NI DAQPad 6015-can it read current loop (4-20mA) signals?

[rpg]

Does anyone know if you can use a NI DAQPad 6015 to measure 4-20mA signals? My compnay has one we use for data acquisition, and I'd like to get away from voltage based transducers due to noise issues. The Specs sheet appears to show that it will only take voltage measurements, but I was hoping someone had definitive knowledge or direct experience with this.

Family Spec Sheet

https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/370969b/resource/370969b.pdf

Thanks in advance,

RPG

[Dennis_Knutson]

Search this board for '4-20'.

Since the 6015 can only read voltage, you need to place a resistor (i.e. 250 ohms) across the terminals.

[Chris_W.]

Dennis is correct that you will need a shunt resistor across the AI channel to measure a current signal. That is, in fact, how all NI DAQ devices measure current, so you would simply have to define the scaling in software based on the resistor value you choose.

Also, if you're looking for a USB DAQ devices with those specs and you're considering a DAQ Pad-6015, you should seriously consider using something like the USB-6221 or USB-6251 instead. Not only are both of these cheaper than the 6015, but they have better timing and triggering chips on them, along with the availability to clock some of the digital lines. Because of the better timing chips, they also have higher resolution counters, 32 bits vs. 24 bits on the 6015.

I would consider one of those devices instead of the 6015. Hope this helps.

Chris W