Omega Engineering TCIC User Manual
TCIC User’s Manual
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1. Main Features
2. Installation
3. TCIC-Monitor
3.1 Title
3.2 Menus
3.2.1 File
3.2.1.1 Exit
3.2.2 Setup
3.2.2.1 Card Settings
3.2.2.2 TCIC-Monitor Settings
3.2.2.3 Calibration and Defaults
3.2.2.4 Card Address
3.2.2.5 View All Settings (Read Only)
3.2.3 Library
3.2.3.1 Load
3.2.3.2 Save
3.2.3.3 Delete
3.3 "Outputs" Box
3.4 "Save to File" Command ('Start' or 'Stop')
3.5 Channel Boxes
3.5.1 Channel Title
3.5.2 Digital Display
3.5.3 Analog Display
3.5.4 Channel Description
3.5.5 "Show Graph" Command
3.6 Cold Junction Temperature
4. Command Set
4.1 Requesting Data
4.2 Change Output Status
4.3 Setpoint Configuration
4.4 Sample Program
4.5 Troubleshooting
5. Multi-Card System
6. USB, RS232 & RS485
7. Specifications
8. LabVIEW Sample
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1. Main Features
• Very High Speed & High Resolution.
• Supports up to 8 channels (differential inputs).
• Each channel can be set for a thermocouple reading or
for a voltage (millivolt) reading.
• Internal A/D resolution: 24 bit (not all are used).
• Sampling rate: 400 Hz (50 Hz for each channel).
• Single opto-isolated output per channel which can be
used as a set-point (alarm etc.) or as a general purpose
output.
• Conversion tables are on board to enable stand-alone
operation.
• Reading is in °F, °C or mV.
• CJC (Cold Junction Compensation) built on board.
• Each channel supports the most popular families of
thermocouples (E, J, K, R, S, T) or any indefinite voltage
source in the range -500mV -> +500mV.
• USB as a standard method of communication.
• USB + RS485 and RS232 (option).
• Multiple boards may be connected via USB or the
optional RS485.
• On board high accuracy reference voltage for easy
calibration.
• No need for external power supply when used with USB.
• Includes Windows software for initial setup and also a
Smart data logger package for monitoring & collecting
readings in high speed – with graphic mode display.
Communication
Two types of drivers are available:
• The direct driver provides access via a DLL supplying
functions to directly control the device.
• The VCP (Virtual COM Port) driver would make the TCIC
appear as a spare COM port on the PC, e.g. COM3.
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Setpoints
Each channel may be defined as a
setpoint
, which means that
the corresponding output will turn on upon crossing some level.
The setpoint user-defined selection also controls the
direction
of
the ‘setpoint indication’; that is, turn the output on upon crossing
the limit either
upwards
or
downwards
. In other words, the
direction
of the trigger is user-defined. Likewise, the user may
define a
hysteresis
behavior, e.g., the output turns on when the
temperature goes above some limit and only goes off again when
the temperature falls below another (lower) limit, thus eliminating
undesirable fluctuations in the status of the output.
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2. Installation
(The following description refers to Windows XP. Obviously, on
another operating system it might be different.)
1. Make sure that all package files have been copied – and
unzipped if necessary – to your hard disk.
2. Two types of drivers are available. Install the one that
meets best your requirements. Note that only one
driver may be installed at the same time. That is, if
for some reason you want to switch to the other driver,
first uninstall the retired one.
• The direct driver provides access via a DLL supplying
functions to directly control the device.
• The VCP (Virtual COM Port) driver would make the
TCIC appear as a spare COM port on the PC, e.g.
COM3.
Consider which driver is best for you and proceed
accordingly to step 3 or 4.
3. Installing the Direct DLL Driver:
3.1 If the VCP (Virtual COM Port) Driver is installed,
uninstall it as follows:
Click: Start – Control Panel – Add or Remove Programs –
FTDI USB Serial Converter Drivers – Change/Remove
Disconnect all TCIC boards from the USB port and click
Continue…
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Click Finish.
3.2 Disconnect or disable the internet communication if
such exists. The reason for that is that there are cases
where the installation procedure automatically
communicates with manufacturer’s site, which might lead
to wrong operation.
3.3 Connect the TCIC card to your PC.
3.4 The ‘Found New Hardware Wizard’ appears.
Select the last option like this:
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3.5 Press Next and select the second option:
3.6 Press Next and browse to the Direct DLL driver folder:
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3.7 Click Next…
3.8 Press Continue Anyway…
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Click Finish – that’s it!
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4. Installing the VCP (Virtual COM Port) Driver:
4.1 If the Direct DLL Driver is installed, uninstall it as
follows:
Click: Start – Control Panel – Add or Remove Programs –
FTDI FTD2XX USB Drivers – Change/Remove
Disconnect all TCIC boards from the USB port and click
Continue…
Click Finish.
4.2 Connect the TCIC card to your PC.
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4.3 The ‘Found New Hardware Wizard’ appears.
Select the last option like this:
4.4 Press Next and select the second option:
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4.5 Press Next and browse to the VCP driver folder:
4.6 Click Next…
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Click
‘Finish’ – that’s it!
Notes
1. It might occur that the wizard will return to step 4.3, requiring to
repeat the process. This is normal, just repeat steps 4.3-4.6.
2. The package includes also an RS232 terminal found on the
Web, called Termite, through which the TCIC may be
communicated when the VCP driver is installed.
Termite (http://www.compuphase.com/software_termite.htm) is freeware, yet it
is easy to use and easy to configure.
TCIC communication parameters are:
Baud Rate: 115,200; Data: 8 bits; Parity: None; Stop Bits: 1.
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