1520

[MSS]

Dear all,

I am using SCXI 1520 for strain measurement. Is it required to connect dummy gauge for each channel for temperature compensation? Is there any way to use one dummy gauge for all the channels?

Thanks

M.S.Senthilkumaran

[McKala[DE]]

Hello M.S.Senthikumaran,

The answer to your question depends on what each channel is measuring.  If you refer to the Measuring Strain with Strain Gauges Tutorial, the dummy gauge is used in transverse to the applied strain.  This means that the dummy gauge is not very affected by the strain measurement but it is place close enough to your active gauge that any temperature change will affect both gauges.  So if all of your strain measurements are close enough together that your material will not have a temperature gradient and that an applied strain will not affect the dummy gauge, then you only need one gauge.  However, I can't think of too many use cases for this, so most likely you will need a dummy gauge for each channel.

Regards,

[MSS]

Hello Miceala N

Thanks for your reply.

Instead dedicating dummy gauge for each channel, is there any way to share one dummy gauge for all the eight channel in multiplexing mode? because this will reduce number of straingauges required for dummy gauge. This is how the other manufacturer product we have is working.

Thank you

M.S.Senthilkumaran

[McKala[DE]]

Hello M.S.Senthikumaran,

The 1520 has independent channel excitation which does not work when using a single dummy gauge for multiple channels. I can understand why you would want to use fewer strain gauges, but you will get more accurate results if you use a separate dummy strain gauge for each of your measurements.  This is because you want to place the dummy gauge very close to the strain gauge that you are measuring so that the temperature variation is reduced as much as possible. 

Regards,