How to combine two analog output voltage from usb 6008

[Augestor]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your time. I hope someone can help me with this question:

I already got two analog output voltage sources (0 to 5 V) changing as a function of time from usb 6008, but what I need is actually 0 to 10 V.

I am wondering can I simply connect the ground of one voltage source to the output of the other voltage source in order to get 0 to 10 V?

Or is there other ways to do it?

Sorry, I am a mechanical engineering student and do not know too much about electrical engineering.

Thanks again.

[Seth_B. · Accepted solution]

Hello Augestor,

In order to do the kind of thing you mention, you would need a device with isolated analog outputs.  However, the USB-6008 does not have isolated outputs.  As a result, you can't tie one analog output to the ground of the other analog output, since they both share the same ground.  You'd just be grounding the analog output channel to itself, which may damage the device.

In order to get 0V - 10V, you'll either need an amplification circuit (which you can find using Google pretty easily) or to get a device with 10V outputs, such as the USB-6211 or the NI 9263 in one of the one slot CompactDAQ chassis.