Dataq Instruments DI-188 User manual

The way PC-based instrumentation should be
DI-188
4-Channel Open Source USB Data Acquisition Starter Kit
Arduino-Compatible module inside
User's Manual
Manual Revision C
Copyright © 2022 by DATAQ Instruments, Inc. The Information contained herein is the exclusive property of
DATAQ Instruments, Inc., except as otherwise indicated and shall not be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored
in a retrieval system, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise without expressed written authorization from the com-
pany. The distribution of this material outside the company may occur only as authorized by the company in writing.
DATAQ Instruments' hardware and software products are not designed to be used in the diagnosis and treatment of
humans, nor are they to be used as critical components in any life-support systems whose failure to perform can rea-
sonably be expected to cause significant injury to humans.
DATAQ, the DATAQ logo, and WINDAQ are registered trademarks of DATAQ Instruments, Inc. All rights reserved.
DATAQ Instruments, Inc.
241 Springside Drive
Akron, Ohio 44333 U.S.A.
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Designed and manufactured in the
United States of America

iii
Warranty and Service Policy
Product Warranty
DATAQ Instruments, Inc. warrants that this hardware will be free from defects in materials and workmanship under
normal use and service for a period of 90 days from the date of shipment. DATAQ Instruments' obligations under this
warranty shall not arise until the defective material is shipped freight prepaid to DATAQ Instruments. The only
responsibility of DATAQ Instruments under this warranty is to repair or replace, at its discretion and on a free of
charge basis, the defective material.
This warranty does not extend to products that have been repaired or altered by persons other than DATAQ Instru-
ments employees, or products that have been subjected to misuse, neglect, improper installation, or accident.
DATAQ Instruments shall have no liability for incidental or consequential damages of any kind arising out of the
sale, installation, or use of its products.
Service Policy
1. All products returned to DATAQ Instruments for service, regardless of warranty status, must be on a freight-pre-
paid basis.
2. DATAQ Instruments will repair or replace any defective product within 5 days of its receipt.
3. For in-warranty repairs, DATAQ Instruments will return repaired items to the buyer freight prepaid. Out of war-
ranty repairs will be returned with freight prepaid and added to the service invoice.

DI-188 Hardware Manual
Table of Contents
v
Table of Contents
Warranty and Service Policy ................................................................................................................ iii
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1
Features .............................................................................................................................................. 1
Analog Inputs .................................................................................................................................... 1
I2C Inputs .......................................................................................................................................... 1
Software ............................................................................................................................................. 1
WinDaq Dashboard ..................................................................................................................... 1
WinDaq® Recording and Playback Software ............................................................................ 2
Help ............................................................................................................................................. 2
2. Specifications ...................................................................................................................................... 3
3. Installation .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Installing WinDaq Software .............................................................................................................. 5
Connecting the Instrument to Your Computer .................................................................................. 6
4. Controls, Indicators, and Connections ............................................................................................. 7
USB-C Connection ............................................................................................................................ 7
Connect Input Signals ........................................................................................................................ 7
DI-188 Signal Connections ......................................................................................................... 7
Connect Signal Leads .................................................................................................................. 8
Analog Inputs .............................................................................................................................. 8
4-20mA Current Loop Measurements ............................................................................................... 9
LED Indicators .................................................................................................................................. 11
5. Dimensional Drawing ......................................................................................................................... 15

DI-188 Hardware Manual
Introduction
1
1. Introduction
This manual contains information designed to familiarize you with the features and functions of the DI-188 USB data
acquisition starter kit. These high-end Starter kits contain features and functionality normally reserved for more
expensive data acquisition systems.
Features
The DI-188 data acquisition instrument is a portable data recording module that communicates through your com-
puter's USB port. Power is derived from the interface port so no external power is required. Features include:
• 4 fixed differential analog inputs protected to ±30V (transient).
• Optional Arduino-compatible sensor Grove ports protected to +3V.
• ±10V full scale measurement range.
• 12-bit analog-to-digital resolution.
• 8kHz max sample throughput rate.
• Seeeduino XIAO status LEDs.
• Driver-less COM port support for Windows 10 and higher (Lower OS may require Arduino® IDE installation
first)
• Free WinDaq recording and playback software allowing you to record at the full speed of the instrument.
• Included open-source firmware based on Seeeduino’s XIAO Arduino®-compatible module
• Transparent instrument protocol for programming the device in operating systems other than Windows.
Analog Inputs
The DI-188 features four differential channel inputs located on a single eight-position screw terminal block for easy
connection and operation.
Utilize the functionality of WINDAQ software to experience all the features encased in these small, inexpensive
instruments.
Optional Sensor Inputs
Optional I2C Grove ports can be added to DI-188 for WINDAQ expansion at extra cost. These optional ports are direct
exposure of XIAO module’s GPIO, which is protected to only 3.3V, so extra care must be exercised when using them
Software
All software required to record and playback waveforms is included with the purchase of any DI-188 data acquisition
starter kit via download.
WinDaq Dashboard
The WinDaq Dashboard utility allows you to start WinDaq software with your Dataq devices. Units available for
synchronized recording using ChannelStretch™ are shown in compatible blocks of devices (the DI-188 does not sup-
port ChannelStretch or stand-alone data logging).

DI-188 Hardware Manual
Introduction
2
WINDAQ®Recording and Playback Software
WINDAQ Acquisition and WINDAQ Waveform Browser allow you to record and playback data acquired through your
instrument. WINDAQ software is an invaluable resource to record and analyze your data and is available for free from
our web site (www.dataq.com).
WINDAQ Acquisition software can be used to record waveforms directly and continuously to disk while monitoring a
real time display of the waveforms on-screen. It operates, displays, and records waveform signals in real time at the
full sample rate of the DI-188.
WINDAQ Waveform Browser playback software (also known as “WWB”) offers an easy way to review and analyze
acquired waveforms. A built-in data file translator allows the user to display multiple waveforms acquired by
WINDAQ Acquisition software or any of a wide range of data acquisition packages. The software’s disk-streaming
design allows data files of any length to be graphically displayed rapidly, in normal or reverse time directions. Seven
standard cursor-based measurements, frequency domain, and statistical analysis functions help simplify waveform
analysis and interpretation. WINDAQ Waveform Browser is free and installed when installing WINDAQ Software.
Help
All WINDAQ software utilizes context-sensitive help. Help may be accessed through the Help menu or by pressing
the F1 key with any pull-down menu item selected. This will take you directly to the Help topic most relevant to that
particular function or feature. Help topics discuss in detail each function available in the software.

DI-188 Hardware Manual
Specifications
3
2. Specifications
Analog Inputs
Number of Channels: 4
Channel Configuration: Differential
Voltage Measurement Range: ±10V Full Scale fixed
Input Impedance: 1M
Isolation: none
Typical accuracy:
@ 25°C, excluding common mode error
±50 mV
Absolute maximum input without damage: ±30 V peak, continuous
System noise: 7.8 mV rms
Maximum common mode + differential volt-
age:
± 10 V
Common mode rejection ratio: 40 dB (dc - 60 Hz)
Channel-to-channel crosstalk rejection: -80 dB
Optional Grove Ports
Number of ports: One I2C port installed. Others at extra cost (I2C, RS232 and DIO)
Type: Grove Ports for Arduino®-compatible Sensors
Threshold levels: Defined by XIAO module
Absolute maximum applied voltage (V): 3.3 V dc
ADC Characteristics
Resolution: 12-bit
Above zero ADC counts: 2,047
Below zero ADC counts: 2,048
Maximum sample rate per channel: 8 kHz, 1 enabled channel
4 kHz, 2 enabled channels
2 kHz, 4 enabled channels
Min. sample throughput rate: 0.01 Hz
Sample rate timing accuracy: 50 ppm
Indicators and Connections
Interface: USB 2.0 (USB C connector)
Indicators (LED): LEDs on XIAO module
Input Connections: One 8-position terminal strip
Power
Power Consumption: <0.2 Watt, via USB interface

DI-188 Hardware Manual
Specifications
4
Environmental
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F)
Operating Humidity: 0 to 90% non-condensing
Storage Temperature: -20°C to 60°C (-4°F to 140°F)
Storage Humidity: 0 to 90% non-condensing
Physical Characteristics
Dimensions: 2.0D × 2.5W × 0.55H in.
(5.08D × 6.35W × 1.40H cm.)
Weight: 0.8 oz (without optional Grove connector)
Software Support
WINDAQ software: OS support: Check Online at https://www.dataq.com/products/
windaq/windows-compatibility/
Programming: Open source XIAO Arduino-compatible firmware. Instrument proto-
col
Windows Support Driver-less COM port support for Windows 10 and higher.
Older Windows may require the installation of Arduino IDE

DI-188 Hardware Manual
Installation
5
3. Installation
WINDAQ DI-188 Starter Kit (basic) does not include USB-C cable. Verify that you have the following:
• A DI-188 USB data acquisition instrument.
If the item is missing or damaged, call DATAQ Instruments at 330-668-1444. We will guide you through the appro-
priate steps for replacing missing or damaged items. Save the original packing material in the unlikely event that your
unit must, for any reason, be sent back to DATAQ Instruments.
Installing WINDAQ Software
All software for the DI-188 can be installed via a downloadable executable directly from the DATAQ Instruments
web site. No CD is shipped with the device. You may burn the executable onto a CD or flash drive to transport the
software to a computer with no internet connection.
1. Disconnect all DATAQ Instruments USB devices from your Computer.
2. Download software at run.dataq.com.
3. Save the executable (Dataq Software Suite Web Setup.exe) to your local hard drive.
4. Double-click on the executable to extract the program and begin software installation.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts and enter all required information.
6. Software installation is complete - you will now see a “Successful Installation” box - click OK to exit WINDAQ
Installation.
You can now plug the device(s) into your PC. Click on the “WinDaq Dashboard” shortcut to access WINDAQ soft-
ware.

DI-188 Hardware Manual
Installation
6
Connecting the Instrument to Your Computer
DI-188 instruments can be connected to your computer’s USB port using a USB-C cable. No external power is
required. Connect one end of the communications cable to the instrument port and the other to your PC’s port.

DI-188 Hardware Manual
Controls, Indicators, and Connections
7
4. Controls, Indicators, and
Connections
USB-C Connection
To use DI-188, one needs to purchase a USB-C cable to connect and power the instrument through your computer’s
USB port.
Connect Input Signals
Make input signal connections to the 8-position screw terminals. Each terminal is labeled directly on the circuit board
DI-188 Signal Connections
Refer to the following for screw terminal port identification.
Ch#: Analog channels 1-4 (±10VFS, ±100V transient Max.)
Connect Signal Leads
Connect signal leads to the DI-188:
1. Insert the stripped end of a signal lead into the desired terminal directly under the screw.
2. Tighten the pressure flap by rotating the screw clockwise with a small screwdriver. Make sure that the pressure