Tektronix EXP-800/1600 Users Guide

EXP-800/1600

User’s Guide

A GREATER MEASURE OF CONFIDENCE

WARRANTY

Hardware

Keithley Instruments, Inc. warrants that, for a period of one (1) year from the date of shipment (3 years for Models 2000,
2001, 2002, 2010 and 2700), the Keithley Hardware product will be free from defects in materials or workmanship. This
warranty will be honored provided the defect has not been caused by use of the Keithley Hardware not in accordance with
the instructions for the product. This warranty shall be null and void upon: (1) any modification of Keithley Hardware that
is made by other than Keithley and not approved in writing by Keithley or (2) operation of the Keithley Hardware outside
of the environmental specifications therefore.

Upon receiving notification of a defect in the Keithley Hardware during the warranty period, Keithley will, at its option,
either repair or replace such Keithley Hardware. During the first ninety days of the warranty period, Keithley will, at its
option, supply the necessary on site labor to return the product to the condition prior to the notification of a defect. Failure
to notify Keithley of a defect during the warranty shall relieve Keithley of its obligations and liabilities under this
warranty.

Other Hardware

The portion of the product that is not manufactured by Keithley (Other Hardware) shall not be covered by this warranty,
and Keithley shall have no duty of obligation to enforce any manufacturers' warranties on behalf of the customer. On those
other manufacturers’ products that Keithley purchases for resale, Keithley shall have no duty of obligation to enforce any
manufacturers’ warranties on behalf of the customer.

Software

Keithley warrants that for a period of one (1) year from date of shipment, the Keithley produced portion of the software or
firmware (Keithley Software) will conform in all material respects with the published specifications provided such Keithley
Software is used on the product for which it is intended and otherwise in accordance with the instructions therefore.
Keithley does not warrant that operation of the Keithley Software will be uninterrupted or error-free and/or that the Keithley
Software will be adequate for the customer's intended application and/or use. This warranty shall be null and void upon any
modification of the Keithley Software that is made by other than Keithley and not approved in writing by Keithley.

If Keithley receives notification of a Keithley Software nonconformity that is covered by this warranty during the warranty
period, Keithley will review the conditions described in such notice. Such notice must state the published specification(s)
to which the Keithley Software fails to conform and the manner in which the Keithley Software fails to conform to such
published specification(s) with sufficient specificity to permit Keithley to correct such nonconformity. If Keithley deter­mines that the Keithley Software does not conform with the published specifications, Keithley will, at its option, provide
either the programming services necessary to correct such nonconformity or develop a program change to bypass such
nonconformity in the Keithley Software. Failure to notify Keithley of a nonconformity during the warranty shall relieve
Keithley of its obligations and liabilities under this warranty.

Other Software

OEM software that is not produced by Keithley (Other Software) shall not be covered by this warranty, and Keithley shall
have no duty or obligation to enforce any OEM's warranties on behalf of the customer.

Other Items

Keithley warrants the following items for 90 days from the date of shipment: probes, cables, rechargeable batteries, diskettes,
and documentation.

Items not Covered under Warranty

This warranty does not apply to fuses, non-rechargeable batteries, damage from battery leakage, or problems arising from
normal wear or failure to follow instructions.

Limitation of Warranty

This warranty does not apply to defects resulting from product modification made by Purchaser without Keithley's express
written consent, or by misuse of any product or part.

Disclaimer of Warranties

EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES ABOVE KEITHLEY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT­ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. KEITHLEY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH
RESPECT TO THE OTHER HARDWARE AND OTHER SOFTWARE.

Limitation of Liability

KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS SHALL IN NO EVENT, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE, ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR
OR BE LIABLE FOR: (1) ECONOMICAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER CLAIMED UNDER CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY,
(2) LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO THE CUSTOMER'S DATA OR PROGRAMMING, OR (3) PENALTIES OR PENALTY
CLAUSES OF ANY DESCRIPTION OR INDEMNIFICATION OF THE CUSTOMER OR OTHERS FOR COSTS, DAM­AGES, OR EXPENSES RELATED TO THE GOODS OR SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY.

Keithley Instruments, Inc.

Sales Offices: BELGIUM: Bergensesteenweg 709 • B-1600 Sint-Pieters-Leeuw • 02-363 00 40 • Fax: [phone]

CHINA: Yuan Chen Xin Building, Room 705 • 12 Yumin Road, Dewai, Madian • Beijing 100029 • 8610-6202-2886 • Fax: [phone]
FINLAND: Tietäjäntie 2 • 02130 Espoo • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
FRANCE: 3, allée des Garays • 91127 Palaiseau Cédex • 01-64 53 20 20 • Fax: [phone]
GERMANY: Landsberger Strasse 65 • 82110 Germering • 089/84 93 07-40 • Fax: [phone]
GREAT BRITAIN: Unit 2 Commerce Park, Brunel Road • Theale • Berkshire RG7 4AB • 0118 929 7500 • Fax: [phone]
INDIA: Flat 2B, Willocrissa • 14, Rest House Crescent • Bangalore 560 001 • 91-80-509-1320/21 • Fax: [phone]
ITALY: Viale San Gimignano, 38 • 20146 Milano • 02-48 39 16 01 • Fax: [phone]
JAPAN: New Pier Takeshiba North Tower 13F • 11-1, Kaigan 1-chome • Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0022 • 81-3-5733-7555 • Fax: [phone]
KOREA: 2FL., URI Building • 2-14 Yangjae-Dong • Seocho-Gu, Seoul 137-888 • 82-2-574-7778 • Fax: [phone]
NETHERLANDS: Postbus 559 • 4200 AN Gorinchem • 0183-635333 • Fax: [phone]
SWEDEN: c/o Regus Business Centre • Frosundaviks Allé 15, 4tr • 169 70 Solna • 08-509 04 679 • Fax: [phone]
SWITZERLAND: Kriesbachstrasse 4 • 8600 Dübendorf • 01-821 94 44 • Fax: [phone]
TAIWAN: 1FL., 85 Po Ai Street • Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C. • 886-3-572-9077• Fax: [phone]

28775 Aurora Road • Cleveland, Ohio 44139 • 440-248-0400 • Fax: [phone]

1-888-KEITHLEY (534-8453) • www.keithley.com

4/02

EXP-800/1600 User’s Guide

Revision A - February 1995

Part Number: 92030

New Contact Information

Keithley Instruments, Inc.

28775 Aurora Road

Cleveland, OH 44139

Technical Support: 1-888-KEITHLEY

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m (EST)

Fax: [phone]

Visit our website at http://www.keithley.com

S

The following safety precautions should be observed before using this product and any associated instrumentation.
Although some instruments and accessories would normally be used with non-hazardous voltages, there are situations
where hazardous conditions may be present.

This product is intended for use by qualified personnel who recognize shock hazards and are familiar with the safety
precautions required to avoid possible injury. Read and follow all installation, operation, and maintenance information
carefully before using the product. Refer to the manual for complete product specifications.

If the product is used in a manner not specified, the protection provided by the product may be impaired.
The types of product users are:

Responsible body

the equipment is operated within its specifications and operating limits, and for ensuring that operators are adequately
trained.

Operators

of the instrument. They must be protected from electric shock and contact with hazardous live circuits.

Maintenance personnel

the line voltage or replacing consumable materials. Maintenance procedures are described in the manual. The proce­dures explicitly state if the operator may perform them. Otherwise, they should be performed only by service personnel.

Service personnel are trained to work on live circuits, and perform safe installations and repairs of products. Only

properly trained service personnel may perform installation and service procedures.
Keithley products are designed for use with electrical signals that are rated Installation Category I and Installation

Category II, as described in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standard IEC 60664. Most mea­surement, control, and data I/O signals are Installation Category I and must not be directly connected to mains voltage
or to voltage sources with high transient over-voltages. Installation Category II connections require protection for high
transient over-voltages often associated with local AC mains connections. Assume all measurement, control, and data
I/O connections are for connection to Category I sources unless otherwise marked or described in the Manual.

Exercise extreme caution when a shock hazard is present. Lethal voltage may be present on cable connector jacks or
test fixtures. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) states that a shock hazard exists when voltage levels
greater than 30V RMS, 42.4V peak, or 60VDC are present.

age is present in any unknown circuit before measuring.

Operators of this product must be protected from electric shock at all times. The responsible body must ensure that
operators are prevented access and/or insulated from every connection point. In some cases, connections must be ex­posed to potential human contact. Product operators in these circumstances must be trained to protect themselves from
the risk of electric shock. If the circuit is capable of operating at or above 1000 volts,

may be exposed.

Do not connect switching cards directly to unlimited power circuits. They are intended to be used with impedance
limited sources. NEVER connect switching cards directly to AC mains. When connecting sources to switching cards,
install protective devices to limit fault current and voltage to the card.

Before operating an instrument, make sure the line cord is connected to a properly grounded power receptacle. Inspect
the connecting cables, test leads, and jumpers for possible wear, cracks, or breaks before each use.

is the individual or group responsible for the use and maintenance of equipment, for ensuring that

use the product for its intended function. They must be trained in electrical safety procedures and proper use

perform routine procedures on the product to keep it operating properly, for example, setting

afety Precautions

A good safety practice is to expect that hazardous volt-

no conductive part of the circuit

5/02

When installing equipment where access to the main power cord is restricted, such as rack mounting, a separate main
input power disconnect device must be provided, in close proximity to the equipment and within easy reach of the
operator.

For maximum safety, do not touch the product, test cables, or any other instruments while power is applied to the cir­cuit under test. ALWAYS remove power from the entire test system and discharge any capacitors before: connecting
or disconnecting cables or jumpers, installing or removing switching cards, or making internal changes, such as in­stalling or removing jumpers.

Do not touch any object that could provide a current path to the common side of the circuit under test or power line (earth)
ground. Always make measurements with dry hands while standing on a dry, insulated surface capable of withstanding the
voltage being measured.

The instrument and accessories must be used in accordance with its specifications and operating instructions or the
safety of the equipment may be impaired.

Do not exceed the maximum signal levels of the instruments and accessories, as defined in the specifications and op­erating information, and as shown on the instrument or test fixture panels, or switching card.

When fuses are used in a product, replace with same type and rating for continued protection against fire hazard.
Chassis connections must only be used as shield connections for measuring circuits, NOT as safety earth ground con-

nections.
If you are using a test fixture, keep the lid closed while power is applied to the device under test. Safe operation re-

quires the use of a lid interlock.

If or is present, connect it to safety earth ground using the wire recommended in the user documentation.

!

The symbol on an instrument indicates that the user should refer to the operating instructions located in the manual.

The symbol on an instrument shows that it can source or measure 1000 volts or more, including the combined
effect of normal and common mode voltages. Use standard safety precautions to avoid personal contact with these
voltages.

The

WARNING

associated information very carefully before performing the indicated procedure.
The

CAUTION

the warranty.
Instrumentation and accessories shall not be connected to humans.
Before performing any maintenance, disconnect the line cord and all test cables.
To maintain protection from electric shock and fire, replacement components in mains circuits, including the power

transformer, test leads, and input jacks, must be purchased from Keithley Instruments. Standard fuses, with applicable
national safety approvals, may be used if the rating and type are the same. Other components that are not safety related
may be purchased from other suppliers as long as they are equivalent to the original component. (Note that selected parts
should be purchased only through Keithley Instruments to maintain accuracy and functionality of the product.) If you
are unsure about the applicability of a replacement component, call a Keithley Instruments office for information.

To clean an instrument, use a damp cloth or mild, water based cleaner. Clean the exterior of the instrument only. Do
not apply cleaner directly to the instrument or allow liquids to enter or spill on the instrument. Products that consist
of a circuit board with no case or chassis (e.g., data acquisition board for installation into a computer) should never
require cleaning if handled according to instructions. If the board becomes contaminated and operation is affected,
the board should be returned to the factory for proper cleaning/servicing.

heading in a manual explains dangers that might result in personal injury or death. Always read the

heading in a manual explains hazards that could damage the instrument. Such damage may invalidate

The information contained in this manual is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, Keithley
Instruments, Inc., assumes no responsibility for its use or for any infringements of patents or other rights
of third parties that may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any
patent rights of Keithley Instruments, Inc.

KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC., SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL,
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RELATED TO THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS
PRODUCT IS NOT DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS OF A LEVEL OF RELIABILITY
SUITABLE FOR USE IN LIFE SUPPORT OR CRITICAL APPLICATIONS.

Refer to your Keithley Instruments license agreement for specific warranty and liability information.

MetraByte is a trademark of Keithley Instruments, Inc. All brand and product names are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective companies.

© Copyright Keithley Instruments, Inc., 1995.

All rights reserved. Reproduction or adaptation of any part of this documentation beyond that permitted
by Section 117 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act without permission of the Copyright owner is
unlawful.

Keithley MetraByte Division

Keithley Instruments, Inc.

440 Myles Standish Boulevard, Taunton, Massachusetts 02780

Telephone: [phone]

● FAX: [phone]

Table of Contents

Preface

1 Overview

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-1

Supporting Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2

Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2

2 Functional Description

Ground Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3

Input Conditioning Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3

Multiplexer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4

Instrumentation Amplifier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5

CJC Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6

3 Inspection and Setup

Unwrapping and Inspecting Your EXP-800/1600 . . . . . . . . . . . .3-1

Component Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-2

Setting the Input-Conditioning Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

Signal Filtering (Switch 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4

Open-Thermocouple Detection (Switches 2 and 3) . . . . . . . .3-5

Ground Selection (Switches 3 and 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-5

4-to-20 mA Current Measuring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-5

Setting the Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6

Setting the CJC-Select Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-7

Positioning the Output-Channel-Select and

CJC-Channel-Select Jumpers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-8

Setting the Power-Select Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9

Installing in an ENCL Series Enclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9

4 Cabling and Wiring

Connecting to a DAS-800/1600/1400/1200 Series Board . . . . . .4-1

Connecting to a DASCard-1000 Series Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2

Connecting Multiple EXP-800/1600s on Standoffs. . . . . . . . . . .4-3

iii

Connecting Multiple EXP-800/1600s in an ENCL Series

Enclosure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-6

Connecting an FWA-EXP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-9

Connecting an FWA-37U. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10

Connecting Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-11

Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12

Precautions for Using a DAS Board/Card at

High Gains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12

Additional Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12

Common Connection Schemes for Differential Inputs. . . . . 4-13

Avoiding Ground Loops with Differential Inputs . . . . . . . . .4-14

5 Calibration

General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-1

Equipment Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Potentiometers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Calibration Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-4

Calibration Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4

Analog Offset Adjustment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-5

CJC Calibration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

6 Troubleshooting

Problem Isolation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-1

Testing the Board/Card and Host Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-3

Testing the Input Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-3

Technical Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4

A Specifications

B Connector Pin Assignments

C Channel Numbers for Software

Channel Numbering for DAS-800 Series Boards . . . . . . . . . . . C-1

Channel Numbering for DAS-1600/1400/1200 and

DASCard-1000 Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2

Index

iv

List of Figures

Figure 2-1. Block Diagram of EXP-800/1600 . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2

Figure 2-2. EXP-800/1600 Input Conditioning Circuits . . . . .2-3

Figure 3-1. Configuration Component Locations on the

EXP-800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-2

Figure 3-2. Configuration Component Locations on the

EXP-1600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3

Figure 3-3. A 4-Pole DIP Switch for Input Conditioning

Options (switches closed when ON). . . . . . . .3-4

Figure 3-4. EXP-800 Jumper Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-8

Figure 3-5. EXP-1600 Jumper Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-8

Figure 3-6. Power-Select Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9

Figure 3-7. ENCL-4 Enclosure with Four Pairs of Slotted

Card Guides (rear panel not shown) . . . . . . .3-10

Figure 3-8. ENCL-4 Enclosure with Four EXP-800/1600s

Installed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-11

Figure 4-1. Connecting an EXP-800/1600 to a DAS Board. . .4-1
Figure 4-2. Connecting an EXP-1600 to a DASCard-1000

Series Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2

Figure 4-3. Connecting Multiple EXP-800/1600s on

Standoffs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

Figure 4-4. Connecting External Power for EXP-800/1600s

(on Standoffs) Attached to a DAS Board . . . .4-4

Figure 4-5. Connecting External Power for EXP-800/1600s

(on Standoffs) Attached to a

DASCard-1000 Series Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5

Figure 4-6. Connecting Multiple EXP-800/1600s in an

ENCL Series Enclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-6

Figure 4-7. Connecting External Power to EXP-800/1600s

in an ENCL Series Enclosure (lower two

EXP-800/1600s are powered by

DAS board). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-7

Figure 4-8. Connecting External Power to EXP-1600s in an

ENCL Series Enclosure Attached to a

DASCard-1000 Series Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-8

Figure 4-9. Attaching an FWA-EXP to an EXP-800/1600 . . .4-9
Figure 4-10. Clamping Wire Pairs Attached to Screw

Terminals of the FWA-EXP . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-10

Figure 4-11. Attaching an FWA-37U to an EXP-800/1600. . . 4-10
Figure 4-12. Clamping Wire Pairs Attached to Screw

Terminals of the FWA-37U . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-11

v

Figure 4-13. Three Types of Connections for Wiring a

Signal Source to an FWA-EXP or to

Connector J1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-13

Figure 4-14. Differential Input Configuration that Avoids a

Ground Loop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-14

Figure 4-15. Differential Input Configuration with a

Ground Loop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-15

Figure 5-1. Calibration-Component Locations on the

EXP-800/1600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3

Figure 5-2. Output-Channel-Select Pin Locations on the

EXP-800/1600 Jumper Block J6 . . . . . . . . . .5-6

Figure 5-3. CJC-Channel-Select Pin Locations on the

EXP-800/1600 Jumper Block J6 . . . . . . . . . .5-7

Figure B-1. Pin Assignments for Connectors P2 and

P3 of the EXP-800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Figure B-2. Pin Assignments for Connectors P2 and

P3 of the EXP-1600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2

Figure B-3. Pin Assignments for Main I/O Connectors of

DAS-800 Series Boards and for Connector P4

of the EXP-800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2

Figure B-4. Pin Assignments for the Main I/O Connectors of

DAS-1600/1400/1200 Series Boards, the

Cable for DASCard-1000 Series Cards, and

Connector P4 of the EXP-1600 . . . . . . . . . . B-3

Figure B-5. Pin Assignments for Connector J1 of the

EXP-800/1600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4

Figure C-1. Analog Input Channel Numbering for Software

Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2

Figure C-2. Analog Input Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-4

List of Tables

Table 2-1. Examples of Gain Settings on Input Voltages . . . .2-5

Table 2-2. Digital Values for 24.4 mV/˚C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6

Table 6-1. Troubleshooting Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-1

Table A-1. General Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Table C-1. Channels in Maximum EXP-800 Configuration . C-1
Table C-2. Channels in Maximum EXP-1600 Configuration C-3

vi

Preface

This guide is intended to help you understand the installation, interface
requirements, functions, and operation of the EXP-800 and the EXP-1600
expansion accessories. The EXP-800 is an accessory for the DAS-800
Series boards; the EXP-1600 is an accessory for DAS-1600/1400/1200
Series boards and the DASCard-1000 Series PCMCIA cards. In this
guide, the term EXP-800/1600 refers to the EXP-800 and/or the
EXP-1600.

This guide focuses primarily on describing the EXP-800/1600 and its
capabilities, setting up this accessory, and making typical hookups. There
are also chapters on calibration and troubleshooting. To follow the
information and instructions contained in this manual, you must be
familiar with data-acquisition principles and application.

The EXP-800/1600 User’s Guide is organized as follows:

● Chapter 1 describes the features and accessories of the

EXP-800/1600.

● Chapter 2 describes operating features of the EXP-800/1600 in more

detail. This chapter contains a block diagram and brief descriptions of
the features as they relate to your options for setting up and using an
EXP-800/1600.

● Chapter 3 contains instructions for inspecting and setting up the

EXP-800/1600.

● Chapter 4 shows the preferred methods of making I/O (Input/Output)

connections to a DAS board and available accessories.

● Chapter 5 discusses calibration requirements and instructions.

● Chapter 6 contains information on isolating and determining the

source of operating problems. This chapter also contains instructions
for obtaining technical support.

vii

● Appendix A contains EXP-800/1600 specifications.

● Appendix B contains pin assignments for the DAS boards and

EXP-800/1600 I/O connectors.

● Appendix C describes the assignment of logical channel numbers for

a DAS board and all attached EXP-1800s for use in software such as
the Control Panel utility.

● An index completes the manual.

viii

Features

1

Overview

This chapter discusses the features, supporting software, and accessories
of the EXP-800 and EXP-1600. The EXP-800 and EXP-1600 appear
identical except for their channel-jumper blocks. They also differ in
circuitry and in the number of output channels (the EXP-800 provides
eight channels, while the EXP-1600 provides 16 channels).

Features of the EXP-800/1600 include the following:

● Contains 16 differential inputs.

● Multiplexes its inputs under control of the host DAS board.

● Connects in a daisy chain to additional EXP-800/1600s through

ribbon cable to provide up to 128 inputs for a DAS-800 Series boards
or 256 inputs for a DAS-1600/1400/1200 Series board or a
DASCard-1000 Series card.

● Provides a jumper block for selecting one channel of a DAS board to

receive signal input and for selecting a different channel of the DAS
board to receive CJC (cold-junction compensation).

● Offers switch-selectable gains of 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, and 500.

● Works with optional, plug-in, field-wiring accessories containing

convenient screw terminals.

● Provides mass-termination connector access for its own I/O channels

and for the DAS board I/O.

● Accepts power from the computer or from an external source that

switches in only while the computer is on.

Features 1-1

● Provides holes for a 4-to-20 mA current-measuring resistor at each

input (actual range is 100 µA to 100 mA).

● Contains a switch-activated, 80 Hz, passive filter for each input.

● Contains a switch-activated, open-thermocouple-detection circuit for

each input.

● Contains a switch-activated, low-side, bias resistor for each input.

(Before you use this circuit, refer to the cautionary note on page 3-5.)

● Conforms to VME 6U card size and fits a variety of Eurocard

enclosures, including the ENCL Series desktop enclosures from
Keithley MetraByte.

● Contains trimpots for setting the RTI (referenced to input) and RTO

(referenced to output) zeroes of the instrumentation amplifier and for
adjusting the CJC gain.

Supporting Software

Software for the DAS-800/1200/1400/1600 Series boards and the
DASCard-1000 Series cards also supports the EXP-800/1600. This
software is described in the user’s guides for the DAS boards/cards.

Accessories

The following accessories are available for EXP-800/1600s:

● CAB-3740 is the cable required to connect an EXP-800/1600 to a

DAS board; this cable is available in two lengths, as follows: the
CAB-3740/1 is 18 inches and the CAB-3740/2 is 36 inches.

● CAB-3740/F is a version of the CAB-3740 cable that is 4-inches long

and connects an EXP-1600 to the cable of a DASCard-1000 Series
card.

● CAB-40 is the cable you use to form a daisy chain of

EXP-800/1600s; this cable is available in two lengths, as follows: the
CAB-40 is 3 inches long and the CAB-40/1 is 18 inches long.

1-2 Overview

● CAB-PWR is the cable you use to connect external power to an

EXP-800/1600 in a daisy chain; this cable is available in two lengths,
as follows: the CAB-PWR is 4 inches long and the CAB-PWR/1 is 18
inches long.

● FWA-EXP is a field-wiring accessory containing screw terminals and

a CJC circuit. This accessory plugs into connector J1 of the
EXP-800/1600 to deliver signals from field wiring to the input
channels.

● FWA-37U is a field-wiring accessory containing screw terminals.

This accessory plugs into connector P4 on the EXP-800/1600 to route
signals from field wiring directly to the attached DAS board/card.

● ENCL Series are enclosures for one (ENCL-1), two (ENCL-2), or

four (ENCL-4) EXP-800/1600s with access for all required cabling
and accessories.

● PWR-5V is a power supply for supplying external power to

EXP-800/1600s; this supply converts 100 to 240 VAC at 50 to 60 Hz
to +5 VDC.

Accessories 1-3

2

Functional Description

This chapter describes features of the EXP-800/1600. The descriptions
are provided to familiarize you with the operating options and to enable
you to make the best use of your EXP-800/1600. Figure 2-1 shows the
block diagram for the EXP-800/1600.

2-1

FWA-EXP

input

Connector J1

Inputs

• Low-side ground connect

• Low-side bias return

• Current-sense resistor

Figure 2-1. Block Diagram of EXP-800/1600

Multiplexer

Channel

Differential

16

• Filtering

• Open TC detect

16:1

POD

Input conditioning circuits

at each input:

INT

Select

Switch

Buffer

FWA-37U

I/O

Connector P4

CJC

CJC

DAS Board/Card I/O

Powe r

EXT

Power

Select

EXPs

+5 V

J7

of

chain

daisy

+5 V to

Connector P3Connector P2

chain of

EXPs

Cable to

daisy

Gain Select

Instrumentation

Amplifier

Jumpers

Channel

-Select

and CJC

Output

board/card

DAS

MUX Control Lines

Cable to

J8

external

supply

INT

Switch

+5 V

from

2-2 Functional Description

Ground Types

An EXP-800/1600 contains separate grounds for low-level signals, analog
power returns, digital signals, and chassis ground. The ground for analog
signals is LL GND (low-level ground); as its title suggests, LL GND is
for low-level analog input signals and is designed to be as noise-free as
possible. The ground for analog power returns, bypass capacitors, and so
on, is GND A. The ground for digital signals is GND D. Chassis ground is
tied to the metal parts and back to GND D; chassis ground is CH GND.

Input Conditioning Options

The input of each EXP-800/1600 channel contains the conditioning
circuitry shown in Figure 2-2.

+5 V

Open TC Detect

R

TC

20 MΩ

Switch 2

CHAN n HI

User Input
Channel n

CHAN n LO

Low-Side

Connect

to

LL GND

RF1

1 kΩ

Mounting
Holes for
4-to-20
mA
Current
Measuring

RF2

1 kΩ

Switch 4

80 Hz Filter

CF 1.0 µF

Switch 1

CHAN n LO to MUX

Switch 3

R

Figure 2-2. EXP-800/1600 Input Conditioning Circuits

CHAN n HI to MUX

= 10 kΩ

BIAS

Low-Side

Bias Return

to GND A

Ground Types 2-3

Descriptions of the individual conditioning circuits are as follows:

●

Filtering - Closing switch 1 activates an 80 Hz low-pass filter

composed of R

Open-thermocouple detection - Closing switches 2 and 3 activates

●

an open-thermocouple detector composed of R

●

Low-side bias return - Closing switch 3 provides a reference to

analog power ground (GND A) through R

F1

, R

and C

F2

.

F

R

TC and

for ungrounded

BIAS

differential inputs. This reference to ground provides some isolation
from other channels.

Low-side ground connect - Closing switch 4 enables you to

●

reference an input directly to low-level ground (LL GND), making a
single-ended input. Before using this switch, refer to the cautionary
note on page 3-5.

Mounting holes for 4-to-20 mA current-measuring resistor -

●

Selecting and mounting a resistor in these holes allows you to make
4-to-20 mA measurements.

BIAS.

Multiplexer

Refer to “Setting the Input-Conditioning Options” on page 3-4 for
information on setting up the input conditioning options.

An EXP-800/1600 multiplexes signals from 16 differential analog input
channels into one signal for the analog output. The sequence of channel
sampling in the multiplexer is selected by a 4-bit TTL/CMOS-compatible
address on the mux control lines, which are labelled OUT 0 to OUT 3 on
EXP-800/1600 I/O connectors P2, P3, and P4 (see Appendix B for pin
assignments). An address of 0h selects channel 0, 1h selects channel 1, 2h
selects channel 2, and so on.

You set up the multiplexer channel-sampling sequence using the DAS
board/card’s Function Call Driver (see the user’s guide for the DAS
board/card’s Function Call Driver) or a software package. The DAS
board/card delivers the address codes to the EXP-800/1600 mux control
lines through outputs OP1 to OP4. Digital output control is transparent.

2-4 Functional Description

Caution:

To ensure good data (when using a software package other than
the Keithley MetraByte Function Call Driver), program the multiplexer
switching to allow sufficient time for the multiplexer to settle after
switching. You need a delay, in microseconds, that is approximately 40%
of the gain; for example, you need a delay of 200 µs at a gain of 500.

Instrumentation Amplifier

The multiplexer output feeds to an instrumentation amplifier (IA) with
switch-selectable gains of 1, 10, 100, and 500. The EXP-800/1600 also
contains a slide switch that allows multiplication of the gain setting by
factors of 1 or ½ . Table 2-1 shows examples of the effects of the
multiplier switch.

Table 2-1. Examples of Gain Settings on Input Voltages

Gain Setting With S2 = X1,

V

Needed for

in

±5 V Out

With S2 = X ½ ,

V

Needed for

in

±5 V Out

1

10 ±0.5 V ±1 V

100 ±0.05 V ±0.10 V

500 ±0.01 V ±0.02 V

±5 V ±10 V

In addition to setting the gain with switches alone, you can adjust the gain
by setting the switches for a gain of 1 and then selecting and installing a
resistor in special mounting holes on the EXP-800/1600. Refer to “Setting
the Gain” on page 3-6 for information on setting the gain by switch and/or
resistor.

The overall gain you set on the EXP-800/1600 combines with the gain of
the attached DAS board/card to produce a possible system gain of up to

4000. EXP-800/1600 gains are accurate to 0.02%.

Instrumentation Amplifier 2-5

CJC Circuits

The EXP-800/1600 and the FWA-EXP include CJC circuitry that delivers

0.0 mV at 0 ˚C and 24.4 mV/˚C. The latter value corresponds to the
digital values shown in Table 2-2.

Table 2-2. Digital Values for 24.4 mV/˚C

Input Mode Input Range Digital Value

Power

Unipolar 0 to 10 V

0 to 5 V

Bipolar ±10 V

±5 V

You can connect the CJC output voltage to any DAS board/card channel
using a jumper (refer to “Positioning the Output-Channel-Select and
CJC-Channel-Select Jumpers” on page 3-8).

The host computer can supply power sufficient to support a DAS
board/card and up to two attached EXP-800/1600s. If you need to attach
more than two EXP-800/1600s, you must power each additional
EXP-800/1600 from an external supply.

EXP-800/1600 circuitry for an external power supply contains a relay
activated by the +5 V supply of the host computer. When closed, the relay
carries power to the built-in DC/DC converter from an external +5 V
supply. The relay energizes to close its contacts only when the +5 V of the
host computer is available and connected to the activation circuit through
a slide switch. Refer to “Setting the Power-Select Switch” on page 3-9 for
information on setup.

10 bits/˚C
20 bits/˚C

5 bits/˚C
10 bits/˚C

2-6 Functional Description

Inspection and Setup

This chapter describes how to inspect and set up an EXP-800/1600. Read
this chapter before attempting to use your EXP-800 or EXP-1600.

Unwrapping and Inspecting Your EXP-800/1600

3

Caution:

perform the following procedure.

After you remove your wrapped EXP-800/1600 from its outer shipping
carton, proceed as follows:

1. The factory packages your EXP-800/1600 in an anti-static wrapper

2. Carefully remove the anti-static wrapping material. (You may wish to

3. Inspect the EXP-800/1600 and any other items from the package for

Your computer must be turned OFF and grounded before you

that must not be removed until you have discharged any static
electricity using either of the following methods:

– If you are equipped with a grounded wrist strap, you discharge

static electricity as soon as you hold the wrapped EXP-800/1600.

– If you are not equipped with a grounded wrist strap, discharge

static electricity by holding the wrapped EXP-800/1600 in one
hand while placing your other hand firmly on a metal part of the
computer chassis.

store the wrapping material for future use.)

signs of damage. If damage is apparent, return the damaged item to
the factory (see “Technical Support” on page 6-4).

Unwrapping and Inspecting Your EXP-800/1600 3-1