
Chapter 2
Operating the NI 435x Device
©
National Instruments Corporation
2-5
Note
The default setting for programmable ground referencing is On in volts
measurement mode, and Off in 4-wire ohms mode.
Using Programmable Open-Thermocouple Detection
The NI 435
x
devices have software-programmable, open-thermocouple
detection on every channel, which you can use to detect an open or broken
thermocouple. This feature connects CH+ to +2.5 V through a 10 M
Ω
resistor. This resistor acts as a pull-up resistor and, consequently, the
voltage between CH+ and CH– rises rapidly above 100 mV if the
thermocouple breaks open. All thermocouples functioning under normal
conditions generate a voltage of less than 100 mV, even at very high
temperatures, which makes this conclusion possible. You can detect this
voltage level in software and conclude that the thermocouple is open.
To understand how setting open-thermocouple detection affects
the accuracy of measurements, refer to the
Using Programmable
Open-Thermocouple Detection
section. You can set open-thermocouple
detection on a channel-by-channel basis. Table 2-3 summarizes the settings
you should use for open-thermocouple detection.
Table 2-2.
Using Programmable Ground-Referencing
Signal Source
Programmable
Ground-Referencing
Floating
On
Ground-referenced
Off