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Appendix B
Measuring Temperature with Resistive Transducers
©
National Instruments Corporation
B-11
SCXI-1581 User Manual
constant depends heavily on how easily heat is transferred away from the
thermistor, so the dissipation constant can be specified for different
media—in still air, water, or oil bath. Typical dissipation constants range
anywhere from less than 0.5 mW/°C for still air to 10 mW/°C or higher for
a thermistor immersed in water. A 2,252
Ω
thermistor powered by a 1 mA
excitation current dissipates:
If this thermistor has a dissipation constant of 10 mW/°C, the thermistor
self-heats 0.225 °C. Therefore, carefully read self-heating specifications of
the thermistors and choose the excitation current accordingly. If the
thermistors have a small dissipation constant, minimize the level of the
excitation current to minimize self-heating errors.
Connecting Resistive Devices to the SCXI-1581
You can connect resistive devices to the SCXI signal conditioning system
in a 4-, 2-, or 3-wire configuration. The SCXI-1102B/C modules are
32-channel analog-input modules that are ideally suited for measuring DC
or slowly varying voltages. Figures B-5 through B-9 illustrate various ways
to connect sensors for current excitation and voltage measurements using
the SCXI-1581 and the SCXI-1102B/C modules.
Refer to the appropriate ADE and SCXI documentation for information
concerning setting appropriate voltage gains for the analog inputs.
You can use the SCXI-1300 terminal block to make signal connections to
the SCXI-1581 and SCXI-1102 modules. When using the SCXI-1300
terminal block, terminals EX<0..31>+ and EX<0..31>– map to terminals
CH<0..31>+ and CH<0..31>– respectively on the SCXI-1300 terminal
block.
I
2
R
1 mA
2
2,252
Ω
×
2.25 mW
=
=