National Instruments TC-2190 User manual

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October 2002
321674C-01
TC-2190 ADAPTER WITH THERMOCOUPLE
MINICONNECTORS INSTALLATION GUIDE
This installation guide describes how to install and connect thermocouples
and digital I/O signals to the TC-2190 adapter with thermocouple
miniconnectors to use with the NI USB-4350, NI PXI-4351, and
NI PCI-4351 data acquisition (DAQ) devices.
Introduction
The TC-2190 adapter consists of a shielded box with 14 miniconnectors
that you can use to connect the thermocouples to the NI 435Xfor USB,
PXI, and PCI. This adapter has two 68-pin connectors—one on the front
and one on the rear. You can use either of the two connectors to connect the
TC-2190 to the NI 435Xusing an SH6868 shielded cable (recommended)
or an R6868 ribbon cable. You can also access the eight digital I/O lines
and the digital ground of the NI 435Xusing the spring terminal blocks.
This adapter is designed specifically for ease of use with thermocouples.
It features isothermal construction to minimize the temperature gradients
across the thermocouple junctions and a high-accuracy thermistor
cold-junction temperature sensor.
The TC-2190 connects to all the digital I/O lines on the NI 435Xand all but
two analog input channels (CH)—CH0 is dedicated to the cold-junction
sensor and CH1 is dedicated to auto-zeroing circuitry. Refer to the
NI 435X User Manual for further details on the cold-junction sensor and
auto-zeroing circuitry.
Conventions
The following conventions are used in this guide:
»The »symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options
to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to
pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options
from the last dialog box.
ni.com

TC-2190 Adapter Installation Guide 2 ni.com
This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.
This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash. When this symbol is marked on
the product, refer to the Read Me First: Safety and Radio-Frequency
Interference document, shipped with the product, for precautions to take.
bold Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such
as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter
names.
italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross reference, or an introduction
to a key concept. This font also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
or value that you must supply.
monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the
keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
variables, filenames and extensions, and code excerpts.
NI 435XRefers to all devices in the National Instruments 4350 and 4351 families.
What You Need to Get Started
You need the following items to set up and use the TC-2190:
❑TC-2190 adapter with thermocouple miniconnectors
❑TC-2190 Adapter with Thermocouple Miniconnectors Installation
Guide
❑Read Me First: Safety and Radio-Frequency Interference
❑NI PCI-4351, NI PXI-4351, or NI USB-4350 and documentation
❑One of the following cable assemblies:
– SH6868 shielded cable (recommended)
– R6868 ribbon cable
❑1/8 in. flathead screwdriver
❑Number 1 Phillips screwdriver
❑Wire cutters

©National Instruments Corporation 3 TC-2190 Adapter Installation Guide
❑Wire insulation strippers
❑Four adhesive rubber feet
Configuring the Shield Ground Jumpers
Caution Refer to the Read Me First: Safety and Radio-Frequency Interference document
before removing equipment covers or connecting/disconnecting any signal wires.
Jumper W1, located inside the TC-2190 on the bottom of the board,
connects the shield of the 68-pin connectors and the TC-2190 metal case to
NI 435Xground through a 100 Ωresistor (default setting) or directly to
NI 435Xground, or keeps the metal case and NI 435Xground separate.
Table 1 shows the configuration options for jumper W1.
Note Use the default setting for jumper W1 unless you notice degraded noise
performance.

TC-2190 Adapter Installation Guide 4 ni.com
If you need to change jumper W1, refer to Figure 1 as you complete the
following steps:
1. Using the Number 1 Phillips screwdriver, remove the four countersunk
front panel screws.
2. Remove the two rear panel screws that hold the rear 68-pin connector.
3. Hold the front panel and slide the assembly out of the metal case.
4. Set jumper W1 as needed.
5. Reassemble the TC-2190, following this procedure in reverse order.
Do not overtighten the screws.
Table 1. TC-2190 Jumper Configuration Options
Jumper W1
Configuration Description When to Use This Configuration
100 Ω(factory default)—This
setting connects the TC-2190
metal chassis to NI 435X
ground through a 100 Ω
resistor, while keeping any
potential ground loop current
very small.
Use this setting when you are using
the SH6868 cable, and:
• You have not rack-mounted the
TC-2190, or
• You have mounted the TC-2190 on
a rack, but are unsure whether the
rack and the TC-2190 are
grounded.
0 Ω—This setting connects
the TC-2190 metal chassis to
NI 435Xground.
Use this setting when you are using
the R6868 cable, and:
• You have not rack-mounted the
TC-2190, or
• You have mounted the TC-2190 on
a rack and are sure that the rack and
the TC-2190 are not grounded.
Open—This setting
disconnects the TC-2190
metal chassis from NI 435X
ground.
Use this setting when you are using
either the SH6868 cable or the
R6868 cable, and:
• You have mounted the TC-2190 on
a rack, and
• You are sure that the rack and the
TC-2190 are grounded.
OPEN
100 Ω
0 Ω
OPEN
100 Ω
0 Ω
OPEN
100 Ω
0 Ω

©National Instruments Corporation 5 TC-2190 Adapter Installation Guide
Figure 1. TC-2190 Parts Locator Diagram
Connecting the Signals
Refer to the NI 435X User Manual for examples on how to connect to the
signals.
Connecting Thermocouples
Insert the thermocouple miniconnector to the mating miniconnector on the
TC-2190. Each miniconnector is keyed; that is, it has two spades of
different widths so that you can insert the thermocouple in only one way.
Do not force the miniconnector. If you encounter difficulty while inserting
the miniconnector, check whether the polarity is correct.
1 Rear Panel Screws
2 Jumper W1
3 Countersunk Front Panel Screws
4 Sprint Terminal Blocks
5 Front 68-Pin Connector
6 Thermocouple Miniconnectors
7 Rear 68-Pin Connector
4
76543210
DIO
D
N
G
V
5
+
D
1
2
7
5
3
6
3

TC-2190 Adapter Installation Guide 6 ni.com
Connecting Digital I/O Signals
Refer to Figure 1 as you complete the following steps to connect the digital
signals to the TC-2190:
1. Use a wire cutter and wire insulation stripper to strip the wire ends
as necessary to connect them to terminal blocks. You can use up to
20 AWG wire for connecting signals.
2. Push the spring below the DIO terminal block with a 1/8 in. flathead
screwdriver to open the terminal block clasp. Keep the spring pressed
through step 3.
3. Insert the stripped wires into the terminal blocks.
4. Release the spring.
The wire should be firmly connected.
Connecting the TC-2190 to the NI 435X
Before installing the TC-2190, make sure you have set jumper W1
correctly for the application.
You can mount the TC-2190 into a 19 in. rack or place it on a workbench
near the NI 435X. If you do not rack-mount the TC-2190, attach the four
adhesive rubber feet included in this kit to the TC-2190 to keep it stationary.
Note To minimize the temperature gradient inside the terminal block and thus maintain its
isothermal nature for accurate cold-junction compensation, place the accessory away from
extreme temperature differentials.
Refer to Figure 2 as you complete the following steps to connect the
TC-2190 to the NI 435X:
1. Connect one end of the SH6868 or R6868 cable to the TC-2190
connector on either the front or the back, as desired. The two
connectors should snap together.
2. Attach the connector on the other end of the SH6868 or R6868 cable
to the NI 435XI/O connector.
To disconnect the cable from the TC-2190, push the two ejector ears on the
cable backshell and gently pull on the backshell. The cable should pop out.
Do not pull the cable.
Caution The connectors of both the TC-2190 and the NI 435Xare keyed. Do not force the
cable. If you encounter difficulty, check whether the polarity is correct.

©National Instruments Corporation 7 TC-2190 Adapter Installation Guide
Figure 2. Connecting the TC-2190 to the NI 435X
1 TC-2190
2 Front Panel
3 Front 68-Pin Connector
4EjectorEars
5 SH6868 Shielded Cable
6 NI 435Xfor USB, PXI, and PCI
7 Rear Panel
8 Rear 68-Pin Connector
7
6
5
4
8
1
Rear View
6
5
4
2
3
1
Front View

TC-2190 Adapter Installation Guide 8 ni.com
Cold-Junction Temperature Sensor
The TC-2190 cold-junction temperature sensor consists of a precision
thermistor excited by the 25 µA current source on the NI 435X. At 25 °C,
the resistance of the thermistor is 5,000 Ω. The thermistor resistance varies
from 16,305 to 1,492 Ωover the 0 to 55 °C temperature range. The
corresponding sensor output voltage varies from 408 to 37 mV over this
temperature range.
To select and measure the temperature sensor, refer to the data acquisition
software documentation for programming information.
Alternatively, you can use the following formulas to convert the
cold-junction sensor voltage to cold-junction temperature:
T(°C) = TK– 273.15
where TKis the temperature in Kelvin.
a = 1.295361 × 10–3
b = 2.343159 × 10–4
c = 1.018703 × 10–7
RT= resistance of the thermistor in ohms
where T(°F) and T(°C) are the temperature readings in degrees Fahrenheit
and degrees Celsius, respectively.
Note When you have configured the NI 435XDAQ device with the correct accessory in
Measurement & Automation Explorer, NI-DAQ can automatically perform cold-junction
compensation on measurements taken on thermocouple channels.
TK
1
abln RT
•cln RT ()
3
•++
-----------------------------------------------------------------=
T°F() T°C()9•
5
------------------------32+=

©National Instruments Corporation 9 TC-2190 Adapter Installation Guide
Specifications
Cold-junction sensor accuracy1.............. 0.06 °C from 15 to 35 °C;
0.2 °C from 0 to 15 °C
and35to55°C
Maximum working voltage2
(signal + common mode) ....................... Each input should remain
within ±42 V of ground
Safety
The TC-2190 meets the requirements of the following standards for safety
and electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use:
• EN 61010-1, IEC 61010-1
• UL 3121-1
• CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 1010.1
Note For UL and other safety certifications refer to the product label or to ni.com.
Electromagnetic Compatibility
CE, C-Tick, and FCC Part 15 (Class A) Compliant
Electromagnetic emissions..................... EN 55011, ISM Group I,
Class A at 10 m
FCC Part 15A above 1 GHz
Electromagnetic immunity..................... Evaluated to EN 61326-1;
A1:1998, Table 1
Note For full EMC compliance, you must operate this device with shielded cabling. In
addition, all covers and filler panels must be installed. Refer to the Read Me First: Safety
and Radio-Frequency Interference document for FCC Regulatory statements and related
information.
1Includes only the thermistor accuracy. The combined effects of the temperature sensor accuracy, as well as the current source
accuracy due to tolerances in all components in the NI 435X, the effects caused by temperature and loading, and self-heating
andcurrentleakagearediscussedintheNI 435X User Manual.
2Refer to the NI 435Xmaximum working voltage specification in Appendix A, Specifications,oftheNI 435X User Manual;
use the lower number of the two.

TC-2190 Adapter Installation Guide 10 ni.com
CE Compliance
The TC-2190 meets the following amended essential requirements of
applicable European Directives for CE marking:
•Low-Voltage Directive (safety): 73/23/EEC
•Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC): 89/336/EEC
Note Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this product for any additional
regulatory compliance information. To obtain the DoC for this product, click Declaration
of Conformity at ni.com/hardref.nsf/. This Web site lists the DoCs by product
family. Select the appropriate product family, followed by the product, and a link appears
to the DoC in Adobe Acrobat format. Click the Acrobat icon to download or read the DoC.
Technical Support Resources
NI Web Support
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configuration, and application problems and questions. Online
problem-solving and diagnostic resources include frequently asked
questions, knowledge bases, product-specific troubleshooting wizards,
manuals, drivers, software updates, and more. Web support is available
through the Technical Support section of ni.com.
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