National Instruments NI-9146 Owner's manual

NI-9146
Safety,
Environmental,
and
Regulatory
Information
2022-07-20

Contents
Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
NI 9146 Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
ni.com
2
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Overview
This document describes how to connect the NI 9146 to a network and how to use
the NI 9146 features. This document also contains specifications for the NI 9146.
Figure 1. NI 9146 Front Panel
C
V
NI 9146
INPUT
9-30 V
15 W MAX
M
N
S
AN
NI TIO RT UTS
LA
EN
ACT/
LINK
10/100
1
2
3
RESET
4
STATUS
USER FPGA1
POWER
1. LEDs
2. RJ-45 Ethernet Port
3. Power Connector
4. Reset Button
Safety Guidelines
Operate the NI 9146 only as described in this document.
Caution Do not operate the NI 9146 in a manner not specified in this
document. Product misuse can result in a hazard. You can compromise the
safety protection built into the product if the product is damaged in any
way. If the product is damaged, return it to NI for repair.
© National Instruments 3
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Safety Guidelines for Hazardous Locations
The NI 9146 is suitable for use in Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C, D, T4 hazardous
locations; Class I, Zone 2, AEx nA IIC T4 and Ex nA IIC T4 hazardous locations;
and nonhazardous locations only. Follow these guidelines if you are installing the
NI 9146 in a potentially explosive environment. Not following these guidelines may
result in serious injury or death.
Caution Do not disconnect the power supply wires and connectors from
the controller unless power has been switched o.
Caution Do not disconnect I/O-side wires or connectors unless power
has been switched o or the area is known to be nonhazardous.
Caution Do not remove modules unless power has been switched o or
the area is known to be nonhazardous.
Caution Substitution of components may impair suitability for Class I,
Division 2.
Caution For Division 2 and Zone 2 applications, install the system in an
enclosure rated to at least IP54 as defined by IEC/EN 60079-15.
Special Conditions for Hazardous Locations Use in Europe and
Internationally
The NI 9146 has been evaluated as Ex nA IIC T4 Gc equipment under DEMKO
Certificate No. 07 ATEX 0626664X and is IECEx UL 14.0089X certified. Each device is
marked II 3G and is suitable for use in Zone 2 hazardous locations, in ambient
temperatures of -40 °C ≤ Ta ≤ 70 °C.
ni.com
4
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Caution You must make sure that transient disturbances do not exceed
140% of the rated voltage.
Caution The system shall only be used in an area of not more than
Pollution Degree 2, as defined in IEC 60664-1.
Caution The system shall be mounted in an ATEX/IECEx-certified
enclosure with a minimum ingress protection rating of at least IP54 as
defined in IEC/EN 60079-15.
Caution The enclosure must have a door or cover accessible only by the
use of a tool.
Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines
This product was tested and complies with the regulatory requirements and limits
for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) stated in the product specifications. These
requirements and limits provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the product is operated in the intended operational electromagnetic
environment.
This product is intended for use in industrial locations. However, harmful
interference may occur in some installations, when the product is connected to
a peripheral device or test object, or if the product is used in residential or
commercial areas. To minimize interference with radio and television reception and
prevent unacceptable performance degradation, install and use this product in strict
accordance with the instructions in the product documentation.
Furthermore, any changes or modifications to the product not expressly approved
by National Instruments could void your authority to operate it under your local
regulatory rules.
© National Instruments 5
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Special Conditions for Marine Applications
Some products are Lloyd’s Register (LR) Type Approved for marine (shipboard)
applications. To verify Lloyd’s Register certification for a product, visit ni.com/
certification and search for the LR certificate, or look for the Lloyd’s Register mark
on the product.
Caution In order to meet the EMC requirements for marine applications,
install the product in a shielded enclosure with shielded and/or filtered
power and input/output ports. In addition, take precautions when
designing, selecting, and installing measurement probes and cables to
ensure that the desired EMC performance is attained.
Unpacking the Kit
Caution To prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) from damaging the
device, ground yourself using a grounding strap or by holding a grounded
object, such as your computer chassis.
1. Touch the antistatic package to a metal part of the computer chassis.
2. Remove the device from the package and inspect the device for loose
components or any other sign of damage.
Caution Never touch the exposed pins of connectors.
Note Do not install a device if it appears damaged in any way.
3. Unpack any other items and documentation from the kit.
Store the device in the antistatic package when the device is not in use.
ni.com
6
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

What You Need to Install the NI 9146
■NI 9146 Ethernet Expansion Chassis
■NI-RIO Soware DVD
■C Series I/O modules
■DIN rail mount kit (for DIN rail mounting only)
■Panel mount kit (for panel mounting only)
■Two M4 or number 8 flathead screws (for mounting the chassis without one
of the listed mounting kits)
■A number 2 Phillips screwdriver
■Power supply
■Ethernet cable
Note Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code rdsowareversion to
determine which soware you need to use the NI 9146.
Mounting the Chassis
You can mount the chassis horizontally on a flat, vertical, metallic surface such as
a panel or wall. The maximum allowable ambient temperature for operation in this
configuration is 70 °C. The following figure shows the chassis mounted horizontally.
Figure 2. NI 9146 Mounted Horizontally
C
V
RESET
NI 9146
INPUT
9-30 V
15 W MAX
M
N
S
AN
NI TIO RT UT
LA
EN S
ACT/
LINK
10/100
Up
STATUS
USER FPGA1
POWER
You can also mount the chassis on a panel or wall in other orientations, on a non-
metallic surface, on a 35 mm DIN rail, on a rack, in an enclosure, or on a desktop.
Mounting the chassis in these or other configurations can reduce the maximum
allowable ambient temperature and can aect the typical accuracy of modules in
the chassis.
© National Instruments 7
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Note For information about how dierent mounting configurations can
cause
temperature derating, go to ni.com/info and enter the Info Code
criomounting.
Note For information about typical accuracy specifications for modules,
go to ni.com/info and enter the Info Code criotypical.
Your installation must meet the following requirements for space and cabling
clearance:
■Allow 25.4 mm (1 in.) on the top and the bottom of the chassis for air
circulation.
■Allow 50.8 mm (2 in.) in front of modules for cabling clearance.
Figure 3. NI 9146 Bottom View with Dimensions
4 mm
(0.16 in.)
178.1 mm
(7.01 in.)
29.1 mm
(1.14 in.)
64.3mm
(2.53in.)
48.4 mm
(1.91 in.)
2
25.4 mm
(1 in.)
63.5 mm
(2.50 in.)
1
63.5 mm
(2.50 in.)
1
25.4 mm
(1 in.)
1. Measure ambient temperature here.
2. Chassis Grounding Screw
ni.com
8
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Figure 4. NI 9146 Front View with Dimensions
C
V
RESET
NI 9146
INPUT
9-30 V
15 W MAX
M
N
S
AN
NI TIO RT UT
LA
EN S
ACT/
LINK
10/100
87.3mm
(3.44 in.)
41.1 mm
(1.62 in.)
47.0 mm
(1.85 in.)
47.2 mm
(1.86 in.)
30.6 mm
(1.2 in.)
Cooling Outline 25.4 mm (1 in.)
Cooling Outline 25.4 mm (1 in.)
STATUS
USER FPGA1
POWER
Figure 5. NI 9146 Side View with Dimensions
]
2X M4X0.7
44.0 mm
(1.73 in.)
74.0 mm
(2.91 in.)
29.1 mm
(1.15 in.)
44.1 mm
(1.54 in.)
The following sections give instructions for the mounting methods. Before using any
of these mounting methods, record the serial number from the back of the chassis.
You will be unable to read the serial number aer you have mounted the chassis.
Caution Make sure that no I/O modules are in the chassis before
mounting it.
Mounting the Chassis on a Panel
You can use the NI 9904 panel mount kit to mount the NI 9146 on a flat surface.
Complete the following steps to mount the NI 9146 on a panel.
1. Fasten the chassis to the panel mount kit using a number 2 Phillips
screwdriver and two M4 × 25 screws. National Instruments provides these
© National Instruments 9
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

screws with the panel mount kit. You must use these screws because they are
the correct depth and thread for the panel. Tighten the screws to a maximum
torque of 1.3 N · m (11.5 lb · in.).
Figure 6. Installing the Panel Mount Accessory on the NI 9146
Figure 7. Dimensions of NI 9146 with Panel Mount Accessory Installed
C
V
RESET
NI 9146
INPUT
9-30 V
15 W MAX
M
N
S
AN
NI TIO RT UT
LA
EN S
ACT/
LINK
10/100
29.5 mm
(1.16 in.)
9.5 mm
(0.38 in.)
27.3mm
(1.08 in.)
215.9 mm
(8.5 in.)
235.0 mm
(9.25 in.)
31.7 mm
(1.25 in.) 63.5 mm
(2.50 in.)
88.1 mm
(3.47 in.)
7.2 mm
(0.29 in.)
STATUS
USER FPGA1
POWER
2. Fasten the NI 9904 panel to the wall using the screwdriver and screws that are
appropriate for the wall surface. The maximum screw size is M4 or number 8.
Caution Make sure that no I/O modules are in the chassis before
removing it from the panel.
ni.com
10
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Mounting the Chassis Directly on a Flat Surface Using the
Mounting Holes
If you do not have the NI 9904 panel mount kit and do not require the portability of
the NI 9904, you can mount the chassis directly on a flat surface using the mounting
holes.
1. Align the chassis on the surface.
2. Fasten the chassis to the surface using M4 or number 8 flathead screws, as
shown in the following figure. National Instruments does not provide these
screws with the chassis.
Figure 8. Mounting the Chassis Directly on a Flat Surface
C
V
RESET
NI 9146
INPUT
9-30 V
15 W MAX
M
N
S
AN
NI TIO RT UT
LA
EN S
ACT/
LINK
10/100
STATUS
USER FPGA1
POWER
Caution Make sure that no I/O modules are in the chassis before
removing it from the surface.
Mounting the Chassis on a DIN Rail
You can order the NI 9912 DIN rail mount kit to mount the NI 9146 on a DIN rail. You
need one clip for mounting the chassis on a standard 35 mm DIN rail. Complete the
following steps to mount the chassis on a DIN rail.
1. Fasten the DIN rail clip to the chassis using a number 2 Phillips screwdriver
and two M4 × 16 screws. NI provides these screws with the DIN rail mount kit.
© National Instruments 11
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Figure 9. Installing the DIN Rail Clip on the NI 9146
2. Insert one edge of the DIN rail into the deeper opening of the DIN rail clip.
Figure 10. One Edge of the DIN Rail Inserted in a Clip
3
2
1
1. DIN Rail Clip
2. DIN Rail
3. DIN Rail Spring
3. Press down firmly on the chassis to compress the spring until the clip locks in
place on the DIN rail.
Caution Make sure that no I/O modules are in the chassis before
removing it from the DIN rail.
ni.com
12
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Mounting the Chassis on a Desktop
You can use the NI 9901 desktop mounting kit to mount the chassis on a desktop.
You must install the adapter bracket using two M3 × 20 screws. The adapter bracket
and the screws are included in the kit. Refer to the NI 9901 documentation for
information about mounting the chassis on a desktop.
Installing C Series I/O Modules in the Chassis
The following figure shows the mechanical dimensions of C Series I/O modules.
Figure 11. C Series I/O Module, Front and Side View with Dimensions
88.1 mm
(3.47 in.)
70.7 mm
(2.78 in.)
22.9 mm
(0.9 in.)
1. Make sure that no I/O-side power is connected to the I/O module. If the
system is in a nonhazardous location, the chassis power can be on when you
install I/O modules.
2. Align the I/O module with an I/O module slot in the chassis as shown in the
following figure. The module slots are labeled 1 to 4, le to right.
© National Instruments 13
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Figure 13. Installing an I/O Module in the Chassis
1
2
1. Insertion Groove
2. Latch
3. Squeeze the latches and insert the I/O module into the module slot.
4. Press firmly on the connector side of the I/O module until the latches lock the
I/O module into place.
5. Repeat these steps to install additional I/O modules.
Removing I/O Modules from the Chassis
Complete the following steps to remove a C Series I/O module from the chassis.
1. Make sure that no I/O-side power is connected to the I/O module.
2. Squeeze the latches on both sides of the module and pull the module out of
the chassis.
Connecting the Chassis to Earth Ground
You must connect the chassis grounding screw to earth ground. Refer to the
following figure for the location of the grounding screw. Complete the following
steps to connect to earth ground.
ni.com
14
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

1. Attach a ring lug to a 1.6 mm2 (14AWG) or larger wire.
2. Remove the grounding screw from the grounding terminal on the right side of
the chassis.
3. Attach the ring lug to the grounding terminal.
4. Tighten the grounding screw to 0.5 N · m (4.4 lb · in.) of torque.
5. Attach the other end of the wire to earth ground using a method appropriate
for the application.
Note If you use shielded cabling to connect to a C Series I/O
module with a plastic connector, you must attach the cable shield
to the chassis grounding terminal using 1.3 mm2 (16AWG) or larger
wire. Use shorter wire for better EMC performance.
For more information about earth ground connections, go to ni.com/info and enter
the Info Code earthground.
Connecting the Chassis to a Network
Connect the chassis to an Ethernet network using Ethernet port 1 on the front panel.
Use a standard Category 5 (CAT-5) or better shielded, twisted-pair Ethernet cable to
connect the chassis to an Ethernet hub or a computer.
Caution To prevent data loss and to maintain the integrity of your
Ethernet installation, do not use a cable longer than 100 m.
The first time you power up the chassis, it attempts to initiate a DHCP network
connection. If the chassis is unable to initiate a DHCP connection, it connects to
the network with a link-local IP address with the form 169.254.x.x. Aer powerup,
you must install soware on the chassis and configure the network settings in
Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX).
© National Instruments 15
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Note Installing soware may change the network behavior of the chassis.
For information about network behavior by installed soware version, go
to ni.com/info and enter the Info Code ipconfigcrio.
Wiring Power to the Chassis
The NI 9146 requires an external power supply that meets the specifications in the
Power Requirements section.
The NI 9146 filters and regulates the supplied power and provides power for all of
the I/O modules. The NI 9146 has one layer of reverse-voltage protection. Complete
the following steps to connect a power supply to the chassis.
1. Ensure that the power supply is turned o.
2. Connect the positive lead of the power supply to the V terminal of the
COMBICON power connector shipped with the NI 9146, and tighten the
terminal screw. The following figure shows the terminal screws, which secure
the wires in the screw terminals, and the connector screws, which secure the
power connector on the front panel.
Figure 13. COMBICON Power Connector
C
V
2
2
1
1. Terminal Screw
2. Connector Screws
3. Connect the negative lead of the power supply to the C terminal of the power
connector and tighten the terminal screw.
4. Install the power connector on the front panel of the NI 9146 and tighten the
connector screws.
5. Turn on the power supply.
ni.com
16
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Powering On the NI 9146
When you apply power to the NI 9146, the chassis runs a power-on self test (POST).
During the POST, the Power and Status LEDs turn on. The Status LED turns o,
indicating that the POST is complete. If the LEDs do not behave in this way when the
system powers on, refer to the Understanding LED Indications section.
Restarting the NI 9146 Using the Reset Button
Pressing the Reset button restarts the NI 9146. The FPGA continues to run unless you
have selected the Autoload VI on device reboot chassis reset option.
To restart the NI 9146 in safe mode, hold the Reset button down for about 5 s, until
the Status LED lights yellow, then release the button. The chassis reboots and the
Status LED starts blinking three times every few seconds. The chassis is now in Safe
Mode. Refer to the MAX help for information about safe mode.
Chassis Startup Options
The following table lists the startup options available for the NI 9146. These options
determine how the chassis behaves when it starts up in various conditions. Use
the RIO Device Setup utility to select startup options. Access the RIO Device Setup
utility by selecting Start > All Programs > National Instruments > NI-RIO > RIO
Device Setup.
Startup Options Behavior
Do Not Autoload VI Does not load the FPGA bit stream from flash memory.
Autoload VI on device
powerup
Loads the FPGA bit stream from flash memory to the FPGA when
the chassis powers on.
Autoload VI on device
reboot
Loads the FPGA bit stream from flash to the FPGA when you reboot
the chassis either with or without cycling power.
Table 1. NI 9146 Reset Options
© National Instruments 17
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Configuring IP Settings
When you power on the NI 9146 for the first time, it boots into safe mode because
there is no soware installed on it. This section describes how to configure the IP
settings and install soware on the chassis.
1. Launch MAX on the host computer and expand Remote Systems in the MAX
configuration tree. MAX lists the NI 9146 as the model name of the chassis
followed by the serial number, for example, NI9146-XXXXXXXX.
The chassis automatically attempts to connect to the network using DHCP. If
DHCP is not available, the chassis connects to the network with a link-local
IP address with the form 169.254.x.x. You must connect the chassis directly to
the host computer to configure it in this state.
2. Select the chassis under Remote Systems to see the Network Settings tab
in the middle pane of MAX.
3. Enter a name for the chassis in the Name field.
4. Select settings for the chassis in the IP Settings section, then click Apply.
Note For information about configuring network settings, refer to
the Configuring Network Settings book of the MAX Remote Systems
Help. In MAX, click Help > Help Topics > Remote Systems.
On the Contents tab, browse to LabVIEW Real-Time Target
Con󽘀guration > Con󽘀guring Network Settings.
5. When you click Apply, you are prompted to reboot the chassis for the
changes to take eect. Click Yes. You can also reboot the chassis by right-
clicking the name under Remote Systems and selecting Reboot.
6. Aer rebooting, the chassis appears under Remote Systems with the
assigned name. Expand the chassis and select Software.
7. Click Add/Remove Software in the toolbar to launch the LabVIEW Real-
Time Soware Wizard.
8. Install the Recommended Soware Set that appears in the LabVIEW Real-Time
Soware Wizard.
ni.com
18
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

For more information about configuring the chassis in MAX, refer to the MAX Help.
For information about installing and using LabVIEW FPGA, refer to the LabVIEW
FPGA Module Release and Upgrade Notes.
Understanding LED Indications
The following figure shows the NI 9146 chassis LEDs.
Figure 14. NI 9146 LEDs
POWER
STATUS
USER FPGA1
POWER LED Indicators
The following table lists the POWER LED indicators.
LED Color LED Pattern Indication
Green Solid The NI 9146 is powered on and the connected power supply is adequate.
—O The NI 9146 is powered o.
Table 2. POWER LED Indicators
STATUS LED
The STATUS LED is o during normal operation. The NI 9146 indicates specific error
conditions by flashing the STATUS LED a certain number of times every few seconds,
as shown in the following table.
Number of
Flashes
Indication
2 The chassis has detected an error in its soware. This usually occurs when
an attempt to upgrade the soware is interrupted. Reinstall soware on
the chassis. Refer to the Measurement & Automation Explorer Help for
information about installing soware on the chassis.
3 The chassis is in safe mode. Refer to the Measurement & Automation
Explorer Help for information about safe mode.
© National Instruments 19
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information

Number of
Flashes
Indication
4 The soware has crashed twice without rebooting or cycling power between
crashes. This usually occurs when the chassis runs out of memory. Review your
RT VI and check the memory usage. Modify the VI as necessary to solve the
memory usage issue.
Continuous
flashing or solid
The chassis has detected an unrecoverable error. Contact National
Instruments.
Table 3. STATUS LED Indicators
User LED
You can define the USER FPGA1 LED to meet the needs of your application. The
following table lists the USER FPGA1 LED indicators.
LED LED Color Description
USER
FPGA1
Green/
Yellow
Use the LabVIEW FPGA Module and NI-RIO Device Drivers soware to
define the USER FPGA1 LED. Use the USER FPGA1 LED to help debug
your application or retrieve application status. Refer to the LabVIEW
Help for information about programming this LED.
Table 4. User LEDs
Troubleshooting Network Communication
If the NI 9146 cannot communicate with the network, you can perform the following
troubleshooting steps.
1. Hold the Reset button down for about 5 s, until the Status LED lights yellow,
then release the button. The chassis reboots and the Status LED starts
blinking three times every few seconds. The chassis is now in Safe Mode.
2. Repeat step 1. The Status LED repeats the same behavior. The chassis is now
in Safe Mode with IP Reset.
3. Configure the IP and other network settings in MAX.
4. Press and release the Reset button to reboot the chassis.
ni.com
20
NI-9146 Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Information