Measurement Computing USB-5200 Series User manual

USB-5201
Thermocouple Measurement and Data Logger
Document Revision 11A
January 2015
©Copyright 2015
User's Guide

2
HM USB-5201
Trademark and Copyright Information
Measurement Computing Corporation, InstaCal, Universal Library, and the Measurement Computing logo are
either trademarks or registered trademarks of MeasurementComputing Corporation. Refer to the Copyrights &
Trademarks section on mccdaq.com/legal for more information about Measurement Computing trademarks.
Other product and company namesmentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective
companies.
©2015 MeasurementComputingCorporation. All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic,mechanical, by
photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of Measurement Computing
Corporation.
Notice
Measurement Computing Corporation does not authorize any Measurement Computing Corporation product for
use in life support systems and/or devices without prior written consent from Measurement Computing
Corporation. Life support devices/systems are devices or systems that, a) are intended for surgical implantation
into the body, or b) support or sustain life and whose failure to perform can be reasonably expected to result in
injury. Measurement Computing Corporation products are not designed with the components required, and are
not subject to the testing required to ensure a level of reliability suitable for the treatment and diagnosis of
people.

3
Table of Contents
Preface
About this Manual.................................................................................................................................5
Conventions........................................................................................................................................................5
Where to find more information.........................................................................................................................5
Chapter 1
Introducing the USB-5201 ....................................................................................................................6
Logging data with the USB-5201 ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Functional block diagram...................................................................................................................................7
Chapter 2
Installing the USB-5201 ........................................................................................................................8
Unpacking...........................................................................................................................................................8
Installing the software ........................................................................................................................................8
Installing the hardware .......................................................................................................................................8
Firmware revision 2.12 and earlier ................................................................................................................................... 8
Firmware revision 3.0 and later ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Configuring the hardware...................................................................................................................................8
Configuring data logging options...................................................................................................................................... 9
Calibrating the hardware.....................................................................................................................................9
Factory calibration............................................................................................................................................................ 9
Field-calibration................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Chapter 3
Sensor Connections ...........................................................................................................................10
Screw terminal pinout.......................................................................................................................................10
Thermocouple inputs .......................................................................................................................................................10
CJC sensors......................................................................................................................................................................10
Digital I/O........................................................................................................................................................................11
Power outputs ..................................................................................................................................................................11
Ground terminals .............................................................................................................................................................11
Thermocouple connections...............................................................................................................................11
Wiring configuration........................................................................................................................................................11
Digital I/O connections.....................................................................................................................................12
Configuring the DIO channels to generate alarms ...........................................................................................................12
Chapter 4
Functional Details ...............................................................................................................................13
Thermocouple measurements...........................................................................................................................13
Cold junction compensation (CJC)..................................................................................................................................13
Data linearization.............................................................................................................................................................13
Open-thermocouple detection (OTD) ..............................................................................................................................13
External components ........................................................................................................................................14
Screw terminals................................................................................................................................................................14
USB connector.................................................................................................................................................................14
LED .................................................................................................................................................................................14
CompactFlash memory card slot......................................................................................................................................15
Data logging button .........................................................................................................................................................16
External power supply......................................................................................................................................16
Disconnecting the USB-5201 from the computer.............................................................................................16
Transferring binary data after a logging session...............................................................................................17
Converting binary data after a logging session.................................................................................................17

USB-5201 User's Guide
4
Chapter 5
Specifications......................................................................................................................................18
Analog input.....................................................................................................................................................18
Channel configuration ......................................................................................................................................18
Accuracy...........................................................................................................................................................19
Thermocouple measurement accuracy.............................................................................................................................19
Throughput rate to PC ......................................................................................................................................20
Digital I/O.........................................................................................................................................................20
Temperature alarms..........................................................................................................................................21
Memory ............................................................................................................................................................21
Microcontroller.................................................................................................................................................21
Data logging .....................................................................................................................................................22
Real-time clock.................................................................................................................................................23
USB +5V voltage .............................................................................................................................................23
Power................................................................................................................................................................23
USB specifications ...........................................................................................................................................24
Environmental ..................................................................................................................................................24
Mechanical .......................................................................................................................................................24
Screw terminal connector.................................................................................................................................24
Declaration of Conformity..................................................................................................................26

5
Preface
About this Manual
This document describes the Measurement Computing USB-5201 data acquisition device and lists device
specifications.
Conventions
For more information
Text presented in a box signifies additional information related to the subject matter.
Caution! Shaded caution statements present information to help you avoid injuring yourself and others,
damaging your hardware, or losing your data.
bold text Bold text is used for the names of objects on a screen, such as buttons, text boxes, and check boxes.
italic text Italic text is used for the names of manuals and help topic titles, and to emphasize a word or phrase.
Where to find more information
Additional information about USB-5201 hardware is available on our website at www.mccdaq.com. You can
also contact Measurement Computing Corporation with specific questions.
Knowledgebase: kb.mccdaq.com
Tech support form: www.mccdaq.com/support/support_form.aspx
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone] and follow the instructions for reaching Tech Support

For international customers, contact your local distributor. Refer to the International Distributors section on our
website at www.mccdaq.com/International.

6
Chapter 1
Introducing the USB-5201
The USB-5201 provides eight differential thermocouple input channels and two integrated cold junction
compensation (CJC) sensors. You can take measurements from type J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and B thermocouples.
An open thermocouple detection feature lets you detect a broken thermocouple. An on-board microprocessor
automatically linearizes the measurement data.
Eight independent, TTL-compatible digital I/O channels are provided to monitor TTL-level inputs,
communicate with external devices, and to generate alarms. The digital I/O channels are software
programmable for input or output.
The USB-5201 features eight independent temperature alarms. Each alarm controls an associated digital I/O
channel as an alarm output. The input to each alarm is one of the temperature input channels. The output of each
alarm is software configurable as active high or low. You set up the temperature threshold conditions to activate
each alarm. When an alarm is activated, the associated DIO channel is driven to the output state.
You can log your measurements to a CompactFlash®memory card. CompactFlash is a removable non-volatile
storage device. A 512 MB CompactFlash memory card is shipped with the device to store your data. For more
information, refer to the section Logging data with the USB-5201 below.
The USB-5201 device is compatible with both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports. The speed of the device may be
limited when using a USB 1.1 port due to the difference in transfer rates on the USB 1.1 versions of the
protocol (low-speed and full-speed).
External power is required for data logging operations
Due to processing limitations, you cannot log data to the memory card when the USB-5201 is connected to your
computer's active USB bus. When operating as a data logger, disconnect the USB cable from the computer, and
connect the external power supply shipped with the device.
The USB-5201 is a standalone plug-and-play device. External power is required for data logging mode only. All
configurable options are software-programmable. The USB-5201 is fully software-calibrated.
Logging data with the USB-5201
The USB-5201 has many software-selectable options for setting up data logging.
You can record:
temperature (°C) or raw data from selected input channels
timestamp data
CJC sensor readings
You can specify the number of seconds between samples. You can begin logging data at power up, when you
press the data logging button, or at a specific date and time.
Data is stored on the memory card in binary files. After logging measurements, you can transfer the files to your
computer. You can use InstaCal to convert the files to .csv format for use in Microsoft Excel files, or to .txt
format for use in other applications.

USB-5201 User's Guide Introducing the USB-5201
7
Functional block diagram
USB-5201 functions are illustrated in the block diagram shown here.
Figure 1. Functional block diagram

8
Chapter 2
Installing the USB-5201
Unpacking
As with any electronic device, you should take care while handling to avoid damage from static
electricity. Before removing the device from its packaging, ground yourself using a wrist strap or by simply
touching the computer chassis or other grounded object to eliminate any stored static charge.
Contact us immediately if any components are missing or damaged.
Installing the software
Refer to the MCC DAQ Quick Start for instructions on installing the software on the MCC DAQ CD. Refer to
the device product page on the Measurement Computing website for information about the included and
optional software supported by the USB-5201.
Install the software before you install your device
The driver needed to run the USB-5201 is installed with the software. Therefore, you need to install the
software package you plan to use before you install the hardware.
Installing the hardware
To connect the USB-5201 to your system, turn your computer on, and connect the USB cable to a USB port on
your computer or to an external USB hub that is connected to your computer. The USB cable provides power
and communication to the USB-5201.
If you are connecting the USB-5201 to an external self-powered hub, connect the USB hub to the computer
before you connect the device to the hub. This ensures that the device detects the hub as an active USB port.
Firmware revision 2.12 and earlier
When you connect the USB-5201 for the first time, a Found New Hardware dialog opens when the operating
system detects the device. When this balloon or dialog closes, the installation is complete. The device LED
should blink and then remain on; this indicates that communication is established between the device and the
computer.
Firmware revision 3.0 and later
The USB-5201 installs as a composite device with separate devices attached. When you connect the
device for the first time, a Found New Hardware dialog opens as each device interface is detected. This is
normal. For additional information, refer to the "Notes on installing and using the USB-5201 and 18200-80 data
logging devices" that shipped with the USB-5201.
After the device is installed its LED will blink and then remain on. This indicates that communication is
established between the device and the computer.
Configuring the hardware
All hardware configuration options on the USB-5201 are software-selectable. Settings are stored on an isolated
microcontroller in EEPROM – which is non-volatile memory on the USB-5201 – and are loaded on power-up.
The factory default configuration is Type J thermocouple.
Allow the USB-5201 to warm up for 30 minutes before taking measurements. This warm up time minimizes
thermal drift and achieves the specified rated accuracy of measurements.

USB-5201 User's Guide Installing the USB-5201
9
Configuring data logging options
The following data logging options are programmable with software.
select the input channels to log
set the data format
set the start mode
set up alarm conditions
copy and convert saved binary files
delete data files
All data logging options are stored on the USB-5201 in non-volatile memory in EEPROM, and are loaded on
power up.
Calibrating the hardware
Factory calibration
The Measurement Computing Manufacturing Test department performs the initial factory calibration. Return
the device to Measurement Computing Corporation when calibration is required. The recommended calibration
interval is one year.
Field-calibration
The USB-5201 supports field-calibration with InstaCal. Calibrate the device whenever the ambient temperature
changes by more than ±10 °C from the last self-calibration.
Allow the USB-5201 to operate for at least 30 minutes before calibrating.

10
Chapter 3
Sensor Connections
The USB-5201 supports type types J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and B thermocouples.
Thermocouple selection
The thermocouple type you select depends on your application needs. Review the temperature ranges and
accuracies of each type to determine which is best suited for your application.
Screw terminal pinout
The USB-5201 has four rows of screw terminals – two rows on the top edge of the housing, and two rows on
the bottom edge. Each row has 26 connections. Between each bank of screw terminals are two integrated CJC
sensors used for thermocouple measurements. Signals are identified in Figure 2.
Figure 2. USB-5201 screw terminal pin numbers
Use 16 AWG to 30 AWG wire for your signal connections. Do not connect anything to the pins labeled RSVD.
Tighten screw terminal connections
When making connections to the screw terminals, fully tighten the screw. Simply touching the top of the screw
terminal is not sufficient to make a proper connection.
Thermocouple inputs
You can connect up to eight thermocouples to the differential sensor inputs (C0H/C0L to C7H/C7L).
Thermocouple types J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and B are supported.
CJC sensors
The USB-5201 has two built in high-resolution temperature sensors. One sensor is located on the right side of
the package, and one sensor is located on the left side.

USB-5201 User's Guide Sensor Connections
11
Digital I/O
You can connect up to eight digital I/O lines to the screw terminals labeled DIO0 to DIO7. Each terminal is
software-configurable for input or output. If a digital bit is set up as an alarm, the bit is configured for output on
power-up, and assumes the state defined by the alarm configuration.
Power outputs
The two +5V output terminals are isolated (500 VDC) from the USB +5V.
Caution! Each +5V terminal is an output. Do not connect to an external power supply to these terminals or
you may damage the USB-5201 and possibly the computer.
Ground terminals
The six analog ground terminals (GND) provide a common ground for the input channels and DIO bits and are
isolated (500 VDC) from the USB GND.
Thermocouple connections
A thermocouple consists of two dissimilar metals that are joined together at one end. When the junction of the
metals is heated or cooled, a voltage is produced that correlates to temperature.
The USB-5201 makes fully-differential thermocouple measurements without the need of ground-referencing
resistors. A 32-bit floating point value in either a voltage or temperature format is returned by software. An
open thermocouple detection feature is available for each analog input which automatically detects an open or
broken thermocouple.
Use InstaCal to select the thermocouple type (J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and B) and one or more sensor input channels
to connect the thermocouple.
Wiring configuration
Connect the thermocouple to the USB-5201 using a differential configuration, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Typical thermocouple connection
Connect thermocouples to the USB-5201 such that they are floating with respect to GND. The ground pins are
isolated from earth ground, so you can connect thermocouple sensors to voltages referenced to earth ground as
long as the isolation between the GND pins and earth ground is maintained.
When thermocouples are attached to conductive surfaces, the voltage differential between multiple
thermocouples must remain within ±1.4 V. For best results, you should use insulated or ungrounded
thermocouples when possible.
Maximum input voltage between analog input and ground
The absolute maximum input voltage between an analog input and the isolated GND pins is ±25 VDC when the
device is powered on, and ±40 VDC when the device is powered off.
If you need to increase the length of your thermocouple, use the same type of thermocouple wires to minimize
the error introduced by thermal EMFs.

USB-5201 User's Guide Sensor Connections
12
Digital I/O connections
You can connect up to eight digital I/O lines to the screw terminals labeled DIO0 to DIO7. You can configure
each digital bit for either input or output. All digital I/O lines are pulled up to +5 V with a 47 kΩ resistor
(default). You can request the factory to configure the resistor for pull-down to ground, if desired.
Caution! If a digital bit is set up as an alarm, the bit will be configured for output on power-up, and assume
the state defined by the alarm configuration.
When you configure the digital bits for input, you can use the USB-5201 digital I/O terminals to detect the state
of any TTL-level input. Refer to the schematic shown in Figure 4. If you set the switch to the +5 V input, DIO0
reads TRUE (1). If you move the switch to GND, DIO0 reads FALSE (0).
Figure 4. Schematic showing switch detection by digital channel DIO0
Caution! All ground pins are common and are isolated from earth ground. If a connection is made to earth
ground when using digital I/O and conductive thermocouples, the thermocouples are no longer
isolated. In this case, thermocouples must not be connected to any conductive surfaces that may be
referenced to earth ground
For general information regarding digital signal connections and digital I/O techniques, refer to the Guide to
Signal Connections (available on our web site at www.mccdaq.com/signals/signals.pdf).
Configuring the DIO channels to generate alarms
The USB-5201 features eight independent temperature alarms. All alarm options are software configurable.
When a digital bit is configured as an alarm, that bit is configured as an output on the next power cycle and
assumes the state defined by the alarm configuration.
Each alarm controls an associated digital I/O channel as an alarm output. The input to each alarm is one of the
temperature input channels. You set up the temperature conditions to activate an alarm, and the output state of
the channel (active high or low) when activated. When an alarm is activated, its associated DIO channel is
driven to the output state specified.
The alarm configurations are stored in non-volatile memory and are loaded on power up. The temperature
alarms function both in data logging mode and while attached to the USB port on a computer.

13
Chapter 4
Functional Details
Thermocouple measurements
A thermocouple consists of two dissimilar metals that are joined together at one end. When the junction of the
metals is heated or cooled, a voltage is produced that correlates to temperature.
The USB-5201 hardware level-shifts the thermocouple’s output voltage into the A/D’s common mode input
range by applying +2.5 V to the thermocouple’s low side at the C#L input. Always connect thermocouple
sensors to the USB-5201 in a floating fashion. Do not attempt to connect the thermocouple low side C#L to
GND or to a ground referencing resistor.
Cold junction compensation (CJC)
When you connect the thermocouple sensor leads to the sensor input channel, the dissimilar metals at the USB-
5201 terminal blocks produce an additional thermocouple junction. This junction creates a small voltage error
term which must be removed from the overall sensor measurement using a cold junction compensation
technique. The measured voltage includes both the thermocouple voltage and the cold junction voltage. To
compensate for the additional cold junction voltage, the USB-5201 subtracts the cold junction voltage from the
thermocouple voltage.
The USB-5201 has two high-resolution temperature sensors that are integrated into the design of the USB-5201.
One sensor is located on the right side of the package, and one sensor is located at the left side. The CJC sensors
measure the average temperature at the terminal blocks so that the cold junction voltage can be calculated. A
software algorithm automatically corrects for the additional thermocouples created at the terminal blocks by
subtracting the calculated cold junction voltage from the analog input's thermocouple voltage measurement.
Increasing the thermocouple length
If you need to increase the length of your thermocouple, use the same type of thermocouple wires to minimize
the error introduced by thermal EMFs.
Data linearization
After the CJC correction is performed on the measurement data, an on-board microcontroller automatically
linearizes the thermocouple measurement data using National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
linearization coefficients for the selected thermocouple type.
The measurement data is then output as a 32-bit floating point value in the configured format (voltage or
temperature).
Open-thermocouple detection (OTD)
The USB-5201 is equipped with an open-thermocouple detection for each analog input channel. With OTD, any
open-circuit or short-circuit condition at the thermocouple sensor is detected by the software. An open channel
is detected by driving the input voltage to a negative value outside the range of any thermocouple output. The
software recognizes this as an invalid reading and flags the appropriate channel. The software continues to
sample all channels when OTD is detected.
Input leakage current
With open-thermocouple detection enabled, 105 nA (max.) of input leakage current is injected into the
thermocouple. This current can cause an error voltage to develop across the lead resistance of the thermocouple
that is indistinguishable from the thermocouple voltage you are measuring. You can estimate this error voltage
with the following formula:
error voltage = resistance of the thermocouple x 105 nA
To reduce the error, reduce the length of the thermocouple to lower its resistance, or lower the AWG of the wire
by using a wire with a larger diameter. With open-thermocouple detection disabled, 30 nA (max.) of input
leakage current is injected into the thermocouple.

USB-5201 User's Guide Functional Details
14
External components
The USB-5201 has the following external components, as shown in Figure 5.
Screw terminals
USB connector
LED
CompactFlash slot with memory card
1 Screw terminal pins 1 to 26 4 Data logging button
2 Screw terminal pins 27 to 52 5 CompactFlash memory card slot (with card)
3 LED 6 USB connector
Figure 5. External component locations
Screw terminals
The device's four banks of screw terminals are for connecting temperature sensors and digital I/O lines. These
terminals also provide ground and power output connections. Refer to the Sensor Connections chapter for screw
terminal descriptions.
USB connector
When not logging data, connect the USB cable to a USB port on your computer or to an external USB hub that
is connected to your computer. When connected to an active USB bus, the device's USB connector provides
+5 V power and communication. The voltage supplied through the USB connector is system-dependent, and
may be less than 5 V. No external power supply is required.
Due to processing limitations, you cannot log data when the device is attached to an active USB bus. For data
logging operations, connect the device's USB connector to the external power supply.
LED
The LED uses up to 5 mA of current. The function of the LED varies according to whether the USB-5201 is
connected to an active USB port, or when the device is logging data and connected to the external power
supply.
Refer to the following table for the function of the LED when the device is connected to an active USB port and
not logging data.

USB-5201 User's Guide Functional Details
15
LED function when the USB-5201 is connected to an active USB port
LED Illumination Indication
Steady green The USB-5201 is connected to a computer or external USB hub.
Blinks continuously Data is being transferred.
Upon connection, the LED should flash a few times and then remain lit (indicates a successful
installation).
Blinks three times Initial communication is established between the USB-5201 and the computer.
Off The USB-5201 is not connected to an active USB port.
Refer to the following table for the function of the USB-5201 LED when the device is connected to the external
supply and is logging data. The function of the LED varies according to the selected logging mode.
LED function when the USB-5201 is logging data
Logging mode LED Illumination Indication
Logging off The LED is off. The USB-5201 is not logging data, and/or
the device is not powered
Start Logging on
Power Up The LED turns on when external power is connected, then blinks each time data is captured. Blinks when logging data.
Start Logging on
Button The LED stays off until the data logging button is pressed and held for approximately 1 second. At that
time, the LED turns on and blinks each time data is
captured.
Blinks when logging data.
Start Logging at
Specified Time The LED is off – blinks on once per second until the specified date/time to start logging is reached. At
that time, the LED turns on – blinks off each time
data is captured.
Blinks on once per second until specified
data/time to log data occurs. Then it turns
on and blinks each time data is captured.
Any logging mode Blinks rapidly (250 ms period) and continuously. The memory card is full.
The memory card was removed during
logging. Insert the memory card again
to stop the device blinking.
CompactFlash memory card slot
The CompactFlash slot accepts standard memory cards. A 512 MB memory card is shipped with the device. For
extensive data logging, you can insert a higher capacity card of up to 2 GB. You must format the memory card
before logging data for the first time.
Calculating the logging time for a memory card
Use the following formula to calculate the approximate amount of logging time in seconds that one of the
supported memory card allows. The USB-5201 supports 512 MB , 1 GB, and 2 GB CompactFlash memory
cards.
where

time = total disk time in seconds
NDisk = size of memory card in bytes
NDIO = 1 byte for digital I/O

nChannels = number of channels logged

R = logging rate in seconds
NTS = 6 bytes for timestamp, if enabled
NTemp = 4 bytes for a temperature reading

NCJC = 8 bytes if CJC sensor readings are enabled

USB-5201 User's Guide Functional Details
16
The following table provides examples of logging one channel and eight channels of temperature readings at the
max logging rate of 1 S/s to a 512 MB memory card with DIO, timestamp, and CJC sensor logging enabled:
Memory card
(bytes) DIO enabled Number of
channels Logging rate (S/s) Timestamp enabled Temperature reading CJC enabled
512,000,000 1 1 1 6 4 8
512,000,000 1 8 1 6 4 8
Data logging button
The data logging button is used to end a data logging session. The data logging button is also used to start
recording data when the logging mode is set in InstaCal to Start Logging on Button.
To begin recording data, press and hold the button until the LED begins to blink. The first sample is taken
one second after the LED illuminates.
When you first power on the USB-5201, wait at least five seconds before pressing the data logging button.
To achieve rated accuracy, allow the USB-5201 to warm up for 30 minutes before logging data.
To stop recording data, press and hold the button again until the LED is off.
Caution! To prevent loss of data, always use the button to stop logging. Make sure the data is written to the
memory card before you disconnect the device from the power source.
The device caches log data in volatile memory prior to writing to the memory card.
Pressing the data logging button has no effect when the USB-5201 is connected to an active USB port and not
logging data.
External power required for data logging
Due to processing limitations, data logging is not allowed when the USB-5201 is attached to an active USB bus.
The USB-5201 must be connected to the standalone power supply to perform data logging.
External power supply
The external power supply is a 2.5 W USB power adapter used to power the USB-5201 during data logging
operations.
Disconnecting the USB-5201 from the computer
You don't need to shut down your computer to disconnect the USB-5201. For devices installed with firmware
revision 3 or later and you are running Windows XP, use the Unplug or Eject icon on the computer taskbar to
safely stop the device before you unplug it. To do this, right-click on the icon, select the USB-5201 and click
Stop. Windows will notify you when it is safe to disconnect the device from your computer.

USB-5201 User's Guide Functional Details
17
Transferring binary data after a logging session
Data is stored on the memory card in binary files. After logging measurements, you can transfer the files to your
computer by reconnecting the USB-5201 to a USB port on your computer or by removing the CompactFlash
card from the USB-5201 and using a card reader connected to your computer.
Note that when installed with firmware version 3 and later the USB-5201 appears as a Mass Storage Device
when connected to a USB port on your computer, so you can copy files using Windows Explorer.
Converting binary data after a logging session
If your USB-5201 is connected to a USB port on your computer, you can use InstaCal or TracerDAQ to convert
the files on the CompactFlash card to .CSV format for use in Microsoft Excel files, or to .TXT format for use in
other applications.
If you transferred binary files to your computer hard drive or removed the CompactFlash card from the device
and are using a card reader connected to a computer, use TracerDAQ to import the files and save them as .CSV
or.TXT format. InstaCal can only convert files when the CompactFlash card is in a device connected to a
computer.

18
Chapter 5
Specifications
All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Typical for 25 °C unless otherwise specified.
Specifications in italic text are guaranteed by design.
Analog input
Table 1. Generic analog input specifications
Parameter Conditions Specification
A/D converters Four dual 24-bit, Sigma-Delta type
Number of channels 8 differential
Input isolation 500 VDC minimum between field wiring and USB
interface
Channel configuration Thermocouple sensor type
Differential input voltage
range Thermocouple ±0.080 V
Absolute maximum input
voltage ±C0x through ±C7x relative to GND ±25 V power on, ±40 V power off.
Input impedance 5 GΩ, min
Input leakage current Open thermocouple detect
enabled 105 nA max
Normal mode rejection ratio fIN = 60 Hz 90 dB min
Common mode rejection ratio fIN = 50 Hz/60 Hz 100 dB min
Resolution 24 bits
No missing codes 24 bits
Input coupling DC
Warm-up time 30 minutes min
Open thermocouple detect Automatically enabled when the channel pair is
configured for thermocouple sensors.
The maximum open detection time is 3 seconds.
CJC sensor accuracy 15 °C to 35 °C ±0.25 °C typ,
±0.5 °C max
0 °C to 70 °C –1.0 to +0.5 °C max
Channel configuration
Channel configuration information is stored in the EEPROM of the isolated microcontroller by the firmware
whenever any item is modified. Modification is performed by commands issued over USB from an external
application, and the configuration is made non-volatile through the use of the EEPROM.
Table 2. Channel configuration specifications
Sensor Category Conditions Specification
Thermocouple J, K, S, R, B, E, T, or N
(Note 1) 8 differential channels
Note 1: The factory default configuration is Type J.

USB-5201 User's Guide Specifications
19
Accuracy
Thermocouple specifications include linearization, cold-junction compensation and system noise. These specs
are for one year, or 3000 operating hours, whichever comes first and for operation of the device between 15 °C
and 35 °C. For measurements outside this range, add ±0.5 °C to the maximum error shown.
There are CJC sensors on each side of the device. The accuracy listed in Table 3 assumes the screw terminals
are at the same temperature as the CJC sensor. Errors shown do not include inherent thermocouple error.
Contact your thermocouple supplier for details on the actual thermocouple error.
Thermocouples must be connected to the device such that they are floating with respect to GND (pins 9, 19, 28,
38). The device GND pins are isolated from earth ground, so connecting thermocouple sensors to voltages
referenced to earth ground is permissible as long as the isolation between the GND pins and earth ground is
maintained.
When thermocouples are attached to conductive surfaces, the voltage differential between multiple
thermocouples must remain within ±1.4 V. For best results, MCC recommends using ungrounded or insulated
thermocouples when possible.
Thermocouple measurement accuracy
Table 3. Thermocouple accuracy specifications, including CJC measurement error
Sensor type Maximum error (°C) Typical error (°C) Temperature range (°C)
J ±1.499 ±0.507 –210 to 0
±0.643 ±0.312 0 to 1200
K ±1.761 ±0.538 –210 to 0
±0.691 ±0.345 0 to 1372
S ±2.491 ±0.648 –50 to 250
±1.841 ±0.399 250 to 1768.1
R ±2.653 ±0.650 –50 to 250
±1.070 ±0.358 250 to 1768.1
B ±1.779 ±0.581 250 to 700
±0.912 ±0.369 700 to 1820
E ±1.471 ±0.462 –200 to 0
±0.639 ±0.245 0 to 1000
T ±1.717 ±0.514 –200 to 0
±0.713 ±0.256 0 to 600
N ±1.969 ±0.502 –200 to 0
±0.769 ±0.272 0 to 1300

USB-5201 User's Guide Specifications
20
Throughput rate to PC
The analog inputs are configured to run continuously. Each channel is sampled twice per second. The maximum
latency between when a sample is acquired and the temperature data is provided by the USB unit is
approximately 0.5 seconds.
Maximum throughput to a CompactFlash® memory card is 1 S/s per channel.
Table 4. Throughput rate to PC specifications
Number of
input channels Maximum throughput
1 2 S/s
2 2 S/s on each channel, 4 S/s total
3 2 S/s on each channel, 6 S/s total
4 2 S/s on each channel, 8 S/s total
5 2 S/s on each channel, 10 S/s total
6 2 S/s on each channel, 12 S/s total
7 2 S/s on each channel, 14 S/s total
8 2 S/s on each channel, 16 S/s total
Digital I/O
All ground pins on the device (pins 9, 19, 28, 38) are isolated from earth ground. If a connection is made to
earth ground when using digital I/O and conductive thermocouples, the thermocouples are no longer isolated. In
this case, do not connect thermocouples to any conductive surfaces that may be referenced to earth ground.
Table 5. Digital input/output specifications
Parameter Specification
Digital type CMOS
Number of I/O 8 (DIO0 through DIO7)
Configuration Independently configured for input or output.
Power on reset is input mode unless bit is configured for alarm.
Pull up/pull-down
configuration All pins pulled up to +5 V through 47 kΩ resistors (default). Pull-down to ground also available.
Digital I/O transfer rate
(software paced)
Digital input: 50 port reads or single bit reads per second typ
Digital output: 100 port writes or single bit writes per second typ
Input high voltage 2.0 V min, 5.5 V absolute max
Input low voltage 0.8 V max, –0.5 V absolute min
Output low voltage
(IOL = 2.5 mA) 0.7 V max
Output high voltage
(IOH = –2.5 mA) 3.8 V min