National Instruments SC-2043-SG Analog Input Connections

Chapter 3 Signal Connections

Table 3-5 lists the screw terminals (J1–J6) signal summary.

Table 3-5. Screw Terminals J1–J6 Signal Summary

Signal Name Description

CH<0..7>±Input Channels—These inputs are the input signals for analog channels

0 through 7.

±EX<0..7> Voltage Excitation Outputs—These output signals route the excitation

voltage supply (internal or external) to the sensors connected to these

channels.

Others All other screw terminals provide signal termination for the remaining I/O

lines of the DAQ board, except ACH<0..7>, +5 V, and one DGND line.

Refer to Tables 3-1 and 3-2 for these signal pin numbers.

If you are not using the sticker labels that come in the SC-2043-SG kit, the

numbers silkscreened on the board beside these screw terminals are the

pin numbers of the MIO and Lab/1200 I/O connector pins to which they

are mapped.

There are two additional screw terminal blocks, J7 and J8, shown in Figure 2-1. Screw terminal

block J7 is for external voltage excitation input signals, which hook up to the +EX and -EX

terminals. When the SC-2043-SG is configured for external excitation, the ±EX inputs are

routed directly to the ±EX<0..7> excitation output screw terminals.

Note: The -EX input signal is connected to DGND on the SC-2043-SG. Because this low-

impedance connection can cause a ground loop, which may affect your measurements,

your excitation voltage source MUST be floating.

Screw terminal block J8 is for external +5 V power inputs, which hook up to the +5 V signal and

ground terminals. When the SC-2043-SG is configured for external power these inputs provide

power to the SC-2043-SG.

Note: The ground input signal is directly connected to DGND on the SC-2043-SG. In order

to avoid a ground loop, which may affect your measurements, your +5 V power supply

MUST be floating.

Analog Input Connections

Sensor Connection to the SC-2043-SG

You can connect strain gauges to the SC-2043-SG in full-bridge, half-bridge, and quarter-bridge

configurations. See Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration, to make sure that you have

configured the SC-2043-SG channels correctly before you connect any sensors to them.

Note: Configure any unused channels for full-bridge connections and short their input screw

terminals (CHn

) to their excitation return screw terminals (-EXn).