How to control a Xantrex XCD 30-200

[leo2b]

Hello,

I want to control a Xantrex xdc 30-200 with an executable.

I have Labview 8.5 and some drivers NI-VISA, etc... but I don't know how to perform it.

I want to program with labview a test wich will control the intensity delivered by the xantrex... It's a simple command, I just want that the xantrex give the intensity that I command with Labview.

My test is a cycle (put the intensity at 0A during 2s, then put it at 2A during 10s etc...)

I can realise the cycles with labview but I don't know how to communicate with the alimentation.

Further more the program must be executed on an other PC, so I think I will create laview executable, and I will in.stall a driver on the other PC.

I don't know how send informations, I have a serial wire, but it's possible that I find a GPIB wire, what is the best to perform my simple test?

Have you some examples that I could use to perform my tests?

Thank you for your help.

PS: I'm a sorry but if you could send me informations quickly, it will be very good because it's urgent.

Best regard.

[NathanT]

Hello Leo,

      Are you currently using the LabVIEW Plug and Play Instrument Driver from IDNet? It should have examples that come with it to help you get started.  You should also take a look at "How to Use an Instrument Driver in LabVIEW".  Before you start to worry about deploying it to another machine, make sure that your application works well on your development machine.

Cheers,

NathanT

[leo2b]

Yes I use this driver, it was already installed on the PC but I tried the examples with a serie port and it's seems that the PC don't see the alimentation... in the first window of labview when i click on tools, drivers and I want to see the instruments connected I saw nothing...

[Dennis_Knutson]

There is nothing under the tools menu that will show what drivers are installed or what instruments are connected so I have no idea what you are trying.

If you have a serial connection to the instrument, you have to make sure that the cable is the correct type and that the com parameters (baud rate, parity, etc.) of the pc match what the instrument is using. I would recomend that you do some basic debug of this with Hyperterminal. Until you can get this to work, you are sort of wasting your time with LabVIEW.

If you want to switch to GPIB, then you would need a controller for the pc.

[leo2b]

When you start Labview you have a window, with a tools menu, in this menu you have: Instruments, and then: search an instrument's driver, when you clik on it you have on the left a panel with at the top: connected instruments.

[Dennis_Knutson]

You are right. Never noticed that before. Still, it does not matter. That tool will not show serial instruments. You won't see anything more than what you see in MAX - a list of com ports.

You have to do what I said to test the cable and settings.

[leo2b]

Yes thank you, but I have never used HyperTerminal, I am a student.

How can I perform this ?

[Dennis_Knutson]

Hyperterminal is a windows program - Start>Programs>Accessories>Communications>Hyperterminal. This is true for most versions of windows. I think it's an optional install on Vista.

You could also read the manual carefully and determine the cable type and verify with an ohmeter. There are two basic types - null modem and straight-through.