
Chapter 3 Signal Connections
©
 National Instruments Corporation 3-5 BNC-2140 User Manual
The outer shell of the BNC connectors is not GND (0 V). The outer shell of the 
BNC is not physically connected to the metal box of the BNC-2140. The outer shell 
is either the inverting differential signal in DIFF mode or is tethered to GND (0V) 
through a 50 Ω, 1 W resistor in SE mode.
Analog Input Signal ConnectionsThe analog input signals for the BNC-2140 device are +ACH<0..3> and 
–ACH<0..3>. Connecting of analog input signals to your BNC-2140 
accessory depends on the configuration of the input signal sources.
For most signals, you use a DIFF configuration and simply connect the 
signal to +ACHx (where x is the BNC-2140 channel) and the signal ground 
(or signal minus), as appropriate, to –ACHx. If a signal has a high output 
impedance (greater than 1 kΩ) and is floating, you may find it useful to use 
an SE configuration that tethers the signal minus to AIGND. This reduces 
common-mode interference.
Analog Output Signal ConnectionsThe BNC-2140 analog output signals are +DAC0OUT, –DAC0OUT, 
+DAC1OUT, and –DAC1OUT. 
+DAC0OUT is the voltage output signal for analog output channel 0. 
+DAC1OUT is the voltage output signal for analog output channel 1.
Connection of analog output signals from your BNC-2140 accessory 
depends on the configuration of the devices receiving the signals. For most 
signals, you use a DIFF configuration and simply connect +DACxOUT 
(where x is the BNC-2140 channel) to the signal and –DACxOUT to the 
signal ground (or signal minus), as appropriate. When driving some 
floating devices, you may sometimes find it helpful to use the SE 
configuration and connect the floating ground system of the device to 
AOGND to reduce common-mode noise coupled from an interfering 
source to the device.
Caution When you configure an analog output channel in the SE mode, the voltage 
between AOGND and –DACxOUT must not exceed ±7.07 V (5 Vrms). Voltage that 
exceeds this rating can damage the BNC-2140, the DSA plug-in device, and the 
computer. National Instruments is not responsible for any damages resulting from 
connections that exceed this rating.
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UM.book  Page 5  Tuesday, July 14, 1998  10:37 AM