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Measurement Computing Corporation does not authorize any Measurement Computing Corporation product for use
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or b) support or sustain life and whose failure to perform can be reasonably expected to result in injury.
Measurement Computing Corporation products are not designed with the components required, and are not subject
to the testing required to ensure a level of reliability suitable for the treatment and diagnosis of people.
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Table of Contents
Preface
About this User's Guide ....................................................................................................................... 7
What you will learn from this user's guide ......................................................................................................... 7
Conventions in this user's guide ......................................................................................................................... 7
Where to find more information ......................................................................................................................... 7
Chapter 1
Introducing the PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 ............................................................................... 8
Overview: PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 features ...................................................................................... 8
Software features ................................................................................................................................................ 8
Chapter 2
Installing the PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025...................................................................................... 9
What comes with your PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025 shipment ................................................................... 9
Unpacking the board ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Installing the software ...................................................................................................................................... 10
Installing the hardware ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Configuring the hardware ................................................................................................................................. 11
Connecting the board for I/O operations .......................................................................................................... 12
Connectors, cables – main I/O connector .........................................................................................................................12
Pin out – main I/O connector ...........................................................................................................................................13
DAQ-Sync connector and pinout .....................................................................................................................................16
Field wiring and signal termination accessories ...............................................................................................................16
DAQ signal timing............................................................................................................................................ 21
SCANCLK signal ............................................................................................................................................................21
A/D START TRIGGER signal ........................................................................................................................................21
A/D STOP TRIGGER signal ...........................................................................................................................................22
STARTSCAN signal ........................................................................................................................................................23
SSH signal .......................................................................................................................................................................23
A/D CONVERT signal ....................................................................................................................................................24
A/D PACER GATE signal ...............................................................................................................................................24
A/D EXTERNAL TIME BASE signal ............................................................................................................................24
A/D STOP signal .............................................................................................................................................................25
D/A START TRIGGER signal ........................................................................................................................................25
D/A CONVERT signal ....................................................................................................................................................26
D/A EXTERNAL TIME BASE signal ............................................................................................................................26
General-purpose counter signal timing ............................................................................................................. 27
CTR1 CLK signal ............................................................................................................................................................27
CTR1 GATE signal .........................................................................................................................................................27
CTR1 OUT signal ............................................................................................................................................................28
5
PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 User's Guide
CTR2 CLK signal ............................................................................................................................................................28
CTR2 GATE signal .........................................................................................................................................................28
CTR2 OUT signal ............................................................................................................................................................29
Chapter 4
Calibrating the Board .......................................................................................................................... 30
Calibration theory ............................................................................................................................................. 30
Analog inputs .................................................................................................................................................... 31
System throughput ...........................................................................................................................................................32
Settling time .....................................................................................................................................................................32
Analog outputs (PCI-DAS6025 only) ............................................................................................................... 34
Analog output pacing and triggering ................................................................................................................................35
Analog input/output calibration .......................................................................................................................................35
Digital input/output........................................................................................................................................... 35
Power consumption .......................................................................................................................................... 39
DAQ-Sync connector and pin out ..................................................................................................................... 40
Main connector and pin out .............................................................................................................................. 40
Declaration of Conformity .................................................................................................................. 43
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About this User's Guide
What you will learn from this user's guide
This user's guide explains how to install, configure, and use the PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 boards so
that you get the most out of their analog, digital, and timing features.
This user's guide also refers you to related documents available on our web site, and to technical support
resources.
Conventions in this user's guide
For more information on …
Text presented in a box signifies additional information and helpful hints related to the subject matter you are
reading.
Caution! Shaded caution statements present information to help you avoid injuring yourself and others,
damaging your hardware, or losing your data.
Preface
< : > Angle brackets that enclose numbers separated by a colon signify a range of numbers, such as those assigned
to registers, bit settings, etc.
bold text Bold text is used for the names of objects on the screen, such as buttons, text boxes, and check boxes. For
example:
1. Insert the disk or CD and click the OK button.
italic text Italic text is used for the names of manuals and help topic titles, and to emphasize a word or phrase. For
example:
The InstaCal installation procedure is explained in the Quick Start Guide.
Never touch the exposed pins or circuit connections on the board.
Where to find more information
For additional information relevant to the operation of your hardware, refer to the Documents subdirectory
where you installed the MCC DAQ software (C:\Program Files\Measurement Computing\DAQ by default), or
search for your device on our website at www.mccdaq.com.
If you need to program at the register level in your application, refer to the STC Register Map for the PCI-DAS6000 Series. This document is available at www.mccdaq.com/registermaps/RegMapSTC6000.pdf.
7
Chapter 1
Introducing the PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025
Overview: PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 features
This manual explains how to install and use the PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 boards. These boards can be
used in a wide variety of measurement applications, including data logging, field testing and process control.
The PCI-DAS6025 provides 16 channels of 12-bit analog input, dual 12-bit analog outputs with a 10 kS/s per
channel update rate, 32 digital I/O lines and two 16-bit counter timers.
The PCI-DAS6023 provides 16 channels of 12-bit analog input, 8 digital I/O lines and two 16-bit counter
timers.
The analog inputs on each board can be configured as either eight differential or 16 single-ended channels. The
input ranges are bipolar, in four ranges of ±10 V, ±5 V, ±500 mV, and ±50 mV. The ranges are softwareselectable.
Each board provides nine user-configurable trigger/clock/gate pins that are available at a 100-pin I/O connector.
Six of the pins are configurable as inputs and three pins are configurable as outputs.
Up to five PCI-DAS6000 series boards can be interconnected for I/O synchronization. Five trigger/strobes and a
synchronizing clock are available on a 14-pin header connector. Interrupts can be generated by up to seven
ADC sources and four DAC sources.
Both boards are equipped with an 82C54 counter chip that contains three 16-bit counters. Clock, gate, and
output signals from two of the counters are available on the board’s 100-pin I/O connector. The third counter is
used internally.
Software features
For information on the features of InstaCal and the other software included with your PCI-DAS6023 and PCIDAS6025, refer to the Quick Start Guide that shipped with your device. The Quick Start Guide is also available
in PDF at www.mccdaq.com/PDFmanuals/DAQ-Software-Quick-Start.pdf.
Check www.mccdaq.com/download.htm for the latest software version.
8
PCI-DAS6023
PCI-DAS6025
C100HD50-x
C100MMS-x
CDS-14-x
Chapter 2
Installing the PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025
This section contains instructions on installing and configuring your PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025 board,
and includes description of compatible cables and accessory equipment.
What comes with your PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025 shipment
As you unpack your board shipment, verify that the following components are included.
Hardware
The following items should be included with your shipment:
PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025 board
Additional documentation
In addition to this hardware user's guide, you should also receive the Quick Start Guide (available in PDF at
www.mccdaq.com/PDFmanuals/DAQ-Software-Quick-Start.pdf). This booklet supplies a brief description of
the software you received with your PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 and information regarding installation of
that software. Please read this booklet completely before installing any software or hardware.
Optional components
If you ordered any of the following products with your PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025 board, they should be
included with your shipment.
Cables
9
PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 User's Guide Installing the PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025
Signal conditioning accessories
MCC provides signal termination products for use with the PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025. Refer to the
"Field wiring and signal termination accessories" section on page 16 for a complete list of compatible
accessory products.
Unpacking the board
As with any electronic device, you should take care while handling to avoid damage from static
electricity. Before removing the PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 from its packaging, ground yourself using a
wrist strap or by simply touching the computer chassis or other grounded object to eliminate any stored static
charge.
If any components are missing or damaged, notify Measurement Computing Corporation immediately by
phone, fax, or e-mail:
Phone: 508-946-5100 and follow the instructions for reaching Tech Support.
Fax: 508-946-9500 to the attention of Tech Support
Email: techsupport@mccdaq.com
Installing the software
Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on installingthe software on the Measurement Computing Data
Acquisition Software CD. This booklet is available in PDF at www.mccdaq.com/PDFmanuals/DAQ-Software-
Quick-Start.pdf.
Installing the hardware
PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 boards are completely plug-and-play. There are no switches or jumpers to set
on these boards. Configuration is controlled by your system's BIOS. To install your board, follow the steps
below:
Install the MCC DAQ software before you install your board
The driver needed to run your board is installed with the MCC DAQ software. Therefore, you need to install the
MCC DAQ software before you install your board. Refer to the Quick Start Guide for instructions on installing
the software.
1. Turn your computer off, open it up, and insert your board into an available PCI slot.
2. Close your computer and turn it on.
If you are using an operating system with support for plug-and-play (such as Windows 2000 or Windows
XP), a dialog box pops up as the system loads indicating that new hardware has been detected. If the
information file for this board is not already loaded onto your PC, you will be prompted for the disk
containing this file. The MCC DAQ software contains this file. If required, insert the Measurement Computing Data Acquisition Software CD and click OK.
3. To test your installation and configure your board, run the InstaCal utility installed in the previous section.
Refer to the Quick Start Guide that came with your board for information on how to initially set up and
load InstaCal.
Allow your computer to warm up for at least 15 minutes before acquiring data with these boards. The high
speed components used on these boards generate heat and it takes this amount of time for a board to reach
steady state if it has been powered off for a significant amount of time.
10
PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 User's Guide Installing the PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025
Configuring the hardware
All of the hardware configuration options on the PCI-DAS6025/6023 are software controlled. You may select
some of the configuration options using InstaCal, such as the analog input configuration (16 single-ended or
eight differential channels), the edge used for triggering when using an external pacer and the source for the two
independent counters. Once selected, any program that uses the Universal Library will use these selections to
initialize the hardware according to these selections.
Following is an overview of the available hardware configuration options for the PCI-DAS6023 and PCIDAS6025 boards. For general information regarding signal connection and configuration, refer to the Guide to
Signal Connections. This document is available on our web site at www.mccdaq.com/signals/signals.pdf.
Differential input mode
When all channels are configured for differential input mode, eight analog input channels are available. In this
mode, the input signal is measured with respect to the low input. The input signal is delivered through three
wires:
The wire carrying the signal to be measured connects to CH# IN HI.
The wire carrying the reference signal connects to CH# IN LO.
The third wire is connected to LLGND.
Differential input mode is the preferred configuration for applications in noisy environments or when the signal
source is referenced to a potential other than PC ground.
Single-ended input mode
When all channels are configured for single-ended input mode, 16 analog input channels are available. In this
mode, the input signal is referenced to the board’s signal ground (LLGND). The input signal is delivered
through two wires:
The wire carrying the signal to be measured connects to CH# IN HI.
The second wire is connected to LLGND.
Non-referenced single-ended input mode
This mode is a compromise between differential and single-ended modes. It offers some of the advantages of
each mode. Using non-referenced single-ended mode, you can still get noise rejection but not the limitation in
the number of channels resulting from a fully differential configuration. The possible downside is that the
external reference input must be the same for every channel. It is equivalent to configuring the inputs for
differential mode and then tying all of the low inputs together and using that node as the reference input.
When configured for non-referenced single-ended input mode, 16 analog input channels are available. In this
mode, each input signal is not referenced to the board’s ground, but to a common reference signal (AISENSE).
The input signal is delivered through three wires:
The wire carrying the signal to be measured connects to CH# IN HI.
The wire carrying the reference signal connects to AISENSE.
The third wire is connected to LLGND.
This mode is useful when the application calls for differential input mode but the limitation on channel count
prevents it.
11
PCI-DAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025 User's Guide Installing the PCI-DAS6023 or PCI-DAS6025
Connector type
Shielded, SCSI 100-pin D-type
Compatible cables
C100HD50-x unshielded round cable. x = 3 or 6 feet. (Figure 1)
C100MMS-x shielded round cable. x = 1, 2, or 3 meters. (Figure 2)
Compatible accessory products
with the C100HD50-x cable
Compatible accessory products
with the C100MMS-x cable
SCB-100
DAQ-Sync configuration
You can interconnect multiple boards in the PCI-DAS6000 series to synchronize data acquisition or data output.
To do this, order and install a CDS-14-x cable at the DAQ-Sync connectors (P2) between the boards to be
synchronized. Each system can have one master and up to four slaves.
The "x" in the CDS-14-x part number specifies the number of connectors available on the cable, and therefore,
the number of boards you can interconnect. Using a CDS-14-2, you can connect two PCI-DAS6000 series
boards together for I/O synchronization. Using a CDS-14-3, you can synchronize three boards, and so on. You
can connect up to five PCI-DAS6000 series boards. A CDS-14-3 cable is shown in Figure 3.
By default, all DAQ-Sync connectors are configured as inputs (slave mode). In order to be useful, use software
to configure one board as the master and to define the signal sources of the slave boards. Refer to "DAQ-Sync
signals" on page 19 for more information.
Detailed information regarding software configuration of these functions is available in the STC Register Map
for the PCI-DAS 6000 Series. This document is available from our web site at
www.mccdaq.com/registermaps/RegMapSTC6000.pdf.
Connecting the board for I/O operations
Connectors, cables – main I/O connector
The table below lists the board connectors, applicable cables, and compatible accessory products for the PCIDAS6023 and PCI-DAS6025.
Board connectors, cables, and accessory equipment
Information on signal connections
General information regarding signal connection and configuration is available in the Guide to Signal
Connections. This document is available on our web site at