National Instruments 9401 User manual

GETTING STARTED GUIDE
NI 9401
8 DIO, 5 V/TTL, Bidirectional, 100 ns

This document explains how to connect to the NI 9401.
Note Before you begin, complete the software and
hardware installation procedures in your chassis
documentation.
Note The guidelines in this document are specific to
the NI 9401. The other components in the system might
not meet the same safety ratings. Refer to the
documentation for each component in the system to
determine the safety and EMC ratings for the entire
system.
Safety Guidelines
Operate the NI 9401 only as described in this document.
Caution Do not operate the NI 9401 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.
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Safety Voltages
Connect only voltages that are within the following limits:
Maximum voltage1
Channel-to-COM ±30 V maximum on one
channel at a time, Measurement
Category I
Isolation voltages
Channel-to-channel None
Channel-to-earth ground
Continuous 60 VDC, Measurement
Category I
Withstand 1,000 Vrms, verified by a 5 s
dielectric withstand test
Measurement Category I is for measurements performed on
circuits not directly connected to the electrical distribution system
1The maximum voltage that can be applied or output between any channel and
COM without damaging the module or other devices.
NI 9401 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 3

referred to as MAINS voltage. MAINS is a hazardous live
electrical supply system that powers equipment. This category is
for measurements of voltages from specially protected secondary
circuits. Such voltage measurements include signal levels, special
equipment, limited-energy parts of equipment, circuits powered
by regulated low-voltage sources, and electronics.
Caution Do not connect the NI 9401 to signals or use
for measurements within Measurement Categories II,
III, or IV.
Note Measurement Categories CAT I and CAT O are
equivalent. These test and measurement circuits are not
intended for direct connection to the MAINS building
installations of Measurement Categories CAT II,
CAT III, or CAT IV.
Safety Guidelines for Hazardous Locations
The NI 9401 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 9401 in a potentially explosive environment. Not following
these guidelines may result in serious injury or death.
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Caution Do not disconnect I/O-side wires or
connectors unless power has been switched off or the
area is known to be nonhazardous.
Caution Do not remove modules unless power has
been switched off 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.
Caution For Division 2 and Zone 2 applications,
connected signals must be within the following limits.
Capacitance 0.2 µF max
Special Conditions for Hazardous Locations Use in
Europe and Internationally
The NI 9401 has been evaluated as Ex nA IIC T4 Gc equipment
under DEMKO Certificate No. 03 ATEX 0324020X and is
IECEx UL 14.0089X certified. Each NI 9401 is marked II 3G
NI 9401 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 5

and is suitable for use in Zone 2 hazardous locations, in ambient
temperatures of -40 °C ≤ Ta ≤ 70 °C. If you are using the NI 9401
in Gas Group IIC hazardous locations, you must use the device in
an NI chassis that has been evaluated as Ex nC IIC T4, Ex IIC
T4, Ex nA IIC T4, or Ex nL IIC T4 equipment.
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
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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.
Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance,
operate this product only with shielded cables and
accessories.
Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance,
you must install a clamp-on ferrite bead (782803-01) in
accordance with the product installation instructions.
NI 9401 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 7

Cable Requirements for EMC Compliance
Select and install cables for the NI 9401 in accordance with the
following requirements:
• Install a clamp-on ferrite bead (782803-01) on the cable that
you are connecting to NI 9401.
• The clamp-on ferrite bead must be connected to the cable as
close to the module as possible. Placing the ferrite elsewhere
on the cable noticeably impairs its effectiveness.
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Figure 1. Installing a Ferrite Bead
1 2
1. Installing a ferrite bead on a 25-pin DSUB cable.
2. Installing a ferrite bead on the cable of the terminal block.
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.
NI 9401 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 9

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.
Preparing the Environment
Ensure that the environment in which you are using the NI 9401
meets the following specifications.
Operating temperature
(IEC 60068-2-1, IEC 60068-2-2)
-40 °C to 70 °C
Operating humidity
(IEC 60068-2-78)
10% RH to 90% RH,
noncondensing
Pollution Degree 2
Maximum altitude 2,000 m
Indoor use only.
Note Refer to the device datasheet on ni.com/manuals
for complete specifications.
10 | ni.com | NI 9401 Getting Started Guide

Connecting the NI 9401
The NI 9401 provides connections for 8 digital input/output
channels.
NI 9401 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 11

Figure 2. NI 9401 Pinout
COM
NC
COM
COM
NC
COM
COM
NC
COM
COM
NC
COM
COM
DIO0
NC
DIO1
DIO2
NC
DIO3
DIO4
NC
DIO5
DIO6
NC
DIO7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
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NI 9401 Signals
Table 1. Signal Descriptions
Signal Description
COM Common reference connection to isolated ground
DIO Digital input/output signal connection
NC No connection
Ports
The DIO channels are grouped in two ports, one containing
channels 0, 1, 2, and 3, and one containing channels 4, 5, 6, and
7. You can independently configure each digital port in software
for input or output. Note that all four channels in the port must
share the same line direction.
Connecting a Serial Peripheral Interface Device
You can connect a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) device to the
NI 9401.
NI 9401 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 13

Figure 3. Connecting an SPI Device to the NI 9401
NI 9401
DIO3:0
Configured
for Output
DIO7:4
Configured
for Input
SPI Device
SCLK
MOSI
MISO
SS DIO0
DIO1
DIO2
DIO4
Connecting Digital Devices
You can connect several types of digital devices to the NI 9401.
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Figure 4. Connecting Digital Devices to the NI 9401
+5 V
+5 V DIO1
COM
DIO7
NI 9401LED
Switch
DIO0
TTL Signal DIO3:0
Configured
for Input
DIO7:4
Configured
for Output
Overcurrent/Short-Circuit Protection
The overcurrent protection allows only a specified amount of
current through the output channels to protect the NI 9401 from
short circuits. If the NI 9401 goes into an overcurrent state, the
NI 9401 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 15

module sets all the DIO channels to high impedance for
approximately 280 ms.
When the channels are in an overcurrent state, the NI 9401 can
accept new line direction configuration and output state data but
cannot pass valid input data to the software.
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Where to Go Next
Located at ni.com/manuals Installs with the software
CompactRIO NI CompactDAQ
RELATED INFORMATION
C Series Documentation
& Resources
ni.com/info cseriesdoc
Services
ni.com/services
NI 9401 Datasheet
NI-RIO Help
LabVIEW FPGA Help
NI 9401 Datasheet
NI-DAQmx Help
LabVIEW Help
NI 9401 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 17

Worldwide Support and Services
The NI website is your complete resource for technical support.
At ni.com/support, you have access to everything from
troubleshooting and application development self-help resources
to email and phone assistance from NI Application Engineers.
Visit ni.com/services for NI Factory Installation Services, repairs,
extended warranty, and other services.
Visit ni.com/register to register your NI product. Product
registration facilitates technical support and ensures that you
receive important information updates from NI.
A Declaration of Conformity (DoC) is our claim of compliance
with the Council of the European Communities using the
manufacturer’s declaration of conformity. This system affords the
user protection for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and
product safety. You can obtain the DoC for your product by
visiting ni.com/certification. If your product supports calibration,
you can obtain the calibration certificate for your product at
ni.com/calibration.
18 | ni.com | NI 9401 Getting Started Guide

NI corporate headquarters is located at
11500 North Mopac Expressway, Austin, Texas, 78759-3504. NI
also has offices located around the world. For telephone support
in the United States, create your service request at ni.com/support
or dial 1 866 ASK MYNI (275 6964). For telephone support
outside the United States, visit the Worldwide Offices section of
ni.com/niglobal to access the branch office websites, which
provide up-to-date contact information, support phone numbers,
email addresses, and current events.
NI 9401 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 19