockets
Sampling: Continuous
Sampling rate: 50k samples/s
Resolution: 12 bit

4.2 Analogue outputs (channels A and B)

Reference point (earth): Common
Measuring range: ± 5V
Connections: 4-mm safety sockets and

8-pin mini DIN sockets
Sampling rate: 10kSamples/s
Resolution: 12bit

4.3 Digital inputs

Channels: 4 (separated into 2 TTL

inputs, one of which is a
high-speed time input,
plus 2 inputs via opto­coupler)

Sampling rate: 50k samples/s

100k samples/s (high­speed time input)

Connection: 8-pin mini DIN socket

4.4 Digital outputs

Channels: 6
Signal: TTL
Connection: 8-pin mini DIN socket

4.5 Additional data

Computer connection: USB
Network port: Ethernet
Internal data memory: 128k
Display: 64 x 122 matrix for

measurements and units

Power supply: 4.5V DC/300mA or 3

batteries (AA, LR6 or
AM3); owing to their
longer battery life, use of
alkaline batteries is rec-

ommended.
Dimensions: 21cm x 8cm x 4cm
Weight: 400g (including batteries)

2

5.1 Components

5. Description

1 Display
2 Operating controls
3 Current input for
channel A
4 Voltage outputs for

channels A and B

5 Voltage inputs for

channels A and B

6 Digital outputs
7 Digital inputs
8 Analogue outputs
A and B
9 Analogue inputs
A and B

10 Recessed socket for
power supply unit
11 USB connection
12 Ethernet port

13 Mount
14 Battery compartment
15 Fuse

5.2 Operating controls

The operating controls of the 3B NETlog™ unit
consist of five multi-function buttons for operation
without connection to a PC.

On/Off button

• Switching the device on and off (keep the but-

ton pressed for approx. 2 seconds to switch off
the device)

• Switching the display lighting on and off

(briefly press the button)

Date/Time button ↵

• Switching on the battery and temperature

displays

• Switching on the time display

• Switching on the date display

• Selection of operating mode (manual or auto-

matic)

• Confirming the display →

Store button ↓

• Communication to data logger

• Scrolling down the menu

• Selecting Yes or No

• Confirming the display ↓

Rate button ↑

• Selection of sampling rate

• Scrolling up within the menu

• Selecting Yes or No

• Confirming the display ↑

3

Channel button ←

r

• Selection of measurement parameters for

channels A and B

• Changing between fields while setting the time

and date

• Return to previous menu

5.3 Measurement parameters

Name Significance

VdcA DC voltage on channel A

VacA AC voltage on channel A

Idc DC current on channel A

Iac AC current on channel A

VdcB DC voltage on channel B

VacB AC voltage on channel B

Bin Binary representation

5.4 Connection of sensors

Connected sensors are automatically detected by
the 3B NETlog™ device. The following status mes­sage appears on the display:

PROBE DETECT…. Subsequently, the measurement
and the unit corresponding to the connected sen­sor are displayed.

6. Commissioning

6.1 Operating with the power supply unit

• Insert the recessed plug of the power supply

unit into the recessed socket of the 3B NETlog™
device.

• Connect the power supply unit to the mains.

• If necessary, press the On/Off button.

6.2 Operating with batteries

• Open the lid of the battery compartment and

insert three batteries (AA, LR6 or AM3) while
carefully observing the polarity (batteries not
included).

• If necessary, press the On/Off button.

7. Operating with a computer and 3B NETlab™
software

In order to operate the 3B NETlog™ equipment
with a computer, the 3B NETlab™ software and a
computer with the following system requirements
are necessary:

• Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP

• Intel Pentium III or similar processor with min.

600MHz, 128MB RAM and 100MB hard disc
storage

• Microsoft Internet Explorer Version 6 or higher

Note: when operating via a computer, neve
press the buttons on the 3B NETlogTM console.

7.1 Driver installation

Before installing the 3B NETlab™ software, it is
important to install the USB driver:

• Connect 3B NETlog™ to the computer via the

USB cable.

The computer reports that it has detected a new
hardware. Subsequently, the window of the hard­ware wizard opens:

• Insert the installation CD into the CD-ROM

drive of the computer.

Windows 2000:

• Select “Search for the best driver for your de-

vice”.

• Under search for driver files, select “CD-ROM

drives”. (If no driver can be found, select “Dis­play other source locations”.)

Windows XP:

• Do not activate Windows Update.

• Select “Install software from specified loca-

tion”.

• Under “Browse”, specify the location of the

driver on the CD.

• A hardware message will state that the soft-

ware has failed to pass the Windows Logo Test.
You should nevertheless click “Proceed with in­stallation”.

As an alternative, the folder containing the driver
file can be copied directly onto the computer from
the CD and can be installed from the hard disk.

4