DAQ self test passed - Device not working.

[MisterZ]

Hi, I am having trouble with a PCI-6115/BNC-2110 setup. The PCI card passes the self test. And the BNC box has all of the static voltages (e.g. the constant 5V terminal is putting out 5V and the power light is on).

Still, I can not control any of my devices via analog output. 

How reliable is the self test? Could there be a problem with the card that won't allow me to change any voltages at the terminals, but still provide the constant power to the box? And also be able to pass the self test?

I've tried this set up on two computers. The device numbers match in Device Manager and in Motion and Automation Explorer. But I still can't control my devices. I was reluctant to consider hardware problems since the PCI card passed the self test and the BNC box is getting power. But I can't think of anything else I can change on the computer to make the device supply the correct voltages.

If we measure the output of the terminals, there is a very small change in voltage (0.05-0.10V), but not the 5V that we need.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

-Matt

[Dennis_Knutson]

Have you considered that you might have something connected wrong to the devices or you need something else to control them? First, disconnect everything and go into Measurement & Automation Explorer and run the test panels. Use RSE mode and set an output voltage for AI0. Measure the output with a DMM between the AI0 output and gnd. 

It would be nice if you provided a little explanation of the devices you are trying to control. If the above test works, check how much current your devices need.

[MisterZ]

So this equipment has been working for a while now with no problems. Recently I had to change some settings of the comports that control some other devices. I'm not sure if the problem is related, but I noticed the problem around the same time I made these changes.

My setup involves the PCI-6115 to the BNC-2110. I have two devices attached to the two analog outputs of the BNC box. One is a computer controlled flipper mirror mount and the other is a computer controlled shutter. I know this card is a bit overkill for this application, but we had it around and it has been set up this way for a while now. We also have some timing electronics attached to the BNC box. Not yet sure if these are affected.

Both devices on the box require 5V to either open the shutter or flip the mount. If I remove the BNC cables from the BNC-2110, and apply a voltage directly to the cable going to the device, the devices work properly, so I know the problem is not with that equipment or the cables.

If we take a reading with a multimeter on the two outputs, we can detect a very small change in voltage (0.05-0.10V), but not enough to control the equipment.

Since the PCI card passed self tests and the BNC box has power from the CTR0 out (5V constant as measured by the multimeter) and the power light is on, I had assumed that my problem was not in the hardware. But I've tried changing everything in MAX I know to try to get the terminals to output the voltage I want and have had no luck. At this point, I can't figure out where the problem lies. Every test I run completes with no errors. It seems that the computer thinks everything is working properly.

Are there any other tests I can do to determine if the problem is in the hardware?

Is there anything else in MAX I can do to try to communicate with the hardware?

[Dennis_Knutson]

If you are testing the output with no load, then the possibility exists that the card was damaged. The self test does not verify all the way out to the output pin, afaik.

[MisterZ · Accepted solution]

A neighbor of mine actually had a PCI-6229 that he let me borrrow. This completely fixed the problem. Apparently good results in self test and power to the BNC box do not a properly functioning DAQ device make.

Thanks for the help!