Reading drawn current from PXI6723

[Newbie217]

Hello,

I have a PXI6723 analog input/output card connected to a 32-ch BNC breakout box. My question is, is there a way to read the amount of current that is being drawn from each individual AO? I know with most benchtop power supplies, there are drivers to allow the readback of the voltage and current. Can this same type of thing be accomplished using PXI analog input/output cards, or the PXI6289 multifunction DAQ's? Thank you!

[RT4CY]

Thanks for posting on the NI Discussion Forums!  If you have a multifunction daq board (such as the PXI 6289), you can read back the voltage from your AO channel in Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) Test Panels. 

1. Launch MAX by going to Start»All Programs»National Instruments
2. Find your device under Devices and Interfaces
3. Right-click on your device and choose Test Panels
4. In the Analog Input tab, reference the aoX_vs_aognd (where X is the AO channel you're outputting from)

Keep in mind that you need a board with an analog input channel to do this (the PXI 6723 only has AO, DIO, and counters).  The benchtop power supplies you are referring to most likely have precision internal shunt resistors (to measure the voltage across and convert to current).  To measure current with one of our multifunction daq boards, you need to provide an external precision shunt resistor.  Then measure the voltage across this resistor, and using V=IR you can calculate the current draw.

I hope this is helpful, let me know if you need any clarification.