Digital Switch

[ASU]

Forum,

Can a DAQ perform as a digital in any capacity? Basically i need to open and close a connection and at my disposal right now is the PCI-6025E and the USB-6008. Both have enough digital outs if they are able to do the job.

DC

[Dennis_Knutson]

What exactly are you asking. You ask if a DAQ board can be used for digital and then you say that the boards you that you have, have enough digital outputs to do the job. It seems you have answered your own question.

[ASU]

I'm asking if a DAQ like device can do the job and if so the devices i have on hand. I'm not that familiar with these devices and don't know if they can act like switches.

[Dennis_Knutson]

A digital input/output on a DAQ board is not a mechanical switch. It outputs either a digital 0 or a digital 1 (0V or 5V). Simple as that. If your devices are enabled/disabled by a TTL signal, then use the digital I/O. If you want to replace a mechanical switch with a digital output, that will depend on how the mechanical switches are wired and what devices are wired to them. Another thing to keep in mind is that the current output is pretty small. You can find that information in your user manual for the DAQ board.

If you truly need a mechanical switch, then you can use a digital output to drive a relay or you can find a programmable relay board.

Message Edited by Dennis Knutson on 06-06-2008 03:44 PM

[ASU]

Does National Instrument have a device that incorporates mechanical type relays with AI, AO, and I/Os all integrated into one package?

DC

[Dennis_Knutson]

I'm not familiar enough with NI's entire line of products to say for sure. I do know they have separate relay boards that can be used in a PXI chassis. Many of their DAQ products are available for PXI as well. I don't think I've seen an NI pci board with both physical relays and DAQ circtuitry but I could easily be wrong. You might want to contact your local sales engineer.

[lady_engineer]

It sounds to me like you are looking for a switch/DAQ card combination.  I do not believe you will find this among NI's switch product offerings.  I know the switches come in 3 form factors, PXI, SCXI and cDAQ.  You could browse the website to see the various switches.  Here is a link to switches product page.  Since you already own some DAQ cards you can pair them with a switch to achieve your goal.