LabVIEW
Is it OK to split a voltage signal into two A/D converters?
Let's say you have a sensor that is generating a voltage signal. The manufacturer even supplies you with calibration information such as "10 kg/volt" or something like 0V = 0 kg, 1V = 10kg. Is it ok to split this signal into two separate A/D converters as in the image below? This won't somehow cause a voltage drop of other degrade the signal somehow? My goal is to simply read the sensor value in two separate systems.
Hi josborne,
it depends on the specs of your DAQ devices...
A voltage drop can occur when current flows: what's about the input resistance of those DAQ devices?
It's generally fine. I picked a random DAQ card we use and it has a 100 MOhm input impedance, meaning it basically won't affect the input signal at all. You could use a bunch of those and be fine.
Oscilloscopes are also generally fine, but their impedance is usually 1 MOhm, and some specific probes make that assumption. For example, you can't hook an oscilloscope probe up to a DAQ card and have it work right out of the gate.
Generally with driven measurement devices you'll be fine. It's the passive ones (like oscilloscope probes) that could cause an issue. If your device specs an output like "+/- 10V signal" or "0-5V signal" then yeah, you're almost certainly OK.
