Hi, Can I use NI 9211 modules to record temperature using

[Gurveer]

Hi

I'm working with NI-9174 along with modules NI 9211.

I was wondering if I can use thermistors with these devices.

Thanks in advance

[NIquist]

It's a lot faster to just read the spec sheet than it is to post here and wait for an answer...

[NIquist]

... The answer is NO.  It's designed for thermocouples.

[smercurio_fc]

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@NIquist wrote:

It's a lot faster to just read the spec sheet than it is to post here and wait for an answer...

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Ah, but you see, in this day and age kids are brought up so they don't bother actually trying to find things out for themselves. They just get on the internet and post a question on a board. Doesn't matter if it's been asked hundreds of times before, or if the answer can be found by something as trivial as looking at a spec sheet. Who needs spec sheets when you have forums?

[Gurveer]

I have the data sheet with me but I put it on forum because a technical support engineer from NI told me that I could use a thermistor with NI 9211 with an excitation source. 

But when I enquired further, he did not reply. Thats why I was curious to know if there was a way to use thermistors with this device. 

[NIquist]

Ahh, the plot thickens.  The 9211 is a sensitive voltage measurement device (because theromcouples put out microvolts) so sure, you could force it to read thermistors (which change resistance with temperature) if you had a very stable voltage source to drive them.  But, considering the price and ease of use of thermocouple wire it would be rather... silly.  The only reason I could think to go down that path was if I already had thermistors embedded in places I could no longer access and wanted to read them without buying another DAQ.  So the NI engineer was right but unless you really need to use thermistors I would suggest you stick to the sensors the 9211 is designed for.

@ smercurio:  You're right but things will never change as long as knowledgeable people like yourself keep being so damned helpful!

[Gurveer]

Yes, that's my problem. I have my thermistors permanently fixed in a tube which I don't want to remove because I fear I would damage the tube. So I don't have the option of using thermocouples there, which I would have done a lot sooner otherwise.

[smercurio_fc]

Then you're going to need some sort of precise excitation source. A current source is probably going to be easier to get more precise than a voltage source.

I would also suggest reading this: Temperature Measurements with Thermistors: How-To Guide