Chapter 4
Theory of Operation
4-24
ni.com
The NI PXI-4220 excitation output circuits set the output voltage by
monitoring the remote sense pins. Hence, the NI PXI-4220 corrects for a
voltage (
I
×
R
) drop in the excitation leads between the module and the
bridge, even if lead resistance changes with temperature.
You can scan the remote sense pins. The output multiplexer has input
connections to the RS
X
+ (pin 3) and RS
X
– (pin 8) signals. You can scan
these signals for monitoring and scaling purposes, even if the remote sense
pins are not connected. Take the difference of these signals to determine the
real excitation voltage.
Wire the NI PXI-4220 for remote sense as shown in Figure 2-10,
. There are no configuration settings you need to
change in the software.
Note
If you use remote sense, set
R
L
to zero in the MAX configuration of the channel and
in your application equations for measured strain (
ε
).
If you leave the remote sense pin unconnected, internal 1 k
Ω
resistors
provide feedback to the buffers from pins P
X
+ (pin 2) and P
X
– (pin 7).
Therefore, you need not install a jumper wire between RS
X
+ (pin 3) and
P
X
+ (pin 2), or RS
X
– (pin 8) and P
X
– (pin 7) when you do not have remote
sense leads available from the sensor. NI recommends performing a shunt
calibration to compensate for the voltage drop across lead resistance and
other forms of gain error.
If you are not connecting remote sense and not performing shunt
calibration, you must scale the measurements in your application to
compensate for the excitation voltage drop across the lead resistance.
Use the following gain adjustment factor:
This gain adjust factor is used in your application to compensate for the
voltage drop across the leads as follows:
Gain Adjust Factor
1
2
R
L
R
g
---------
+
=
V
CH
Gain Adjusting Factor
×