PICO USB TC-08 User Manual

USB TC-08 Single-Channel Terminal Board

User’s Guide

USB TC-08 Single-Channel Terminal Board User’s G uide Pico Technology

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1 Safety notices

You MUST observe the following safety notices to prevent damage to

equipment and personal injury.
DO NOT do not connect the terminal board to any voltage source exceeding the

maximum input range printed on the board.
DO NOT connect the terminal board to a mains (line voltage) electrical supply. The

high voltage will damage or destroy the equipment and may cause serious or fatal
injury.

2 Overview

2.1 Introduction

The USB TC-08 Single-Channel Terminal Board is an accessory for the Pico
Technology USB TC-08 8-Channel Thermocouple Data Logger. The screw terminals
allow wires to be attached to the data lo gger without soldering and enable the USB
TC-08 to measure voltages from 0 to + 5 V or 4-20 mA loop currents.

The terminal board is designed for use with the USB TC-08 and is not gua ranteed to
work with other thermocouple data loggers.

2.2 Specifications

Dimensions 57 x 27 x 14 mm (approx. 2.3 x 1.1 x 0.6 in.)
Weight 12 g nominal (approx. 0.5 oz)
Terminal wire size 1.5 mm2 solid, 1.0 mm2 stranded, 16-26 AWG

2.3 Inputs and switch

Name Function

4-20/5V Input for the positive side of a 4-20 mA loop or 0 to

5 V signal
500mV Input for the positive side of a 0 to 500 mV signal
50mV Input for the positive side of a 0 to 50 mV signal
COM Input for the negative side of any voltage or current

signal.
4-20 mA Set switch to “ON” for a 4-20 mA loop signal.

Set switch to “OFF” for all voltage signals.

Pico Technology USB TC-08 Single-Channel Terminal Board User’s G uide

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3 Measuring voltages and currents

1) Connect the negative side of your circuit to the COM terminal.

2) Connect the positive side of your circuit to the “5 V”, “500 mV” or “50 mV”
terminal depending on the voltage range of the signal. For a 4-20 mA loop
signal, use the “5 V” input.

3) For a 4-20 mA loop signal, set the switch to “ON”. For a voltage signal, set the
switch to “OFF”.

4) Plug the terminal board into the USB TC-08.

5) Connect the USB TC-08 to the computer using the USB cable supplied with t he
logger.

6) Run PicoLog on the computer.

7) Go to File -> New Settings.

8) Set the converter type to USB TC-08.

9) Edit one of the USB TC-08 channels and set the “Thermocouple” control to
“mV”.

10) PicoLog will display the voltage or current applied to the terminal board in the
monitor window.

The voltage displayed in PicoLog corresponds to the input voltage as follows:

Input range PicoLog voltage

0 – 5 V 0 – 50 mV
0 – 500 mV 0 – 50 mV
0 – 50 mV 0 – 50 mV
4 – 20 mA 9.6 – 48 mV

Figure 1: Example connection for

measuring a 0 to 5 volt signal

Figure 2: The terminal

board fitted to the USB

TC-08

USB TC-08 Single-Channel Terminal Board User’s G uide Pico Technology

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Pico Technology

James House
Colmworth Business Park
ST. NEOTS
Cambridgeshire
PE19 8YP
United Kingdom

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

www.picotech.com

Copyright © 2009 Pico Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.

Issue history:

1) 14.9.09. New.