National Instruments SCC-CTR01 User manual

USER GUIDE AND SPECIFICATIONS
NI SCC-CTR01 Isolated
Counter/Timer I/O Module
The NI SCC-CTR01 is a two input and one output isolation module for
general-purpose counter/timers on DAQ devices. The gate and source
inputs are optically isolated to allow an increased voltage range and protect
against common-mode voltages. The inputs also have reverse and
overvoltage protection. The output channel is isolated and has advanced
short-circuit protection, which allows the circuit to recover automatically
250 ms after a short is removed.
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.
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.
This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.
When symbol is marked on a product, it denotes a warning advising you to
take precautions to avoid electrical shock.
When symbol is marked on a product, it denotes a component that may be
hot. Touching this component may result in bodily injury.
bold Bold text denotes items that you must select in software, such as menu
items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter names.

NI SCC-CTR01 User Guide and Specifications 2 ni.com
italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction
to a key concept. Italic text 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.
NI SC-2345 NI SC-2345 refers to both the NI SC-2345 connector block and the
NI SC-2345 with configurable connectors.
SCC SCC refers to any SCC Series signal-conditioning module.
What You Need to Get Started
To set up and use the NI SCC-CTR01, you need the following items:
❑NI SC-2345 with one of the following:
–SCC-PWR01
– SCC-PWR02 and the PS01 power supply
– SCC-PWR03 (requires a 7 to 42 VDC power supply, not included)
❑One or more NI SCC-CTR01 modules
❑NI SC-2345/2350 Carrier User Manual, available at ni.com
❑NI SCC-CTR01 Isolated Counter/Timer I/O Module User Guide and
Specifications
❑SCC Quick Start Guide, available at ni.com
❑Read Me First: Safety and Radio-Frequency Interference
❑SC-2345 Quick Reference Label
❑68-pin E/M Series DAQ device with the following:
– Documentation
– 68-pin cable of less than 2 m length
❑1/8 in. flathead screwdriver
❑Numbers 1 and 2 Phillips screwdrivers

©National Instruments Corporation 3 NI SCC-CTR01 User Guide and Specifications
❑Wire insulation strippers
❑NI-DAQmx (current version) for Windows Vista/XP/2000
Note Mac OS is not supported.
Related Documentation
Each application software package and driver includes information about
writing applications for taking measurements and controlling measurement
devices. The following references to documents assume you have
NI-DAQmx 8.7 or later, and where applicable, version 7.1 or later
of the NI application software.
NI-DAQmx for Windows
The DAQ Getting Started Guide describes how to install your NI-DAQmx
for Windows software, your NI-DAQmx-supported DAQ device, and how
to confirm that your device is operating properly. Select Start»All
Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»DAQ Getting Started
Guide.
The NI-DAQ Readme lists which devices are supported by this version of
NI-DAQ. Select Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»
NI-DAQ Readme.
The NI-DAQmx Help contains general information about measurement
concepts, key NI-DAQmx concepts, and common applications that are
applicable to all programming environments. Select Start»All
Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»NI-DAQmx Help.
Note For information about non-Windows operating system support, refer to
ni.com/info and enter rddqld.
NI-DAQmx for Linux
The DAQ Getting Started Guide describes how to install your
NI-DAQmx-supported DAQ device and confirm that your device is
operating properly.
The NI-DAQ Readme for Linux lists supported devices and includes
software installation instructions, frequently asked questions, and known
issues.
The C Function Reference Help describes functions and attributes.

NI SCC-CTR01 User Guide and Specifications 4 ni.com
The NI-DAQmx for Linux Configuration Guide provides configuration
instructions, templates, and instructions for using test panels.
Note All NI-DAQmx documentation for Linux is installed at /usr/local/natinst/
nidaqmx/docs.
LabVIEW
If you are a new user, use the Getting Started with LabVIEW manual to
familiarize yourself with the LabVIEW graphical programming
environment and the basic LabVIEW features you use to build data
acquisition and instrument control applications. Open the Getting Started
with LabVIEW manual by selecting Start»All Programs»National
Instruments»LabVIEW»LabVIEW Manuals or by navigating to the
labview\manuals directory and opening LV_Getting_Started.pdf.
Use the LabVIEW Help, available by selecting Help»Search the
LabVIEW Help in LabVIEW, to access information about LabVIEW
programming concepts, step-by-step instructions for using LabVIEW, and
reference information about LabVIEW VIs, functions, palettes, menus, and
tools. Refer to the following locations on the Contents tab of the LabVIEW
Help for information about NI-DAQmx:
•Getting Started»Getting Started with DAQ—Includes overview
information and a tutorial to learn how to take an NI-DAQmx
measurement in LabVIEW using the DAQ Assistant.
•VI and Function Reference»Measurement I/O VIs and
Functions—Describes the LabVIEW NI-DAQmx VIs and properties.
•Taking Measurements—Contains the conceptual and how-to
information you need to acquire and analyze measurement data in
LabVIEW, including common measurements, measurement
fundamentals, NI-DAQmx key concepts, and device considerations.
LabWindows/CVI
The Data Acquisition book of the LabWindows/CVI Help contains
measurement concepts for NI-DAQmx. This book also contains Taking an
NI-DAQmx Measurement in LabWindows/CVI, which includes
step-by-step instructions about creating a measurement task using the DAQ
Assistant. In LabWindowsTM/CVITM, select Help»Contents, then select
Using LabWindows/CVI»Data Acquisition.
The NI-DAQmx Library book of the LabWindows/CVI Help contains API
overviews and function reference for NI-DAQmx. Select Library
Reference»NI-DAQmx Library in the LabWindows/CVI Help.

©National Instruments Corporation 5 NI SCC-CTR01 User Guide and Specifications
Measurement Studio
If you program your NI-DAQmx-supported device in Measurement Studio
using Visual C++, Visual C#, or Visual Basic .NET, you can interactively
create channels and tasks by launching the DAQ Assistant from MAX or
from within Visual Studio .NET. You can generate the configuration code
based on your task or channel in Measurement Studio. Refer to the DAQ
Assistant Help for additional information about generating code. You also
can create channels and tasks, and write your own applications in your
ADE using the NI-DAQmx API.
For help with NI-DAQmx methods and properties, refer to the NI-DAQmx
.NET Class Library or the NI-DAQmx Visual C++ Class Library included
in the NI Measurement Studio Help. For general help with programming in
Measurement Studio, refer to the NI Measurement Studio Help, which is
fully integrated with the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET help. To view
this help file in Visual Studio. NET, select Measurement Studio»
NI Measurement Studio Help.
To create an application in Visual C++, Visual C#, or Visual Basic .NET,
follow these general steps:
1. In Visual Studio .NET, select File»New»Project to launch the New
Project dialog box.
2. Find the Measurement Studio folder for the language you want to
create a program in.
3. Choose a project type. You add DAQ tasks as a part of this step.
ANSI C without NI Application Software
The NI-DAQmx Help contains API overviews and general information
about measurement concepts. Select Start»All Programs»National
Instruments»NI-DAQ»NI-DAQmx Help.
The NI-DAQmx C Reference Help describes the NI-DAQmx Library
functions, which you can use with National Instruments data acquisition
devices to develop instrumentation, acquisition, and control applications.
Select Start»All Programs»NationalInstruments»NI-DAQ»
NI-DAQmx C Reference Help.
.NET Languages without NI Application Software
With the Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1 or later, you can use
NI-DAQmx to create applications using Visual C# and Visual Basic .NET
without Measurement Studio. You need Microsoft Visual Studio
.NET 2003 or Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 for the API documentation to
be installed.

NI SCC-CTR01 User Guide and Specifications 6 ni.com
The installed documentation contains the NI-DAQmx API overview,
measurement tasks and concepts, and function reference. This help is fully
integrated into the Visual Studio .NET documentation. To view the
NI-DAQmx .NET documentation, go to Start»Programs»National
Instruments»NI-DAQ»NI-DAQmx .NET Reference Help. Expand
NI Measurement Studio Help»NI Measurement Studio .NET
Class Library»Reference to view the function reference. Expand
NI Measurement Studio Help»NI Measurement Studio .NET Class
Library»Using the Measurement Studio .NET Class Libraries to view
conceptual topics for using NI-DAQmx with Visual C# and Visual
Basic .NET.
To get to the same help topics from within Visual Studio, go to
Help»Contents. Select Measurement Studio from the Filtered By
drop-down list and follow the previous instructions.
Device Documentation and Specifications
NI-DAQmx includes the Device Document Browser, which contains
online documentation for supported DAQ, SCXI, and switch devices, such
as help files describing device pinouts, features, and operation, and PDF
files of the printed device documents. You can find, view, and/or print the
documents for each device using the Device Document Browser at any
time by inserting the CD. After installing the Device Document Browser,
device documents are accessible from Start»All Programs»National
Instruments»NI-DAQ»Browse Device Documentation.
Note You can download these documents at ni.com/manuals.
Training Courses
If you need more help getting started developing an application with NI
products, NI offers training courses. To enroll in a course or obtain a
detailed course outline, refer to ni.com/training.
Technical Support on the Web
For additional support, refer to ni.com/support or zone.ni.com.

©National Instruments Corporation 7 NI SCC-CTR01 User Guide and Specifications
Installing the Software
Software support for the NI SCC-SCTR01 for Windows Vista/XP/2000 is
provided by NI-DAQmx. The DAQ Getting Started Guide, which you can
download at ni.com/manuals, offers NI-DAQmx users step-by-step
instructions for installing software and hardware, configuring channels and
tasks, and getting started developing an application.
Installing Other Software
If you are using other software, refer to the installation instructions that
accompany your software.
Device-Specific Information
Note For general SCC module installation and signal connection information, and
information about the NI SC-2345 carrier, refer to the SCC Quick Start Guide, available
for download at ni.com/manuals.
Installing the Module
Caution Refer to the Read Me First: Safety and Radio-Frequency Interference document
before removing equipment covers or connecting/disconnecting any signal wires.
Note When using the SCC-CTR01, groundthe chassis of the DAQ device.
Plug the NI SCC-CTR01 into either general-purpose counter/timer socket
J19 or J20 on the NI SC-2345. When you configure the NI SC-2345
according to the procedure in the SCC Quick Start Guide, the NI SC-2345
routes the CTR_SRC, CTR_GATE, and CTR_OUT signals through the
module.

NI SCC-CTR01 User Guide and Specifications 8 ni.com
Connecting Signals and Loads to the NI SCC-CTR01
Inputs (Gate and Source)
The inputs on the NI SCC-CTR01 are referenced to either the ground or the
supply of the external device to which they are connected. An optical
isolator transfers the externally connected signals to the internal
GPCTR SRC or GATE. A current limiter protects the optical isolator.
A diode protects against reverse-connected signals. Figure 1 illustrates a
single isolated input.
Figure 1. Single Isolated Input
Inputs are referenced to either the ground or supply of the external device,
depending on whether or not the external device can source the amount of
current required by the NI SCC-CTR01 input circuitry. To guarantee a
digital HIGH, the minimum amount of current required by the
NI SCC-CTR01 inputs is 2.2 mA. The overvoltage and overcurrent
protector does not allow the amount of current flowing through the input
circuitry to exceed 10 mA.
NI SCC-CTR01
Optical
Isolator
Overvoltage
and Overcurrent
Protection
Reverse
Voltage Blocker
SRC or
GATE –
SRC or
GATE +
DAQ
Device

©National Instruments Corporation 9 NI SCC-CTR01 User Guide and Specifications
Connecting the NI SCC-CTR01
The following sections describe how to connect the NI SCC-CTR01 as
referenced to ground and as referenced to the supply.
Connecting the NI SCC-CTR01 as Referenced to
Ground
Connect the external device to the SRC or GATE + pin, and connect the
device ground to the SRC or GATE – pin, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Referenced to Ground
NI SCC-CTR01
Device
Vss or GND
SRC or
GATE –
SRC or
GATE +
Vdd

NI SCC-CTR01 User Guide and Specifications 10 ni.com
Connecting the NI SCC-CTR01 as Referenced to the
Supply
Connect the Vdd on the external device to the NI SCC-CTR01 SRC or
GATE + pin, and connect the output of the external device to the SRC or
GATE – pin, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Referenced to Supply
Note Connecting the NI SCC-CTR01 as referenced to the supply reverses the digital
logic. To operate the NI SCC-CTR01 with TTL devices, reference the NI SCC-CTR01 to
the supply, as shown in Figure 3.
Note When placing a relatively slow rise time signal—such as a 5 V peak sine or triangle
wave—on one of the inputs, and a fast rise time, high voltage signal—such as a 400 kHz,
48 V square wave—on the other input, crosstalk between input lines can cause false
triggering. You should separate the input wires as much as possible. If you are using an
M Series DAQ device, consult the M Series User Manual for information about applying
the appropriate digital filter to prevent incorrect measurements.
NI SCC-CTR01
SRC or
GATE –
SRC or
GATE +
V
ss
or GND
Device
V
dd