Tektronix REL-16 Series Users Guide

REL-16 Series

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.

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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.

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

4/02

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 and Conditions of Sale document for specific
warranty and liability information.

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

© Copyright Keithley Instruments, Inc., 1994, 1998, 1999.

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 Instruments, Inc.

28775 Aurora Road, Cleveland, OH 44139

REL-16 Series User’s Guide

Revision E - April 2001

Part Number: 79360

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

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

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

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 con­nections.

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

Table of Contents

Preface

Overview

1

General Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Supporting Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Installation

2

Inventorying Required Installation Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2

Installing DriverLINX Software and Documentation . . . . . . . . 2-2

Configuring Your Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5

Preparing and Installing Your Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6

Unpacking and Inspecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7

Setting the Base Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7

Installing the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9

Checking Your Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10

I/O Bit Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10

General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10

Output Set Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15

Input Read Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20

Using Power from a REL-16 Series Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20

3

Cabling and Wiring

Attaching an STA-U or STP-37/FC Accessory . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Attaching an STC-37 Accessory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

4

Programming

5

Troubleshooting

Problem Isolation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Identifying Symptoms and Possible Causes . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Testing the Board and Host Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

Testing the Accessory Slot and I/O Connections . . . . . . . . . 5-4

Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

i

A

Specifications

B

Connector Pin Assignments

C

Register Maps

Index

List of Figures

Figure 1-1 Block Diagram of the REL-16 and

REL-16/W Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Figure 2-1 Base Address Switch Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8

Figure 2-2 An AIO Panel example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11

Figure 2-3 DIO channel tab example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12

Figure 2-4 Configuring the digital I/O channels as inputs

and outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14

Figure 2-5 Configuring channel 0 for output

bit pattern A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14

Figure 2-6 An AIO Panel example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16

Figure 2-7 Configuring the digital I/O channels as

inputs and outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17

Figure 2-8 Configuring channel 0 for output

bit pattern A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18

Figure 2-9 Configuring channel 0 for output

bit pattern B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19

Figure 3-1 Pin Assignments for the Main I/O Connector . . 3-1
Figure 3-2 Attaching an STA-U or STP-37/FC to an

REL-16 Series Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Figure 3-3 Layout of STC-37 Screw Terminal

Connector Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

Figure 3-4 Attaching an STC-37 Accessory . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

Figure B-1 Main I/O Connector Pin Assignments . . . . . . . . B-1

ii

List of Tables

Table 2-1 Values of Base Address Switch Positions . . . . . 2-8

Table 5-1 Troubleshooting Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

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

Table A-2 REL-16 Contact Ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Table A-3 REL-16/W Contact Ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2

Table A-4 Environmental Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2

Table A-5 Power Consumption Specifications . . . . . . . . . . A-2

Table C-1 I/O Map and Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1

Table C-2 Relay Addresses for Ports A and B . . . . . . . . . . C-2

iii

Preface

The

REL-16 Series User’s Guide

and installation, use of wiring accessories, included-software
characteristics and installation, and combined board and software
configuration. There is also a section on troubleshooting.

This guide serves data acquisition system designers, engineers,
programmers, and other users responsible for setting up, cabling, and
wiring signals to REL-16 Series boards. To follow the information and
instructions contained in this manual, you must be familiar with data
acquisition principles, with the Windows
and with your application.

The

REL-16 Series User’s Guide

●

Section 1 provides an overview of the hardware, a block diagram, a
description of the included DriverLINX software, and a description of
accessories.

Section 2 describes how to install the DriverLINX software and

●

documentation, how to unpack, set up, and install the board, and how
to configure and check the installation.

describes board capabilities, board setup

®

95/98/NT operating system,

is organized as follows:

●

Section 3 describes how to attach the accessories used for wiring
signals to the board.

Section 4 briefly describes the need to program through the

●

DriverLINX interface provided with your board, and tells how to
access the extensive DriverLINX documentation.

●

Section 5 describes common problems and solutions, troubleshooting
procedures, and instructions for obtaining technical support.

v

Appendix A contains specifications for REL-16 Series boards.

●

Appendix B contains pin assignments for the main connector of

●

REL-16 Series boards.

●

Appendix C provides register maps, for background reference only
(you program REL-16 Series boards through the DriverLINX
interface, not at the register level).

An index completes the manual.

●

vi

This chapter describes the REL-16 Series boards, supporting software,
and applicable accessories. Also included is a block diagram of REL-16
Series boards.

General Description

REL-16 Series boards are 16-channel, electromechanical-relay boards
containing a Form A (SPST) relay module for each channel. Applications
for the boards include control switching, analog multiplexing, lighting
control, alarm control, and motor starter control. The combined REL-16
Series board and supplied software installs and runs in any IBM
PC-compatible computer that runs the Microsoft Windows® 95/98/NT
operating system (Pentium®-series processor recommended).

1

Overview

The boards are available in two versions: the REL-16 and the REL-16/W.
Differences between the two versions are in their relays. Relays on the
REL-16 are rhodium plated with a rating to 500mA (resistive). Relays on
the REL-16/W are mercury wetted with a rating to 1A (resistive).

Note:

board can therefore be oriented in any direction. Mercury wetted
relays are sensitive to position; an REL-16/W board must therefore
be oriented vertically.

Port configuration for the REL-16 provides two independent, 8-bit ports
(A and B). Control of the relays requires an 8-bit word to be written to
each of the ports.

Mercury amalgam relays are insensitive to position; an REL-16

1-1

The boards use a power-up reset to put all relays in their power-off
(normally open) state when power is applied to the host computer.

I/O connections are made through a 37-pin, type D connector. A +5V
power connection at this connector is brought out from the computer to
power external devices.

Figure 1-1 shows a block diagram of the REL-16 Series boards.

B0

B1

B2

B3

B4

B5

B6

B7

Address

Switch

Base

Port B Relay Outputs Port A Relay Outputs

Bit 0

Bit 1

Bit 2

Bit 3

Bit 4

Bit 5

Bit 6

Bit 7

Address

Decode

and R/W

Logic

Output Register with Readback

Bus

Buffers

Bit 0

Bit 1

Output Register with Readback

Bit 2

Bit 3

Bit 4

Bit 5

Bit 6

Bit 7

A0

A1

A2

A3

A4

A5

A6

A7

Computer Bus

Figure 1-1. Block Diagram of the REL-16 and REL-16/W Boards

1-2 Overview

Supporting Software

DriverLINX software is supplied by Keithley with the REL-16 Series
boards. DriverLINX provides convenient interfaces to configure and set
I/O bits without register-level programming.

Most importantly, however, DriverLINX supports those programmers
who wish to create custom applications using Visual C/C++, Visual Basic,
or Delphi. DriverLINX accomplishes foreground and background tasks to
perform data acquisition. The software includes memory and data buffer
management, event triggering, extensive error checking, and context
sensitive online help.

More specifically, DriverLINX provides application developers a
standardized interface to over 100 services for creating foreground and
background tasks for the following:

●

Analog input and output

Digital input and output

●

●

Time and frequency measurement

●

Event counting

Pulse output

●

Period measurement

●

In addition to basic I/O support, DriverLINX also provides:

●

Built-in capabilities to handle memory and data buffer management

●

A selection of starting and stopping trigger events, including
pre-triggering, mid-point triggering and post-triggering protocols

●

Extensive error checking

●

Context-sensitive on-line help system

DriverLINX is essentially hardware independent, because its portable
APIs work across various operating systems. This capability eliminates
unnecessary programming when changing operating system platforms.

1-3

Accessories

The following accessories are available for use with REL-16 Series
boards at voltages up to 30V RMS, 42.4V peak, or 60VDC, only.

●

SFC-37

— connector for the main I/O connector of REL-16 Series
boards. This accessory allows you to wire directly to the I/O of the
boards.

●

STA-U

— screw terminal panel. This accessory connects to the main
I/O connector of a board through a C1800 cable to connect all I/O
lines to labeled screw terminals.

●

STC-37

— screw terminal connector panel. This accessory connects
directly to the main I/O connector of a board to provide
general-purpose, screw-terminal connections in a compact form
factor.

STP-37/FC

●

— screw terminal panel. This accessory connects to the
main I/O connector of REL-16 Series boards through a C-1800/M
cable. The printed-circuit area of this accessory is covered to provide
extra protection against personal or tool contact with signals.

●

C1800

— cable. The C1800 is an 18-inch ribbon cable terminated at

both ends with 37-pin, D-type connectors.

C-1800/M

●

— cable. The C-1800/M is an 18-inch ribbon cable
terminated at one end with a connector to fit the main I/O connector
of an REL-16 Series board and terminated at the other end with a
connector to fit the I/O connector of an STP-37/FC accessory.

Warning

Do not use the STA-U, STC-37, STP-37/FC, C1800, and C-1800/M
accessories at voltages above 30V RMS, 42.4V peak, or 60VDC. These
accessories are rated for 30V RMS, 42.4V peak, or 60VDC maximum.
Use at higher voltages may result in shock hazard.

Refer to Section 3 for information on connecting these accessories to
REL-16 Series boards.

1-4 Overview

Important Safety Instructions

REL-16 Series boards are prominently labeled to warn of shock hazard.
Before you install your REL-16 Series board, perform the following
steps:

1. Read the warnings in this section.

2. When installing, cabling, and wiring your board, pay close attention
to the warnings on the board labels and those described in this
section, and follow the instructions in Sections 2 and 3.

3. When using the board, do not exceed the ratings specified in
Appendix A.

Warning

Because you can connect the relay contacts of an REL-16 Series board to
high voltage, you can turn some areas of the board surface into a shock
hazard. A shock hazard can exist on those board areas even when your
computer is powered off. To protect you from exposure to areas of shock
hazard, Keithley furnishes REL-16 Series boards only with fully installed
protective covers (front and rear), attached to the board on each side by
nylon screws. While you can remove the covers to service an REL-16
Series board,
In addition, you must disconnect all cables and wiring before servicing
this board.

you must never use this board with its covers removed!

1-5

2

Installation

Warning

The procedures in the section are intended for qualified service personnel.
Do not perform these procedures unless you are qualified to do so.

This section contains the following procedures, in the order in which they
are to be performed:

Inventorying installation resources

●

●

Installing the DriverLINX software needed to operate your REL-16
Series board

●

Configuring the installation in software

Unpacking and inspecting the board, setting the base address of the

●

board, and installing the board in your computer

●

Checking the installation

If you encounter any problems with the installation, refer to Section 5 for
troubleshooting information.

Note:

Series board. Otherwise, the device drivers will be more difficult to
install.

Install the DriverLINX software before installing the REL-16

2-1