NI-9232 and ICP 224C

[__E.E.alex__]

Hi All,

Have been a LabView user for ~6 years, mainly working on Real-Time Data Acquisition with DIO signals. This is my first step into RT data acquisition of a force measurements. 

Currently interfacing a NI-9232 C-Series module to Piezotronics 224C ICP force sensor. The data sheet for the force sensor is attached. My question comes done to power excitation. It appears that the 224C sensor needs 2-20mA of excitation current in addition to a supply voltage of 20-30V. My question is, does the NI-9232 Excitation Current source satisfy the sensor needs, or will I need to utilize an external signal conditioner to meet the 224C sensor requirements?

Thanks in advance!

[santo_13 · Accepted solution]

yes, they're compatible.

Excitation current and compliance voltage are within range of sensor specs 2-20mA and 20-30V

Excitation and Compliance Voltage for IEPE Sensors in NI Cards - NI

[Henrik_Volkers · Accepted solution]

As Santo already mentioned: YES you can use and power this senor with the 9232.

IEPE sensors must be powered by a constant current supply (as the 9232 will do) , if you try to power it with a constant voltage source you will fry the sensor!

The noted excitation volage (or compliance voltage) is the  voltage the current source can(or have to)  provide while powering the sensor with the constant current.   (The sensor internal electronic is powered by the the current and provide a variable resistance to the current source resulting in a voltage propotional to the sensor unit (force, acceleration, ...) with an constant offset , the bias voltage commonly representing a zero input (of force,acceleration...).

[__E.E.alex__]

@santo_13 thanks for the answers and explanation!

[__E.E.alex__]

Henrik_Volkers thank you for the in-depth explanation. This was super helpful.