Configure a sensor list in PI660-6000

From Lehigh RTMD Wiki

This section will describe how to create a new sensor list using the PI660-6000 software.

1. Open Program – Double-click the ‘PI660-6000’ icon on the Windows desktop.
2. Auto-Configure – On initial setup only, go to System – Main System Definition – Auto Configure Pacific. This will pull all the information about the I/O boards in the rack. This WILL destroy the existing setup in an existing database file so only do this once. It is recommended that this be done once and saved as a template configuration and all “child” configurations are developed from this “parent” template for a setup. Auto configure does the following steps:
   1. Sets up each board and it’s respective channels
   2. Allocates Address Space for each channel
   3. Selects All Channels
3. Define Channels - Go to Test – Channels – Select Channel List & Sample Rates.
   1. Select Channels to add to Test – Click ‘Show All’ and highlight each Channel to add to the Channel List then click ‘Add Selected’. If you desire to add all the channels, click ‘Add All’. Click ‘Show Test’ to view the Channel List. Right click any of the Sample Rates in the Channel List to change the Sample Rate for all channels. Click ‘Save Test’.
   2. Define Channels – Test – Channels – Define Channels. Right click on each channel in the Channel List to define the Parameters.
      1. Function Name – Give a more understandable name to the Channel.
      2. Gage Type – Quarter bridge, Half bridge, Full bridge or Voltage
      3. Measurement Type – Define the type of measurement to be recorded on this Channel. (i.e. Temperature, Pressure)
      4. Description & Location - Give a more understandable description to the Channel.
      5. Scaling (100% FS EU) – Define the full scale for the engineering units. This can be used later on to define the Gain.
      6. Units – Use Standard or Non-Standard units
      7. Gain – Click “Generate Gain Based On FS Range” if the Scaling is set appropriately. Otherwise, set the Gain explicitly.
      8. Engineering Unit Conversion – Used to calculate the scale factor. SN = Scientific Notation
      9. Filtering – Wideband or 10Hz
      10. Automatic Zero – Should always be Checked
      11. Automatic Balance – Initially used to balance the device.
      12. Excitation - Define the Excitation Voltage level.
      13. Click Save Test and OK to continue Defining Channel List
   3. Download All – After all the channels have been defined, click ‘Download All’ to save the parameters to the PI6000
4. Strain Gage Setup – Test – Channels – Strain Gage Setup
5. Voltage (Amplifier) Calibration – Test – Calibration, Balance – Amplifier Calibration
6. Automatic Bridge Balance – Test – Calibration, Balance – Bridge Balance
7. EU Calibration – Test – Calibration, Balance – EU Calibration
8. Setup Alarms – This can be done either in the Channel Definition (See section 3b) or through Test – Channel – Define Channel Alarms. Both Alarms and Warnings can be defined.
9. Setup Triggers – Test – Run Time Options – Triggers. Channels can be set up as Triggers.
10. Setup Screens to Display during Preview/Record – Screen pull down menu. Right click each screen to set properties.
11. Save Test
12. Preview and/or Record – Control – Data Acquisition. Also through the icon control interface at the top of the screen.
13. Export Data – After Record, go to Data – Export Data Files and choose preferred output format (ASCII, binary, DPLOT, etc).