VoltPAQ-X2/X4
User Manual
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
How to contact Quanser:
+1 (905) 940-3575 Telephone
+1 (905) 940-3576 Facsimile
119 Spy Court
Markham, ON
Mail
Canada L3R 5H6
http://www.quanser.com Web
mailto://info@quanser.com General information
MATLAB is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc.
LabVIEW is a registered trademark of National Instruments.
Other brands and their products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should
be noted as such.
© 2010 Quanser Inc.
All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written
permission of the copyright holder, except under the terms of the associated software license agreement. No
part of this manual may be photocopied or reproduced in any form.
The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, etc. in this publication, even if the former are
not especially identified, is not to be taken as a sign that such names as understood by the Trade Marks and
Merchandise Marks Act, may accordingly be used freely by anyone.
Printed in Canada.
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: ii
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..........................................................................................................................1
2. Specifications.......................................................................................................................2
3. Connections.........................................................................................................................4
4. E-Stop..................................................................................................................................5
5. Cables..................................................................................................................................6
6. Fuses....................................................................................................................................7
7. Obtaining Support................................................................................................................8
List of Tables
Table 1: Amplifier specifications............................................................................................3
Table 2: Amplifier specifications............................................................................................3
Table 3: Connection summary of VoltPAQ-X2 and X4..........................................................5
Table 4: Truth table of E-Stop interaction with the amplifier.................................................5
List of Figures
Figure 1: Front panel connections for the VoltPAQ-X2..........................................................4
Figure 2: Front panel connections for the VoltPAQ-X4..........................................................4
Figure 3: 4-pin DIN to 6-pin DIN............................................................................................6
Figure 4: RCA-to-RCA cable..................................................................................................6
Figure 5: E-Stop Button...........................................................................................................6
Figure 6: Backside of VoltPAQ-X2 has 2 fuses......................................................................7
Figure 7: Backside of VoltPAQ-X4 has 4 fuses......................................................................7
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: iii
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
1. Introduction
The VoltPAQ is a linear power amplifier designed to run Quanser experiments. VoltPAQs
come in three different flavours: X1, X2 and X4. These suffixes stand for the number of
channels. Therefore, the VoltPAQ-X1 can power one load, the VoltPAQ-X2 can power two,
and the VoltPAQ-X4 can power four. This manual is specifically for the X2 and X4 models.
If the equipment is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the protection
provided by the equipment may be impaired.
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 1
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
2. Specifications
The VoltPAQs replaces the UPM line of power amplifiers. Every VoltPAQ-X2/X4 consists
of the following components and features:
1. Amplifier capable of supplying around 24V and 4A continuous per channel
2. Current sensing capability for each channel
3. User ability to enable/disable individual amplifiers
4. Automatic thermal shut-down to prevent damage to amplifier
5. Over-heating/over-current fault indication output
6. E-stop
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 2
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
AC Input Specifications Value
Input Voltage Range 100V-120V/
220V-240V
Max Input Current per channel 1.0A RMS @ 220V
1.9A RMS @ 110V
Input Frequency Min 47Hz
Input Frequency Max 63Hz
Table 1: Amplifier specifications
Amplifier Specifications Value
Output Voltage No load: -23.3V to +21.8V
2A load: -22.3V to +20.8V
Continuous Current Output per channel ± 4 A
Voltage Gain 3V/V
Current Sense 1 A/V
Amplifier Command Voltage Range ± 10V
Table 2: Amplifier specifications
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 3
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
3. Connections
Below are a few pictures of the front panel of the VoltPAQ-X2 and VoltPAQ-X4.
Following the pictures is a summary and description of all the front panel connections.
Figure 1: Front panel connections for the VoltPAQ-X2
Figure 2: Front panel connections for the VoltPAQ-X4
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 4
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
Connection Description Electrical Range
Amplifier Command An analog voltage is applied on this channel.
-10V to +10V
This directly controls the output of the amp
through the “To Load” channel.
Amplifier LED Enabled/Disabled status of channel LED on = enabled
Current Sense Indicates the current being drawn by the load 1A/V
To Load The load to be driven is connected here.
Amp Out = 3 * Amplifier Command
System Power Indicates the VoltPAQ is receiving power
Enable User applies this signal. In the VoltPAQ-X2,
enable 0 and 1 are used. Enable 2 and 3 are
0V = Disable
5V = Enable
floating. VoltPAQ-X4 uses all 4 enable pins.
/Fault User reads this signal. In the VoltPAQ-
X2, /Fault0 and /Fault1 are used. /Fault2
and /Fault3 are floating. The VoltPAQ-X4
/Fault0 = 0 means
Amplifier0 is
disabled
uses all /Fault pins.
E-Stop E-stop is the master enable/disable
Table 3: Connection summary of VoltPAQ-X2 and X4
4. E-Stop
E-Stop Connected E-Stop Not-Connected
E-Stop Button
Released
E-Stop Button
Pressed
Table 4: Truth table of E-Stop interaction with the amplifier.
VoltPAQ amps enabled if
amplifier enable lines set HIGH
All VoltPAQ amps disabled All VoltPAQ amps disabled
All VoltPAQ amps disabled
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 5
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
5. Cables
4-Pin DIN to 6-Pin DIN
This cable connects the VoltPAQ output to
the desired load.
RCA-to-RCA
RCA-to-RCA cables connect the “Amplifier
Command” and the “Current Sense” to a data
acquisition board.
Figure 3: 4-pin DIN to 6-pin DIN
E-Stop
The E-Stop must be plugged into the X2 or X4
unit for proper operation.
Figure 4: RCA-to-RCA cable
Figure 5: E-Stop Button
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 6
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
16-Pin Ribbon Cable
This cable is used to connect a Quanser DAQ
to the enable lines of the VoltPAQ-X2 and
the VoltPAQ-X4. Additionally, this cable also
carries amplifier fault lines, which allows the
user to read the status of the individual
amplifiers.
Figure 6: 16-pin ribbon cable used to enable the amplifiers
Split 16 Pin Ribbon Cable (Used only with Q8-USB version 2.0 and earlier)
This cable is used to connect a Quanser Q8USB DAQ (version 2 and earlier) to the enable
lines of the VoltPAQ-X2 and VoltPAQ-X4.
Aditionally, this cable also carries amplifier
fault lines, which allows the user to read the
status of the individual amplifiers.
Figure 7: Split 16-pin ribbon cable
6. Enabling The Amplifier Through
QUARC
Connect one end of the 16-Pin ribbon cable to DI/O 0-7 header of the DAQ. Next connect
the other end to your VoltPAQ-X2/X4. Through QUARC, set digital channels 0-3 as
outputs. Write a logic 1 to the channels 0-3 to enable and write a logic 0 to disable the
respective channel. The LED of the associated amplifier will turn on when correctly
enabled.
Through QUARC, set digital channels 4-7 as inputs. You can read these lines to recognize
the status of a specific amplifier channel. For example, if you read digital input channel 4 as
logic 1, it means that amplifier channel 0 is enabled. If you read digital input channel 5 as
logic 0, it means that amplifier channel 1 is faulted/disabled.
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 7
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
If you are using a Q8-USB (version 2 or earlier), ensure that you are using the Split 16-pin
ribbon cable to connect to your amplifier. Connect the end marked Q8-USB DIGITAL IN to
the digital input channel of the Q8-USB. Connect the end marked Q8-USB DIGITAL OUT
to the digital output channel of the Q8-USB. Finally, connect the free end to the VoltPAQX2/X4.
To enable the VoltPAQ-X2/X4 using a Q8-USB (version 2 or earlier), write a logic 1 to the
respective digital output channels 0-3. For example, writing a logic 1 to digital output 0 will
enable amplifier channel 0. Writing a logic 0 to digital output 2 will disable amplifier
channel 2.
To read the status of the VoltPAQ-X2/X4 amplifier channels when using a Q8-USB
(version 2 or earlier), you must read digital input channels 0-3. For example, reading a logic
1 on digital input 0 means amplifier channel 0 is enabled. Reading a logic 0 on channel 2
means amplifier channel 2 is faulted/disabled.
7. Fuses
If you find your unit does not output on either the positive or negative output, or otherwise
stops functioning, check the fuses located at the back of the unit.
Figure 8: Backside of VoltPAQ-X2 has 2 fuses.
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 8
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
Figure 9: Backside of VoltPAQ-X4 has 4 fuses.
There is one fuse per channel. So, for example, in the VoltPAQ-X2, there are 2 fuses. If
your voltage input is 100-132 VAC use the following fuses: Slow Blow 1.5A – Digikey part
number F2551-ND.
If your voltage input is 200VAC-240VAC use the following fuses: Slow Blow 1A –
Digikey part number F2543-ND
Remove the existing fuse by pushing inward and turning the fuse approximately 90 degrees,
then pull the cap out. Replace the fuse, push back in and twist to lock.
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 9
VoltPAQ X2 & X4 User Manual
8. Obtaining Support
Note that a support contract may be required to obtain technical support. To obtain
support from Quanser, go to http://www.quanser.com and click on the Tech Support link.
Fill in the form with all requested software and hardware information and a description of
the problem encountered. Be sure to include your email address and a telephone number
where you can be reached. A qualified technical support person will contact you.
Document Number: 903 Revision: 1.5 Page: 10
Loading...